Head coach: Justin Brown (48-30 in seven seasons here and overall)
Returning starters: 2 offensive; 7 defensive
Key players: OL/DL Clay Baker (5-11, 250); TE/LB Will Wyatt (6-0, 215); QB Lincoln Maddux (5-10, 175); WR/LB Kodiak Crabbe (6-4, 190); RB/CB Rob Brown (5-11, 175); OL/DL Alex Stewart (6-2, 235).
Team strengths: The front seven on defense should give the Bulldogs a chance to stay in games while a young offense gets its bearings.
Trion quarterback Lincoln Maddux (9) throws a pass during a scrimmage between Trion and LaFayette at LaFayette High School Thursday, August 9, 2018 in LaFayette, Georgia.Team concerns: It’s not just the two starters returning, but there is a general lack of depth on offense. The Bulldogs will miss the 2,000 total yards that graduated with Hagan Willingham and the toughness of his backfield mates, Chris Pace and Braden Johnson.
Breakout candidate: Sophomore Brown will get the shot at replacing Willingham at wingback, where his receiving ability will also be put to good use.
Season outlook: When you take more than 3,500 yards of total offense away from any football team it’s going to be a cause for concern. Ask coach Justin Brown how he’s going to make up for the loss of his trio of wing-T backs and he hesitates a moment before answering.
“That’s a good question, one I get asked a lot,” he says, smiling. “It’s hard to replace a Hagan Willingham and his 2,000 yards, but the other guys were really good for us, too. We’ve been telling the kids that we can get production from other spots in the backfield and that more people will have an opportunity to contribute.”
Brown, Bryce Wallin and Brantley Hastings get the first crack at starting, and while Coach Brown feels good about their potential production, he’s got another weapon he plans to unleash in returning starting quarterback Maddux.
“Having Lincoln back is great,” said Brown of the former state wrestling champion. “He was counted on sort of to be the caddy last year and try not to make mistakes. I told him this year he’s going to be one of the few in that huddle with experience and we’re counting on him to make plays for us.”
To do that Maddox put on some 40 pounds (up from 135) and has improved his arm strength and his knowledge of the position.
“Our offense starts with timing and he’s very good with that,” Brown said. “Our scheme is in place and in good hands with Lincoln.”