The Bulldog Football Report

The Bulldog Football Report
Volume 1, Issue 4
September 23, 2015

In this edition of The Bulldog Football Report we will:

• Break down the Hobbton game with Coach Stephen Cochran and look ahead to the upcoming Homecoming game against Fayetteville Christian.
• Take a look at how other Big East Conference teams fared last week and preview this week’s schedule.
• Check in on two of our Bulldog Football Alumni – Beau Barger and Luke Ryals

Hobbton Game Review

The Bulldogs came out firing on all cylinders Friday night at Hobbton, putting 42 points on the scoreboard in the first half on the way to 42-7 non-conference victory over the Wildcats.

In a night where everything seemed to go right, there was no shortage of noteworthy performances from the Bulldogs. Offensively the Bulldogs produced 286 yards total offense in a game that was shortened by a running clock in the second half. All five touchdowns were scored from the run with Cody Carpenter scoring two, and one each by Seth Bunn, Grayson Williams, and Adam Jones. Through the air the WCA quarterbacks had a very efficient night, going 5 for 8 collectively for 101 yards with hookups to Connor Collins for 46 yards, John Kirkpatrick for 44, and Grayson Williams for 11.

Defensively the Bulldogs continue to impose a very strong presence against opposing offenses. Derrick Weems led the Bulldogs with nine tackles and recovered an onside kick. The Bulldogs defense forced five turnovers, highlighted by a Seth Bunn recovery of a fumble Adam Jones forced for a TD. John Toler had added another interception to his total for the season, his third in the past two games. Aaron McLamb, Branden Craft, and Will Cruikshank also had fumble recoveries.

With the win the Bulldogs move to 4-1 on the season ahead of this week’s home game against Fayetteville Christian. Hobbton falls to 2-3 with the loss and travel to Rosewood for their Carolina 1A Conference opener.

The Bulldog Football Report spoke to Coach Cochran after the Hobbton win and he offered the following analysis:

TBFR: Coach Cochran, give us your overall thoughts on the Hobbton game.
CC: I loved how we came out. We started fast, played aggressive on offense and defense, and we didn’t let down. Sometimes when you get a large lead there is the potential for a letdown. I was also really proud of how hard the subs performed in the second half.

TBFR: In a game such as this where we are on the good end of a lopsided score, how can you use it to build for future games?
CC: Something we have talked about over the past three years is to not waste momentum in a situation like this, because a play or two here or there can reverse things quickly. And our kids didn’t let up.

TBFR: As you prepare for Fayetteville Christian on Friday, what are some of the things the Bulldogs should continue to do? And do you do anything differently because it is Homecoming and there will be a big crowd and a lot of adrenaline?
CC: The thing we focused on this week is that this week is no different from any other week. It is the same game we play every week and we will have the same intensity that we had every other week this season. We will remain focused on football.

TBFR: Same question, but from a different angle, what are some things the Bulldogs must improve upon? Last week we spoke about penalties. Do you think we are over that hurdle or is it too soon to tell after only one game?
CC: I think it is too soon to tell. I thought we did a much better job overall this week, but as we look at the film we can see there are some areas we need to continue to address and improve upon.

If you’re going to the game:

Kickoff Friday night is at 7:30PM.
Be sure to check the WCA Twitter page every Friday for the “Friday Twitter Roll” where TBFR will preview the week’s opponent.

Big East Conference Scores – September 18, 2015

Harrells 40 South Robeson 20
North Raleigh and Ravenscroft – Open Week

Big East Conference Games – September 25, 2015

North Raleigh at North East Carolina Prep
Harrells at Pine Lake Prep
Ravenscroft at Charlotte Country Day

Bulldog Football Alumni Catchup – Beau Barger and Luke Ryals

This week, in the spirit of Homecoming, TBFR sat down with Bulldog Football Alumni, Beau Barger (’14) and Luke Ryals (’15) to learn what they have been up to since graduation. Beau is playing for Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory NC. Luke is playing for Southeastern University in Lakeland FL.

TBFR: Thanks for taking the time to speak to us this week. Can you tell us the biggest adjustment you have had to make between high school football and college football?
BB: The biggest adjustment for me was probably realizing how good everyone else is. Coming from Wake Christian I was a big fish in a small pond and then coming to Lenoir Rhyne and seeing how good everyone here is, is very humbling. It has helped me grow closer to the Lord and to lean more on him and thank Him every day for the opportunity to play. It has also helped to realize nothing in life comes easy and that you are going to have to work for and earn whatever it is you desire.
LR: There is a big difference between high school football and college football. I think the biggest adjustment I have had to make is trying to balance all of the football meetings, workouts, and practices with my schoolwork. It is a challenge, but it has definitely taught me better time management. Regarding actually playing football, the speed of the game is a lot faster than it was in high school. I am currently starting on special teams and fighting for a spot as linebacker on defense. It is a humbling, but very rewarding, experience. I am very thankful God has placed me in this situation.

TBFR: What about in the classroom? No doubt you had a great academic foundation set at WCA, but there are sure to have been some differences between the high school and college class setting, much the same there was an adjustment on the football field.
BB: There has been, just with not having the same classes every day and also not being in a classroom from 8-3 has been very different. One thing that I learned very quickly is that you need to take advantage of your time and try to knock out any studying you have whenever you can during the day because after practice you are going to be tired and not want to do it. Another thing is that you have to be very organized with all of your classes and the work that goes with it. The football team actually does this thing called AGP (Academic Game Plan) binders and we have sheets where we have to write down what classes we are taking and all of the info for it. Then after that we have to right down the grades we make on each assignment below each class. We also have weekly calendars in which we have to right down everything that is due that week and also what we plan on doing studying wise and with football. The agendas we got at Wake Christian actually helped me very much in having to write out what I have to do. We also have to take all of the notes for our classes and group them together by class.
LR: Wake definitely gave me a firm foundation in my education and I am thankful for that. My first semester actually hasn’t been too bad. I think the biggest difference is just the amount of reading and studying I have to do. In college you have to read a lot! I also don’t have as much one-on-one help from my teachers.

TBFR: Looking back at WCA, is there anything you miss specifically? Or maybe a game you remember that brings back good memories?
BB: I think about high school all the time and I miss it very much. I would do anything to be able to put a Bulldog jersey back on and play another game at Wake. The thing I miss the most is being around people that I love and having a great time with them. I miss looking into the huddle and letting the guys know that we’re going to take this one down the field. I miss just messing around before practice waiting to run to the fence. I definitely miss the family atmosphere. There are several games I would love to go back to like High Point my Junior year when we won with 12 seconds left. Spring Creek my Senior year is another before we definitely should have won that game and I regret it all the time, although it was a turning point for our team that we needed. Playing Fayetteville my Senior year and throwing the game winning touchdown to Kyle with maybe 20 seconds left. Scoring a touchdown on my final play of my high school career is very big one I will never forget. Finally, Senior night against Cannon. I didn’t want it to rain because I never really like playing in the rain as a QB, especially because it made it really hard to throw the ball. I think this is my favorite though because who can say they played a game like that and then do what we did afterwards. That’s what really made me realize that Wake Christian is a family and I miss that more than anything. More than anything I would love to go back and coach at wake. I would to just be a high school period, but my dream is to be able to go back to Wake and coach because of what all was done for me there and of course I love that family atmosphere.
LR: I miss Wake a lot. I miss walking through the halls and knowing everyone and having relationships with all of my teachers. I especially miss my relationships with my coaches. I have had many good memories at Wake. My favorite football memory is and always will be beating Harrells for the first time in ten years my Senior season.