Bulldogs 2023 Season OutlookThe Boiling Springs Bulldogs football team entered last season looking to rebuild a program that had stumbled the last couple of seasons and after finishing 2-9 last year but showing competitiveness in some big games, the expectations for the 2023 Bulldogs team is to continue to improve while coming away with some wins in those big games. "I don't think anyone has 2-9 being the record you want to have whether that be your first year or your tenth year, but I think every situation is different," said Bulldogs head coach Matt Reel. "I was really proud of how our kids grew throughout the year and if we could have played some of those early games again later in the season with how we played I think that record may have been a little different. It was tough on the kids last year learning new things, but I was really proud of them and I'm hoping that the bumps and bruises we went through last year sets the groundwork for more success this year because our kids have been really working hard this offseason." He said that with the youth of his team last year, the trials that they went through should only make them better as they enter this season and beyond. "We played with a ton of guys that'd normally be on the JV team at the varsity level last season," said Reel. "Those guys having to go through the fire and being put in pressure situations that a sophomore doesn't normally get put into playing against the level of competition that we do, it should only make them better in the long run." Reel heads into the 2023 season starting his second season leading the Bulldogs program and will be adding some a familiar title to his duties this season, a role that he said he missed somewhat last year. During spring practice this year, it was announced that last year's offensive coordinator Jeremy Smith had been named the new head coach at Andrew Jackson High School that left a void in the Bulldogs program, a void that Reel was used to having to fill. "Last year was the first season I hadn't ran the offense in years and Coach Smith done a phenomenal job for us, and we're excited about the opportunity he got to lead the program at Andrew Jackson this year," said Reel. "With him leaving it left an open area for our team and I struggled a little last year not having that control because I've always done it. It had nothing to do with the guys that were calling the plays, as they done a great job, but I had always been the one doing it so it just felt right to me that I took it back over." With him taking over the offensive coordinator role, Reel said his goal is to put his guys in spots to be successful. "The one thing I've always wanted to do as an offensive coordinator is to do the things your personnel can do well," said Reel. "We're going to base our offense around the talent that we have and what they can do really well. I don't want to make them something they're not because I want our guys to succeed. We're going to have some similarities to last year but with a few new wrinkles and changes." On the offensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs will once again be led at quarterback by junior Lincoln Huskey who will be entering his second year of being the full-time starter, as he also started some games as a freshman. Reel is looking forward to seeing the year that Huskey can have this season, especially after the Bulldogs added former Limestone head coach Brian Turk as the quarterback coach to help guide the young passer. "With Coach McDowell and I handling more of the offensive line, we needed someone to be a constant with our quarterbacks, so we brought in Coach Turk this year," said Reel. "Coach Turk has a great football mind and is a great advisor to Lincoln on helping him understand what we're wanting to accomplish. Lincoln is a great player and is now starting to understand what defenses are doing against us and what we have in our offense to counter those things. He's done a great job this summer and he's just so athletic as he scored last year at Spartanburg on a 77-yard run. He has the ability to make big plays and has just gotten better. If we can give him the time, I look for him to have a big year." At the running back position, the Bulldogs will be looking to replace Kam Williams who graduated last season. Reel believes that they have two players in Javen Chhim and Ry'Shaun Morgan that can be real trouble for teams next year. "Both Javen and Ry'Shaun have great ball skills coming out of the backfield," said Reel. "They're both tough runners on the inside and you wouldn't guess it, but Javen is one of our strongest kids on the team pound for pound. Those guys are going to be weapons in both the running and the passing game and our job as coaches is to get them as involved as we possibly can. It's my job to get the playmakers the ball in space and let them do what they do." Along the offensive line last year, the Bulldogs were very young and thin at last year and it's a group that Reel said played hard but were just behind other teams in the weight room last year. "We didn't have a lot of depth there last year on the offensive line and the depth that we did have was young," said Reel. "It was no knock against them, but they were just young and facing some tough competition earlier than planned. We were behind in the weight room when we got here and we're working on catching up there, but those guys never gave up last year or let us down, we were just behind in our development. We're hoping that what they experienced last year has lit a fire under them this year to play at a different level as we got a ton of those guys coming back with a lot of experience from last year. We're also changing up some of our blocking schemes to give them better angles and better chances to be successful. I feel great about the group we have coming back as they worked their tails off in the weight room this past year as they're stronger and bigger, and we'll see how we match up against other people once the games begin." At the wide receiver position Reel feels very similar to the offensive line, as last year it was a young group that will only be better with another year under their belt. A few players to keep