Pigskin Preview: Bulldogs Regain Their Bite!

By Terry Futrell
July 9, 2018

When Coach Kevin Human took the reins of the Wartburg Central High School football program in 2017, he was faced with a number of challenges. The Bulldogs had not won a game since 2014 and the once-powerful football program appeared to have hit bottom. Physically, the Bulldogs were outmanned by almost every opponent. But, more importantly, the players had come to accept defeat as the norm.

Coach Human tackled both of these issues head-on. Bringing on board Erik Zrucky as strength and conditioning coach, a program was begun to restore the Bulldogs to physical competitiveness. At the same time, Coach Human began to instill a sense of pride in the Bulldogs and to develop in his players the mindset to win.

Change doesn’t happen instantaneously, and the Bulldogs were whipped by a very talented Coalfield team in their first game 70-0. Then, just three weeks into the season, the Bulldogs got their first taste of victory, defeating Oakdale 41-0. Just a week later, the Bulldogs almost pulled off an upset, losing 7-8 to a Sunbright team that would finish the season 6-5. Late in the season, the Bulldogs earned their second victory, defeating Sale Creek 41-12.

Sometimes, numbers simply don’t tell the complete story. So it is with the Bulldogs. While there were only two victories in 2017, the Bulldog team that closed out the season was clearly much better than the one shocked by Coalfield in its season opener. Late in the season, the Bulldogs faced Rockwood, ranked #9 in the state at the time in Class 2A. Though ultimately defeated by Rockwood, the Bulldogs played competitively with the Tigers and trailed by only one score going into the fourth quarter. Coach Human believes this game was the turning point for the Bulldogs.

Wartburg closed out the season with a very respectable showing in an exciting game with 25th-ranked Class 3A Gatlinburg-Pittman in the Careacter Bowl. Only one week earlier, Gatlinburg-Pittman had knocked off 11th-ranked Kingston.

While 11 Bulldogs were lost to graduation, a core of more than 20 experienced players return to do battle in 2018. These include sophomore quarterback Tyler Davis, who gained critical experience as a freshman at that position. Also competing at the quarterback position is freshman Samuel McCarty, who Coach Human says can “really sling it”. The Bulldogs have 15 incoming freshmen, many of whom will likely see playing time during the 2018 season.

In addition to quarterback Davis, players expected to be key to Bulldog success in 2018 include Josh Moore (senior tailback), Mason Laymance (sophomore wide receiver), Saylor Jones (junior wide receiver), Bailey Craigo (senior tight end), Robert Williams (senior tackle), Johnden Laymance (junior guard), Andrew Taylor (junior center), and Jake Hamby (senior tackle).

While the Bulldogs are a relatively young team, they have critical experience at key positions. The strength and conditioning program is beginning to show results – the 2018 Bulldogs will certainly be stronger. More importantly, they have tasted success and are hungry for more. The Bulldogs open the 2018 season at home against a developing Coalfield team on August 17, followed by tough road games at Harriman and Oneida. While the Bulldogs will still be a work in progress, fans can expect to see and experience a level of excitement that portrays the long-awaited resurgence of the once-powerful Bulldog football program.