2019 Preview: Stone Bridge Bulldogs
The 2018 football season was another successful year for Stone Bridge Head Coach Mickey Thompson, reaching the Class 5A State Championship for the third time in the last four seasons.
However, the Bulldogs fell in that title game to the Highland Springs Springers, 37-26 and Coach Thompson is ready to turn the page in what hopes to be another state title run.
"I think of all the years, I'm probably a little more excited than the last 10-15 years because there's a lot of changes, a lot of new stuff happening, a lot of new players with great attitudes and I'm just really excited about a fresh start. Whenever you have change, it creates a little bit of anxiety, but it also creates a little bit of excitement," Thompson says.
The Bulldogs return a ton of talent at the skill positions, but are very inexperienced up front. Coach Thompson noted that three offensive lineman will be starting for the first time in their career and it is a major concern of his.
"I think we can be the most explosive we've ever been. The big thing on offense is we don't have any depth, so that's very fragile, but we've got players that we've never had before with talents that we've never had before," he noted.
Returning is highly regarded Class of 2021 WR Tai Felton, RB Jared Cole (UMass commit), RB Zeke Moore, QB Billy Wiles and offensive linemen Danny Garrity and Jonathan Milles. Having a lot of weapons is never a bad thing, yet it will be interesting to see how they plan to spread the ball out.
"The issue that I have is, I got Tai Felton - who is a phenomenal wide receiver. I got Zeke Moore in the backfield, who is a phenomenal downhill runner and I've got Jared Cole, who can do everything," Thompson remarked. "We have another receiver in D.J. Cobb, who I think is phenomenal and he's going to be something when you see him on the scene.
"All those weapons and there's where the unselfishness and sharing of the football comes into play. If I can give the ball to Jared Cole in space and they're going to allow me to do that, I'm going to do it 20 times and that's what the other guys have to understand."
Junior quarterback Billy Wiles (6'3" 200 lbs) will be the engine that makes this machine run. Taking over for the graduated Mason Tatum, now at Christopher Newport University, Wiles has a strong arm and can make just about any throw. Thompson complimented Wiles on how unique of a talent he is. "
We've had great quarterbacks. He throws the ball well, he runs adequately enough and is getting better. He does all the things all the other quarterbacks have done in our past, but in my opinion, he has the "it" factor. There's just something different about him that sets him apart," Thompson believes.
"I'm excited to install everything and watch him perform because I think he's going to make plays that we don't necessarily see or draw up. He's going to make things happen that other guys have not been able to do in the past."
As for the other side of the ball, Stone Bridge will be grooming in new defensive coordinator Billy Rice in 2019 and Thompson warns fans to be patient as they work out the kinks of installing new schemes.
"On defense, it's a little bit different," Thompson added. "A lot of roles have not been identified, there's a lot of places where we don't know really who is going to be at that position and that creates a lot of competition. It may take a few games for us to get where we want to be."
Key returners on the Bulldog defense: LB Gabe Perez, LB Mason Gordon, DE/LB Skylar Martin, DE/LB Mikail Kamara (James Madison commit) and DL Kandler Martin.
The Bulldogs have a tough road ahead of them, especially to start the season with their first three games being at Centerville, at Madison and home against Brooke Point.
If they make it back to another State Championship game at the Class 5 levl, they will certainly have earned it. The bar is always set high for this program and even with some inexperience, Thompson sees a path for success.
"They'll be some things you'll see that you haven't seen from Stone Bridge football in a while, that's my expectation," Thompson stated. "There are some phenomenal, dynamic athletes and I'm excited about what that's going to look like."