Howard Hustlin’ Tigers
Coach: Michael Calloway (2-17 in two years here and overall)
Last year: 2-8 only two seasons after a playoff-clinching 8-2 record
’13 dreams: While the two wins last year – District 6-AA upsets of Central and Brainerd – were a far cry from a winning season, they represented a two-win improvement over the previous season, and only two of the eight losses were by 20 or more points. Quarterback Terrance Brooks and running back Kentarius Hampton are reasons for optimism, but the Tigers are likely to be outmanned in every game with just slightly more than two dozen hopefuls showing up each day for practice. Too, there is a shortage of experienced linemen and a definite shortage of line candidates (just nine in the early days of practice, and five of those were freshmen).
13-for-13 contenders: Brooks wants to play college football, and while he’s undersized he runs and passes and returns punts and kicks and realizes that he might be best suited to be a receiver or defensive back at the next level. Hampton teamed well with Brooks a year ago, when they and Lorenzo McCauley provided the bulk of the Tigers’ offense.