an eye on include senior Tre'Sean Taylor along with sophomores Eli Mobley and Grayson Crowe. "Last year a lot of our skill guys were JV guys that had to be moved up and be the guys for us last year," said Reel. "It was tough for them playing against the talent level we see every night and we struggled there some last year. When we got to the offseason, we met with every single player letting them know the things they done that were good and bad, we told them what our plans were to fix it and I think our kids have done a good job in being realistic with themselves and taking it to heart and have worked hard at getting better. We got some guys that minus a few have another year after this one as well that played a lot for us last year, so as a group they kind of went through the fire." One player that has been having a big summer for the Bulldogs is tight end Dekari Sterling and is someone the coaches think will be a big help to the offense. They believe that Sterling and fellow tight end Hunter Woodward could give other teams matchup problems. "He's just a kid that has come in, put his head down and went to work," said Reel. "We talked to him in the offseason about things he'd need to do to play at the next level and one of those things was to put on more weight which he has done as he's around 240lbs now. He's worked as hard as anyone in the weight room and really worked on his hands and through his dedication has given himself the chance to play at the next level. As a tight end and H-back, he's an extension of our offensive line but him along with our other tight end Hunter Woodward, we feel like they can be tough matchups for others." While the scores didn't always reflect it, the Bulldogs are returning a defense that held some big offenses down and gave the team multiple opportunities in some close games. "I felt like last year every game our defense played well but it just got to some points late in games that with our struggles on offense they just realized there wasn't a chance of coming back and that's just being honest," said Reel. "It's something that we talked about as a team, that we want to make sure we give ourselves a chance to be successful at all times. The defense showed up and showed out and we have a lot of guys back and we feel like we have a senior heavy group. Coach Graham is doing a great job with that group over there and we had a lot of compliments last year about how competitive that group was last year." On the defensive from the Bulldogs return to two seniors that include Calvin Jackson, Jr along with two juniors that they expect to see a lot of playing time from this year. "I think Calvin has the ability to take things over when he wants to," said Reel. "When we get in spots where teams have to throw the ball, he's going to be an issue for them, but I think the thing we don't talk about enough is how well he has played against the run. He's bought into what we've told him, and he's worked hard to learn techniques and there's things he does that can be tough on offenses this year." At the linebacker position, that group will be led by senior JoJo Barrett who Coach Reel says is not only the leader of that group but the heart of this team. "Not to slight anyone else but I believe that JoJo is the heart of our football team," said Reel. "He's a leader and the ultimate competitor whether it's checkers, practice, 7-on-7, or an actual game, he wants to win. He goes out to compete every night and will give you everything that he has which is the type of kids that we want. We want kids that aren't scared and play hard all the time. He's just a phenomenal young man as he's got a 4.3 GPA, plays multiple sports, and very involved with his church. He's the most secure player I've seen in who he is, and he plays with that attitude. He's just a football player." In the secondary, the Bulldogs will return guys with a lot of experience along with a sophomore transfer that the team expects a lot from. They return seniors Amayjai Boyd, Jared Chinloy Mickens, and Kam Foster while also adding sophomore Jeremiah Favorite to the mix, who transferred in from Myrtle Beach after last year's football season. "Amayjai and Jared played a ton for us last year and Kam was as well before getting hurt," said Reel. "Having those three guys back helps a ton and with Favorite coming in with his pedigree after what he done as a freshman at Myrtle Beach, he has the ability to take away one side of the field. With those guys back there, it's going to allow us to do a lot of things on the back side of the field that you can't always do." The special team's unit will see a familiar face return to the punting position as junior Kyle Patterson will return to start and he's also become a key player at the wide receiver position. "Kyle done a good job for us last year as he averaged thirty-four yards a punt," said Reel. "He's one of the most athletic guys in our program as he'll also play wide receiver some as well as he has a real big playmaker for us there this spring and summer. He adds a vertical threat to our offense as well." Reel said that at the kicking position they have a lot of young guys that will be battling it out through the fall and said that it will probably be a week of the first game decision on who starts. With a new season approaching the Bulldogs will look to see a lot of improvement this season as they go through another season of a strong schedule that kicks off on August 18th at home against TL Hanna. The Bulldogs will have six home games this year with only four away games as homecoming will be on September 22nd against Clover and senior night will be on October 20th against Spartanburg. Thompson Taking Dreams To The NFLWhile Boiling Springs fans are looking forward to the upcoming football season, they will also be keeping their eyes on the happenings at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, which is the training camp home of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings. Boiling Springs fans will be interested in the Vikings camp because after a five-year career at Georgia Southern, former Bulldogs player Najee Thompson is competing for one of the 53 spots on their active roster. Thompson