The Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Pigskin Preview provided the community an opportunity to hear from local high school and Juco football coaches about their plans for the upcoming season.

During the event, Picayune Head Coach Dodd Lee shared some big news on local football fans; he will be stepping down from a position he’s held for more than two decades.

Lee announced during his speech that following the conclusion of this season, he will no longer be the Maroon Tide’s head football coach. Lee has won over 200 football games, and additionally won two state championships during his tenure. Following Lee was Pearl River Central High School’s Head Coach Jacob Owen.

Owen talked about the improvements his program has made during his short time leading the Blue Devils as head coach of the varsity football team.

“It’s getting harder to be a Devil,” Owen said.

“But that’s a good thing, that’s what you have to do to improve.”

Owen pointed to the continuity of his coaching staff as another reason for the program’s improvement in recent years.

He said that the work ethic of the coaching staff has rubbed off on the players, prompting them to work hard to get better each and every day.

After he ended his speech, Poplarville High School’s Head Coach Jay Beech focused on community involvement with the Hornet’s program. Beech said that his staff has remained stable as well, and because of that the expectations for this season

are through the roof.

“This year it’s really state championship or bust for us,” Beech said.

Last but not least, PRCC Head Coach Ted Egger went over how PRCC’s facilities recently underwent a variety of renovations.

Those improvements not only help with preparation, but also with recruiting new athletes for the program.

“There’s a reason we’re the number one community college in the state,” Egger said. That title doesn’t come lightly, but Egger said he is excited about the upcoming season.  He said that the team going into this year is the deepest, most talented one he’s had in his three years of coaching at PRCC.  Like the rest of the coaches, Egger wants his team to win the state championship, and with the talent he has at his disposal he thinks it’s a strong possibility.