By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

D’IBERVILLE — D’Iberville finally broke through for a playoff spot in year three under head coach Josh Ladner last season.

Now, the Warriors look to make an even bigger splash in Ladner’s fourth season.

D’Iberville went 5-5 in the regular season last year, and thanks to a stunning 24-23 comeback road win over Biloxi in the regular season finale the Warriors slipped into the third seed in Region 4-7A. A 43-28 lossto home-standing Brandon in the opening round of the Class 7A South State playoffs ended the year.

“The playoff berth was a step in the right direction,” Ladner, said, in a recent interview. “It’s not where we attain to be obviously, but I think the biggest thing was our defense. We had given up so many points the first two seasons. We finally had a veteran defense that came back and it really paid off, so we hope to build on that even more this year.”

On that side of the ball, the Warriors get back a Southeastern Conference commit in linebacker Caleb Triplett. The 6-foot-2, 215 pound Warrior senior is coming off a solid effort on the defensive side of the ball last season that garnered much attention from coaches on the senior college level. He recently committed to Mississippi State.

Triplett finished up last season with 42 solo tackles, 82 total tackles and eight tackles for a loss. He also tallied eight quarterback hurries and three pass deflections as well as three sacks.

In addition, fellow linebacker Stephen Ramsey is back after registering 60 total tackles as a junior last season. And, former St. Martin defensive lineman Caleb Estrada has swapped his loyalties and has landed at arch-rival D’Iberville. The 6-foot-2, 280-pound defender recorded four sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 50 total tackles last year as a junior for the Yellow Jackets.

“We’re older and experienced, so I’m just hoping to reap the benefits of that,” Ladner added.

Jordyn Walley is not only expected to patrol the secondary for DHS but return as the starting quarterback for the Warriors as well.

As a sophomore, he accounted for over 800 yards of total offense and 14 touchdowns last year. He also picked off five interceptions and defended nine passes last year.

The Warriors will have to replace leading rusher Andre Crosby from last season, after he ran for just over 1,000 yards and nine scores. But fullback Jayquan Havard returns after rushing for 906 yards and five touchdowns as a junior last year.

Year four of the Josh Ladner era at DHS kicks off at home against Raleigh on Fri., Aug., 29th.