Lightning cause chaos for Kick-Off Classics, Week 1 preview!

David Hayes and Jd Muszynski talk about the week 0 games and cancellations.  Then we move into week 1 predictions!  The 2026 season is now on! Conversations with Mosley's Coach Whiddon , Bozeman's Coach Maddux, North Bay Haven's Coach Glover and Arnold's Coach Griffin.

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:30

All right, not only season two, but episode two here of the Sports Republic as we're working our way through the 2026 season highlighting Bay County high school football. Uh, we had rain come in, man. The weather was a huge factor. Only two teams got a complete kickoff classic game in. That was Rutherford against Port St. Joe, where they got the W 35-0. You had Choctaw take down Bay 35-6. Um, Bozeman was completely canceled, and then Mosley had about eight minutes of the first quarter in, and the games that will, or the game that we'll start with, Arnold and North Behaven was 14-0 Arnold's way. So JD, oh, by the way, I'm David Hayes, along with JD Muzinski. We'll give ourselves a little bit of an introduction here. Uh, so yeah, tell us a little bit about what you saw from North Behaven's side of things from Arnold's side of things. You were there at Gavlack Stadium before the rain started to, well, it was not, it's not about the rain, before the lightning started to strike.

SPEAKER_05 1:32

Yeah, we had that lightning storm just creep up on us out of out of nowhere, basically, and shut down a bunch of games. But it came out there, it was probably around the same time as as Mose. I think we got about eight minutes, maybe seven minutes in uh of the game. Uh North Bay Haven had the ball twice, uh, and they were on defense twice. The they came out the first drive. Um, I'm pretty sure Arnold won the toss and they they took the ball. So they started out with the ball. Uh, they had a really good sustainable drive. They went, I think it was probably around 60 yards. Um you know, we had uh they had a screen play that was set up really well. Uh that Joey Pearson was able to jump up and tip the ball and got an incompletion out of that. Um and we were able to force uh they had to get a fourth down conversion. It was like fourth and one, I think. They got that, a couple third down conversions, um, and a really just you know, probably a I would say a six-play drive or so, maybe seven or eight plays, methodical, just kind of slowly, you know. I was I was I was okay with it because it's like Arnold's a bigger school, bigger lineman, but they had to earn it, you know what I mean? They had to earn their way down there, and they did, and uh, you know, River Walding ended up uh having like a play action little boot out to the left, and he scored right there on the corner. Uh no no sense of cons concern, I would think, from that. It was just, you know, not bad.

SPEAKER_04 2:55

Arnold doing what they were kind of supposed to do. Yes.

SPEAKER_05 3:01

In his bigger school, bigger lineman, you know, it's it's a little bit of a difference. Right. And and I, you know, we had uh Chase Lee wasn't playing middle linebacker, uh Caleb Capola wasn't playing at uh at safety out there. So we had some people that would normally be there that weren't there, and that's okay. Um, so then we got the ball on offense. Uh, I think we started out with a five or six yard Sean Williams run. Um and then we had a uh uh a bubbles pass that didn't go anywhere because you know, miss a block in assignment. And then we had another pass that should have gone to a for a first down or at least been right there at the sticks for a first down, but you know, we kind of ran backwards there. So ended up punting. I found out Caleb's a punter now, too. So no way. I don't know.

SPEAKER_04 3:42

All right, Salon Moore over there.

SPEAKER_05 3:44

I don't know where that came from. Is it gonna be all defense too at some points? Uh I mean, listen, I no one said it. I mean, I guess they kind of maybe hinted at it. Yeah. Like only like in it the like we the the the process is like almost everybody else would have to go first.

SPEAKER_06 4:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 4:01

But if it got to a point, I mean, listen, too.

SPEAKER_04 4:04

I mean, I mean we already heard from Coach Sean Maddox. You guys will hear later that Hayden Gay is gonna be playing some important defensive rep. So I mean if it happens, you know. What position do you would you foresee him be in? Safety? Yeah. I think that's just like second nature for a quarterback, right? Because they can safety.

SPEAKER_05 4:21

Um he could help probably at linebacker, but he hasn't practiced tackling in so long as far as like being able to you know do what he needs to do over and over and over again. But at safety with his knowledge of offense, I think he'd be okay there. Uh but again, I don't I don't foresee that happening. I think Bozeman has a setup to where they are gonna do that. Yeah. Um but it has been tossed around, just you never know. Um but yeah, so he punts now, and then on their second drive, Arnold's second drive, uh North Bay Haven's defensive second drive, uh, we got a fumble that we recovered and got called back because we face mass penalty on the running back that kind of hurt, and then Dalen Davis just kind of went right out the middle for a 40-yard touchdown. Again, you know, linebacker's not there, the safety's not there that would normally be there. Uh not so much concerned about it, but just in the back of my mind, I'm like, eh, I don't know. Then on our second offensive uh possession, you know, we got uh a snap that goes, you know, 10 yards behind Caleb, and it's just a lot of shooting yourself in the foot. And that's what's got me concerned. Yeah, right now at least. So we'll see what happens. I don't I don't, you know, take it as a complete negative because they did some good things, but uh if you're gonna not win, or I guess it's no winning when it's an early game, but if you're gonna not be on the the the positive side of the scoreboard, you want it to be because you were just beat, not because you beat yourself.

SPEAKER_04 5:47

Yeah, that that it's it's a worse feeling when it's you beating yourself. You you you get to learn either way, but you would rather learn how to adapt rather than hey, we've got to get our fundamentals sound. Exactly. Yeah. But it also that's another one of those things, first real reps in a game, and then you like sometimes those first two drives don't go the way that you want them to. And so you get into that third drive, and maybe things start to settle down for you a little bit, but you never get that opportunity. So it's really hard to see. And as coach said, um, Coach Glover said, you know, he he got to see some things on film for them to work on. So there are positives from that. I I do wish that the rain would have subsided or the lightning would have subsided enough for them for all of these calls to get these games in because it it's one of those things where you want to see where you're at, especially with your starters who were only going to play the first half anyways. Correct. But if you're only getting two drives in, that makes it uh it makes it difficult. And then you would also like to see your JV team and your freshman team get out there and and get some reps being on the same field with the varsity guys and see like who who's got that mindset that wants the promotion, who wants to continue growing within this program? And and I think when the JV and the freshman guys are watching the varsity guys, it it can sometimes bring that dog out in them. Absolutely. The competitive nature.

SPEAKER_05 7:08

Absolutely. Well, especially when uh you're talking about a school such as North Bayhaven, Bozeman, or Rutherford, where you know you're you're you're already not very deep on the talent level as it is. So you need to know who's gonna be able to show up. Those third and fourth quarters of those games this past week would have given opportunities to some to maybe a freshman, right? Maybe a tenth grader, or maybe even an eleventh grader, who knows, that's that hasn't been able to to to get out there and and show what they could do. So, you know, it's just uh a missed opportunity, I think. And it's it was eerily similar to the the spring game when we started out with Destin. The first two drives, we shot ourselves in a foot. We gave up two touchdowns, just like we did just there. But then after that, we we shut them out and then we started scoring, and everything was fine, but we didn't get that chance to turn that corner this time. Yeah, but you gotta know that during the season, you can't go down 14-0 in a hole. Yeah, you know, that's what happened last year at Rutherford, and before you knew it, oh snowball.

SPEAKER_04 8:05

Yeah, that game was out of hand by the time the third quarter started.

SPEAKER_05 8:07

Yeah, you can't you can't get in the habit of this, and it's just a little concerning because uh because you know we'll see what happens this week though.

SPEAKER_04 8:13

And I mean, it that was one of the ones where I you Bluntsdown and Mosley were a size discrepancy, but just the title that Bluntsdown holds as a as a football program made that feel like two evenly matched teams. Oh, yeah. Um, and I would say across the board, Bay, Choctaw, Rutherford, Port, St. Joe, it seemed like they were more or evenly balanced, and then you have Arnold and North Beyhaven. So a little bit of a not only size difference, but I I think the size difference actually is the more overwhelming.

SPEAKER_05 8:41

Well, I mean, they're like were much, much bigger. Yeah, you know, and that's you know, is what it is. I mean, we knew what we were going for when you schedule the game. But you know, that's a good gauge also. And to be able to come away from that and and say that we were successful, at least in the plays that we wanted to run, whether we didn't execute or not, it lets you know that you know, even with the difference in size, we were able to, we should have been able to do something. And you can fix a mistake. Yeah, you can fix some mistakes, and so that's that's where we're sat with that.

