Lamb’s debut
comes Friday
at Jackson Co.

GAINESBORO-New Bulldog head football coach Bruce Lamb will lead his team into battle for the first time here against rival Jackson County Friday night.

But unlike many head coaches who might be granted a mulligan in their inaugural season at the helm of a new program, Lamb won’t be afforded the luxury, because expectations at Clay County remain high.

“Does it put a little pressure on you? Absolutely!” the 27-year veteran coach said about the Dawgs’ returning all but two of their starters from a 10-2 season a year ago, where they made their fifth-straight postseason and their third-consecutive second-round advancement in 2021, “but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

“We are very talented, have a lot of experience, and, if we can keep everybody healthy, we’ve got a shot to do some good things.”

Lamb said he was excited about continuing his career in Celina, especially with the personnel he inherited, but he also explained he was cautiously optimistic heading into the season opener.

“I know it probably could be rough at first and it might take us a little while to get in sync, but when we get in sync, you better watch out,” he said. “When everybody gets on the same page, I really think we are going to turn some heads.”

New staff
Besides Lamb—who was a longtime assistant and head coach (2008-2020) at Livingston Academy (LA) with other stints at Cookeville and White County—new offensive coordinator Jimmy Maynord and assistant Wilson Cates join Bulldog defensive coordinator Mike Dickerson and assistants Carl Ledbetter and Steven Arms to make up the new staff.

Maynord boasts 42 years of coaching experience with stops at Smith County, Upperman, Riverdale, and Cookeville, while Cates is a first-year coach who helped lead LA to the 2005 State Championship when Lamb was on the Wildcat staff. Maynord also won a state title while at Riverdale.

“He’s a phenomenal coach and I learn from him everyday,” Lamb said of Maynord, before lauding Cates. “And I just knew what Wilson could bring to the table and you can see the kids gravitate to him.

“Just to get their experience and influence on the kids here has been great.”

Dickerson returns to lead the Bulldog defense and Lamb explained he was one of the reasons he decided to come to Celina.

“He’s a big reason why I’m here,” Lamb said of his fellow 27-year veteran. “He’s a great coach and I wouldn’t be here without him.”

Lamb credited Dickerson, Ledbetter, and Arms with helping him make the transition.

“They were a huge help with continuity, because they know the background of these kids and it’s great having them around.”

Personnel
Besides three coaches, the Dawgs return nine solid seniors and a half-dozen more contributors from last year’s team.

The senior class is headlined by two-time all-stater Alec Kerr (WR/TB/FS) and all-region skill players Joseph Marcom (TB/OLB), Jimmy Burchett (WR/SS), and Keaton Arms (QB/OLB).

The five other super seniors include all-region linemen Levi Garrett (LG/ILB) and Hunter Kyle (RG/DT), John Hamilton (TE/DT), center Stone Lynn, and nose guard Ricardo McElroy.

“Nine seniors is a good number and we’ve got four that are unbelievable at the skill positions,” Lamb said. “Then the big target at tight end and four others up front.

“They give you everything they’ve got on every play, good leadership, and those guys are the core of this team.”

Besides Kerr and Burchett, Arms will have sophomore Nate Adams (WR/QB/DB), junior Weston Birdwell (WR/DB), and freshmen Waylon Cherry and Nolan Adams (WR/QB/FS) as targets on the outside, while Marcom will be joined in the backfield by fullbacks Ben Maxfield (Jr.) and Hayden Adams (So.). Kerr and sophomore Michael Smith are also expected to carry the ball.

Up front, juniors Hayden McGee (LT/DT) and Wyatt Browning (RT) will join Garrett, Kyle, and Lynn as starters in the offensive line, while juniors Ernesto Sanchez (OL/DT), Parker Smith (OL/DT), and Caleb Weir (C), along with sophomore Kaden Strong (OL) and freshman Colton Brown (OL) are expected to see reserve time in the trenches.

The defense will be led by Arms, Marcom, Garrett, and Maxfield starting at linebacker, with junior Austin Anderson and Michael Smith serving as linebacking-corps reserves.

Hamilton, Kyle, and McElroy make up the starting defensive front, with Parker Smith, Sanchez, and McGee rotating in.

Over the top, Kerr and Burchett will play the two safety positions, while Nate Adams and Birdwell start at corner.

Schemes
Lamb said Dickerson’s defense will feature some of the “3-3 Stack” looks of last season, but with the senior linebackers being featured in more of “3-4” or “50” look most of the time.

He also explained aggressiveness will become the norm on that side of the ball.

“We are going to make things happen,” Lamb said. “We can play cover two or three or man coverage over the top, so we are going to be aggressive at the line of scrimmage.”

The head coach also said Maynord will keep the “shotgun-spread” offensive look in place, which has become standard for Bulldog teams of late.

“It is shotgun-spread, but almost like a triple-option type with a run-heavy influence,” Lamb explained.

He said to expect a healthy dose of read-option runs shared between Arms and Marcom, with a deep shot taken when needed.

“We’ve got athletes out there and you’ve got to get them the ball,” Lamb said. “We will take a shot, because we’ve got to get the ball to everybody.”

Schedule
After opening with Jackson County at week’s end, the Dawgs have another road trip next week to Albany, KY to face Clinton County, before a bye week and their first home game on September 9 against Cornersville.

“Two tough road games to start, an early bye, and then back home for a big test,” Lamb said, all of which come prior to Clay County’s first region game with Jo Byrns in Celina on Thursday, September 15.

“I expect a tough game with Jo Byrns,” Lamb said. “I’m just glad it’s here.”

A trip to Westmoreland on September 23 follows the region opener and another away game at region foe Red Boiling Springs comes next on September 30, both prior to hosting Scott County October 7.

A voyage to Grundy County is set for October 7, before the Dawgs finish out the season with a two-game home stand with York (Oct. 21) and Gordonsville (Oct. 28).

Though there are some tough opponents mixed in, all eyes are squarely placed on the regular season finale, which again is expected to serve as the region title game.

“That’s our goal,” Lamb said. “We want to win the region title.

“You win the region, the State Championship goes through Celina, TN and that’s what we want it to do.”

See a future HORIZON for more from coach Lamb and tune in to the Horizon Sports Network’s coverage of Friday night’s game at Jackson County for an interview with him during the Carquest Pregame show starting at 6 p.m., one hour prior to kick off at 7 p.m.

Hear Lamb’s thoughts on Jackson County and much more online here.