10-01-2009, 09:48 PM
Bulldogs riding big turnaround
By AARON SNYDER / The Independent
LOUISA â Thereâs something in the water at Lawrence County High School.
A new substance is stimulating the Bulldogsâ pallates in those water fountains and Gatorade coolers that was not present last season.
Thatâs the taste of victory.
And while itâs tasting pretty good, the hunger still permeates throughout the Lawrence County football teamâa team thatâs 5-0 after an 0-11 stint in 2008, already the biggest turnaround since 2001.
The Bulldogs produced 11 wins in 2001 after a 5-6 season the previous year. The school accomplished the same between 1989 and 1990.
Two more wins this season would provide the most drastic turnaround in school history.
âLast year we didnât play bad,â said second-year Lawrence County coach Luke Salmons. âWe played a lot of good teams with a lot of good seniors. We were young. We didnât really know our kids.â
So whatâs the reason for the turnaround?
âWe changed our scheme a little bit â went to our strengths,â Salmons said. âWe knew what weâd be good at. Itâs all about the kids, and all about them wanting to win. Theyâre hungry.â
Salmons and his coaching staff, which includes Jimmy Skinner, a former Marshall quarterback and teammate of Salmons at Marshall, worked on restoring the tradition of Lawrence County football through the teaching of tough love, better attitude and a focus on little things.
One year later, the Bulldogs look like a totally different team, while most of the pieces are the same.
Most of the same players who suffered through the winless season are back, and the experience shows substantially on the offensive and defensive lines.
â(The offensive line consists of) 300-pound benchers. Theyâre physical; theyâre going to drive you off the ball,â Salmons said.
Jordan Lyons and Cody Anderson are two of the several players who only play one side of the ball, highlighting the defensive line.
Blake Bradley, at linebacker, leads the team with 37 tackles. Turner OâBrian, a defensive back, has contributed 27 tackles.
Salmons is more than satisfied with his defenseâs performance to this point.
âFrom Week 1 to now, they keep getting better every week,â Salmons said. âWeâve got nine guys that play one way. Weâre good on defense because of that.
âWe changed to a 4-4 (formation) this year and itâs paying off.â
Lawrence County is fresh off a 39-0 win over East Carter and has allowed just 14.2 points per game halfway through the season.
Ben Preston and William Montgomery, both seniors, lead an experienced group on the offensive front. Much of their role requires opening holes for a stable of talented running backs.
Senior running back Shane Pack leads all Bulldogsâ rushers with 611 yards on 71 carries and 11 TDs.
Hunter James, a junior, and Caleb Bentley, a freshman, have used explosive acceleration and quickness to fly past tacklers for a combined 621 yards and eight touchdowns. Sophomore Lance Clay has also been integral.
Larry West supplies a speedy threat in the backfield and on special teams. West has returned three kicks/punts for touchdowns.
Lawrence County is outscoring opponents by an average of 33.8 points a game this year, after losing by an average of 24.3 points a game last season.
Last season, the Bulldogs competed closely in three of its first four games, losing by less than 10 points each time. However, it spiraled downward from that point forward.
This season, Salmons knew a remarkable recovery was in order.
âI knew we were going to be good, but it was one of those things,â Salmons said. âAt the end of last year was a down time. I knew we had good coaches and great players. I felt like if we make sure all the kids are coming back out and do all the things the second year that we did the first year, it would hopefully work out.â
Itâs worked out all right â to the tune of five straight victories, including a win over the Raiders to open district play. The second half of the schedule includes Winfield, W.Va., Greenup County, Rowan County, Boyd County and Tolsia, W.Va., with the Greenup County game being the only road affair.
âWeâve had one more year in the weight room, one more year of understanding of what we preach,â Salmons said. âWe really believe in what we do now. You can see it in practice. (The players) donât want to lose. Itâs not so much about being perfect, but they know how it feels to lose, and they donât want to go through that again. Thatâs what keeps them driving.â
http://www.dailyindependent.com/localspo...81249.html
By AARON SNYDER / The Independent
LOUISA â Thereâs something in the water at Lawrence County High School.