SPEAKER_04 9:08

So all right. Well, we'll take a timeout here and we'll we'll listen uh to coach Jack Glover talk about his Buccaneers, and then right after that, we've got Coach Jason Griffin on. We've got Coach Jack Glover with the North Bay Haven Buccaneers on the line with us, coach. Uh, we we had a shortened kickoff classic this week as the weather started rolling in. I mean, it looked beautiful all the way on my way up to uh Tommy Oliver, I'm sure, on your way out there to Gavlak. Looked beautiful. I don't know if you were checking the weather or not, and then it just started rolling in and the lightning started to strike and the thunder started to roll. So, coach, uh, give us some things maybe that you that you what were some of your takeaways from the kickoff classic over there at Gavlak Stadium for your Buccaneers?

SPEAKER_00 9:52

Oh, yeah, we just we just couldn't get really anything going on offense, but there again, we only got to play eight eight minutes of total play. And um we just uh we had we went in there with a game plan of these are the plays that we want to see, and um we got in and the good thing is some of the plays that we we did see, we got to see what we did wrong. Um so we got some uh we got some good film off of that with some key points where guys just just either went the wrong direction, missed a block, or something like that. So we were able to after the game, we went right back to the we came right back here to North Bay Haven and and and watch film just so we can learn it. Um so that was a key uh a good positive that we got some good film off of it.

SPEAKER_04 10:42

How does a shortened kickoff classic affect this week affect this week's game planning?

SPEAKER_00 10:49

Well, the problem with this week's game planning is number one, we we we only get to play eight minutes last week. Well, the team that we were gonna that the team that we're playing, they didn't play anyone. And then they were supposed to play the week before in a a little um scrimmage, and our coaches went to watch that and they didn't play there either. So I mean, we have nothing on this team, we don't know what they're gonna do, and all we're doing is we've been watching films that we've gotten from them from last year. So I mean, and usually they're pretty they're pretty, you know, they they from what I know about them, they they kind of keep it the same every year. Um, same plays, you know, same kind of um offense. So I mean, we're kind of going in blind this week, but so are they. So they're going in blind on us, and but the good thing is we got to play at least eight minutes. We went to we went to a padded camp a couple weeks ago, right before the season started. So I mean we've got some we've got some hitting under our belt that I think is gonna give us an edge.

SPEAKER_04 11:53

Well, coach, what is the goal then for this week's game with not having a lot of intel on them? They don't have a lot of intel on you guys, but you did you do kind of have the upper hand there with eight minutes played. What's the goal for Coach Jack Glover and the North Bay Haven Buccaneers?

SPEAKER_00 12:08

Well, I mean, I mean I mean, hopefully you ain't listening right now, but my my goal is to which we we want to have clock management Friday night. So we want to frustrate them by keeping the ball. And we have got a quarterback and a running back that can that can do that. And we are going to we're gonna feed them to the ball um this week and let them set the tone with their feet, and then we're gonna go from there. But it's just like, I mean, we could have did that Friday night, but like I said, we we went into the we went into it going, we need to see these plates. Because it's a classic, you know, it's a preseason classic. This week's game plan is completely different. We're going into not we're not going in there to to see plays or to learn or do anything on that. We're going into freaking win the game.

SPEAKER_05 12:55

So Hey coach, this is JD. How's it going? Good man, how you doing? I'm doing good. Um yeah, it seemed like it was okay uh last week. I mean, I know we only got to play two drives, you know, eight minutes total. We only had eight plays total on offense. Um you know, but the you know, kind of some of the breakdown that I got from it, you know, eight plays on offense, but two of those were punts. Um and so that left six plays, and then two plays were run plays uh to Sean Williams, which he got nine or ten yards total on. Yeah. And then uh what was that? At least four. And then two other plays were completed passes. Although one where, you know, one of the receiver kind of went away from the the first down marker, and the other one we had a missed block on uh on a little uh bubble over there. So they really left. Sorry, go ahead.

SPEAKER_00 13:47

Well, you know, I was gonna say on both of those passes, when you go back and watch film, if if both of them had missed blocks, yeah. So the guys that made tackles like on that first down play where we went backwards, um where we went we didn't make to the sticks, the guy that made the tackle should have been blocked. Yeah, so I mean like he didn't say that.

SPEAKER_05 14:06

It wasn't even like he didn't get a good block on him. It looked like he didn't even attempt to block him at all, like he didn't know that he was supposed to block them. So that was uh kind of shooting yourself in the foot. And then uh we had the bad snap, was one play. Yeah, and then one play out of eight, one of Arnold's DBs, you know, kind of jumped up and and and tipped the ball down on what would have been a complete pass of Joey Pearson. So I mean, you really weren't stopped, except for No, we stopped ourselves. So like, which really, I mean, you know, some people might think that's a good thing. Well, like Arnold didn't stop you, but at the same time, it's like, what are we what are we gonna be able to do to to to not have that happen? Yeah. Uh you know what I mean. So um hopefully.

SPEAKER_00 14:44

Well that and that that is the good thing about, you know, like when the spring, this preseason classic, I mean, going in those games, you you got a list of stuff you want to see.

SPEAKER_05 14:55

Right.

SPEAKER_00 14:55

Because you're trying to learn, trying to make sure they know what they're doing. And now this week, man, now we're going, okay, this is the things we can do. Let's go do it. And that's what we're gonna do this week. So I mean, between between Caleb and Red, I mean Caleb and Sean, I mean, they're gonna be able to put a lot of yards on the ground, which will open up the uh the passing game. So yeah, yeah, I agree with that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 15:20

Well, coach, we are excited for it. Good luck over there at Cottendale and safe travels on your way over there. We will be rooting for you. Thanks for your time.

SPEAKER_00 15:28

Yeah, man. Thank you guys. Y'all have a good one. All right, that is Coach Jack Glover.

SPEAKER_04 15:34

Thanks, thanks so much for joining us. And uh, hey, looking forward to what happens underneath those Friday night lights. And now, Coach Jason Griffin with the Arnold Marlins. Coach Jason Griffin with the Arnold Marlins on the line with us here. Coach uh got a little shortened kickoff classic action in Friday evening. Give us uh your takeaways. Uh, tell us a little bit about the good things that you saw and and maybe some of the things that you want to change as we get ready for Freeport this week.

SPEAKER_01 16:03

Well, you know, we had a good crowd, a lot of excitement. You know, it was a fun environment. Uh unfortunately, you know, the lightning kind of got us there towards the end of the first quarter. But, you know, I was pleased with how our guys came out. You know, our guys were excited. They uh they they played hard. You know, offensively wanted to establish the run a little bit and try to work on our run game and get some things on film so we could get some uh make some corrections. And uh, you know, we didn't have really an opportunity to open it up and throw the ball a little bit was my plan in the second quarter. But you know, we we got a little bit of film. We were able to uh to make some corrections moving into a very important game coming up this week against Freeport, but you know, it sure would have been nice to get a lot of reps and let our young guys play in the second half.

SPEAKER_04 16:39

Well, what do we know about Freeport? What is uh what what have you been game planning for Freeport for this week?

SPEAKER_01 16:46

Well, you know, we don't really have anything. Their game was canceled entirely up there, so there's no film on them uh that we have. Uh, you know, it just uh, you know, you know, Coach Johns and I, you know, we've we've gone against each other quite a few times over the years, and you know, so it's just a little bit of guesswork about what we think they're gonna be, just a little bit about their personality. You know, they got a really talented quarterback. Uh so you know, we're gonna we're gonna just try to prepare as best we can for what we think we're gonna see. But I think from Friday, uh from a coaching standpoint, I think the team that's able to adjust in the game, uh based on the limited amount of film that both teams are gonna have. I think the team that adjusts the best during the game is gonna give themselves an opportunity to win.

SPEAKER_04 17:26

What are your goals for the Arnhem Marlins this week?

SPEAKER_01 17:30

A win. You know, very simply. Our goal is to win, but I think overall I'd like for us to just keep improving. You know, we had a big jump from uh two Fridays ago to the past Friday, and I want to see that continued growth and see our team uh could continue to improve uh from uh from week zero to week one. And if we can do that, you know, then I'll be pleased with with where we're at.

SPEAKER_04 17:51

Yes, sir. Uh got gotta love that and uh always love the the goal of winning, right? That is actually what we step out to do and learn some lessons along the way. JD, you got anything for coach?

SPEAKER_05 18:02

Yeah, I was just uh uh curious on as far as uh Dalen Davis. Is he gonna be like the premier back there or because he did run a pretty good amount the other day?

SPEAKER_01 18:11

Um Yeah, you know, uh Dalen's a lot of very versatile guy, you know, and of course he's a great defensive player, and you know, he's he's kind of the anchor of our defense, but but he does a heck of a job over there, running both running the ball and catching the ball out of the backfield. So we're gonna use Dalen. As much as we can, but without without costing our defense. You know, we don't wanna we don't want to break him down or wear him down. And we got, you know, Walter McDermott did a great job the other night as well. And we've got a couple other guys that we can roll in there. So, you know, uh you you that that's kind of gonna kind of evolve organically as we go through the season about how much uh how much burden we can get him on the offensive side of the ball and and how effective it's gonna be and and and and how much we can limit the the negative impacts on our defense.

