task. We feel like we are in pretty good shape, but the numbers game could catch up with us.”

Looking to lead Gleason to the playoffs this fall is quarterback Tracy Perry – an All-District 13A selection a year ago.

Perry (Sr. , 6-3, 235) is undoubtedly the straw that stirs the drink in the Bulldogs’ offense.

Carrying out the traditional “big-play role” for Gleason is senior running back Collin Niegocki (Sr., 5-10, 185).

Niegocki has reportedly improved vastly since last season with Lampkins noting the senior as the best running back the Bulldogs have had since Will Clark.

Also at running back is Wade Kellley (Jr., 5-9, 135) in his first season as a starter.

The Gleason fullback is a familiar face in Devon Kerr (Jr., 5-6, 190). Lampkins noted Kerr must take on a more active role for the Bulldogs to thrive in the backfield.

At wide receiver, Lampkins has penciled in Trey Maritn (Soph., 5-11, 145) and Terry McKinney (Soph., 5-8, 140).

Meanwhile, Chandler Brawner (Soph, 6-0, 190) is slated to be Gleason’s primary tight end – another first-year starter.

On the offensive line, the Bulldogs will rely upon right guard Grady Stafford (Sr., 5-10, 185) and tackle Lawson Roberts (Sr., 6-2, 230) for leadership.

Lampkins lauded the duo as excellent linemen.

Bulldog center Seth Bowers (Soph., 5-9, 200) is the next most experienced pup in the trenches, logging starts as a freshman in 2015.

Gleason left guard Michael Hicks (Jr., 5-9, 190) is a first-year starter.

Daniel Grissom (Sr., 5-10, 190) and Greg Graham (Soph., 5-9, 210) have been sharing time at the other guard position.

In addition, Jacub Gilmer (Soph., 5-7, 190) will serve in some capacity on the offensive line.

Defensively, the Bulldogs have altered their base set, switching to a 4-4.

It is a move that Lampkins noted is “primarily because of personnel.”

“We spent a lot of time working on our base set, installing it and teaching the principles of what we want to do defensively,” said Lampkins, who noted the team returns five defensive starters from a year ago. “I feel good about where we are in that area. As we have been going forward, we have added a little bit here and there. Right now, we’re focused on playing our base well and mixing in some blitzes here and there. It has been a learning

curve for everybody involved, but it keeps things fresh for us as a coaching staff.”

From their posts at outside linebacker, Niegocki and Perry are expected to lead the defense on the field and in statistical categories with Stafford, Kerr and Bowers rotating at inside linebacker.

“All three of those guys have a lot of experience,” Lampkins said of his inside linebackers. “Grady moved from defensive end to linebacker. I feel like he’s our best defensive player as far as tenacity.”

On the defensive line, Roberts is moving from tackle to end in the 4-4. Brawner, who was noted to have gotten stronger and put on some good weight, has earned the starting nod at the other defensive end position.

At defensive tackle, the Bulldogs have four viable options in Graham, Gilmer, Grissom and Hicks.

In the secondary, Kelley returns at defensive back after seeing some playing time in 2014.

From there, the Gleason secondary is rather inexperienced with Martin and McKinney as the other projected members of the unit.

Niegocki could also see time at cornerback or safety.

Perry is another possibility at one of the safety positions.

On special teams, Perry has been handling kicking duties.

Niegocki and Kelley have been tabbed to be the Bulldog return men.

The Bulldog coaching staff remains completely intact from last season.

Mainstay Mike Bennett is the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach and a roving instructor on the offensive side of the football.

Lampkins is the team’s offensive coordinator, while Albert Collins works with the offensive and defensive lines.

Bryan Sanders also provides instruction as a Bulldog assistant football coach.

By Sara RachelsSpecial To The Enterprise

A very old adage says “The squeaky wheel gets the oil,” and this year’s squad of Gleason Junior High Bulldogs have been making a lot of noise where that’s concerned.

Coach Noah Lampkins refers to this year’s group of Bulldogs as quite an inquisitive bunch and naturally, with the willingness to speak up and ask questions comes the willingness to learn both on and off the football field.

The Dawgs lost a few key pieces of their team from last season – most notably All-Reelfoot Conference selections Joseph Miller and Caleb Cary – but are ready to take on this season with several new faces who are willing to go the distance to tally up more wins.

The gun hybrid double wing offense will be made up of seventh-grader Olen Reed at the quarterback position, eighth-grader Dawson Arnold and seventh-grader Jamison

Lifsey taking up residence at the running back slot, seventh-grader Elijah Young seeing time at fullback, eighth-graders Payton Stigall and Antonio Henderson along with seventh-grader Jacob Arnold will fill out the wide receiver slots and eighth-grader Nick Oatsvall will play tight end.

