Blue Devils Enter Season With Depth, Experience And High Hopes
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Elijah Pegues hauls in an interception during last Friday’s Blue-Gray scrimmage at Bobby Clark Field. The Blue Devils open the season August 29 on the road at Independence, looking to snap a three-game losing streak against the Wildcats.
WATER VALLEY – The third year of the Coach Clint Faust era kicked off last Friday with Meet the Blue Devils and a scrimmage. The Blue Devils are coming off a 5–6 campaign in 2024, and Faust believes this year’s squad has the experience, skill and numbers to put together a strong season.
Water Valley opens Friday, August 29, on the road at Independence — a team Faust has yet to beat since taking the reins in 2023. With last fall’s MHSAA reclassification, Water Valley and Bruce remain in Region 2-2A, joined by East Union, Strayhorn and Myrtle. Longtime rival Calhoun City dropped to Class 1A and is off the schedule this year.
The 2025 slate also restores some old rivalries in non-division play. Coffeeville returns for the first time since 2018, and the Devils will face Vardaman for the first time since 1955. Faust said Bruce and East Union may prove to be the toughest division tests, but he likes his team’s chances.
“If we play hard and stay healthy, we’ve got a chance to win it,” Faust said about division play.
Depth and Senior Leadership
Faust, who inherited a rebuilding program, said this year’s roster of about 50 players is the deepest he’s had in his tenure.
“Skill-wise, being year three, this is the most depth we’ve had,” Faust said. “That means we can do more things offensively and defensively. We’ve got competition up front too. Back in the spring I wasn’t sure we’d have five linemen we could count on. Now I think we’ve got seven or eight, and that competition has made us better.”
The roster includes 12 seniors. Ninth graders will mostly play junior varsity, but some could see varsity snaps later in the season.
“We’re going to need them all,” Faust said. “Even if it’s just giving great looks in practice.”
Offensive Weapons
Senior quarterback Zae Bradford returns after rushing for 1,400 yards last year. Faust said Bradford has worked hard this summer to improve his passing and timing with receivers.
“He’s a great dual-threat kid,” Faust said. “He throws it well enough to keep people honest, and now we’ve got weapons around him that we didn’t have last year.”
Among those weapons are senior receiver Shaddai Freeman (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) and tight end Parker Turnage (6-foot-3, 230 pounds). “Those two guys are trouble,” Faust said. “We can even flex Parker out wide.”
The running back room is “loaded,” according to Faust. Senior Tre Adams returns at his true position after a stint at quarterback last season, where he still rushed for about 900 yards in division play. “If you don’t tackle him, he’ll make you pay,” Faust said.
Senior Drake Mabary will also get carries after proving himself late in games last year. Junior Keshun Kurtz steps into a larger role, and freshman Dekorrius “Baby Hulk” Johnson has turned heads.
“He looks the part,” Faust said of Johnson. “He can play linebacker or running back right now. I just want to give the older guys their shot first.”
Defense and Conditioning
Defensively, the Blue Devils bring back experience in the secondary. Corners Derion Gale and Kemauri “Man Man” Page, both over six feet, return as starters. Channing Freeman and Braylon Benson, will rotate at safety.
“We’ve simplified coverage and they’re a year more comfortable in the system,” Faust said.
Adams may see spot duty in the secondary, but Faust hopes others step up so Adams can focus on offense.
The staff also changed in the offseason, with new assistant coach Matt Turner joining the team. Turner brings 17 years of coaching experience, including time at the collegiate level, and is helping with the offensive line and strength program.
“He’s probably forgotten more about sports conditioning than I’ll ever know,” Faust said about Turner. “We worked on NFL combine drills all summer. It’s made us faster and more flexible.”
Looking Ahead
The opener at Independence will test more than just Xs and Os. Faust remembers the blistering heat of his first game there in 2023.
“That was the hottest football game I’ve ever been a part of,” he said. “I promised our kids they’d never go through that again. We’ve been outside in full gear, getting acclimated. I think we’re in better shape this year, and that should pay off.”
For Faust, the excitement is about more than wins and losses.
“I’m most excited about watching these kids perform and seeing the carryover from all the work they’ve put in this summer,” Faust said. “We’ve got several guys who’ve earned their roles, and I think it’s going to show on the field.”