SPEAKER_04 18:50

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_05 18:51

And then also on the on the defensive side, it I noticed that he was, I think, mostly, I haven't watched all the film yet. I mean, not that there was a ton to watch, but uh mostly at the linebacker position. Uh, is that something where he's gonna stay out there? Is he gonna move down on the line, or is he just gonna kind of be as you go and see fit?

SPEAKER_01 19:07

Again, you know, he has he has a ton of versatility. He's kind of he's kind of a guy that we could really put anywhere on the dang field. He's gonna be a contributor, gonna make it make an impact. So, you know, what Josh is trying to do on the defense side of the ball, he's trying to take the pieces that we have and fit them in the best that we can. And uh, and I think Dalen can fit in any of those pieces. So I think Josh is just trying to figure out what's what's gonna be best overall for our defense. Uh just the same thing we're doing on offense. So uh, you know, that that's another thing that's gonna evolve kind of organically as we move through the season and uh, you know, as as as we adjust to to the success or failures that we have, you know, that's that that that will change as we go.

SPEAKER_04 19:42

All right, coach. Well, this Friday night, Gav Black, uh Freeport under the lights with the Arnold Marlins 7 p.m. Coach, good luck and uh hope you guys come out with that victory, and we'll be rooting for you.

SPEAKER_01 19:55

Hey, guys, I appreciate it. Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 19:57

All right, Coach Jason Griffin with the Arnold Marlins. All right, JD. So I had the opportunity to go to the Mosley game. Well, not just go there, but sit up in the booth and uh yeah, we we got to call a little bit, man. Uh, had a couple of blunders along the way calling because they got brothers on the team, so I called Gavin Molden, Grayson Molden, Molden. So, you know, I had to get corrected on that. And new numbers, right? New numbers is oh my goodness, uh, so that's always a fun game to play, which is why I'm always excited about the kickoff classics. So it's kind of like you can get used to that. Because by game two, I'm pretty like, all right. I mean, it's a good gauge for you too. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_05 20:36

Exactly. You had to get them out now.

SPEAKER_04 20:38

I didn't get the, I mean, and and and this is just one of those things where how time works out because you know, I want the depth chart and stuff like that, but I didn't end up getting that until Thursday day, and I did the podcast with uh Ryan Mulvey on the inside drive, then work right after that. So I didn't even see the roster until five o'clock on Friday night when I could just exactly and so I'm trying to go by memory a little bit, you know, from the little studying that I did, and yeah, you know, a couple of blunders along the way, but we'll get that ready uh for this week as Mosley has got a big one against Choctaw. But so some of that there's not a lot to take away from. Like it was the same thing for Mosley and Blunstown, two two drives apiece. Um, I Mosley a great running back for Bluntstown, right? And Kay and Martin, number one, committed to UConn. Right. And Mosley did a good job of bottling him up. I'm really excited to see, like, they didn't drop back the quarterback, which is an eighth grader. I didn't know that until Robert Fleming's on the pregame with us, and we're talking about Waggoneer, eighth grader out here. I'm like, oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_05 21:46

Especially for a program like Blunts down.

SPEAKER_04 21:48

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Uh, they're you know, they they've got stars at every position, it feels like. And not saying that he's not, it's just like you see the word eighth grader and you think, uh, maybe are we talking about North Behavior? Like You you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_05 22:00

Not in a mean way, just where you would uh Norva was the type of program where you would see an eighth grade quarterback trot out there. Yeah, that you wouldn't think that for that level of program.

SPEAKER_04 22:09

So defensively, I thought that they were solid. I'm really excited to see they they only attempted one pass. So I'm I'm excited to see what that pass rush is gonna bring with Waldrup and uh Archambo, like as the as the time rolls on. But man, they were solid across the front. There um defensive backs were able to get in there and and kind of help, but they didn't need to for the most part, unless Kay Martin broke. Uh, I think they got one first down, so like a 11-yard runner. So defense looked solid. Offense started out with a three and out, and you're like, okay, hey, you know, let's see what's about to happen here. You did have a drop pass from Jamarcus Halstead on the screen that uh kind of set the set, I don't want to say it set the tone back or took the tone backwards by any means, but you you you had Sammy Chisholm start it off and just got stopped up the gut. Right. Then you get the incomplete pass, and it felt like momentum dropped off. But on the second drive, they get things going. Uh Khalil Lauderdale is gonna be fun to watch in that slot receiver position or being even on the outside. Most of the time it's gonna be Caleb Caps and Jamarcus Halstead, and then you'll have uh Khalil Lauderdale in the slot. I think uh they they did a good job of managing the offense until they got into the real Realtors red zone. And that is when you had a penalty, then you have a snap fly over the uh the head of JP Holsenback, and then he had a wide open opportunity for Caleb Caps, which is one of those ones. It was like kind of a kind of a will route ordeal, but he was already on the outside, so he didn't will too much, just kind of faded out a little bit, had him wide open there, overshot him. There was some pressure coming, and you just had the couple of blunders, so those could have been in your mind. Those are the type of things, though, that we want to see the quarterback like, I hey, whatever happened has happened, right? And let's kind of move forward. So we'll see how it plays out. I mean, just not a lot to take away from because again, you're talking about your first two drives of the season, and it's there's never a time to get comfortable. I I would imagine that when they left the field, they still were, you know, still getting rid of the butterflies, if you will, you know? I would think so. So uh not a whole lot to take away from there. Uh but the Kay and Martin kid for for Bluntstown, I mean, he's tall and he's shifty. That kid's gonna be a good running back this year.

SPEAKER_05 24:26

Yeah, I seen him go through the through the line on the one, the one he had one carry that was, I think, maybe like a good eight to ten yard carry, the one first down that they got. And I was like, man, that dude is really tall and and kind of not lanky, but just like lengthy.

SPEAKER_04 24:37

He's not a running back physique. Yes.

SPEAKER_05 24:39

I was like, man, he looks like he should be on like the outside, you know, as a receiver. But uh, yeah, I mean, you know, you know what one thing is is is helpful for me is if a if a if a coach witten coach team can come out there and have a couple mistakes, like he dropped a pass, or maybe someone missed a block. That's why Sammy got bottled up in the in the in the you know the middle on the on his run or a bad snap. It's like, okay, well, you know, maybe maybe North Bay Haven's, you know, accidents are not that big of a deal either. Right. As long as you properly address them.

SPEAKER_04 25:07

And that's and it sounded like from when we talk with Coach Glover and when we talk with Coach Witten, like those things are they're they're obviously aware of the issues going on. It's just what are you gonna do to to fix those uh moving forward? And and both uh coaches seem very optimistic about that. And we'll go ahead and get to the line here with Coach Tommy Joe Witten as he tell uh talks to us a little bit about the kickoff classic and then what the game plan is for this week against Choctaw. All right, we've got coach Tommy Joe Witten with the Mosley Dolphins on the line with us, coach. We didn't uh get a full four quarters in, but we got more this year in than we did last year at Southwalt. And tell me what some of the good things, some of the things that you want to change moving forward from those eight or so minutes that we got to play uh Friday night over at Tommy Oliver.

SPEAKER_02 25:54

Yeah, I thought our energy and effort uh on both sides of the ball was really good. Um things, you know, I thought kids played really hard defensively. You know, I think what they ran seven plays and you know, only had what one run for they got a first down, but outside of that, I thought the defense, you know, did a good job of of stopping the back. That running back, as you could tell, was really talented. I think he's committed to Yukon. And uh and uh but then on the offensive side of the ball, like we just shot ourselves in the foot too much. You know, obviously the three and out, we had a drop and then just didn't burst up the field on a third down to go get the first down after the catch. And then that second drive when we'll really start moving the ball and get down inside the 10-yard line to have a penalty and then a bad snap, just uh our lack of execution offensively was a bit a bit frustrating, but uh, but again, great teachable moments that we've gone over and film and like to think we've got corrected and we'll be ready to go Thursday night.

SPEAKER_04 26:51

So, with that uh short and kickoff classic, how does that does it affect at all your uh game planning for this week as we look forward to Choctaw visiting us at Tommy Oliver?

SPEAKER_02 27:03

Uh I mean, just I mean, there's a couple things we wish we could have got accomplished. Obviously, we got some special teams. I wish we could have got a true kickoff.

SPEAKER_06 27:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 27:10

Um, you know, and and and you know, some other things like that, been able to get into more of our substitutions, getting guys, you know, on and off the field and our personnel packages on offense and then our then our third down and sub packages on defense, just working that of getting guys on and off and having to communicate. So those are things that you would like to be able to see during live action. But uh, but as far as you know, I thought we got enough to that we can coach off of. And, you know, uh Chocktal's a bit in the same boat. They, you know, they had a limited, you know, version. While they did play a half, I think was only eight-minute quarters. So definitely limited for for both sides on what they have to go off of. And so again, I think for both teams, it's more about just you know what they're doing and their execution, more so about what's going on on the other side of the ball.

