Belgreen Bulldogs football season preview
The Belgreen Bulldogs will open their first season of varsity football competition in the modern era of the game. Led by Jonathan Raper, the Bulldogs will not compete in a region this year or next but will have a slate of varsity games to ease their way into playing. There are seven games on Belgreen’s schedule this year – three private schools and four public.
Aug. 23 – Belgreen hosts Shoals Christian for the Bulldogs’ first home football game. Belgreen beat the Flame on their home field last year in a junior varsity game. Shoals Christian is in Class 1A Region 7. The Flame have been playing football for 27 years. Last year, they finished the season 5-6 overall and 4-3 in region play. They averaged 25.1 points per game while allowing 23.9 points per game.
Aug. 30 – Belgreen travels to Sumiton Christian. The Bulldogs’ first road test will be in Jasper. The Eagles went 0-10 last year, the worst record in the 32-year history of their program. They averaged 6.2 points per game while giving up 33.8 points per game.
Sept. 6 – Belgreen travels to Tharptown. With a potential 2-0 start, Belgreen will get their first shot at a county rival when they travel to Tharptown. The Wildcats compete in Class 2A Region 8. This is the second year for Coach John Johnson at Tharptown. Last year, his team went 1-9, with their lone win coming against Phillips 22-15. The Wildcats scored 11.1 points per game and gave up 53.4 points per game. Tharptown gave up 534 total points, a program record, including 77 to Lexington, also a program record.
Sept. 20 – Belgreen hosts Tanner. Tanner has a history of very athletic teams and last year the Rattlers went 8-4, winning a Class 2A Region 8. Tanner lost almost all of their starters and their coach. They are in rebuilding mode. They will still be athletic, but in the spring, the Rattlers trailed Phil Campbell seven touchdowns at halftime.
Sept. 27 – Belgreen hosts Cherokee. The Indians are coming off a 5-5 season last year, finishing fifth in their region. Cherokee averaged 30.8 points per game and gave up 21.8 points per game. Much of the positive was stat-padding against weaker teams. They set a program record, scoring 70 points on Tharptown. In their five losses, the Indians scored 44 points and gave up 164 points.
Oct. 25 – Belgreen travels to Victory Christian. After almost a month off from varsity competition, Belgreen will go to Pell City to play Victory Christian. The Lions went 4-6 last year and finished fifth in their region. They scored 20.1 points per game and gave up 31.3 points per game.
Nov. 1 – Belgreen hosts Vina. The Bulldogs will close out their first season on the gridiron by hosting another county rival, Vina. The Red Devils went 1-8 last year. Their lone win came at the end of the season, beating Waterloo 42-32. Vina scored 9.6 points per game and gave up 42.6 points per game.
