Looking at a new era

Bulldogs begin first year of varsity football

By Eric Moore

This season the Quitman Bulldogs will join several teams in the state as a first-year program.

Last season, in junior varsity, the Bulldogs won one of their six games, but head coach Andy Stallings thinks that the varsity season could be different, even to the point that they could shock the world by making it to the playoffs in their first year.

“I’m optimistic about it,” Stallings said. “I think we’ll compete a little bit. They’re taking five teams out of the conference for the playoffs, and I’m looking at it as why not us?”

The 5-2A Conference includes two other first-year teams in Conway Christian and Little Rock Lutheran, as well as teams that have struggled in the past, so Stallings’ confidence may not be misplaced.

At each position on the field, Stallings is confident in his players’ abilities starting with the quarterback. Junior Tim Smith’s football knowledge and skill on the field continue to impress Stallings in practice.

“Me and him are completely on the same page,” Stallings said. “He calls plays that are in my head.”

At running back, senior T.J. Ballard will carry the responsibilities of the ground game this year. Over the summer he shaved 0.3 seconds off of his 40-yard dash time and has become one of the stronger kids in the weight room, Stallings said. Senior Kyle Bettis will be his backup.

A stable of receivers, led by Bettis, will include senior first-year player Andy Hutchings and junior Forrest McPeake. The strength of the passing game will lie in the receivers’ route-running ability, which has pleased Stallings so far.

Four players will compete at tight end, including senior Nick Steeves and sophomore Jaylyn Green (6-3, 220). Steeves is a better blocker, and Green still has some learning to do on the field, but once he gets comfortable with the game he will be tough to stop, Stallings said.

The offensive line could be a strength on this team with junior Austin Coates (5-10, 230) at center, junior Brock Bunch (5-10, 180) at right guard, sophomore Tyler Powell (6-1, 240) at right tackle, freshman Chris Grubs (6-4, 295) will start at right tackle once the junior varsity season is over, Casey Murphy (6-1, 230) at left tackle and senior John Ryder (5-9, 185) at left guard.

“The backups are going to get a lot of playing time,” Stallings said. “We’re getting everybody ready to give people a break, and we’ll be conditioned.”

The Bulldogs will use a 5-2 look on defense with senior Andrew White and junior Dylan Jackson at defensive ends and Ryder, Powell and Casey Murphy at interior linemen.

Ballard and Bettis will contribute at linebacker, where their speed will make them difficult to block, Stallings said.

Smith will play free safety when he is on defense, which is similar to his quarterback position.

“He runs the show from back there and does a heck of a job,” Stallings said.

Steeves and McPeake will join Smith in the secondary as cornerbacks. Sophomore Cody Easter, a backup wide receiver, could also see time at cornerback this year.

The Bulldogs are putting quite a bit of emphasis on kicking this year, and they will depend on junior R.J. Johnson to be their key player there.

“7-0 sounds a lot better than 6-0,” Stallings said. “He’s committed to being a kicker, and he’s taking it seriously.”

Stallings knows it’s difficult to take a first-year program to the playoffs, but that doesn’t stop him from believing his team will be there at the end of the year.

“I’m overly optimistic at times,” Stallings admitted. “We’re going to take it one game at a time, try to win as many as we can and maybe make a little history.”