By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Last season the Millington Trojans scrapped, clawed and sought 10 games.
The reason Head Coach Chris Michael and staff struggled to compile a full schedule in 2020 in the midst of a global pandemic was for the players. Not only the graduating class of 2021 but for the underclassmen like Cortlynn Barnes, Garrett Haley and then freshman quarterback McCoy Pugh.
“I never played high school football before,” Pugh said. “So I really didn’t know what to expect. The whole atmosphere was just odd, but we still had to play football.”
Haley described last season as, “rough, very different type of season.” Along the unique journey, Haley had his father Jeremy there the entire time as one of the assistant coaches.
Needing an escape from the changing world, Garrett poured himself into the game having a breakout season. Early during the 2020 campaign, Haley became Pugh’s go-to target.
“I was just trying to get open,” he recalled. “Sometime I guess I would go up to him and say, ‘Hey I am open.’ But that as about it.
“I had a breakout season because I put in a lot of work and time,” Haley continued. “Training off season, keeping in shape and just working hard. It all paid off.”
Haley’s fellow incoming senior Barnes earned a name as a hard-hitting safety. But he had limited reps on the offensive side in 2020. Barnes is looking to change that in 2021.
“Expect more out of me offensively,” he declared. “I didn’t get in much last year.”
Barnes made another declaration planning to give the same intensity on defense.
“Defense I hit hard but I’m looking forward to getting at least 12 picks this year,” he said. “The guys up front put the pressure and I can get those picks off the back side. If it all comes together it can all happen.”
If Barnes and Haley step up their play, things will be smoother for Pugh in Year Two.
“I feel a new pressure because people expect you to do more than you did last year,” Pugh acknowledged. “I feel I’ve grown from last year. I got a good year in of playing varsity football. Just learn a lot more about defense. I feel my eyes and my processing as gotten quicker. I feel like we want to too bad this year.”
Haley said he will put on his coaching hat to keep his young quarterback mentally strong.
“I’m just going to keep encouraging him and work hard,” he noted. “And I have to keep trying to get open for him.”
On the brink of his final season of football, Haley said he hopes 2021 is back to normal so he can cherish every moment with his dad — all the good and not so good.
“His coaching hat is on all the time, 24/7,” Garrett said jokingly. “I use it my advantage. I use it to help myself and teammates grow as better athletes. He’s the hardest on me and it helps me mature.”
With a new league featuring Covington, Ripley and Dyersburg to name a few, the Trojans will have to mature fast to earn a playoff spot in November.
“Dedication to the sport, I think we’ll be good and do well,” Haley concluded.
