2024 Football Preview: Heath Bulldogs
HEATH, OH
Now, there’s no secret that the Heath Bulldogs have been the dominant team in the LCL over the last several seasons. But it’s going to take a lot more to stay that way in 2024.
It’s been a dominant run for head coach Tim Ward and the Heath Bulldogs over the last several seasons, winning three Cardinal division titles in the LCL over the past four years, and having only lost one conference game during that time span. But there’s a lot of work to be done with plenty of challenges to get back to their winning ways this time around.
Ward said, “Well, we have a lot to replace this year. So probably the biggest challenge is the fact that we’re losing just a lot of experience. So we’re losing four out of five offensive linemen, losing a quarterback who started for full time for three years in a row and even started some playoff games his freshman year, and then losing an outside backer who started more games than anybody else in school history.”
Plenty of turnover to say the least from Ward’s squad, losing 16 players in total. But the Bulldogs can still rely on maybe the best backfield tandem in the conference, in seniors Connor Corbett and Jahki Royster, who are both ready to lead the team in 2024.
“Just trying to motivate everyone every day. Stay locked in, know what the goal is, go to the playoffs, go far in the playoffs” added Corbett. “That jump in the leadership is…it’s been a little hard, but not too bad.”
Royster said, “I’m just trying to make sure everybody’s playing in the right mindset and ready to just play and take over the spot.”
The faces and bodies may change every year for the Bulldogs, but one thing is for sure, the goal will always remain the same at Heath.
“We take every year, one year at a time. Our goals are always the same. We want to win the league. We want to make the playoffs, and then we want to put a run together on the playoffs. So that’s kind of been the goal and it’s been the goal every year, and it’s not going to change this year.”
Corbett declared, “The opportunity this year: win the league, try to go undefeated. That’s a great opportunity this year, and try to go past week three of the playoffs, that’s our main goal this year.” “Same as always, we come fast, we play hard. We don’t give up. So no matter what, we’re going to be trying to score.”
If last year’s 48-0 win over Liberty Union is anything to go on, the Bulldogs will be looking for more of the same when they hit the road to face the Lions on Friday, August 23rd to begin their season in search of a league title, and more.