The Bulldog 4-4 defense will consist of seventh-grader Olen Reed at safety, Henderson or Stigall along with Jacob Arnold at the corners, Oatsvall and Lifsey as the outside linebackers, Young and Dawson Arnold as the inside linebackers, eighth-graders Jacob Langley and Jordan Caire as the defensive tackles and Mills and eighth-grader Cody O’Callahan as the defensive ends.

Additional eighth-graders on the roster include Hunter Lovell at wide receiver/cornerback and Connor Blassingame at wide receiver/defensive back, seventh-graders Davis Leach at fullback/linebacker, Chase Wiseman at wingback and cornerback and linemen Cayden Hughes and

Blake Hill. Filling out the sixth-grade slots are Tyler Bell, Isaac Denton, Brady Witherspoon, Bryce Akers, Kolton Crochet, Jacob Knight, Hagen Hodges and Andrew Barton.

“Dawson Arnold and Matthew Mills will be looked at to be the leaders of the team. Both are experienced on both sides of the ball,” Lampkins said. “Dawson will be our playmaker on offense. He has worked hard this offseason and has gained

size and speed. Mills will be our leader on the offensive and defensive fronts. He brings a lot of size and experience to both sides of the ball.

“Elijah Young, a seventh-grader, will be looked at to have a more impactful role on offense and defense. He has excellent size for a young kid and started on both sides of the ball as a sixth grader. Nick Oatsvall, an eighth grader, has really worked hard in the weight room and will be

teaming up with Dawson Arnold as a playmaker and excellent tackler.”

Along with Young, Lampkins expec t s L i f sey to be an underclassman who steps up for the team. Lifsey will be a starter on both sides of the ball and is very athletic. Athleticism will definitely be a trend among this year’s squad.

“These kids seem to be very coachable and we have enough athleticism to score points,” Lampkins said. “We look for our defense to be much improved as well.

“As far as weaknesses, we lack overall size in our offensive and defensive lines and we are playing a lot of seventh graders.”

Thus far, practices have gone well and Lampkins reports the attendance as having been excellent before the dead period, but decreasing since that time. Once school begins, however, he believes everyone will get back on track.

The schedule for this year looks familiar with the usual opponents of Bruceton, West

Carroll, Greenfield, McKenzie and Dresden in the mix along with the Obion County seventh graders and South Fulton.

Last year, v ic tory was difficult to obtain as the Dawgs dropped the opener to South Fulton 6-0, were edged by Bruceton 22-14, got blanked by West Carroll, were defeated handily by Greenfield, gave McKenzie a fight but ultimately fell and finished out the season with losses to Huntingdon and Dresden.

This season , however, with a renewed eagerness and willingness to ask questions and learn the ropes, Lampkins looks forward to more successful outcomes throughout the schedule. It will be a year of rebuilding, but the foundation is already turning out to be solid.

“ T h e s e k i d s w a n t t o improve and have t aken to our coaching very well,” Lampkins said. “They are willing to learn and ask more questions than recent squads have.

“Hopefully the community will see a much improved product on the field.”

Gleason JH ScheduleDate Opponent VenueAug. 13 *South Fulton L 38-14Aug. 20 Bruceton AwayAug. 27 West Carroll AwaySept. 3 *Greenfield HomeSept. 10 McKenzie HomeSept. 17 Obion Co. 7th Grade HomeSept. 24 *Dresden Away*Reelfoot Conference game

DRESDEN ENTERPRISE, Dresden, Tennessee, Wednesday, August 19, 2015 -- Page 5

2015 Gleason JH RosterNo. Name Pos. 1 Davis Leach FB/LB2 Jacob Arnold QB/DB3 Antonio Henderson WR/DB4 Tyler Bell WR/DB7 Isaac Denton WR/DB10 Brady Witherspoon QB/DB 11 Hunter Lovell WR/DB14 Connor Blassingame WR/DB15 Bryce Akers WR/DB22 Nick Oatsvall ATH25 Jamison Lifsey WR/LB26 Chase Wiseman WR/DB28 Kolton Crochet QB/LB32 Dawson Arnold ATH50 Jacob Knight OL/DL52 Cayden Hughes OL/DL57 Blake Hill OL/DL58 Hagen Hodges OL/LB60 Lance Montgomery OL/DL61 Andrew Barton OL/DL63 Jake Langley OL/DL72 Matthew Mills OL/DE75 Cody O’Callaghan C/DE

Gleason Jr. High/High School Football

2015 Gleason Jr. High Bulldogs

Home of the

Gleason Bulldogs

All of Gleason wishes you a great winning season!All of Gleason wishes you a great winning season!

������������������������������������������������������

Young Jr. Bulldog squad all ears as learning experience continues

SmallFrom page 9