We tell you everything you need to know about the 2022 Lanier County football team in this preview. We take a look at roster changes and what fans can expect from the team this season.
2021 Stats
- Overall Record: 3-7
- Points Scored: 280
- Points Against: 315
Key Losses
The Bulldogs lost some pretty good talent from last season’s team, including the region’s leading passer in Jacob Faircloth. Last season, he threw for 1,777 yards and 26 TDs, and also ran for a couple of TDs.
One of Faircloth’s favorite targets, three-time All-Region WR Kish Wright, will not return. Wright finishes his Lanier County career with 42 catches, 642 receiving yards and nine career TDs. He was a solid kick and punt returner for the Lanier special teams, with 112 kickoff return yards and 136 punt return yards. From his DB spot, Wright tallied 30 tackles and two interceptions. A couple of other All-Region selections are gone, as well. They are DB Josh Sirmans and DL Tykerion Powell,
Who’s Back
The line is bolstered by the return of two juniors in Damarkus Eubanks and Cade Stephenson. Eubanks is a 6-foot 245-pounder who will play DT and alternate between guard and tackle along the O-line. Stephenson stands at 6 feet, 2 inches and weighs 308 pounds, and will be a force along the Lanier offensive line, too.
Returning to run behind those two talented linemen is yet another junior in RB Nehemiah Davis, who rushed for 284 yards on 54 carries last season, scoring three TDs. Two seniors Head Coach Kurt Williams singles out are LB/ATH Jamir Glenn, who had 15 tackles with a sack last season, and RB/LB Jaylon Calhoun, who was a workhorse with 166 carries for 983 yards rushing 10 TDs. He also caught 14 passes for 175 yards receiving and a touchdown in 2021. On defense, Calhoun had 44 tackles with five sacks and two fumble recoveries. A lot of solid talent returns in 2022.
What To Expect
Despite the loss of some very productive and talented players, Williams is laser-focused on the task ahead of him, and the head coach likes what he sees. “I think we have a young talented football team that should compete with our schedule and region this year,” he said.
Williams said the key to this season will be to stay healthy: “If we can stay healthy and continue developing, I think this group could turn out to be really special.” What about the key talent lost to graduation? “We graduated 14 seniors, but I think overall from top to bottom, we are actually better. This young group has been together for a while now and they’ve been really good all the way up to this point, so we’re excited to see what they can do.”
Prediction
Williams has his team and fans believing. I believe too. 7-4 overall record this season.
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