Hornets grow with
Colton Foster Sports Editor
While things didn ’ t end as everybody had hoped for Huntsville football , the Hornets showed improvements on the field that set them up for a trip to the postseason and much more .
The Hornets hit the field in a Week 11 matchup that sent the winner to the playoffs , where they came out and defeated Richmond Randle to earn a spot in the 5A division II playoffs .
While the bi-district game didn ’ t go how the Hornets were hoping there was more to it than a game . Huntsville was able to hold an additional week of practice while calling up 18 players to be dressed out for their playoff game . And of those 65 who dressed , all but 18 will return to the Hornets next season .
“ You always want to win every game and want to do whatever the next phase is for your program ,” Huntsville head coach Rodney Southern said . “ Making the playoffs is something you want , especially for your seniors . Knowing what we were facing going in , I was proud of the way we finished the year . We won a game we had to win , which is a good situation to build on . To be able to dress 60 guys , with a bunch of them coming back . You want to win more than four games but at the same time , you have to find a lot of the good . We could have laid down in the last regular season game and not gotten in . There ’ s a lot of good but the biggest thing is all of the lettermen who are coming back .”
A few of those returners include current freshman Trae ’ Shawn Brown and junior Jawann Giddens . The two brothers became a force for the Hornets in the stretch of the season as Brown was called up right before the Brenham game .
Brown came in and lit up the rushing game
as his speed was unmatched in all three of his games as the premier running back . He would be paired with Giddens , the Hornets quarterback in the backfield finding success .
Giddens would take over at quarterback during the Montgomery game after sophomore quarterback Austin Taylor would take a hit to the head and sideline him .
During the first four games , Taylor would be the starting quarterback as Giddens was also nursing an injury .
“ We knew Jawann was going to be able to help us once he got healthy ,” Southern said . “ I think Jawann is a guy that can play quarterback , running back and I think he could help us defensively if we needed him too . We knew all along that Trae ’ shawn would get his opportunity . I just didn ’ t know exactly when it would be . I think it ’ s pretty
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