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TUPELO – It shouldn’t take very long for fans to notice one huge difference in the Tupelo Golden Wave this season.
Tupelo fell a play short of winning back-to-back Class 7A state championships with an offense every opponent knew was going to run the ball. In 2026, those opponents will have to do a lot more guessing.
Tupelo believes it hit the jackpot with Oxford transfer quarterback Drew Dean.
“From Day 1, he fit in,” Tupelo coach Ty Hardin said. “He’s made our team better. When I’m trying to leave and shut this place down, he’s still outside making receivers run routes. I’m excited to get to see him show out.”
Dean threw for 3,079 yards and 31 touchdowns in two seasons as Oxford’s starter. He was on pace for 2,000-plus yards last season as a junior until an injury sidelined him.
He went down in the third quarter of an Oct. 17 game against Germantown, missed the following week, and attempted only three passes the rest of the season. He didn’t play in the Chargers’ final two playoff games against Horn Lake and Tupelo, while Knox Kiffin finished the season at quarterback.
“It was hard,” Dean said. “But as a leader, as a quarterback, you’ve got to be supportive. I still took my job seriously being a captain, even though I wasn’t on the field. It was obviously hard. You want to be out there.”
Dean transferred to Tupelo in December. The Golden Wave attempted only 107 passes last season among three quarterbacks. Only one receiver had more than eight catches.
Tupelo didn’t just inherit Dean. Dean inherited Kylan Bobo. The Colorado commit rushed for 1,726 yards and 28 touchdowns last season – without the threat of a passing quarterback.
“It’s great to have a quarterback and the versatility he brings to the table," Bobo said. “Last year in certain situations, we needed a pass or a fake to get everybody to back off of us in the box.”
Dean and Tupelo were already familiar with one another. He started twice against the Golden Wave but didn’t play in last season’s North final.
They share more than that in common. Dean and the rest of the Golden Wave are all playing with chips on their shoulders. While Dean hasn’t thrown more than one pass in a game since Oct. 17, Tupelo’s final memory of last season is losing the championship on Gulfport’s Hail Mary.
“I’m glad to be on the same team and not playing against them any more,” Dean said. “Everybody is here to compete. Everybody is here to win.”
Continue reading...
Tupelo fell a play short of winning back-to-back Class 7A state championships with an offense every opponent knew was going to run the ball. In 2026, those opponents will have to do a lot more guessing.
Tupelo believes it hit the jackpot with Oxford transfer quarterback Drew Dean.
“From Day 1, he fit in,” Tupelo coach Ty Hardin said. “He’s made our team better. When I’m trying to leave and shut this place down, he’s still outside making receivers run routes. I’m excited to get to see him show out.”
Dean threw for 3,079 yards and 31 touchdowns in two seasons as Oxford’s starter. He was on pace for 2,000-plus yards last season as a junior until an injury sidelined him.
He went down in the third quarter of an Oct. 17 game against Germantown, missed the following week, and attempted only three passes the rest of the season. He didn’t play in the Chargers’ final two playoff games against Horn Lake and Tupelo, while Knox Kiffin finished the season at quarterback.
“It was hard,” Dean said. “But as a leader, as a quarterback, you’ve got to be supportive. I still took my job seriously being a captain, even though I wasn’t on the field. It was obviously hard. You want to be out there.”
Dean transferred to Tupelo in December. The Golden Wave attempted only 107 passes last season among three quarterbacks. Only one receiver had more than eight catches.
Tupelo didn’t just inherit Dean. Dean inherited Kylan Bobo. The Colorado commit rushed for 1,726 yards and 28 touchdowns last season – without the threat of a passing quarterback.
“It’s great to have a quarterback and the versatility he brings to the table," Bobo said. “Last year in certain situations, we needed a pass or a fake to get everybody to back off of us in the box.”
Dean and Tupelo were already familiar with one another. He started twice against the Golden Wave but didn’t play in last season’s North final.
They share more than that in common. Dean and the rest of the Golden Wave are all playing with chips on their shoulders. While Dean hasn’t thrown more than one pass in a game since Oct. 17, Tupelo’s final memory of last season is losing the championship on Gulfport’s Hail Mary.
“I’m glad to be on the same team and not playing against them any more,” Dean said. “Everybody is here to compete. Everybody is here to win.”
Continue reading...
