Bulldogs Building Confidence Behind Linemen

Clay County Bulldogs Head Coach Bruce Lamb said his inexperienced lines are growing on the job.

The Bulldogs graduated multiple starting offensive and defensive lineman following a 7-5 2023 season, leaving a void of experience on the team. Lamb said the players that filled in those gaps have worked hard and the results are clear following a 42-0 win over Monterey.

“We were experienced in the backfield and our wide receivers, but not in the offensive line, a lot of inexperience there and our defensive line also,” Lamb said. “That was a big confidence builder last week against Monterey. So, it’s great to see the kids and get to see how their hard work pays off.”

This week the 3-1 Bulldogs will go on the road to take on the 2-2 Portland Panthers, who are on a two game losing streak. Lamb said being a single-A school traveling to a 5A school can present some challenges.

“They have 100 players where we have 28, so it’s definitely a step up for us to go play these guys,” Lamb said. “They’re a good football team, they lost to two really good football teams, so it’s going to be really tough for us. Especially the long travel and get out in front of a hostile environment, it’s going to be tough.”

With the Panthers running the wing-t offense, Lamb said getting his team familiar with unique formations and play-calls will be crucial against Portland. But with a limited roster and scout team, the Bulldogs coaching staff have to be creative at practices.

“What we’ll do is kind of break it down into positions and talk about different kinds of blocks, the way they are going to scheme, how they’re going to do things,” Lamb said. “And just try to do it that way, because it’s so hard to produce a positive look for our starters with these younger guys.”

Last week senior quarterback and defensive back Nate Adams was responsible for five of the Bulldogs’ six touchdowns. Lamb said he does not want to put any extra pressure on the young man, but admitted the teams’ success depends on his performance each Friday.

“He’s a heck of a football player and probably a better kid than anything,” Lamb said. “He’s extremely intelligent as you can see by his play on the field and in the classroom he’s wonderful. He has a good heart and he’s a great leader. So, it’s a coaches dream to coach somebody like Nate.”