SPEAKER_04 27:56

Yeah, coach, it's gonna be a tough opponent coming to town with uh Chalkta Hatchie. Uh, what what is the goal for this week's game as we get week one under the belt and uh this this schedule that we keep uh alluding to, how tough it is in Choctaw right off the bat. What's the goal for this week's game for the Mosley Dolphins?

SPEAKER_02 28:15

Well, like I said, it's gonna be an exciting matchup. You know, Choctaw had a great year, has a had a great couple of years, obviously making it to the Final Four last year. So they got a lot of really good football players on both sides of the ball. And uh again, I think it's gonna be a tough physical matchup. Both both teams are, you know, uh have a lot of you know respect for themselves and how they carry themselves as a program, and that's gonna spill over into the field. Both teams are are are gonna be physical, tough, hard nosed. And then again, it's it's gonna be all about which team can impose their will uh on the other football team because uh, like I said, both teams have have a lot of really good football players. I think it's gonna be a very evenly matched game. And uh, like always, comes down to the turnover differential and just and then you know who can win it there in the fourth quarter.

SPEAKER_05 29:02

Hey coach, um, so this is is a matchup of two of uh probably the you know the most premiered teams in the panhandle, uh at least in the last few years. Uh you know, first uh victory on Thursday night. Like, say at the end of the night and y'all win, what is it that you can look back on and is going to be the key to that victory throughout the game?

SPEAKER_02 29:21

Oh, like I said, uh just your ability to impose your will and your style of play on the other team. And then like both teams have good players, both teams are going to make plays. And like when those little moments of adversity happen in the game, can you overcome them or do you let them spiral out of control and let the other team take control of the game? Like that's that's been our message to our team. Um, like I said, we expect it to be a four-quarter uh ball game, and uh it's gonna come down to you know who can control their emotions and be able to execute in critical situations and you know, get not get caught up in the emotion of the game because again, I think it's gonna be an exciting, fun atmosphere on Thursday night.

SPEAKER_04 30:04

Yeah, and Choctaw uh does seem like a team that will travel well. But how important do you do you feel that having this first game against a tough opponent at the house is uh is can do so is is it advantageous at all for not having the kickoff classic, but yet being able to be back at the house?

SPEAKER_02 30:23

I mean, I think anytime you get a chance to to play at home, like people are familiar with the routines. Uh and and I think I definitely think that matters. I think we had a for the kickoff classic, I think we had a great, a great crowd. I think just the gate number that we had, there was you know great attendance. I hope that's just a sign of more to come for this football season. I think, you know, this time of the year, people are excited to watch uh football. And whenever you got two really good teams uh playing, I think it's gonna generate a big crowd. And and uh I think when that with having a big crowd playing at home, I think, you know, always definitely matters.

SPEAKER_04 30:58

Coach Tommy Joe Win, thanks so much for your time, and we look forward to a great contest this Thursday evening over at Tommy Oliver Stadium. Kick off at seven. Y'all make sure to come out. Coach Tommy Joe, we'll see you next time.

SPEAKER_02 31:10

All right, see ya.

SPEAKER_04 31:12

All right, Coach Tommy Joe Win. All right, the Bozeman books did not even get a snap in. That I would imagine that's where the weather was the worst at. I'll I also gotta go back. It was wild, and I'm not gonna, it was wild at the uh kickoff classic when the lightning started to strike. I mean, I don't know the the mileage or anything, but it was like I saw like three or four strikes. I'm like, okay, they're gonna, you know, they're it was like we're running like five plays, and then finally it strikes again, and they're like, okay, I guess we're gonna go ahead and run this thing. I I can't I've heard them before. No, no, that's okay. I've heard them before. I didn't I did not hear them then. I don't know if it wasn't working or whatever the case may be. I just thought it was interesting that, you know, we got we got a few plays in, and hey, I would have been fine as long as no one got hurt. Like it's really and another thing that's wild is it feels like, and I'm not a meteorologist and I wasn't counting lightning strikes, but about 30 minutes after they canceled the game, I I don't think I saw any more lightning strikes for the rest of the night.

SPEAKER_05 32:19

But I I think everybody could have held out maybe an hour or two.

SPEAKER_04 32:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 32:24

And you know, I get it. Maybe it's you know, the the people up top are saying it's just a kickoff classic or whatever. But I feel like almost everyone could have waited an hour or two. I mean, you know, Bay did. Yeah, they were and they got the game in. And they got the game in. Only a half, but that's really all you know you were really looking forward as far as starters-wise. So yeah.

SPEAKER_04 32:42

Hey, so with Bozeman, they didn't even get a snap in. So we were able to uh catch up with Sean Maddox and do with him what we did with uh Coach Glover, Coach Griffin, and Coach Whitney last week and kind of get a little bit of a preview. Do you have any thoughts that you want to lay out on Bozeman? Uh I I I want to say this actually. Like it was it was cool to talk to Coach Maddox in the form of head coach. I didn't talk to him a ton when uh he was over there at Mosley as the offensive coordinator. I really don't talk to a lot of the coaching staff um like on a day-to-day basis. It's more just like uh, you know, fist bump when we see him. Thanks uh for doing what you do, and vice versa to them. Thank you uh for you guys coaching and and giving up your time to help these kids become successful in the game of life and in the game of football as well. But uh I I loved his answers and uh I think he really cares about that program over there. And I think that, you know, there's just something about when you're a hometown guy, being able to be a head coach in your hometown.

SPEAKER_05 33:38

I think so as well. And I and I I really loved his answer. I've ever actually never really conversated with him before. You know, Caleb was that Mosley, but uh, you know, I never really had any kind of interaction with him before. That was really my first time ever having a conversation with him like that. And uh I was really impressed with uh how he carried himself and the genuineness in his voice and his answers of how much he really does care about you know this program, these kids, and and teaching them, you know, not only how to play football, but how to become men. So uh I um I'm really excited uh for what he's gonna do over there. I hope for success, except for you know, when they play North Bay Haven.

SPEAKER_06 34:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 34:17

And um, you know, I don't know I how long it could take. Like they could be great this year. I I don't know. But I think at some point, whether it's this year or in two or three years, I think that he'll have that program rocking and rolling. I think just from the way he he cares and and and you know what is coming up from you know under Win's wing. And I think that it could be maybe like a mini Mos Mo Mosley, but you know what I mean. Uh a a program ran to that type of level, to where you know you're doing the right things and making the right steps.

SPEAKER_04 34:48

I I agree a hundred percent. And and that's been one of the things about Bozeman in the past, like looking at it has been the coaching instability, um, just kind of in and out the door, the revolving door over there. So hopefully things change and and you can get some stability, at least you know, three or four years, and and see where you're able to take that program. It's also going to be interesting seeing how the independent structure works for them moving forward. Um he seems excited about it. We're excited about it. So yeah, it was awesome catching up with Coach John Maddox, and we will let you guys hear that right now. Here's Coach Sean Maddox. All right, we've got a brand new head coach on the line with us, Sean Maddox, former offensive coordinator over there at uh for the Mosley Dolphins, and now the head coach of the Bozeman Bucks. Uh coach, just tell us a little bit about uh, you know, taking that job and and how the offseason has gone for you guys as we uh get ready for week one this week.

SPEAKER_03 35:48

Yeah, uh man, everything's been great. Uh, this was a great opportunity that um really and truly uh I love Bay County. I'm a Bay County guy, and uh head coaching jobs don't always present present themselves around your area. And this was an opportunity to kind of give myself uh a chance, bet on myself, and uh ultimately um landed this job and just super, super excited about uh all the resources and everything that came with it. Um administration has been absolutely great. Athletic director, we got a new principal up here. Uh Miss McLaughlin has been so wonderful to work with. Overall, just super, super excited. Uh, wish we could have wish we could have kicked it off Friday, but man, we had a great summer um and ultimately just led into a bled into a good fall camp. And I really hate that our guys didn't get the opportunity uh to play this past Friday night.

SPEAKER_04 36:38

Tell us about the names we should be on the lookout since we weren't able to talk to you last week uh heading into the kickoff classic and didn't get any uh game film from that. So tell us about some of the names we should be look on on the lookout for uh for these Bozeman Bucks here in 2026.

