REDZONE 2021: Sweet Water Bulldogs
Bulldogs Have Eyes on Same Goal: State Championship
When the goals and expectations never change, expectations for performance are set before any player steps on the field. Head Coach Pat Thompson makes the plan transparent for his team. The Dawgs took three losses last season, and despite the Class 1A Region 2 Championship, the only 1A loss for SWHS came in the third round of the playoff to eventual champion Linden.
“We want to win the region and the state championship,” said Thompson. “To do that we will need to improve each week.”
To accomplish the goals, the Dawgs will have to rely on young players to step up and be solid backups to help a talented group of seniors.
Sweet Water will stay true to the traditional wing-t offense that has been successful throughout the school’s history. Running the offense will be Walker Thompson, a two-year starter who threw for over 900 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lashon Young will service as his backup.
Jaland Lewis Horton (ASWA Second Team All-State), the returning leader in the backfield in 2020 as the fullback, rushed for 16 touchdowns last season. Delvontae Lucy will serve as the backup. Senior Christian Dunning will serve as the starting tailback, while Jonathan Morris and Elliot Lucy will serve as his primary reserves. The scrappy senior Trent Smith is slated to start at wingback with Trace Luker behind him.
Leading the offensive line is ASWA Second Team All-State selection Michael Alan Cole at the strong tackle position, and he’ll be backed up by Jacob Glass. Tyler Ward, who plays hard every snap, should start at strong guard which is the lead guard in the wing-t. Ward will have Evan Dunn behind him. Two-year starter Cameron Mazingo returns to anchor the line at center with Remington Roe as the backup. At split guard, the Bulldogs have competition as Shane Williams and Domonic Washington compete to earn the starting spot. Jayson Dixon Young, a starter since the middle of his freshman season, remains in the starting lineup at split tackle with Xavier White behind him.
Lashon Young, an important cog returning to the offense, will start at split end with Jalen Lucy behind him. Jake Schroder has earned starting tight end duty but expect David Etheridge and Deshanard Blanks to see time as well.
Switching to the defensive line, Michael Alan Cole returns at defensive tackle, with Jayson Dixon working behind Cole. Also starting at tackle is Jarmarlin Albert. Xavier White will serve as his back up. Tyler Ward is starting at nose guard with Luke Thompson the backup.
Jayland Lewis Horton will hold down the outside linebacker position and is backed up by Deshanard Blanks. Jonathan Morris is the other starting outside linebacker with Shane Williams behind him.
Looking to the inside linebacking group, Walker Thompson, a 2020 ASWA Second Team All-State selection, returns to start in the position with David Etheridge also getting some snaps at the position. Trace Luker was the one tied with Thompson in tackles and he also starts at inside linebacker with Jake Schroder getting some time behind him.
Christian Dunning has worked hard this summer as he prepares to handle the rover position, which plays on all three levels of the defense depending on what the offense shows. Timothy Kelley is his backup.
Delvontae Lucy and Lashon Young hold down the staring cornerback positions. Lucy is backed up by Caleb Dixon while Elliot Lucy is Young’s reserve. Jalen Lucy, who is speedy with good instincts, serves as stating safety and will be backed up by Trent Smith and Shamaur Kelly.
1 – Jaland Lewis Horton – SR, 2 – Christian Dunning – SR, 3 – Delvontae Lucy – FR, 4 – Shamaur Kelly – JR, 5 – Elliot Lucy – FR, 6 – Lashon Young – JR, 7 – Jalen Lucy – SR, 8 – Walker Thompson – SR, 9 – Parker Townsend – SO, 10 – Trace Luker – SR, 11 – Nate Norris – FR, 13 – Jacolby Gamble – SO, 14 – Caleb Dixon – SO, 15 – Timothy Kelly – FR, 16 – David Etheridge – SO, , 20 – Deion Blanks – 8th, 21 – Zyreonne Hamilton – 8th, 23 – Jonathan Morris – JR, 25 – Trent Smith – SR, 33 – Ashton Lewis – JR, 40 – Deshanard Blanks – SO, 44 – Ethan Mitchell – FR, 48 – Jake Shroeder – JR, 50 – Brendan Hill – 8th, 52 – Xavier White – JR, 53 – Remington Roe – FR, 54 – Shane Williams – JR, 55 – Jamarlin Albert – SR, 56 – Coby Edmonds – FR, 57 – Nathan Smith – FR, 58 – Evan Dunn – FR, 59 – Jayson Dixon – SO, 60 – Cameron Mazingo – SR, 61 – Dominic Washington – SR, 62 – Toby Johnson – FR, 64 – Jackson Flowers – FR, 65 – Tyler Ward – SR, 68 – Carter Etheridge – 8th, 70 – Luke Thompson – FR, 72 – Cullen Kornegay – FR, 75 – Jacob Glass – JR, 76 – Ryan Williams – 8th, 77 – Cory Dixon – FR, 78 – Michael Alan Cole – SR, 82 – Lance Flowers – FR, 87 – Hudson Givens – 8th