ENTERPRISE

Enterprise Yellow Jackets

ENTERPRISE YELLOW JACKETS

RIDING MOMENTUM INTO 2022 CAMPAIGN

When Enterprise coach Trey Woodard and his team joined Region 4-1A last year after dropping down from the 2A ranks, it appeared on paper that the Yellow Jackets had just been put in the strongest 1A region in the state.

Woodard’s team joined a division that included the 2020 2A state champion Taylorsville Tartars and the 2020 1A state champion Lumberton Panthers.

The region lived up to its billing last season as 4-1A member Bay Springs rolled to a 12-1 record and the 2021 1A state title in dominating fashion.

No one must have told the players at Enterprise just how good the teams they faced were and the effect of playing some of the best small schools in the state week-in and week-out helped kick up the preseason participation for Woodard’s group ahead of his fourth season at the school.

“We had the best numbers at our summer workouts since I’ve been here,” said Woodard. “We’ve got guys that haven’t played before coming out here and joining us and they all know the type of work it’s going to take for us to be successful. I really like this group of kids.”

There will be new faces at the skill positions as sophomore Landon McNickles takes over at the quarterback spot and will hand the ball off to a new stable of ball carriers.

There isn’t a player on the Enterprise roster that’s scored a varsity touchdown, but the team had a freshman class that numbered over 15 players last season and many of those guys are back to help lead the team as sophomores this season.

The sophomore class is the biggest on the team in 2022 with 15 members.

Payton Kysar, Ayden Arevalo and Gavin Regouffre will all get carries in the backfield as running backs and wingbacks. Daylan Barden and AJ Raiford will provide potential big plays as wideouts in the offense.

EAC attempted approximately 20 passes a game last year and Woodards expects to keep that same run/ pass balance in 2022.

The line is returning a full slate of starters at every position.

Junior Ethan Durr will start at center, sophomore Jamie Fulgham will start at left guard and senior Wes Williams will start at left tackle. Williams stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 250-pounds and can anchor his end of the line with that size.

2021 RESULTS (4-7)

ENTERPRISE 42, HILLCREST CHRISTIAN 20 ENTERPRISE 2, ETHEL 0 (FF) BOGUE CHITTO 38, ENTERPRISE 20 AMITE SCHOOL CENTER 36, ENTERPRISE 14 TAYLORSVILLE 41, ENTERPRISE 30 BAY SPRINGS 57, ENTERPRISE 0 RICHTON 36, ENTERPRISE 8 ENTERPRISE 18, SALEM 8 ENTERPRISE 52, LUMBERTON 38 RESURRECTION 48, ENTERPRISE 12 MOUNT OLIVE 46, ENTERPRISE 26

2022 ROSTER SENIORS

Travis Delaughter, Caleb McGrew, Wes Williams JUNIORS

Michael Blanchard, Gavin Regouffre, Harley Moak, Alex I. Sales, Ethan Durr, Adrian Gomez SOPHOMORES

Daylan Barden, Landon McNickles, Payton Kysar, Jaques Yarborough, Jason Keene, Michael Magee, Nick Harris, Ayden Arevalo, Jamie Fulgham, Prewitt Falvey, Micah Carter, Preston Monneyham, Jaden Cothern, Parker Harris, Eli Fuller FRESHMEN

AJ Raiford, R’ayjaveon Haygood, Ryder Martin, Carl Tillman, David Williams, Jonathan McNickles, Dillon Holmes

There are only three seniors on the roster and the most experienced of the group is Travis Delaughter.

In 2022, Delaughter will line up as a tight end and will kick out to be one of the lead blockers on the Yellow Jacket rushing attack. Defensively, he’ll be just as important setting the edge as a defensive end.

There is a competition in preseason practice at right guard as Eli Fuller is a returnee at the position. Sophomore Parker Harris will play right tackle again this season.

On the defensive line, the Jackets will be anchored upfront by nose tackle Prewitt Falvey. Sophomore Jaden Cothern will also be another difference maker up front on the defensive line.

Arevalo is the most experienced returnee on the defense and will again play linebacker.

Junior Ethan Durr and sophomore Michael Magee will also be important pieces as linebackers.

McNickles and Barden will both be two-way players as they’ll likely start at the cornerback spots.

Woodard will again be assisted by longtime line coach Wade Boyte and assistant coach Trace Abdul-Hadi who came on as an assistant last season. New to the staff is coach Austin Hood, who was hired during the summer to coach baseball at the school.

Enterprise won’t kick the season off until Sept. 2 when they’ll host the Ethel Tigers. Ethel is also a 1A program and is coached by former Loyd Star assistant coach Adam Smith.

Woodard took over the program in 2019 and inherited a team with a 19-game losing streak.

In his first game as head coach, the Yellow Jackets broke that streak with a win over Salem, but that would be the only victory of the season for the team.

The 2020 season was another step in the right direction as the Jackets broke a long losing streak to Loyd Star and beat Amite County for the first time in school history while securing a playoff berth.

Momentum continued to build last season and Woodard’s team got an unforgettable win at Lumberton. Lumberton led big early, but Enterprise broke off big play after big play to win 52-38 over the defending 2A state champs.

“We don’t have any big stars on this team,” said Woodard. “We’ve got some kids that want to work hard to be better every day and they’ll play for each other. They’re coachable, eager and have tons of potential. There is a lot of potential in this group and I’m excited to see what we’re capable of this year.”