Bay Springs is about to play for its fourth south state championship in eight years. Brady has a good thing going for the blue and gold.
“When I interviewed eight years ago. They said they wanted somebody that would stick around. I was just a young coach, and that was the promise I made them. This would be home for me. I would bring structure to the program. Our kids believe in what we do. That’s why they play hard. They know we love them, and they know we are going to coach them hard. It means a ton for me just to be a part of it,” said head coach Dan Brady.
Lumberton has dominated 1A and is the defending state champion. Bay Springs has demolished the Panthers three straight times 32-0, 36-0, and 44-0. By the way, that first shutout was last year when Lumberton marched all the way and won state. If the Bulldogs produce at least one touchdown, their winning percentage jumps off the charts. Their defense is nasty.
“I’m extremely happy. I think defensively we are playing the best we’ve ever played here. Coach Justice, Young, Carter, Ellis, Mackey they do a great job getting our kids ready and getting them prepared,” Brady explained about his defense success, “Everybody knows how good 8 (Ty Jones), 3 (Cartize Boothe), and 42 (Zion Ross). In practice, they are getting after it every snap. There are unsung heroes like King Cole and Damarion Campbell that get double-teamed every night. Kevin Keyes stepped in tonight at linebacker and played his tail off. All our kids play hard. We are good we are playing fast.”
There is another group that Brady mentioned that never makes the headlines and is the future of the program. “We don’t talk about them enough, but we got a bunch of little ninth and tenth graders that strap it on four days a week, get beat up, and keep doing a great job for us. They are just as much responsible for this win as anybody,” he said.
Enough about the obvious goose egg in this playoff victory. The Bulldogs showed their teeth on offense. Running back A.J. Ross had the only two touchdowns in the first half from 28 and 35 yards. Ty Jones added two rushing touchdowns in the second half from 38 and 20 yards. Also, Anthony Newell found familiar target Tony Johnson for an 11-yard house call late in the fourth.
There was one of those firework touchdowns made when Cartize Boothe cashed in on a fumbled snap by the Lumberton punter deep in their end zone. The Bulldogs’ bench and coaching staff erupted because they know the importance of special teams. “That was huge getting that play. I tell the kids that we don’t have to be great on special teams, we just can’t hurt ourselves. Right now, we are helping ourselves,” said Brady.
Those close to the Bay Springs football program know how much fun Brady and his players have, but as a coach, he does not take his job lightly. He feels the pressure of giving Bulldog Nation their first football state championship, and there is nothing he wants more. “What we are seeing is the product of a blue-collar community. A town that rallies around their football team, and I’m just glad we have another week to take care of business,” he said fighting back emotions.
Do not let his sappiness fool you either. Brady knows this year is special. Some nay-sayers believe the Bulldogs will blow their opportunity to claim the 1A title. All that matters is what is inside their locker room, and he just gave a brief peek of his team’s mindset. “We’re freak’n peak’n. We can play better, but we are playing freak’n good right now.”
After a 44-0 beat-down at Lumberton, the Bulldogs must trap some Beavers in West Lowndes for the semifinals. There is a lot on the line next Friday. It is a win or go to state. Semifinals will be on the road, and the state championship will be at Southern Miss the following week.