By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

D’IBERVILLE — After missing the state playoffs the first two seasons under head coach Josh Ladner, D’Iberville has qualified for the postseason the past two campaigns.

Now, as the former Warrior standout prepares for his fifth season leading his alma mater, he aims to maintain that improvement that DHS has enjoyed recently.

D’Iberville finished last season at a solid 8-3, and finished third in the Region 4-7A race. That marked a three win progression from the 2024 season, and the first winning record for DHS since 2021.

“There’s a lot of excitement coming into this season,” Ladner said, in a recent interview. “There’s always a buzz around D’Iberville football on Friday night’s. We just have to take it one day at a time, get one percent better every day, stay healthy and let God do the rest.”

Last season ended with a heart-breaking 14-3 loss on the road to Petal in the opening round of the Class 7A South State playoffs. But there’s plenty of reason to believe that the first playoff win since 2020 is well within reach for DHS this season.

And that’s because, one of the most electric prep football players in the state returns to lead the Warriors this year in senior quarterback Jordan Walley.

“I’m very comfortable knowing that I’m going to go out there with one of the best athletes in the state behind the center,” Ladner added. He’s somebody that, you know, if I make a bad play call he can make it look good. Any guy like that is electric on Friday nights.”

Walley is a speedy, versatile two-way standout for the Warriors, that recently committed to Minnesota. Spending most of his time last season as a junior at quarterback, the three-star prospect produced over 2,000 yards of total offense and 21 touchdowns, passing for 1,368, and five touchdowns while rushing for 776 yards and racking up 16 touchdowns on the ground in the process.

Also a solid ball hawk on the defensive side of the ball, Walley recorded 31 tackles, including two tackles for loss, while adding four pass breakups and an interception to anchor the Warriors’ secondary.

Minnesota recruited him as a cornerback.

He’ll be joined in the offensive backfield by running back and classmate Chan Harvey, who ran for 770 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Christian Butler could see a bigger role running the ball this season also.

Up front, leading the way for all three of those guys will be returning starting lineman Julian Morris.

The 6-foot-3, 260-pound senior two-way player, who recently committed to Louisiana Tech, helped pave the way for a productive Warrior offense last season that rang up just over 3,000 yards of total offense last season and produced 42 touchdowns on the ground.

“We lost a lot in the trenches,” Ladner continued. “But they have made great strides and I’m very proud of them. The leadership of Julian Morris, that obviously helps a lot, but that’s been something that’s been a point of emphasis, knowing that was going to be what was really our ceiling.”

Defensively, DHS must find a way to replace its two top defenders in linebacker Caleb Triplett (8 tackles for loss) and end C.J. Washington (13 sacks). Also, Jaylen Johnson transferred to Gulfport.

The Warriors will turn to the likes of returning starter Roman Green at linebacker, after he recorded 66 total tackles last year, as well as fellow linebacker De’Andre Hunter who tallied 50 stops.

In the secondary, along with Walley at times, Ladner expects big things out of newcomer Jayden Williams.

In addition, Aaden Ladner coud be a player to watch on either side of the ball for DHS this year, at both tight end and linebacker, as well as Matthews Fairley at wide out and cornerback.

“Our speed and our skill players are our strength. I think we can match up with just about anybody else in that department,” Ladner said. “And our secondary has really improved.

I think we’re gonna be a fun team to watch.”

The Warriors kick off the new season on the road against Raleigh on Fri., Aug. 28th. Ladner hopes his Warriors are lined up for another successful campaign.

“I think for us, my team, that begins with a first-round playoff win.” he concluded. “And so that’s what we’re trying to get to, however that is. I know that the road would be easier if we’re hosting it, so the goal is to try to host a playoff game and win that playoff game, and then see whatever God has laid out in front of us from there.”