The 2015 version of the Ashville Bulldogs will feature a much more wide-open spread offense, according to head coach Steve Martin, forcing the defense to cover every inch of the field and creating running lanes that the Bulldogs can exploit.

“Look for a group of newcomers who will be making a big impact on our team this year,” Martin said.

Martin named some of the players he believes will ramp up the Bulldogs’ performance this season. “(Wide receiver) Reagan Wilson has had an incredible spring and summer. Kyle King, Kenny Brady, Ryan Whisenhunt and Judd Mundy have also worked their tails off this off-season.”

Defensively, the Bulldogs line up in a 4-3 with two safeties providing Cover 2 zone coverage. As for special teams, Coach Martin reached out and hired an assistant during the off-season who has done extensive work with kickers in the past, and hopes this new addition to the staff will help Ashville improve in special teams. 

Key Game(s) of 2015: Ashville comes off a very difficult Week Three game on the road against the always-great Piedmont squad back home and play a crucial matchup with regional challenger Weaver, which slipped into the playoffs last year despite a 4-6 regular season record. The Bulldogs are hungry for a successful season and a playoff bid, and taking care of the Bearcats at home may be the way to grab onto a playoff berth.

Preseason notes: When asked about team-building activities, Coach Martin answered by emphasizing the importance of the players in his program being accountable to the coaching staff and one another.

“If somebody does something wrong or messes up or doesn’t give a strong effort in a drill, the whole team has to pay,” he said. “We do what we can to make sure they understand that our actions reverberate through the entire team.”

Martin pointed out that his team unity exercises lean more toward the positive, with activities like tug-of-wars and relay races between smaller teams within the overall unit that keeps practices fun and competitive.

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

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Judd Mundy Senior QB

Mundy can be best described as a “quick-twitch” quarterback. He has very good straight-line speed for the position. Effective outside of the pocket, Mundy has given consistent production as his coaches ask more and more from him each year. They said he is very good at sensing danger in the pocket and reacts accordingly.

Ryan Whisenhunt, WR, LB

At wide receiver, Whisenhunt pushes the cushion, forcing cornerbacks to turn-and-pivot. This creates good space for his route running, which coaches said is improving. He is able to break routes off or go from stop to start instantly, and he has great separation at the top of his routes.

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ROSTER

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Baskin, Lance II   10th

Logan Bearden

Beatty, Elijah   10th

Blaylock, Matthew   9th

Brady, Kenneth   12th

Brock, Dakota   12th

Burns, Tanner   12th

Carden, Perkins   9th

Copeland, Joseph   12th

Cornutt, Landon   10th

Edge, Koby  10th

Frost, Zachary   10th

Hardrick, Jeffery   10th

Huckbay, Hunter   11th

Hull, Gaje   10th

Hyatt, Joseph (Clay)   11th

Johnson, Phillip   11th

Jones, Parker   9th

King, Kyle    11th

Laughlin, Christopher 9th

Morgan, Andy   12th

Mundy, Judson (Judd) 12th

Phalon, James   9th

Phillips, Jeremiah   11th

Redden, John   10th

Reed, Michael   10th

Spears, William (Will) 10th

Whisenhunt, Ryan   12th

Wilson, Samuel   12th

8/21 @ West End/Holly Pond (Jamboree)

8/28 @ White Plains

9/4 @ Piedmont*

9/11 vs. Weaver*

9/18 vs. Ohatchee*

9/25 vs. Montevallo

10/2 @ Glencoe*

10/9 vs. Pleasant Valley*

10/16 @ Walter Wellborn *

10/23 @ Westbrook Christian*

10/30 vs. Pisgah

* Region game