Many thought that the COVID-19 pandemic was going to disrupt the 99th game between Hattiesburg and Laurel.
According to Hattiesburg coach Tony Vance, playing the Battle for the Little Brown Jug game was a top priority.
“It was the utmost importance (to play this game),” Vance said. “It was one of the things that when we weren’t sure if we were going to have a season or not that even the superintendent said that if we play one game, let’s make sure we get the Laurel game played. From the top administrator, all the way down felt that it was something that we had to get played, whether it was 7-on-7 or flag football.”
Laurel comes off a 10-3 season and is considered one of the toughest teams to beat in 5A South.
The Tornados return several starters from its explosive offense that averaged 31 points per game last year.
“I don’t know if they had a bad time since I’ve been here,” Vance said. “They have some really special guys on the offensive side of the ball that reminds me of guys that I had in the past.”
Laurel returns wide receiver Kanarius Johnson, who is committed to Tulane and hauled in 42 catches for 714 yards and eight touchdowns.
“Kanarius Johnson is special,” Vance said. “He is a big receiver that has big-time play capability; every time the ball is thrown his way, he can take it to the end zone. We are aware of what he can do. He is a Dandy Dozen player this year.”
Laurel also brings back Xavier Evans, who is switching from quarterback to running back. He passed for 1,562 yards and 16 touchdowns, ran for 1,503 yards and 15 touchdowns. Starting at quarterback is Dexter Scott, who threw 371 yards and five touchdowns last season.
“I think it all starts with Xavier Edwards,” Vance said. “He’s a guy that I think will be one of the best football players in the state before the year is over. We still have a lot of respect for what those guys can do with the ball in their hands. They are special players.
“You are not going to completely shut down guys like that. You are crazy to think that you will. You just try to slow them down and minimize the damage they do to you and minimize the big plays. They are going to make big plays because they are playmakers. It is what it is. We have had guys like that in the past.”
According to Vance, Laurel’s defense will feature a plethora of different formations as well as a speedy defense.
“The defense has been all over the place, so to speak,” Vance said. “They had done some different things when we played them in the past. I don’t really know what they’ll be defensively this year. They didn’t play a jamboree, so I don’t have anything to go off of. We’ll look at last year’s film and hope to get an idea of what they’ll be in and go from there.
“Laurel always has guys that can run, are physical and play fast. We know they’ll have that for a fact. That’s who they are.”
On defense, the Tornados bring back sophomore linebacker Jeremy Porter, who totaled 70 tackles and safety Rontavious Thomas, who had a team-leading five interceptions and 39 tackles.
Despite Hattiesburg losing its Jamboree to Petal, Vance believes that his team just has to execute better heading into Week 1.
“We have to do a better job of executing,” Vance said. “Our kids play hard. We just have to get them to execute better. We have to better execute both offensively and defensively and make the plays we need to make on both sides of the ball. I think playing last week gave us a good look at some kids for the first time.”