SPEAKER_03 36:54

Yeah, um for sure on the offensive side of the ball. Obviously, we're returning uh a quarterback uh from last year, Hayden Gay, which is which is really, really, really nice for an incoming first year head coach, in my opinion. Um, just having a guy that you know that is back there, has the experience to kind of facilitate offenses, uh, gives yourself a lot of a lot of comfort as a play caller. Um front, we're gonna have some different faces up front on the offensive line, but super, super excited about those guys getting the opportunity. A couple seniors, Lucas Kelly um is gonna be playing this left tackle uh this year for us, and Blake Pinkard is gonna be snapping the football. He was a starter last year for us on the offensive line. Out wide, we have uh Evan Clements uh returning returning uh starter for us uh uh last year for the Bucks. Uh he's kind of more of a possession guy, but really, really excited. Man, he seems to be able to high point the football um and just be really, really comfortable with Hayden. Um, and then we have Riley McNeil, which is gonna be a newer face uh on the offensive side of the ball that um is fast enough to kind of take the top off the defense um and just really, really, really excited to see what uh what he has for us this year. On the defense side of the ball, you know, being a smaller school, there's gonna be a lot of spaces on uh both sides on offense and defense. But up front, in particular, uh uh Justin Harper isn't the guy that's gonna get after it on the defensive line. Blake Durham playing middle linebacker, running back for us, Liam Flaherty playing middle linebacker for us. We're just gonna have to be a cast of characters this year. And overall, my kids love showing up to practice. They love putting in the work, and that's all that I can ask for.

SPEAKER_04 38:28

Yeah, coach, um, you know, being over there at Mosley in um the past few years with Coach Tommy Joe Win, can we expect to see that offense as up tempo as what we saw your offense uh with Mosley?

SPEAKER_03 38:42

It'll be similar. Uh it'll be similar, and a lot of people like a lot of people don't know this, and some people do and whatever, but um, I got to do a lot of the game planning um at Mosley, not necessarily a lot of the play calling, which that was something that Coach Whitden did. And uh obviously, you know, having that title is kind of helps you land jobs elsewhere, but I did get my fair share of play calling uh on the various levels of there. But overall, I do take a lot of what I've learned there and everything. And we can't be as fast just because we have a lot of guys playing on both sides of the ball, and we have to be really, really smart about our personnel. And overall, like the goal is to kind of kind of go fast when it when it when it means to and when we want when we want to do that, but uh, but also understand each game is different um and what's best for our players that night.

SPEAKER_04 39:31

Yeah, I don't think that I've had the opportunity to um interview or ask questions to someone who you know just took the leap to being a head coach. What's the the noticeable uh obviously we don't have a game under the belt yet, but what's been the obvious uh di or maybe one of the big differences uh from being an offensive coordinator to now being the head coach and and being the the guy who leads the program here? What what's been one of the things that uh has been maybe the biggest adjustment or just uh something that you've noticed the most?

SPEAKER_03 40:02

Uh I mean, really and truly, the biggest difference between just sitting in this chair now is you coach football a lot less than you actually than you actually think, thought you would. Uh there's so much stuff on a day-to-day operation for a head football coach. Uh you know, some days you're a strength and conditioning guy, and some days you're a trainer, and then some days you're a therapist. And um just the way that we navigate this high school sports world has been very, very eye-opening for me. Um, but overall, just very, very excited um about what kind of opportunity we have this week uh going against a really, really good opponent.

SPEAKER_04 40:40

So didn't get to get the kickoff classic in. What what sort of is there a setback there or or how do we navigate not having the kickoff classic and getting ready for year one, week one this coming Friday?

SPEAKER_03 40:53

Yeah, I mean, I I hated it. I hated it so much. Um, I hated it for our kids mostly. Um, but you know, like I kind of found myself in the office area when it was looking very glimmed about the opportunity to kind of get out there. And uh to be honest with you, uh my conversations with athletic director, wherever I pouted a little bit. I was like, man, we can wait here all night. Like, I don't I don't care. We need to have the midnight classic. We need we need to get football in. Like, my guys need snaps. We need snaps against real opponents and all this kind of stuff. And the worst part was having to go in there and tell my guys that we had to wait until next week. But uh man, we're kind of using it as kind of pent-up energy. Uh, we haven't had the opportunity to kind of go against someone else in a different uniform. And I think my guys are are very, very excited for the opportunity that we have this week.

SPEAKER_04 41:39

So looking forward to Taylor County traveling to Bozeman this Friday at 7 p.m. What what intel, what sort of knowledge do you have on Taylor County and what they bring to the table?

SPEAKER_03 41:50

Uh Coach Beeswell, obviously Taylor Campbell being over there in Perry, Florida. Uh Coach Beeswell has been over there, I think this is uh around year three or four for him. Man, Coach Beeswell does an incredible job just watching those guys. Uh, they actually got rained out on their kickoff classic as well. So we both kind of uh we got nothing to go off of. Um now I was able to kind of accumulate, maybe find uh their games last year just to see what they do on defense and offense. But uh they're gonna be a really, really well-coached team. They're gonna do exactly what they're coached to do. They're gonna play hard. Um, and they have guys to get the football to. And we have definitely as a tall task force, but I have faith in our guys being able to show up on Friday um and executing our plan that we have on both sides of the ball. And, you know, maybe just uh starting the year off one and one and oh.

SPEAKER_04 42:36

Coach, um great answer right there, too. And and we are definitely rooting for those Bozeman Bucks up there. Uh so with you taking over this job, um, do is is there any are there still conversations with you and Coach Win? Like, are you you reaching out for advice or is there other coaches in your past uh that that maybe mentor you that you're that you're reaching out to for like, oh, this situation just happened. How how did you go about this? Any situations like that? I I primarily I'm thinking of like Lane Kiffin and Nick Sabin in my head for some reason.

SPEAKER_03 43:07

Yeah, yeah. Um definitely. I mean, we we definitely talk. Um, we still communicate, and I'm I'm very aware that if I was ever to need something, that you know, he would be more than happy to help, and vice versa. Um, but like like you said, though, a lot of the stuff you got to go through some growing pains and learning stuff on your own. Um and I think that's kind of the best way to shape uh myself uh as a young head coach and potentially, you know, obviously uh getting some things right. But um the person that's gonna fail in our program the most is gonna be myself. And I've kind of got to be accountable, accountable to that. And if the players see that, then uh, you know, they'll they'll know that I'm all in for them.

SPEAKER_05 43:47

Hey coach, uh so what are you looking for out of your players this Friday? I know like you you would have wanted to see some stuff last week, you know, to kind of gauge where you're at. But what are you looking for to see out of them this week so you can kind of see where you're at?

SPEAKER_03 43:59

Yeah, it was. The ultimate barometer, just in my in my experience, like I said, it hasn't been a ton, but it's a little, is when I see a uh when I see a team and I kind of correlate uh their head coach means to them, is I just want to see our guys fly around and play hard on Friday. Um, you know, just relentless effort, chasing the ball, um, really truly just, you know, not necessarily forgetting about what they're supposed to do, but we're out there. I want us to fly around and don't be just be really fearless. Um, that's something that I'm kind of looking forward to our team to be a part of. Uh like, hey man, we're gonna make mistakes, but guys, we we can't we can't dwell on them. We've got to go, we've got to go ahead headstrong and just continue fighting. Um, and I kind of answered in one of our words this year is been resilient. Uh, I want this team to be resilient because just like every football season, there's ups, there's downs, there's adversity. Um, and I want the Bozeman Bucks for 2026, 2027 to be a resilient football team.

SPEAKER_05 44:56

Yeah, I like that. Um, as far as uh, you know, you had came in right at the beginning of spring, if I'm not mistaken. Were you able to make the schedule yourself, or were you kind of stuck with what was already set? Or did you have it did you have a say in some of these games?

SPEAKER_03 45:09

There was a lot. There was a lot that was kind of set in stone, and then there was a couple games that uh that had left our schedule that followed uh followed someone else. And uh being that late in the year, you know, you kind of calling around asking people to play, and you know, by then everyone kind of has an idea of who they who they want to play and who they're playing, and the teams that don't have or the teams that do have holes in their schedules have holes in their schedules for a reason. So um, but like I said, that wasn't something that was gonna deter us this year. Um, we opened up the gate with a really good football team in our first month. I put our first month against a lot of teams uh in this area. Um now that's not saying that, you know, like we meant to do that on purpose, but like our football team is gonna get better because of our first month. And uh, you know, kind of especially with us being in this new independent league, um, there's there's no district games, and we're based off strictly max preps rankings. Um, so your strength of record and your your strength of schedule is really gonna matter heading into the postseason.

SPEAKER_05 46:13

Yeah, that was actually gonna be my next question is is how excited you were for the change to be into the independent league uh and and not you know in the 2A that they were last year.

SPEAKER_03 46:23

Yeah, so again, um this is a new format. This is something that's even brand new to me, and I'm having to learn about it. But so far, I think the FHSA has kind of crushed this. They've done a really good job of getting some like uh like-minded teams in the same group. Um, and ultimately, like this is not where we're gonna be forever. Uh, this is kind of a stepping stone for our program as a uh being four coaches in five years. Um, again, that's a big issue. And we need some accessibility over here. And this kind of creates that opportunity for our guys to play as many games as humanly possible. Um, and ultimately, like I said, they set it up into two regions. There's gonna be 30-something teams in each region, um, 16, 16 or 17 in the north, and then 18 in the south. You've got to qualify and you've got to be in the top eight uh at the end of the 10-week schedule uh in the max prep rankings for you to move on and kind of qualify. And I like our opportunity to win games if we're able to make the dance. I like our opportunity to win games, uh multiple games in this division.

