Bulldogs preparing for new season in 2010

Rockdale football has started its journey last week to try to get back to the state's top teams during the 2010 season.
Well sort of.

The Bulldogs began fall practice in pads and helmets Monday but lost most of the rest of the week due to heat.

"We lost Monday and the rest of the week has been a joke," Rockdale coach Michael Etheridge said. "But we follow the rules to the T."

Rockdale took to the practice field again on Thursday but, due to continually hot temperatures, were in shorts and T-shirts. That didn't stop the Bulldogs, a 2009 semifinalist finisher, from continuing to prepare for its Aug. 27 season opener at Winder-Barrow.

"We pretty much know what we've got, but we have to see if a few kids have grown up," Etheridge said. "We're ready to put gear on and get everything going."

Etheridge said the team already has about 90 percent of its offense in and is just looking for some players to step up. One of those positions where a more definitive rotation is being sought is quarterback.

Micah Reed and Darion Clark are both vying for the starting job with its implications trickling down to the running backs. If Reed is named the starting signal caller, then Dontavius London will be the halfback. If Clark gets the nod at quarterback, Reed will side to halfback and London to fullback.

That battle is working itself out behind a solid offensive line of such stalwarts as Grady Jarrett and Jerry Mathis and second year, 290-pound player Ike Olijobi. At Rockdale lineman play both ways, with the top players starting and other subbing in shortly after. Mathis, Jarrett and company also form one of the area's most talented defensive lines, giving Etheridge a top unit to build his defense around.

"We have the front back that we played last year, and we have free safety Nevil Hewitt back," Etheridge said. I think we have a pretty good chance to be good." During the summer and into fall practice, Rockdale has been working about 18 linebackers for three spots. "We had three great ones last year that graduated," Etheridge said. "I think our kids this year are going to be able to be close."

This Article courtesy of Bryan Fazio of "The Rockdale News"

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