Fall Sports 2012
Page 3
Trenton Bulldogs Football
Trenton Enters 2012 With New Faces In New Places The Trenton Bulldogs enter 2012 on the heels of two-straight seasons of .500 or better football and backto-back trips into the state playoffs. If Trenton is to continue to be a perennial playoff contender and take yet another step up the ladder, it will have to do so with some new faces in new places. Gone from last year’s squad are the top two leading rushers on the team, two all-district linebackers, three linemen that played both ways, a strong punter and the defensive coordinator. Life goes on, however, and Trenton has one of its largest senior classes in recent history ready to step up and carry the torch in 2012. Another change will come in the playoff format, which now pits teams in eight-team district tournaments beginning in week 10. Quarterbacks Chief among Trenton’s returnees is quarterback Jacob Spillman. The senior enters the third season in which he has seen time under center and is, for all intents and purposes, a three-year starter now. Spillman is also Trenton’s leading returning rusher, having carried the ball 139 times for 460 yards and six touchdowns in 2011. Those stats will undoubtedly increase in 2012 with the loss of Clay Oneal and Keegan McGinness to graduation. “There is no question the quarterback is the focal point of what we try to do,� Bulldogs’ Head Coach
Good Luck To All Area Sports Teams!!
TPS
#
Wes Croy said. “Jacob is a threeyear starter now; he got a couple of starts as a sophomore a couple of years ago and was a full-time starter last year. We expect him to make another step forward in his development and his progress. We should be able to lean on him this year, especially in the early season when we are trying to get other guys secure in their roles in the offense.� Despite knowing Spillman can advance the ball successfully with his legs, putting the ball in the air was an adventure at times. Spillman completed just 27 percent of his passes in 2011, throwing two touchdowns to four interceptions. Throwing is by no means a staple of Trenton football, however, the senior has looked much stronger throwing the ball in practice. Trenton will look to incorporate the passing game into the offense more this season and, like his rushing stats, Spillman should see his passing numbers increase this season as well. “He has looked pretty solid throwing the ball so far this year,� Croy said. “We have put a bigger emphasis on that than we have in years past because we aren’t going to be very big up front on the offensive line. We realize that we are going to have to get our yards in some different ways than we have in the past. We aren’t going to be able to run inside and off-tackle as much any more. We are going to have to use the edge
#15 Jacob Spillman
#27 Dalton Burkeybile
#11 Austin Taul Best Wishes
GOOD LUCK!! To The Trenton Bulldogs & All Other Area Teams!!
To All Area Athletes!!
CONVENIENCE STORE
# # # # ! # # # # "" # #