SPEAKER_05 47:24

Yeah, I think it's actually a really good move. I honestly I was kind of hoping that North Bayhaven would have done the same thing, um, but obviously they didn't. Uh so I definitely think that it's a really good spot for teams such as Bozeman, you know, North Bayhaven, even a Rutherford who I think could uh really uh compete well there.

SPEAKER_03 47:40

For sure. Not every not every program is the same. Um and you kind of gotta you gotta be grounded where you were, and not to say that Bozeman or North Bay or Rutherford can't be where they want to be, but at the same time, like we got to give our kids the best opportunity for them, and this is the best option for Bozeman.

SPEAKER_05 47:56

Absolutely. I I'd agree with that. Um I'm a real big fan of a couple guys over there, Hayden Gay, uh really big fan of his. Uh love his parents, uh, really good friends with them as well. Uh, what do you expect out of him this year?

SPEAKER_03 48:09

Man, I expect Hayden to kind of take the reins of our offense. Um, and you know, obviously, not to like I'm not gonna dwell, we're not gonna do anything, but uh, our team is gonna be look a lot different than the Bozeman team from last year. Um, and we kind of got to be smart about where where we want to be and use Hayden's strength to our advantage. Hayden gets the ball out fast. Uh he's pretty very, very accurate as a quarterback. Um, and then our offense is just about, hey, we've got to get the ball out quick. We can't let guys rush the passer. We got to get these guys tired, move them sideline to sideline, and then, you know, kind of make them low them to sleep, low them to sleep, um, and then have his big arm kind of take stuff over the top. Uh, that's kind of our plan. And then honestly, really and truly, uh, we had a conversation yesterday is like he's gonna play defense and it's gonna be sparingly and it's gonna be in big positions um that we need him. But uh I'm of the I'm of the nature of, you know, we've got to be have our best 11 on the field. Um, and like I said, it's it's not very smart to have him out there all the time, but he's gonna be out there when it means the most. Um, so that's something I'm really, really excited for him to kind of step up and kind of emerge a new role on that side of the ball.

SPEAKER_05 49:20

Yeah, I think I had seen a few highlights with him uh potentially, I think it was him on defense uh with seven on seven, and he he looked pretty accurate. I mean not accurate, pretty athletic out there running around and uh playing defense. So that's something to be to look at. What about uh uh Blake Durham? Uh I like him a lot. Uh middle linebacker, is he gonna be like the lead back, you think, on the running back, or is he just gonna kind of be a committee?

SPEAKER_03 49:44

Uh Blake's definitely gonna be our lead back, but we are gonna be running back by committee. Um we've we've repped a ton of guys back there. Um it's something especially uh that's very, very new to me. Uh just obviously coming somewhere where very few people play, you know, both sides of the ball to a school where, hey, guess what? The guys that are playing on offense are probably gonna be your best players on defense too. So um that's something that we've uh kind of tackled uh as a staff and how we want to go about it. But man, Blake is Blake is every coach's, every head coach's dream. Um guy shows up, wants to work hard, he cares about the team, um, and really and truly uh he will do anything that you ask him to if he's able to. Uh a huge leader, uh, was voted captain, uh was voted captain by his peers um for our football team this upcoming year. So I think I think Blake has a lot of a lot of good things in store for him this year.

SPEAKER_05 50:37

Yeah, that's one thing I I've noticed with the, I don't know all the Bozeman players, but the ones I do know, such as Hayden Gay, Blake Durham, uh Justin Harper, uh, you know, Gay over there. Um, there's just some really good leaders, tough, gritty football players. So I think you got uh a lot to work with over there. And I'm really excited to see what y'all do this season.

SPEAKER_03 50:57

Yeah, I appreciate it. I do, I I love my guys. Um I'll I will go to bat for them just about everything. And uh one thing that I'm really, really proud of is just the core that we have and the guys that we've got on board. Like I said, we're gonna have uh I'm dressing everybody in our football program every Friday night. Um, and that's something like I want everyone to have uh a little skin in the game. And now we may only dress out 51 guys. Um that's that's what's in our high school program right now. But man, I'm looking to kind of build, build upon, but really just invest in the in the seniors that we have this year um and give them uh give them guys everything that they deserve.

SPEAKER_04 51:35

All right, absolutely. Coach Sean Maddox. Hey coach, thanks again for uh the insight right there, giving us some of your time and looking forward to chatting with you each week as we work our way through your first season here and our our second season on the uh sports republic in this beautiful 2026. Coach Sean Maddox, take care and we'll talk to you next week.

SPEAKER_03 51:55

Thank you guys for what you do for high school football around here. We really appreciate it.

SPEAKER_04 51:58

Hey, absolutely. Thank you, Coach Sean Maddox. Man, that was uh good stuff right there. Talking to him first time. And uh, hey, we've man, just thankful. I'm thankful for the coaches who uh do give us some of their time and and hop on because we're trying to shine a light on each program. And us talking about their program is one thing, but when we're hearing it from the horse's mouth, if you will, it's uh it's a totally different thing because these coaches you know put in a lot of work, and so I'm thankful for their time. Absolutely, me too. All right, good to hear from coach there. Um, Bay and Choctaw 35-6, Choctaw's way was the final over there. And again, just really looking at the first half, how the starters did in that game.

SPEAKER_05 52:44

Uh, give us some of your takeaways. So I was able to watch it. Someone had posted uh uh uh video from their phone, I guess, from the stands um of the whole the whole first half, because that's all they played was two quarters. Um and at first, at first glance, 35 to 6, I'm like, okay, Choptaw must be really that good because I know and in my mind, Bay is good. So if Choptaw does them dirty like 35-6, then they must just be, you know, a monster. And uh, you know, after watching the the film, it's not as bad as you think it was. It was 14-6 with like four minutes left to go in the second quarter. They had put in some backups, Bay put in some backups, they had a couple uh fumbles that got returned for touchdowns, which turned it into the 35-6. So it was really truly, in my opinion, it was 14-6 for the for the most part.

SPEAKER_06 53:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 53:32

Um, you know, Bay had a little bit of trouble getting the offense going. And there was one to two plays that I seen. One of them was a rushing touchdown from Choctaw that was just a little bit too easy. Um, I think maybe the speed of Choctaw kind of caught them off guard. I don't know if they were just ready for that type of uh speed on the other side of the field. But overall, I I wouldn't take it, like I'm not looking at 35-6 and like ringing alarm bells and stuff like that. I think it was I'm looking at it as 14-6. They struggled a little bit getting the offense going. Defense was okay for the most part. Um, the main thing that I saw that I really liked was been the only thing that I was worried about with uh with Mace, Mace Grant, is how he would handle pressure and you know, and at this level and being a starter at this level. Uh, and I don't think that there's gonna be a team that is gonna be as fast or as physical as Choptaw for on their whole schedule. And he handled it well. You know, he he moved around the pocket, he got out, he made a couple runs, uh, you know, escapability, and he stood in there and he handled it. He didn't get flustered, at least from what I can tell, you know, through the screen. Uh so I was really, really uh happy and I think it was a positive thing to see him handle that level because I don't think it'll be tougher for him with anyone else.

SPEAKER_04 54:49

And that's kind of what you want out of a kickoff classic as well. It's like let's get one of the biggest tests out of the way in a range shortened format or weather shortened format, and kind of that throws everything, you know, because they started late, I believe, right? Yeah, I think they waited out like an hour or two. Yeah. So, you know, that kind of changes the routine and all of that stuff. So it's like here, here's a whole bunch of wrenches in the wheel right here, and uh do do the best with what you've got. And it looks like he answered that bell. So uh yeah, I mean, you just you love to see that. Um, and it doesn't count against your record. And and we're just talked about this slate here for for Bay High and for the other, I mean, just week one slate for all Bay County teams is going to be a tough one.

SPEAKER_05 55:35

It's tough. It's tough. So I don't I don't think they're gonna look down on it. I think that they, you know, went up against a really good team, and and you know, I would I wouldn't hold my head on it. You know, John had a couple, John DeVos had a couple receptions, so he played wide receiver basically the whole time. I think Darryl Andrews had another one, but they just it was just tough for them to get the offense going. Yeah. Um, but you did see some positive things. So I I don't know. I don't, I don't, I don't take it that bad at all.

