Hampton-Dumont-Cal football aims to repeat success

Last year, The Hampton-Dumont-Cal Bulldogs football team found success as they went 6-4 on the season.

This season the Bulldogs are looking to keep that success going. Head coach Cole Miller said that the expectation for the team is that the Bulldogs compete in every game.

“No matter who we are playing,” Miller said. “And set ourselves up to be in a position to be successful by the end of the game and hopefully we put ourselves in a spot to win the game. And doing that every night and giving our best effort while representing our school and our community the best way we can.”

Miller said that last year the Bulldogs were a young team in terms of experience and that this year they have a lot of players coming back with varsity experience.

“I think that experience that they gained is what they can use this year to hopefully to set themselves up to have a good year this year,” Miller said.

Miller said that the experience will help the players know their jobs on both sides of the ball and be where they need to be. Miller also said that the knowledge of the play book is a strength for the team. Another strength is the leadership the team will have as the Bulldogs are bringing back 17 seniors this season.

On the offensive side of the ball, Miller said one of the team’s biggest strengths will be their quarterback Gavin Meader.

“This is his senior year and he knows his job really well and knows the expectations that come with the position of playing quarterback,” Miller said. “I think we are going to rely on him. He is a heck of an athlete, he can throw the ball, he can run the ball, he’s fast and his intelligence we are going to lean on that as well.”

Besides Meader there are other players who can have an impact on the team this year well.

“Scott Harr is going to be a good player for us, he plays tight end on offense and on defense he is one of our anchors on the edge,” Miller said. “I think Brody Walton is going to have a good year. He has put a lot of time in at running back and he works really hard to be as strong as he can. Our offensive line in general I think is going to have a better year with a year of experience at the varsity level and a year of developing in the offseason. And I think Carson Hisler is going to have a good year for us on defense. He has been bouncing around from position to position trying to find a spot these last couple of years and he has found his role as a safety for us.”

Another strength for the Bulldog’s offense will be their offensive line according to Miller.

“Our offensive is almost all returning so they have that experience ,” Miller said. “I am hoping they will be stronger for us upfront. I know last year there were a couple of games where we struggled with the run game. Hopefully we can lean on our run game a little bit more this year and try to mimic the success we had in the passing game last year and keep that rolling.”

When it comes to defense the scheme the Bulldogs use will be a strength.

“Jeromy Keehn is our defensive coordinator and he does a good job schematically. He puts a lot of time in to make sure our defense is going to help out the kids that we have and that the kids will be able to perform well,” Miller said. 

The front seven will also be a strength for the Bulldogs’ defense.

“I think our defensive linemen and linebackers are going to have a big year,” Miller said. “We are really looking for them to step up and be able to control the line of scrimmage. Hopefully we can play aggressive and we can play down hill and we are hoping they have a big season for us.”

During the early games this season, Miller said the team is ready to compete against another team. This senior group of players has been with Miller since he started coaching the team during their freshman year. So Miller said he is looking forward to seeing what they do this season.

“I started my coaching career at Hampton-Dumont-Cal as a freshman coach so I have had these seniors as freshmen and we have spent the last four years together,” Miller said. “So I am really excited to see what these guys do in their senior year and watching them compete in kind of our one last ride together I guess. It has just been cool to see them grow from freshmen to seniors.”

As the season moves along, Miller said the team has a tough schedule and that he would like to see the Bulldogs compete and play fast and aggressive.

“Try to make a name for themselves,” Miller said. “With all these great schools we are playing there is a ton of competition in this district and on our schedule this season. So I want to see them compete and I want to see them give it all they have and leave it all on the football field.”