As the clouds gathered in anticipation of some rain Thursday at practice, the Athens Bulldogs had anticipation building of their own — the anticipation of the first game of the season.
The Bulldogs will start their 2017 season the same way it began last year, with a game Friday against Warren.
They are looking for a similar result as last season’s opener, a game in which the Bulldogs won 41-0.
However, Athens knows it’s a new season, and last season’s game will not affect this year’s.
“Each year, as you start off that Week 1 game, regardless of who that opponent is going to be, it’s an awful lot more about yourself,” coach Ryan Adams said.
Junior quarterback Clay Davis will be making his first start for the Bulldogs.
Adams is confident that his team is in good hands starting Davis after losing co-Offensive Player of the Year for the Tri-Valley Conference Ohio in Brendan Sano.
“I felt that last year cognitively he probably could have done the job,” Adams said. “Physically we just had a guy that was a little faster, a little crisper and more experienced.”
Also making his first start will be the Bulldogs' new kicker, Drake George. George is a freshman that also plays soccer.
So why would a team that lost a game on a blocked extra point last season and played multiple close games go with an inexperienced and unproven kicker?
“There’s a very good reason Drake George is our kicker,” Adams said. “We don’t have anyone better than him.”
With the anticipation building up all around the campus of Athens High School — whether it be the first start at quarterback for Davis, the first game for George or the first game of the season for the rest of the Bulldogs — Adams will hope to build some confidence for his team.
“Early games are always important in building confidence and confidence goes a long way for high school kids,” Adams said.
