GAINESVILLE — After the program’s worst season record-wise in 20 years in 2018 (2-9) most of the Gainesville football faithful are curious to see just what the Red Elephants have to offer in 2019.
They aren’t the only ones.
“I’m curious to see what we have,” second-year head coach Heath Webb admitted late last week as the Red Elephants were preparing for their season-opener on Friday against Mary Persons.
Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at City Park Stadium and can be heard on 94.5 FM The Lake.
“We have a very tough schedule again and I’m looking to see how much, if any, progress we’ve made since last year. I see this game, and really the first three games, as a measuring stick compared to last year.”
That may not be entirely fair considering Webb and his staff took over a program that had struggled the previous two seasons and implemented new systems in virtually every aspect of the program. They were blown out 42-0 by Mary Persons in last year’s season opener in Forsyth in a game that was called at halftime due to lightning and other weather issues. The Red Elephants dropped their first seven games by an aggregate score of 228-104
At the time Gainesville was sporting a new quarterback, reworking a new offensive line, and replacing several key players from the year before. Not much has changed heading into the 2019 opener as changes once again permeate the lineup.
Gionni Williams has replaced Walt Dixon as the starting quarterback. Dixon is now a full-time receiver. Quintavious Hayes, a 1,000-yard rusher, graduated. Personnel changes on defense also bring questions as the Red Elephants look to try and set a positive tone to a season that many expect to see improvement across the board.
However, Williams, who assumed the starting role over the last half of the 2018 campaign, and Dixon have meshed well in what should be a more fluid offense. The reworked offensive line, led by Division I prospect, Jordan Williams, is now considered a strength and maybe one of the state’s best overall units.
Dez Brown, who was thought to be lost for the season due to an illness in the spring, has been cleared and he and JD Brooks should provide a solid 1-2 punch in the backfield.
The defense once again has the speed to go with size up front, paced by Division I defensive end prospect Makius Scott.
While winning is always the goal, Webb said “marked improvement” is the main focus against a Bulldogs team that is coming off a quarterfinals run in a tough Class 4A. They averaged 46 points a game in 2018 and yielded just 146 total points (11.2 ppg) on defense.
“We go out every Friday looking to win,” Webb said. “That never changes no matter the circumstances. But we’re still building this program. We had one of the toughest schedules I’ve ever been around as a coach last year and it’s the same one this year and several of the teams have improved.
“But I also feel that we’ve improved. I’m looking at Friday night as a way for us to see if we have and by how much.”
While the Bulldogs put up huge numbers in 2018, they also lost 71 percent of their offense to graduation. Quarterback J.T. Hartage (2,775 yards passing, 28 TDs, 4 INT) is now at Savannah State. They lost their top two receivers and more than 2,000 yards rushing out of the backfield. On defense, their top six tacklers all graduated from a unit that created 28 turnovers in 2018.
All that would suggest that Gainesville is catching a somewhat inexperienced Mary Persons team at just the right time. Or does it?
“It’s going to be a tough game. They still have tremendous talent,” Webb said. “It will take everything we have to beat them. But like I said, I also feel like we’ve made strides.
“What I expect from our guys is to go all-out for four quarters. I feel like we’re getting there. Right now, the guys have bought into what we are doing. But if we don’t come out with a win, it’s important that we show progress on both sides of the ball.”
That, probably more than anything else, could be a burning question for the fans who will pack City Park Stadium. Just how far along are the Red Elephants in their rebuild?
“I guess we’re going to start finding out. But getting a win would help validate the hard work these guys have put in for more than a year. That would be nice,” Webb said.
MARY PERSONS at GAINESVILLE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: City Park Stadium, Gainesville
-- RADIO: 94.5 FM The Lake
-- MARY PERSONS (0-0, 0-0 Region 2-4A): Finished 12-1 in 2018, advanced to Class 4A quarterfinals
-- GAINESVILLE (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-6A): Finished 2-9 in 2018, lost 1st round of Class 6A playoffs
-- NOTABLE: Mary Persons leads series 1-0. The Bulldogs won 42-0 in 2018 in a game that was called at halftime due to inclement weather. ... Gainesville is just 4-6 in its last 10 season-openers. The Bulldogs are 7-3 in their last 10 season-openers. ... Mary Persons is no stranger to higher classification teams. The Bulldogs are 4-2 against Class 6A teams and 5-2 against all teams in a higher classification since 2015. ... Gainesville is 3-8 against lower classification teams since 2015 with two of those wins coming against West Hall.
