Louisa, Ky. — After a heartbreaking last minute loss to Fleming Co. in the first round of the playoffs in 2016 the Lawrence Co. Bulldogs are looking to make some noise with 18 starters back from a 4-7 year under Alan Short.
With over 70 players out for the 2017 season, which is the most in a very long time the Dawgs are geared to make a run in the playoffs and get back to winning football as they carry on the proud Bulldog tradition.
The Dawgs will have to replace Jordan Johnson, Aaron Roberts and Jacob Wellman but look to do that with more depth and speed on this year’s team.
Lawrence Co. will have 18 seniors, 17 juniors, 18 sophomores and 18 freshman on the roster to start the season.
Junior Noah West will be back to lead the offense and should be more comfortable after taking the majority of the snaps in 2016. Senior Trey Dotson will get the ball in a variety of ways and may be the fastest player on the team. The Dawgs have at least four guys that could play fullback in Junior Dylan Sizemore who is hoping to avoid the injury bug this season, Senior Jarrett Fairchild, Junior Ashton Blankenship and Sophomore Trevor Young. If the Dawgs go to the air it will be Dotson, Brad Parks, Jaxon Johnson among others to haul in the passes from West.
On the offensive line the Dawgs should really improve and have 8 guys that could start this season with Seniors Caden Ratliff, Dakota Shortridge, Brayden Robertson, Malachi Clark, and Bobby Cox along with Juniors Tanner Rasnake and Eric Price, throw in Sophomore Bradley Osborne that gives the Bulldogs a ton of experience up front.
On the other side of the ball LC looks to improve on a defense that gave up too many big plays last season. The ‘Bulldog D’ will be led by Seniors Jarrett Fairchild, Caleb Fletcher, Robert Stone, and Trey Dotson. Juniors Hunter Crum, and Tanner Rasnake. Sophomore CJ Fairchild who is battling a leg injury will contribute on both sides of the ball once he gets healthy, also looking to make an impact will be Seniors Dalton Ferguson, Jared Mills, Juniors Isaiah Rose and Eric Webb, Sophomores Skylar Boerger and Brody Cantrell.
COACHES
Head Coach – Alan Short
Running Backs – Mike Woods
Wide Receivers – Bryan Short
Offensive Line – Joey Cecil
Jason Rollins
Ryan Sammons
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers – John Caudill
Defensive Backs – William Prince
Blake Prince
Defensive Line – Kyle Carter
Outside Linebackers – Ryan Prince
Defensive Coach – Wesley Booth
Freshmen/JV–Josh Reed, Dougie “Bulldog” Vanhoose
Equipment Managers:
Fred Thompson, Bo Davis, Scott Randall, Tyler Robinson, Greg Muncy
Lawrence Co. will once again compete in Class 3A District 6 with Belfry, Pike Co. Central, Sheldon Clark and newly formed Floyd Central. The Dawgs added Paintsville, and Magoffin Co. to the schedule this year as well.
The Bulldogs will open the season Saturday night August 19th at 7:30 on the road vs Raceland in the only game in the area that day.
Bulldog Football Coach Alan Short
COACH’S COMMENTS
“…We are very excited to begin our 2017 season. Our kids have been working hard over the last eight months, and have shown tremendous accountability and growth, through the offseason and preseason. I believe the people of Lawrence County will be pleasantly surprised by our growth and maturity over the course of the offseason.”
“…We are blessed to have 71 young men in our high school program this fall. These guys are special. When you have guys that are selfless and care more about the team than they do themselves, special things can happen. We are very proud of our team chemistry.”
“…When you have as many quality student/athletes as we do in our program, and the vast amount of work that is put into something, good things are bound to happen. We aren’t a finished product yet, but I like where we are currently. We look forward to competing August 19th against a very strong program at Raceland.”