SPEAKER_04 55:59

Well, we wish we had Coach Jeremy Brown to uh come on and divulge with us what uh his thoughts from the kickoff classic and look forward to their match this week. But we will pick base game coming up here shortly in our pick'ems. Also, same thing here with Rutherford. Now they got a shutout. They went over there to uh Port St. Joe and won 35-0. And this is a program just that got beaten and battered by Hurricane Michael more than uh worse than any other school, in my opinion. Uh it's turned it into what is it, K through 12 or is it six through 12? I I want to say it's K through 12. K through 12. Um, and so that makes things difficult. Not only do you have kids who are growing up in the school, and by the time they get to eighth grade, it's kind of like, man, maybe I want to go somewhere else because I've been here so long. Uh I'm not saying that that's a fact. I'm just saying I could see how some of the athletes may feel that way. Um, I I have loved what Coach Floyd has done with the program, the messages that he brings. But we've seen two and eight seasons of what last two, three years. Um last three. And so this right here is a a great sign. Maybe we don't read that much into it because it's a kickoff classic. And maybe I I'm I shouldn't get on here and be like, well, like look at what they did and look what the future could be like for them. But instead of saying any of those things, I'll just say I'm excited for him because if nothing else, that was a positive move in the right direction. And and it's got to build some of the confidence up.

SPEAKER_05 57:27

It's definitely a confidence boost, especially for Jaleel Reed. Yeah, no, it's definitely a confidence boost, in my opinion. Uh, I wish I could have seen the film. I haven't seen anything other than the one Jilliel replay. I don't know how far it was, maybe 70, 75 yards or something.

SPEAKER_04 57:41

Somewhere around there. Yeah, it could have been 65 from the 35 yard line, but it was somewhere in there beyond midfield. Yes, that was a good thing.

SPEAKER_05 57:47

And he was gone to the house. And he was gone. Uh, I think that is a huge uh step forward for him. Not, I mean, I'm sure he felt that he was physically 100%, but maybe if he had any kind of little mental thing in there, because you know, I've always had whenever I had some kind of injury, it's like a oh, like you know, I broke my hand fighting. I'm like, oh, I'm scared to throw it. Let me make sure, you know. So knowing that he can just take off and leave people like that is definitely gonna be a big boost for him. Um, but you know, just as much as I don't look down on a 35 to six with bae, I don't necessarily look at 35-nothing for Rutherford in this as like, oh, they're here, they're gonna go eight and two, you know. We'll have to wait and see. I had heard that Port St. Joe was really, really gonna be down this year. Um, but I wish I could have seen how it went and how long like the starters played and what it was at halftime to kind of know a little bit more information to see how it goes. But regardless of any of that, 35-0 um is is a good thing to build off of, no matter who you are or who you played.

SPEAKER_04 58:47

Yeah, I'm gonna see if maybe I mean, I'm sure that you've already searched, but yeah, Port St. Joe's uh star has something about it, but then I gotta sign up for that to be able to everybody wants to read it. So hey, I mean, well, hold on. This one actually, oh no, this one is coming through this time. Uh so we'll take that. Um, but yeah, so it was a 75-yard run for Jilliel Reed. Um, and then Deshaun Walker got an interception that gave him a 45-yard touchdown pass from DeVar Donaldson to Jamar uh Jamarian Blunt, which is gonna be a stud over there. Yeah, I'm assuming so. Yeah. Um, then you had Jamarian Blunt with a 50-yard touchdown run. Okay. All right.

SPEAKER_05 59:31

But they're just too fast for them.

SPEAKER_04 59:32

That's that's what it seems like. He had a 16-yard touchdown scamper by freshman Nathan Brantley in the second half. So then, so the starters played the first half. It looks like maybe only the but also I can't you can't fault Coach Floyd on that, which not that we're trying to do that at all. But I'm saying Jaleel Reed coming off the injury, and it's like you see one good play from him or whatever. It's like, all right, like hey, we know you still got it. Like let's make sure that you're not getting hurt in something that doesn't count in the win-loss column. Uh, I don't know exactly how long uh he let him play, but yeah, it looks like they, I mean, they it looks like they were just kind of consistent, uh, not able to read all of this all at one time here. But yeah, uh, I mean, love that for Rutherford. And again, we uh didn't have the opportunity to have Coach Nucon, Coach Floyd with us, uh, but still rooting for Rutherford, and we will dive in here to the games and uh probably make some enemies, but don't get mad at us. We're just we're just picking with our hearts and with our minds here, mainly minds, uh, because I'm probably gonna do something that maybe a lot of people aren't too happy with.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:37

Are we doing scores? Are we just doing winners? What do you I'll do whatever. I haven't done scores, but I can spit some out if you want to, or if you just want to do winners, we can do winners as well.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:45

Let's just to see, let's just uh just to see. Let's let's do scores. Okay. That'll get us in deeper water. And I like being in the deep water. That's where the sharks are. But my favorite what uh favorite animal is the killer well. So hopefully he protects me from the sharks. Let's start off with it, though. Thursday night, right over there at Tommy Oliver Stadium. Choctaw and the Indians heading over here to Mosley to take on the Dolphins. Who gonna be a big one? JD, I'm gonna let you go first to save myself a little bit of time here and get a couple of deep breaths in.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:18

Okay. Um well, this is a huge game. This is this is a game. I probably the best game in the panhandle was to open up the season. I don't know anyone else that I've seen that is having this level of a game off the rip. Um I'm gonna be there. Everyone I know is gonna be there, so it should be pretty packed. But I just I think that Choctaw is just that team. Um I think they're stacked up pretty much at every position. They're fast as you're gonna be, they're strong as they're gonna be, they're as good as they're gonna be. I just I think this is gonna be a really tough time for Mosey to get things going uh on the offensive side. I think they're I think Mosey's defense does hold them in check for the most part. I don't think that they're gonna make some of the mistakes that the backup players for Bay had made with like the fumbles and stuff the week before. So I don't think it being super high scoring, but I'm gonna go 28 to 21 Choptaw.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:16

Okay, all right. So ooh, that's gonna be that's gonna be a fun one uh with some drama there then. If we're sitting there, I think they're close.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:26

I think they're close, but I think Choptaw has an edge.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:29

I and I kinda I like your score better than I like mine.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:32

Okay, all right. I mean you can use mine.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:35

Now I need to I need to preface this by saying, of course, I'm rooting for Mosley and I want Mosley to win, and I want to be wrong. I want to have a whole bunch of egg on my face, but I want you guys to also know like when I'm looking at these games, I'm trying to think realistically about what we've seen in the past from other teams, and that's all we can go off, right? We I mean we can't really use the kickoff classics. I mean, Choctaw got theirs in. Um, and that could be an upper hand, right? The fact that Choctaw fully got their kickoff classic in and Mosley did not. I'm gonna say that Choctaw comes away with the victory close. I I think that it's gonna be a two-point, uh two possession score late in the game, and then Mosley finds a way and gets some momentum and brings it uh to a one possession game, and it'll end that way. And I I want so badly to be wrong about this. I'm gonna say Choctaw 41, Mosley 36. A little bit high scoring there.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:32

I think I think the defenses are gonna really stand out because I I really like Mosley's deal. I mean, I like their offense. Obviously, it's it's it's really good too. But I think the the heart and soul is gonna be on that defense. But we'll see.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:44

Hey, that and it's so hard to pick the first one. Well, yeah, we don't know if any teams are really gonna. And then when you start putting scores to it, oh man. All right, so let's go over there to Gavlack. We've got Freeport traveling to Arnold. This game's gonna be at 7 p.m. Gavlak. Make sure that you're going to these games, support them. You can watch the Mosley broadcasts, but in my personal opinion, those broadcasters stink. You need to go, at least the the play-by-play guy, go to the stadium and enjoy the game there. And if you want some commentary along with it, put your headphones in. Uh we're on YouTube Mosley High School. All right, Freeport Arnold, Gavlack 7 p.m. JD, what you got?

SPEAKER_05 1:04:23

I think that Freeport no longer has their 6'6 tight end. They don't have uh their wide receiver DB. He transferred over to Niceville. They do have a good quarterback, um, and they have a good running back, Dylan Luthane. I just don't think they have enough size or depth to deal with Arnold. I'm gonna go Arnold 21 14 over Freeport.

SPEAKER_04 1:04:53

All right. 21. I'm keeping track of this. We're gonna keep track of this year. We're gonna find out. All right, so 21-14 Freeport? No, oh Arnold, Arnold. Arnold, Arnold. I'm trying to put words in your mouth. All right, I'm gonna go with the Arnold as well in a close one. I I think it's gonna be advantageous for the Marlins to have Coach Griffin in week one this year. He said he thinks it's gonna come down to coaching adjustments. So I'm gonna give the nod to to Coach Griffin in that particular game. Uh in but I mean, Coach Bob Johns is a legend as well, so that's it's gonna be a fun one to to watch. It is also his first year though. Okay, and and you know, we'll see.

