Kemper sets own destiny

By By Tony Krausz/assistant sports editor
August 9, 2003
DEKALB Kemper County High School head football coach Undray Scott may not have completely wiped his team's schedule clean from the 2002 season, but he got about half of it different for the 2003 season.
For the first time in his tenure as the sideline general of the Wildcats, Scott got to set his team's schedule and half of the teams on the 10-game schedule will be different from last year. The other half will be Division 5-2A foes.
Scott's top concern in setting the schedule this year was to find teams that were closer to Kemper County's size.
The five new teams the Wildcats will square off against in 2003 are West Lowndes, Heidelberg, Thomastown, Lake and Philadelphia
The Heidelberg game, on Sept. 12, will be the first time the Wildcats have met the Oilers in three years. This season will also be the first time Scott will guide teams against West Lowndes, Thomastown, Lake and Philadelphia.
After going 1-9 last season, the KCHS coach said he is looking forward to the team's first game on Aug. 29 against West Lowndes.
The game against the new opponent is the start of back-to-back home contests for Kemper County. The Wildcats face Choctaw Central at home the following Friday.
Scott said playing in the friendly confines of a home stadium is a big plus for a team trying to rebound from a disappointing 2002 campaign.
On the other side of the schedule, the Wildcats will complete the season with back-to-back road games.
Kemper County travels to Clarkdale on Oct. 24, and will play its season finale against Philadelphia on Oct. 31.
Scott said finishing on the road doesn't bother him that much, because the emotions of the game will depend on how the team has fared in its first eight contests.
The one thing the coach does know is that he is ready to start a new season and work on improving the Wildcats' record in 2003.