was a standout performer for the Bulldogs during his time at the school as he was a starting defensive back on the 2016 Upper State championship team and won multiple track and field events including state championships in the 100m and 200m events during his senior year. He said that he just feels blessed to be getting the opportunity to get to compete for a spot on a NFL roster. "This experience it's just a dream and you go through it day to day knowing you're blessed to be in this spot," said Thompson. "The feeling will never set in until you get that first action on the field in a uniform but for me personally it's a chance I get to change my life and my families doing something I've done for year. I not only love this game, I live this game." During his time at Georgia Southern, Thompson played both wide receiver and cornerback but the one thing that he excelled at most was his play on special teams which won him multiple awards, it's also going to be a key in earning him a spot on the Vikings roster. Thompson said he loves special teams because he knows how important it is to a team and knows he has to work at it each day to be the best he can be at the position. "The special teams unit is so important to the NFL, it's unreal," said Thompson. "It doesn't matter what round you were drafted in because you have to show them that you can do three-fourths of the game (offense, defense, special teams, and sideline energy). For me, the most important thing about special teams is doing the dirty work that isn't always seen but it's known amongst the team what was done and how it was done. I'd say special teams is the hardest thing to do in the NFL. I love it thought because it's a challenge and I actually have to work at my craft every day." Thompson said that it's great knowing that he has his hometown rooting for his success and that the Upstate of South Carolina holds a special place in his heart. "Having my hometown behind me through all the ups and downs I have face means a lot," said Thompson. "It means a lot that they are behind me and show me a lot of love when I come home, and it just shows that no matter how hard times get to just keep fighting and chase that dream. So many teachers at Boiling Springs have helped me, believe it or not, and the 864 has a special place in my heart and I'll never forget that." He said that the first time he steps on the field for a NFL game that the emotions will be unreal for him. "The emotions going onto an NFL field is going to be unreal because it'll be my first chance to step onto a professional field," said Thompson. "When I step foot on the field, I'll be getting to complete another part of my dream and it's going to be an amazing feeling, like a little kid in the moment with butterflies in my stomach." Thompson got her first taste of the NFL life on Thursday night as his Vikings competed on the road against the Seattle Seahawks in the first preseason game for both teams. He made his presence known pretty early for the Vikings as in the second quarter he had back-to-back great plays, one being a strong open field tackle against a Seahawks punt returner and right before the half downed a punt inside the five-yard line to pin the Seahawks deep. Bulldogs Looking Forward To Tough Schedule In 2023With the recent release of the South Carolina Prep Media Poll, it revealed that the Bulldogs will once again be facing a vaunted schedule but it's something that the Bulldogs believe they're better prepared for this season.
With the recent polls it revealed Gaffney as #2 in 5A, Byrnes as #5 in 5A, TL Hanna as #7 in 5A, Spartanburg as #8 in 5A, and Dorman as #10 in 5A. Along with the ranked teams Hillcrest and Chapman were just outside the Top-10 in the 5A and 3A polls respectively. While for some people it may look like a daunting task but for Boiling Springs head football coach Matt Reel and his band of Bulldogs, they look at the schedule as full of opportunities. "We knew what we were getting into when we accepted the job," said Reel. "I remember when I left North Myrtle, our athletic director here at Boiling Springs Coach Moxie called me and told me the schedule and I said 'Good let's saddle up.' Our kids know what's expected of them and they know our schedule, it's what you get when you play in the toughest regions in the state of South Carolina." Reel said that while everyone knows quality in their region schedule, they also play a strong out-of-region schedule. "Our non-region schedule is as good as anyone else's as well," said Reel. "We'll find out where we are early on starting off the season here at home against TL Hanna. Some teams have to go and search for a good competitive game, but we don't have to do that because every game on our schedule is a quality team. Whether it's our region schedule or the rivalry game against a Chapman team that went deep into the 3A playoffs last year, our schedule is built to be a competitive one." He believes that playing in a tough region like they do, it only makes them stronger when it comes time for the playoffs. "If you can win your region or be competitive in your region, if your region is what you claim that it is you have an opportunity to be playing for a state championship," said Reel. "We're going to learn a lot about ourselves with this schedule like we done last year and see how much we've grown. With this schedule each week is a grind, and you find out a lot about who you are as a team." Reel said that while the schedule is going to be a challenge, his team is going to show up each week and compete as their mentality is to win each play. "Our guys are going to show up each week and they're expecting to win on Week 0," said Reel. "Our mentality is winning the day whether that's winning against another opponent or winning against ourselves, our mentality is to win no matter what. We know nobody is going to give us anything easy but to get this program where we want it to be we have to get the win every day in everything we do." Boiling Springs will kick off the 2023 season with a home matchup against TL Hanna as they look to start their new season with a hot start. Comments are closed.
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