A new substance is stimulating the Bulldogsâ pallates in those water fountains and Gatorade coolers that was not present last season.
Thatâs the taste of victory.
And while itâs tasting pretty good, the hunger still permeates throughout the Lawrence County football teamâa team thatâs 5-0 after an 0-11 stint in 2008, already the biggest turnaround since 2001.
The Bulldogs produced 11 wins in 2001 after a 5-6 season the previous year. The school accomplished the same between 1989 and 1990.
Two more wins this season would provide the most drastic turnaround in school history.
âLast year we didnât play bad,â said second-year Lawrence County coach Luke Salmons. âWe played a lot of good teams with a lot of good seniors. We were young. We didnât really know our kids.â
So whatâs the reason for the turnaround?
âWe changed our scheme a little bit â went to our strengths,â Salmons said. âWe knew what weâd be good at. Itâs all about the kids, and all about them wanting to win. Theyâre hungry.â
Salmons and his coaching staff, which includes Jimmy Skinner, a former Marshall quarterback and teammate of Salmons at Marshall, worked on restoring the tradition of Lawrence County football through the teaching of tough love, better attitude and a focus on little things.
One year later, the Bulldogs look like a totally different team, while most of the pieces are the same.
Most of the same players who suffered through the winless season are back, and the experience shows substantially on the offensive and defensive lines.
â(The offensive line consists of) 300-pound benchers. Theyâre physical; theyâre going to drive you off the ball,â Salmons said.
Jordan Lyons and Cody Anderson are two of the several players who only play one side of the ball, highlighting the defensive line.
Blake Bradley, at linebacker, leads the team with 37 tackles. Turner OâBrian, a defensive back, has contributed 27 tackles.
Salmons is more than satisfied with his defenseâs performance to this point.
âFrom Week 1 to now, they keep getting better every week,â Salmons said. âWeâve got nine guys that play one way. Weâre good on defense because of that.
âWe changed to a 4-4 (formation) this year and itâs paying off.â
Lawrence County is fresh off a 39-0 win over East Carter and has allowed just 14.2 points per game halfway through the season.
Ben Preston and William Montgomery, both seniors, lead an experienced group on the offensive front. Much of their role requires opening holes for a stable of talented running backs.
Senior running back Shane Pack leads all Bulldogsâ rushers with 611 yards on 71 carries and 11 TDs.
Hunter James, a junior, and Caleb Bentley, a freshman, have used explosive acceleration and quickness to fly past tacklers for a combined 621 yards and eight touchdowns. Sophomore Lance Clay has also been integral.
Larry West supplies a speedy threat in the backfield and on special teams. West has returned three kicks/punts for touchdowns.
Lawrence County is outscoring opponents by an average of 33.8 points a game this year, after losing by an average of 24.3 points a game last season.
Last season, the Bulldogs competed closely in three of its first four games, losing by less than 10 points each time. However, it spiraled downward from that point forward.
This season, Salmons knew a remarkable recovery was in order.
âI knew we were going to be good, but it was one of those things,â Salmons said. âAt the end of last year was a down time. I knew we had good coaches and great players. I felt like if we make sure all the kids are coming back out and do all the things the second year that we did the first year, it would hopefully work out.â
Itâs worked out all right â to the tune of five straight victories, including a win over the Raiders to open district play. The second half of the schedule includes Winfield, W.Va., Greenup County, Rowan County, Boyd County and Tolsia, W.Va., with the Greenup County game being the only road affair.
âWeâve had one more year in the weight room, one more year of understanding of what we preach,â Salmons said. âWe really believe in what we do now. You can see it in practice. (The players) donât want to lose. Itâs not so much about being perfect, but they know how it feels to lose, and they donât want to go through that again. Thatâs what keeps them driving.â
http://www.dailyindependent.com/localspo...81249.html