After finishing last year with a 6-5 record with a loss in the first round of the playoffs to Germantown, the OHS football team looks to bounce back this season. They return multiple key players from last season and look to make a push for the state title despite how it ended last year.

Head football coach Chris Cutcliffe was proud of how they finished the regular season despite some early losses last season.

“We were really proud a year ago of how our team responded to a slow start,” Cutcliffe said. “We bounced back to win five consecutive region games and enter the playoffs as the one seed.”

The Chargers have now entered Region 2-7A and will face challenging region games against teams Starkville, Madison Central, Germantown and Clinton.

“We’re excited about the challenge of moving back into Region 2-7A,” Cutcliffe said. “I believe we play the toughest schedule in the state of Mississippi, so we know improving over the course of the season is crucial.”

Even with the loss of many starters from last season, Cutcliffe believes this team is ready to step up and lead well.

“We really believe our leadership is in a good place right now,” Cutcliffe said. “ We need leadership at all grade levels within the program to be successful, and we’ve had guys step up to the plate.”

This summer, sophomore Knox Kiffin joined the team after his move from California. Junior returner, and last year’s starting quarterback, Drew Dean welcomed the added competition in the quarterback room.

“Over my entire career I’ve had people pushing me to get better,” Dean said. “ Anybody that wants to be successful welcomes competition.”

The team has players who are able to push each other. This competition between players enables growth.

“Competition brings out the best in all of us, and we have competition in every position group on the team,” Cutcliffe said. “ We believe that daily competition in practice helps all of us improve.”

The Charger offensive line is an experienced group that has played many snaps. Senior right tackle and South Alabama commit Elliott Chaney is excited about this year’s offensive line.

“I feel like we are a very tight group,” Chaney said. “With four seniors starting on the line this year it is definitely cool to be playing next to guys that I have been playing with for years.”

This year’s offense has multiple returners at key positions, with this they are looking to score often.

“I would describe the offense as explosive,” Chaney said. “We are not going to wait for teams to score, and we are going to be aggressive running the ball and technical in the pass game.”

To have a high scoring offense, playmakers are a necessity. Wide receiver coach Logan Dodson is confident in his group this season.

“This year’s wide receiver group is crazy athletic across the board,” Dodson said. “They are hard working and want to be coached hard as well.”

On the defensive side of the ball, senior defensive back and Vanderbilt commit Collin Flanigan has some goals that he wants to accomplish before his time is over at Oxford High.

“I really want to get my teammates better before I leave,” Flanigan said. “Stats-wise, I want to break the interception record here.”

Flanigan was a key component of the Chargers defense last year, and he made many game-changing plays. He expects big things out of this year’s defense as well.

“I think we are a gritty defense,” Flanigan said. “We have a good connection and a strong brotherhood. We have some starters returning and younger guys who have been putting in work.”

The Chargers only have four home games this season, but they have multiple exciting games throughout this year’s season.

“Only four home games kind of stinks, but I’m looking forward to the Thursday night game against Starkville at the end of the season,” Dodson said. “We play two reigning state champions in Grenada and Tupelo which should be good competition outside of the region.”

The Chargers will travel to Collierville, Tenn. on Aug. 29th to kick off the season. “We’re really excited to get on the field with the 2025 Chargers,” Cutcliffe said. “We’ve had an excellent offseason and summer, so we’re excited to see that translate to the field.”