Pre-season rankings elude to Bulldog’s need for a turnaround

Austin Lewter/Jefferson Jimplecute

The 2021 pre-season high school football rankings are out and the Jefferson Bulldogs have nothing but opportunity ahead of them to prove the neigh-sayers wrong. 

Dave Campbell’s Texas High School Football has the Bulldogs ranked dead last in district 6-3A behind New Boston, at number six, and Sabine, at number five. 

The perennial publication of all things Texas football has Gladewater ranked number one, Tatum at number two, Atlanta number three and White Oak at number four. 

Jefferson head coach Antwain Jimmerson was surprised. 

“I haven’t seen the rankings yet,” he said. “I’d have to admit I am little disappointed that they didn’t see more promise in us, but that’s how those magazine rankings work. I am sure they look at the fact that we are down most of our skilled players and have a lot of unproven talent coming up this year… there is no where to go but up… I am confident we have the makings of a successful season.” 

The Bulldogs are returning just three starters on offense and four on defense from a 2020 campaign that ended in a 3-7 record, one district win and a miss opportunity at reaching the playoffs. 

Jimmerson will look to young talent to turn things around in 2021. 

Chief among that young talent is sophomore offensive lineman Bryce Clark who started every game as a freshman. 

Others to look out for include defensive linemen Isiah McDonald, Travis McAllister, Parker Key and Knox Tomlinson; offensive linemen Joseph Woods and Lucas Polver; and linebackers Chris Bowman, Trenton Miles and Da’Travion Smith. 

Though Dave Campbell’s predicts Bowman will be in the hunt for the vacant quarterback spot, Jimmerson would not confirm any such rumors. 

“Right now, the quarterback spot is wide open,” Coach Jimmerson said. “No one has won that spot yet. None of them have proven themselves yet… it is still very early.” 

The Bulldogs are working out daily from 8-11 a.m. and Jimmerson says they average 55-65 players for each summer session. 

“You never have all of them all the time,” he said. “That’s what you really want, but I’ve been pleased with the overall turnout… we just have to go out and prove ourselves. Hopefully those two early scrimmages will set the pace for the rest of the season.” 

The Bulldogs will scrimmage Waskom on August 13 and Elysian Fields on August 19— both will be at home in Jefferson. 

They open non-district play at home on August 27 with Pittsburg before traveling to Center on September 3, Liberty Eylau on September 10 and Hooks on September 17. 

The will have a bye week on September 24 and open district play on October 1 at White Oak. 

They will host Sabine for homecoming on October 8 before traveling t Gladewater on October 15. 

The will round out district the following three weeks home against Tatum, at New New Boston and home against Atlanta for senior night on November 5.