Story By Jason Bowen

After a few un-North Jackson like seasons, the 2024 Chiefs got back to the program’s winning ways.

North Jackson posted an 8-3 record and won its first region title since the 2018 season, claiming the top spot for the first time ever in a nine-team region. And while a heart-breaking loss to Alexandria in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs was a sour end to a strong season, head coach Joe Hollis Jr. said the steps forward the Chiefs took last season were important for their future.

“You have to learn how to win,” Hollis said. “When you’re building a program — we’d had a couple of years that we’re not up to par, weren’t up to our standard — and just learning how to win, how to play four quarters of football, you’ve got to learn how to win, learn how to compete in close games and finish games…learning how to be successful in those situations,” said Hollis, who is entering his fifth season as North Jackson head coach and 12th year with the program overall. “These guys did a great job last year of winning the region. This group has done that (now). We just continue to build.”

Hollis and North Jackson seniors Kadyn Pace and Boone Thomas discussed the Chiefs’ upcoming season during the annual Jackson-DeKalb Football Media Day last week at the Tom Bevill Center in Rainsville.

Pace, a wide receiver/safety who holds several college offers including one from UNA, said last season’s success “definitely raised expectations” for the team and made it hungrier heading into a 2025 season in which North Jackson returns eight starters on offense and six on defense. 

One starter lost to graduation was all-state running back and Class 4A Region 8 Player of the Year, Diego Holt. And while Hollis understands the questions he and his players get about life without Holt, the coach is confident in the returning players such as running back Nick Price Jr., quarterback Creed Richardson and receivers Pace and Haven Massengile can help make up for Holt’s lost production.

“As coaches we get paid to know our players and we get paid to see what their strengths are and focus on their strengths,” Hollis said. “It’s kind of like being in a lab and experimenting with what works. If that means we’ve got to throw it 70 times a game, we’re going to do it. If we’ve got to run it 80 times a game, we’re going to do it. We just play to our kids’ strengths and try to get them the ball in space (so they) can make something happen.”

Hollis expects another stout defense from long-time Chiefs defensive coordinator Barry Shrader, who is in the third season of his second tenure with the program.

“Defensively, we’re going to be who we are. That mold was set in 1988,” said Hollis, referring to Shrader coordinating the Chiefs’ defense for the first 20 seasons (1988-2007) after North Jackson was formed via the consolidation of Bridgeport and Stevenson High Schools. 

One of the best things the Chiefs have going for them, Hollis said, is having an experienced team.

“Football is a game of experience. The more you know, the more times you’ve been in the situation, the better you perform in the situation,” he said. This group of kids is a special group. They have been battle-tested.”

Thomas, a four-year starting offensive and defensive lineman, said the Chiefs want to turn their experience into another successful season.

“Expectations have been raised,” Thomas said. “We were so close (to advancing). We’re really focusing on that and we want to be region champs again. Just go 1-0 everyday.”