The Mendenhall Tigers have unfinished business and have been motivated all summer to right the wrong of last season. A last second field goal by Louisville in the state championship game left a bitter feeling in the hearts of the 2023-2024 senior class. With experience and understanding of what it takes to make it to the final game, the Tigers have been set on returning and winning it all.
Words have power and no one knows this more than Head Coach Chuckie Allen. Last year Allen repeatedly told his team during the dog days of summer that anything short of making it to the state championship would be a disappointment. The Tigers made it and came up just short of winning.
Allen said, “Last year I said anything short of going to the state championship would be a disappointment, and I kicked myself. Because I don’t think everyone was disappointed enough. Just getting there shouldn’t have been the goal.”
He has since changed one word.
He said, “Now our motto is anything short of winning the state championship is a disappointment.”
The Tigers graduated a large group of seniors that featured several four-year starters such as Chance Barron, Darius Dampier, and Walter Owens. However, they have a good group of experienced seniors this season that has seen ample amounts of playing time.
Quarterback Tayton James is returning and is poised to lead the Tigers offense for his senior year. James has taken another step in his development both physically and mentally. He put on a good performance in the spring game and has continued to build on his success. James will be called upon to be more of a leader this season. Allen said the team will rely on James to help get the new receivers and other offensive weapons up to speed.
Allen said, “One of the things we have worked on is decision making. The ability has never been in question. The mental aspect of the game is one of the things we are working on, and we’ll get there.”
Allen highlighted Vincent Dixon and Marcus Allen among other receivers that will contribute this year. Allen and James showed great rapport last season and connected for five touchdowns. Henry Funchess has been a bright spot in the backfield and will have opportunities this season.
Allen praised the offensive line as being the best unit on the team. Devontae Camper, Leonard Herring, Sedric Weathersby, Jamorian Owens, and Amarrion Smith have all performed well. Camper, Herring, Weathersby, and Owens all have three years or more of game experience to rely on this season. The Tigers will lean on this group early in the season as the revamped offense works to find their identity. Offensive coordinator for the past three seasons Darius Wren took another opportunity and is no longer with the Tigers. New offensive coordinator Mat Turner worked closely with Wren along with Arlandis Johnson. Allen said the offensive scheme would be similar with a few wrinkles thrown in throughout the year.
Defensively the Tigers were without a doubt one of the best units in the state last season. The team has a great chance to repeat this performance under the leadership of Defensive Coordinator Sammy Byther. Key starters are returning on all three levels of the defense. Up front eh Tigers are returning defensive tackle Fred Dampeer. Dampeer was big for the Tigers last season on the interior, and often occupied multiple blockers. Norman Whitlock will be returning as a defensive end. Whitlock can wreck an offensive gameplan and had several multi sack games last season.
The leader of the defense will be Davin Chung. Chung is one of the best linebackers in the state and had over 150 tackles last season. He has great instincts and diagnosis plays well. Chung will be responsible for calling the plays defensively. Allen spoke highly of Princeton Miller and his success during his sophomore season. He described him as explosive and believes Miller will be even better this season. In the secondary the Tigers are returning the most valuable defensive back in the district Victor Davis. Davis led the district in interceptions with six. Jay Ulmer is also returning as a cornerback. Allen said Ulmer is a shutdown corner capable of taking away a team’s best receiver.
Allen said the Tigers have another tough schedule ahead of them. They will play teams such as Hazlehurst, McComb, and Harrison Central during non-district games. The Tigers will have Forest, Morton, Quitman, and Northeast Jones for district. The schedule also features a State Championship rematch between the Tigers and Louisville.
Allen explained that the team motto is still the same.
He said, “We have each other’s back. We’re a family, I have a great staff and a great group of guys, and we all hold each other accountable. We’re all we got, we’re all we need.”
