WINDER — Winder-Barrow football players have heard the talk around town, heard it around the hallways of their own school -- and they're determined to silence it.
The belief in many corners is that, after graduating one of the best senior classes in Bulldoggs history (which included six collegiate signees), Winder will take a step back in 2016 after posting back-to-back state playoff appearances and turning around a program that had not reached the postseason since 2003.
Not only do Bulldoggs players scoff at that thinking, they feel they can improve on the performances of 2014 and '15. And they will look to do so via a group of players and coaches that have worked hard to build depth behind the starters of the last two seasons.
"We feel like we've built our program well, and even though we'll be plugging new faces in we feel like we can sustain what we started," said Winder coach Heath Webb, who is beginning his third season in charge. "I get a lot of credit for turning this place around, but no head coach does it alone, and my staff has done an incredible job. And so have the players. I feel I have the best staff in the state, and they're taking a great deal of pride in what we're doing."
While overall experience may be down, there are several veterans in key positions, including at running back and quarterback, where Javonne Hughes and Brock Landis each started games and helped the Bulldoggs to key wins in 2015. On defense Nathan Millwood and Mason White will lead the defense, as Winder searches for the role players that will fill in key spots.
How those new faces will respond -- especially along each line of scrimmage -- will largely determine if the Bulldoggs can continue their climb.
"We've got to take the next step; we've had the mentality that getting to the playoffs means success, now we want to make it that success is winning ball games when you get there," Webb said. "We've been going in the right direction, but we have to change directions again."
WINDER-BARROW: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Bulldoggs
- TEAM COLORS: Red, Black and White
- CURRENT REGION: 8-AAAAAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Heath Webb, third season, 12-10
- 2015 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 6-5, reached Class AAAAA first round
- KEY LOSSES: RB Cece Green, QB Noah Chapman, Sr. WR Ryan Evans, WR Cale Horne, OL Ahikam Griffin, OL Justin Simmons, OL Tristen Swords, DL Antonio Trimble, DL Jerry Scott, DL John Pritchett, Saf Joey Junius, CB Jamaul Cox, CB Jay Branch
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread -- The Bulldoggs will look to balance things between the run and pass via an athletic quarterback and experienced running back.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 4 returning starters -- Sr. C Dylan Brown, Jr. QB Brock Landis, Sr. RB Javonne Hughes, Sr. WR Casey Thurmond
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-3-5 -- Winder will flood the field with athletes -- though it all starts with the noseguard position taking up space and allowing inside linebackers to pile up tackles.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 4 returning starters -- Sr. ILB Nathan Millwood (120-plus tackles in 2015), Sr. ILB Mason White (120-plus tackles in 2015), Sr. Saf Deon Williams, Jr. Saf Peige Moore, Sr. NG Dylan Rivoli
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Jr. PK Jesse Zamora, punting duties undecided as of publication time, Sr. KR Teague Moore, Sr. KR Latrell Scott
- STRENGTH: TEAM -- After graduating so much experience from last year's team, this year's group is unified in showing that they will not let the program slide. Webb says there are no agendas, no egos, just drive and unity -- and that has made this year's team a lot of fun to coach.
- QUESTION: Experience in the trenches -- The Bulldoggs have one offensive bellcow in Brown and a potential defensive standout in Rivoli. But the remaining positions will be filled by players that have yet to prove themselves as varsity starters. And while the players that will step into starting roles have potential, the manner in which they react to Friday night lights will determine a lot of Winder's success in 2016.
- KEY GAMES: The opener against Clarke Central will be a supreme test right out of the gates against a well-familiar rival and let the Bulldoggs know just where they need work. The non-region schedule also features an intriguing showdown with old region foe Loganville (Sept. 16). The region schedule opens with cross-town rival Apalachee (Sept. 30) -- a match-up the Bulldoggs have won for three straight seasons after losing five in a row -- before a huge showdown with budding power Lanier (Oct. 7). Winder gets a bye before traveling to Gainesville (Oct. 21). Those three games will likely determine whether the Bulldoggs are playing for a playoff spot in their final two 8-AAAAAA battles.
- TRENDING: Two straight seasons of state playoff berths and winning football -- busting a 10-year postseason absence -- means Winder is no longer considered one of the hopefuls but a contender. Now the trick is to raise the bar once again. Webb says his team must pivot from focusing on reaching the playoffs to winning in the postseason. The Bulldoggs' coaching staff has done tremendous work in two seasons under Webb, but they are by no means satisfied -- even though they realize that it will be difficult to continue that progress after graduating such a successful class.
2016 SCHEDULE
Aug. 19 at Clarke Central
Aug. 26 vs. Walnut Grove
Sept. 2 at Northview
Sept. 16 vs. Loganville
Sept. 23 vs. North Oconee
Sept. 30 at *Apalachee
Oct. 7 vs. *Lanier
Oct. 21 at *Gainesville
Oct. 28 vs. *Habersham Central
Nov. 4 at *Dacula
*- Indicates region game
(All contests start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
