By CURTI ROCKWELL/Sports Director

WIGGINS — Last season, in year one under new head coach Jacob Aycock, Stone High missed the state football playoffs for the first time in eight years.
But the Tomcats have their sights set on a return to the postseason in year two of the Aycock regime.
Stone finished up 3-7 last season, and went just 1-4 in the newly revamped Region 4-5A. The Tomcats just missed out on making an eighth straight trip to the playoffs but three of their four league losses came by four points or less including the regular season finale. Needing a win to secure a spot in the postseason, the Hornets nipped visiting Stone 21-20 and both teams finished at 1-4 in the region race and out of the playoff picture.

“Last year was my first year as a head coach and it was our first time in Class 5A, so there was an adjustment period in trying to find our identity,” Aycock said, in a recent interview. “It’s year two and I’ve settled in and I feel like we are close. We faced some adversity last season but I think we became a better team because of it and moving into this season we have a better feel for where we are at as a team.”

Stone lost a familiar face behind center as veteran quarterback Conner Tice graduated. Aycock will look to offensive weapons such as running back Ky’lan Burnett and wide receiver K.J. Galloway for top production this season.
“We’re fortunate enough to have some big, strong guys inside as well as some playmakers on the outside,” Aycock added. “I think that gives us a more balanced attack going into this year.”
Defensively, senior linebacker Dalton Stringer led the Tomcats in total tackles last season as a junior and he returns as does defensive end Lane Warden to bolster Aycock’s defense.

“We are preaching to our guys; how can we get one play better? It’s not just one play overall but it is one play each day.” Aycock concluded. “If we get better one play each day throughout the summer then we feel like we should be competitive with anybody on our schedule.”

The Tomcats open the season in the same place against the same squad they did in Aycock’s debut last year, as they head to Biloxi to face the Indians on Friday, Aug. 30th. Biloxi smacked Stone 44-14 last season.