Wynne senior quarterback Ross Trail is playing football in his hometown again and he wouldn't have it any other way.
After transferring from Wynne in 2013 to Olive Branch (Miss.), Trail was declared ineligible by the Mississippi High School Activities Association because of residency issues. But he was allowed to play thanks to a stay from a Mississippi judge and he threw for 1,626 yards with 15 touchdowns and 5 interceptions as a junior.
Trail, 6-3, 200 pounds, returned to Wynne in January in time for offseason workouts and is entrenched once again as the Yellowjackets' starting quarterback.
"It's great, being back with all the guys I grew up playing with," Trail said. "It definitely feels like home."
Wynne finished 5-1 in pool play on the first day of the two-day 7-on-7 Shootout of the South at Mighty Bluebird Complex in west Little Rock. The Yellowjackets beat Malvern, Harrison, Stigler, Okla., Stigler, Okla. junior varsity and DeSoto Central (Miss.) and lost to Pulaski Academy Gold.
A residency issue plagued Trail's one season in Mississippi.
Trail's family lives on a farm in St. Francis County. His father Rusty's side of the family is from Arkansas while his mother Leigh's side is from Olive Branch.
Trail's parents bought a house in Olive Branch while keeping their house in Wynne. His sister Ally, who attends Wynne Junior High, stayed in Wynne with his mother while he stayed in Mississippi with his father.
While Trail was declared ineligible before the 2013 season after two games, a Mississippi judge granted a stay in Trail's case, which allowed Olive Branch Coach Scott Samsel to play him. The case is still pending in the Mississippi Supreme Court. Olive Branch finished 7-5 last season.
The house in Olive Branch has been sold, but the Trail family is still embroiled in a legal battle with the Mississippi Supreme Court over Trail's ineligibility saga.
Leigh Trail was complimentary of her family's time in Mississippi despite her son's saga.
"We had a positive experience in Mississippi and he enjoyed it there, too" Leigh Trail said. "But it is certainly comforting to know he's back and he gets to graduate with the kids he grew up with."
Trail committed this week to Cincinnati, where Camden native Tommy Tuberville is entering his second season. Committing to the Bearcats was due in part to Darin Hinshaw, the team's quarterback coach, Trail said.
"He was a personable guy and I bonded with him," Trail said. "He was interested in making me a better quarterback, not just winning football games."
Being back at Wynne is a relief for Trail, who said his experience at Olive Branch made him a better football player.
"It pulls the weight off my shoulders," Trail said. "Week in and week out, I was worrying about whether I was going to be able to play. Here, I can just relax and play football."
Wynne Coach Chris Hill is pleased to have Trail back with the Yellowjackets, who return 20 starters from last year's Class 5A playoff team.
"He's a smart, hard-working player," said Hill of Trail, who passed for 447 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore at Wynne. "He loves to work. He throws the ball well. He does a lot of things good. We're certainly ticked to have him back in our program."
Sports on 06/21/2014