'Hunger' on display as Kell gets set to kick off 2026 season

Kell set to kick off 2026 season

When Bobby May took over as head coach for the Kell Longhorns in 2022, it had been seven years since their last region championship and five since their last Georgia High School Association state championship semifinals appearance. Fast forward to now and May has led the Longhorns to two region titles and their first semifinals berth since 2016.

Now, with the start of the 2026 season just under a month away, May says that despite the loss of some talent, returning players are stepping up "into leadership roles" to help the team reach their goals for the season and build off of their 2025 success. "We've got some time to get ready for the season, but we'll be ready to go," May said.

"They're hungry to get back. We had a good winter, you know summer is pretty short, kids in camp and things like that, but now that mandatory practices have started, they're working hard on their second day here," May said of his players and their efforts in getting set for the season.

Among those the Longhorns will lean on offensively will be junior quarterback, Boston Pierce, who takes over under center this year, replacing Kaleb Narcisse, now at East Tennessee State University. "He's been with the program for a while and played some meaningful reps last year, but he's a natural born leader, which to me is the most important thing at quarterback," May said of Pierce.

"The kids are excited and hungry to play for him, they'll work hard for him and he'll get them in the right position to be successful," May said of Pierce. The Longhorns will also look for the return of senior running back and Georgia Tech commit, Moonie Gipson, who is working his way back from a season ending injury suffered in Kell's semifinal matchup against Creekside last season.

"He's been attacking his rehab and trying to get himself ready to go. He's pretty close," May said of Gipson, who finished 2025 with 1,918 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns. "He probably could be full go right now, but we're just trying to take it slow," May say, noting Gipson has been "a good vocal leader" in motivating his teammates.

And as Kell counts down the days to the start of the season, when they take the field on August 19 against the McEachern Indians in the annual Corky Kell-Dave Hunter Classic, May says he and his staff have the same message they have always had each season. "It doesn't matter, get better," May said. "We're trying to push through and develop some mental toughness," May said, adding their core principals of being "fast and physical" will be key in accomplishing their goals for the season.

"We're going to be tough and we're going to play hard and I think that translates at any level of football any season and if you can get your kids to do that, you have a chance," May said.