SPEAKER_05 1:05:35

We'll see. I just I think I think Arnold's too much.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:37

I I'm gonna go with a mixed missed extra point. So Arnold 20. Three point they're not gonna go for two point conversions because they're gonna be more conservative. I I'll go 2014. So it'll be very similar, okay, very similar scores right there, but Arnold getting the win for both of us. There. So a little sweep action, which hopefully we did not hit them with the jinx. As we continue on here Friday, Bozeman hosting Taylor County at 7 p.m. over there at Bozeman. So make sure to go check them out. JD, your thoughts on this game.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:15

I think this is a really tough game for Bozeman, especially starting out, especially without having the benefit of a kickoff classic to kind of work out a few kinks or see how things are going to act in in real life competition. Taylor County is a perennial powerhouse.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:31

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:36

I mean, his first month, it's you know, I mean, odds are they're not going 4-0. Odds are they're probably not going 0-4. But it's it's it's tough. The first four are gonna really tell a whole lot about this team. Um, and it's just a tough way to start, in my opinion. I do think that Taylor County wins this one probably 32 to 14.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:04

32-14, Taylor County. I have a similar score as well, not as big of a discrepancy in the score. Uh, but just knowing what we know about Taylor, we just mentioned with Coach Bobby Johns first year at Freeport. Well, offensive court, former offense coordinator Sean Maddox, first year with the Bozeman Bucks. Uh, there's gonna be some growing pains. First tough month. I do think that the ship is gonna be sailing gently, uh, you know, maybe middle of the season. We'll see how that plays out. And again, higher percentage chance of injuries when you got guys playing on both sides of the ball. I'm gonna go Taylor County, 35-21.

SPEAKER_05 1:07:43

I can respect it.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:44

So not too far apart at all. And then we move on to a game that you're gonna be closely watching, 7 p.m. on Friday night. You guys are traveling up to Cottendale, North Bey Haven on the road at Cottendale, 7 p.m. JD.

SPEAKER_05 1:08:02

Um, you know, this is a game that North Beyaven can win. I I fully believe that. Um, I'm not gonna say they should win, but this is a game they they can win. Um it's just whether or not they're gonna make mistakes. Are they gonna play up to their potential? Um honestly, if it was any other team, I would probably go with Cottendale if it was the same exact teams, but with different names, or my son not being attached to it. Um but me knowing you know what I know and and seeing all the practice and stuff and knowing the ability that is there, I'm gonna go ahead and go with North Bay Haven as long as they play clean. I would think somewhere in the realm of 36 to 30.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:48

North Baven. So we both got weird scores for this, wouldn't they?

SPEAKER_05 1:08:51

Well, so just so you know, like Cottendale always goes for two.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:54

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:08:54

So it seems like it at least.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:57

Yeah. So I'm I'm going 33-31, Cottendale. Nail Viter, nail vider, and and maybe North Behaven, put this up on your uh on your bulletin board here. Maybe use that for some motivation. Close loss. I I just for me, it's gonna come down to the defense. Like if the defense is just porous, now they they are gonna have uh Chasen Lee. So that that's gonna be Capole at yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:22

So it will help, but yeah. And they they have Jamon Collins, which is a Florida commit. So it's gonna be tough to stop.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:29

And his brother we might be a little low on the score.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:35

I mean, they got other players too, but those are like the ones you got to worry about.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:37

Yeah. Um, so uh we'll see how it plays out. And obviously, you know, as we get through a couple of weeks, we'll be able to see what the strengths and weaknesses actually are and not what we think that they are for each of these teams. But for right now, I'm gonna go Cottendale 33-31, which will take us to our next game. We've got Bay, no, Rutherford, Rutherford hosting Union County. Now, Union County's already got a game under their belt. They do. They are one and oh. What do we think about this one, JD?

SPEAKER_05 1:10:09

So Union County, that's over, they're over there by the Jacksonville area, right? If I'm not mistaken. In between, I think it's in between Tallahassee, Jacksonville, that area, that way. And and at uh at first glance, independent team. Uh at first glance, I'm like, okay, Rutherford's got this. But then I start digging a little deeper. Do you have their max preps up for Union County or who they played? Last year? No, that's their first game this year. Okay, give me one on second hand. So originally I was like, oh, Rutherford. I was like, how how crazy would it be if Rutherford's the only team I predict to win this week because it's that crazy of a schedule to start off with? Um, so I was originally prepared to pick them. Uh and then I look into it. They played Lafayette. Lafayette, yeah. Which 21-7. Which was a monster last year. And and and Lafayette was was was predicted to have an easy game with them. And they went in there and pretty much got worked over. Now it was raining really hard in that game. That's from my research. Uh, so you know, a lot of a lot of passing wasn't happening. But either way, they beat uh a much better team, what should have been a much better team in Lafayette. They also have a new coach, which I don't know a whole lot about the east side of Florida and this coach, but apparently this coach has seven state titles and he was 10 and 2 last year with his team that he was coming from. So I just think that that maybe they thought they were gonna have a win on this and and scheduled it, and maybe some things swept and changed. Maybe they did, maybe they knew the whole thing. But this team is already won to know. They beat a team that they were supposed to lose to to begin with, and they got a coach that has seven state titles. So I'm gonna go Union County 28, Rutherford 24, because they got the kicker back.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:50

Okay, I like that. I I'm gonna have a two-touchdown uh discrepancy here. I'm gonna go with Union County already taking down, taking care of business uh against a tough team 21-7. Um I and I want to be wrong about this one as well. Uh, this is another one. Like I want I always want the county teams to win. Uh always rooting for you guys. Just going off of what I think I know about Union County is I'm I'm gonna go 28-14. 28-14. Union county gets it done, but we'll obviously be rooting for uh you said 20. 28-24.

SPEAKER_05 1:12:26

28-24 because Rutherford has their kicker back now, yeah. Because he was hurt last year.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:32

All right, and our final game. Now that game is going to be in Alabama. Oh, is it? Wait, it's in Alabama? They're playing that one in Alabama. Bay at Dothan? Oh, yeah. I was talking about the Rutherford Union. That one will be at Tommy Oliver. Rutherford and Union County. Our friend Bay will be traveling to Dothan, Alabama. Yep. So Bay versus Dothan on the road, 7 p.m. Give us your thoughts on this one, JD.

SPEAKER_05 1:12:56

Uh I think this is another tough one. Very tough week one slate for Bay County team. Or a local team. Um, Dothan is a 6'8 team in Alabama. I think they're like top 15 or 20 in the state, somewhere around there. Uh, really tough game to start with. I think that the offense is gonna take some time for Bay to figure out what's gonna work, and it's just not gonna happen in the week one, and it's not gonna happen against Dothan. I got Dothan at 42 to 14.

SPEAKER_04 1:13:26

42-14 Dothan. Let me get that typed in here. All right, uh, I've got a little bit of a closer game. I feel like Bay's gonna find a way to kind of hang in, but I'm still gonna go with the Tigers of Dothan County. Uh of Dothan. Uh, they're they're gonna I I got Dothan winning 29-20.

unknown 1:13:43

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:13:44

I respect that.

SPEAKER_04 1:13:45

All right. So we'll uh what?

SPEAKER_05 1:13:47

All the same except North Bay, right?

SPEAKER_04 1:13:50

Yeah, we both got Choctaw and we both got Arnold, both got Taylor County, North Bay, you've got, I've got Cottendale. We both got Union County, and we both got Dothan. So I just picked up all of the Bay County series except for one, and I am sorry, I apologize.

SPEAKER_05 1:14:05

I was before we before we set up for the for the podcast, I was a little worried because at that point I still wasn't 100% sure who I was gonna take. And I was like, man, I feel like I'm picking against every one of them. And uh so now at least I don't feel bad. Yeah, you picked more of them than I did.

SPEAKER_04 1:14:20

I love you guys. Well, that's gonna do it here for uh episode two. Next week we'll have our player of the week. We'll have uh some other things to dive into. We'll have play of the week. Yeah, and we'll we'll actually have a full slate of games. Lord willing, keep us dry over here. Uh or just just you can send the rain, just keep the lightning strikes away, and uh we'll have a full slate to talk to uh to talk about next week.

SPEAKER_05 1:14:43

We should do like a trophy. We should print a trophy for player of the week. Let's do it. You can go to the school and give it to them, take a picture, put it on Instagram. Yeah, you know how other people do it, they'll they'll you know give out little little things or whatever. I can print out a little award and give it to them for player of the week. I think.

SPEAKER_04 1:14:57

Inside Drive does a uh player of the week uh sponsored by American Charlie. So if there's a business out there who happens to be listening to this point and you would like to sponsor the athlete of the week, uh let us know and we'll Yeah, that'd be awesome. Yeah, absolutely. So fun episode right there, hearing from the coaches. Uh, hey, if you are a Bay or a Rutherford supporter, tell your head coach that you want to hear them on the show with us. All right, that's gonna do it. Uh Jesus loves you. So do I. Y'all have a great week, and we'll see you next week. Enjoy those games, get out to them, support those athletes, y'all.