Marcus Wimberly is now in his second year as head football coach of the Cordova Wolves. And while a 7-4 record is nothing to sneeze at, the season ended in heartbreaking fashion with a 21-20 loss at home to Central High School. The loss stung because that Wolves team had multiple chances to win the game and advance in the state playoff tournament.
This season, seven starters from that team return, along with many other players who are trying to turn the disappointment into valuable experience.
“We are excited about the upcoming season,” said Wimberly, who last won a championship as the coach at East High. “The guys have bought into what we are trying to teach them. We are trying to make a run. That is what we are looking forward to.”
The Wolves are expected to rely on their defense. Wimberly, a former defensive star at the University of Miami, loves for his defense to be the focal point of his teams.
Rodkerion Lucas (5’ 10”, 225 lbs.) and Jaquarien Irving (5’ 10”, 190 lbs.) are team captains and will be the two linebackers expected to anchor the defense.
Meanwhile on offense, Cameran Wimberly will be the signal-caller this season. The 5’ 9” junior is the son of Coach Wimberly, and while he’ll be in his first year as a quarterback, he gets plenty of reps in with his dad and has improved steadily with each scrimmage.
Young Wimberly will be passing to Falandis Norry, Jr. (6’0”, 190 lbs.) a junior WR and Joshua Hastings (6’1”, 185 lbs.), a senior WR. The coach believes they are the best tandem in the city.
“I think we are going to be a better team this season,” Coach Wimberly said. “I think we are going to be a hard out.”
The Cordova Wolves open the season with a rematch against the Central Warriors at Crump Stadium on Friday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. The Wolves have a very difficult schedule this season with games at Germantown and South Panola. Also on the schedule are reigning Division II champions Lausanne and the perennial powerhouse Whitehaven Tigers, who fell in last year’s championship game.
“We loaded our schedule up and we have to learn how to win those types of games if we want to be champions,” Coach Wimberly said. “I don’t think anyone will want to play us in the playoffs.”
