In the wake of a disappointing 2025 football season that ended with only two victories, seniors at C.E. Byrd High School are already turning their focus to the future. Both the players and head coach Stacey Ballew emphasized the need for stronger leadership, greater effort, and a renewed sense of pride as the Yellow Jackets prepare for the next campaign.
Players take responsibility
Senior running back Christian Maxie, who also serves as a team captain, acknowledged that injuries were not the sole reason for the losses. “People can say we were dealing with a lot of injuries, but I feel like we just needed more leadership on the team,” Maxie said. “There were a lot of games we lost by one touchdown. I feel like we started off early, we had more leaders, and I personally feel like I should have stepped up.”
Defensive end and defensive tackle Clay Atkinson echoed that sentiment, admitting his own shortcomings from the previous year. “I’m not afraid to say, I did really bad last year. I wasn’t a good leader. I wasn’t giving my 110%,” Atkinson said. “This year I’m leaving it all out there on the field, having fun, and giving everything for my teammates.”
Coach Ballew sees growth in younger players
Head coach Stacey Ballew noted that the younger members of the squad have begun to take ownership of the program. “The younger kids from last year have got a little bit more ownership and they understand that you have to put in the work if you want to be successful and it shows on the field,” Ballew explained. “They’re getting after each other, they’re moving, and they’ve got a mission: they want to get better.”
Looking ahead with confidence
Both seniors expressed optimism about the team’s potential for the upcoming season. Atkinson said, “I want to play everybody. I’m not ducking no smoke. I know they say we got a hard schedule, but I’m ready for everybody and I’m bringing the same intensity for everybody. I’m giving 110% every game.”
Maxie added, “The pride that I have for this team is like, I can’t even explain it. It is just such a love for the football, for this team, for this school, and for all my teammates. Something I love so much and love to give everything I have for this team.”
Community support remains strong
Despite the on‑field struggles, the Yellow Jackets continue to receive backing from the local community, alumni, and school officials who see the season as a learning experience rather than a failure. The coaching staff plans to emphasize leadership development during off‑season training, with an eye toward turning the lessons of 2025 into a more competitive 2026 campaign.
As the players head into summer workouts, the focus will be on building strength, improving fundamentals, and fostering the kind of teamwork that Maxie and Atkinson say was missing last year. With senior leadership stepping up and younger players taking greater ownership, the program hopes to return to a winning path and restore pride to C.E. Byrd’s football tradition.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
