LAURENS COUNTY, Ga. — The West Laurens Raiders have gotten off to a hot start for their 2024 season. Senior Jontavious Kellam is impressed with their perfect start.
"It honestly feels like a dream. We've been losing a lot these past few years but shoot we done bounced back a lot," Kellam said.
They bounced back to a three-week win streak. Head coach Kip Burdette said three or four years ago this team needed to grow into who they are now.
"We've taken our lumps early on. We're actually to a point now they've got experience. They've got some game experience and we're starting to see the benefits of it," Burdette said.
The Raiders are undefeated so far this season. Their three wins are the most they've had in the past two seasons.
"As a senior starting off 3-0 it feels really good," said senior wide receiver Jalon Rozier.
Burdette said they were going through growing pains.
"We felt like when they got a little bit older they were going to be okay so we felt like it was a couple years coming still got a lot to prove a lot to do but we thought there was some promise in those classes if everything came together," Burdette said.
So far, the patience is paying off. Rozier said it's been rough for this program, but now he's optimistic.
"My sophomore, junior year we didn't do too well and you know senior year starting undefeated hopefully we can win Friday night again and just keep on rolling," Rozier said.
Coach Burdette said it's all about developing a mindset and perspective.
"One of our motto is play hard, have fun, and expect to win. And you know we're actually to a point where we're actually expecting to win not hoping to win. I believe this group does a have a moxy and a little confidence about them where they are when we line up on Friday night they feel like they're the better team and they expect to win," Burdette said.
West Laurens seniors said they wants to win their region. They're one step closer with their dramatic first region win over Howard. Coach said he's happy with where they're at but definitely not satisfied.
"What do we want to do? What do we want to achieve at the end of the season? Not sit here and pat ourselves on the back now about how good it's going. We're really growing still, we're sill trying to get better. We want to start stacking games though. We won one region game and now we want to win two," Burdette said.