MAUMELLE, Ark. — In the first season under head coach Brian Maupin, Maumelle won just three games. But in his sophomore year his team more than doubled that number with seven wins and a playoff berth for the first time in five years.
Now Maupin and company are more motivated than ever to compete this year and win not just in the 5A Central but in the state.
"We're past the point of changing the culture. It's not about change, it's about building," Maupin said. "We got a really good symbiotic relationship with last season right now. We're proud of the turnaround and what we accomplished, but we're also hungry because we got a taste, but we didn't get finished the meal."
With an influx of transfers from nearby high schools such as Central Arkansas Christian and Pulaski Academy, the Hornets will have high expectations to build on their newfound and keep going.
One of those transfers, Nathaniel Thomas Jr., said it's his teams selflessness that will get them far.
"We're starting to kind of dial in with a 'we over me mindset' instead of us just playing for ourselves," Thomas Jr. said.
Returning senior defensive and offensive lineman Konner Forte added that the team feels like a "group of brothers that love each other" and want to go to war on the field together,
"We want this together, and we want it for each other," Forte said,
Forte and Thomas Jr. are also more than confident they can get the job done this season.
"I have no doubt that we're gonna go out here and dominate every game," Thomas Jr. said.
Forte agreed, noting that their aspirations are on winning the state championship. "I like to believe the only team in the that can beat us is us."
Not only is it full confidence from the Hornets players, but the same mindset is shared from the Hornets head coach as well.
"I mean, we're a championship or bust around here, you know? I mean, when I got this job, that was the mindset," Maupin said.