Dublin Middle School Has High Hopes

D.M.S. Football Has High Hopes
By David Gravely

When you look at the 2010 Dublin Middle School football team, you don't see alot of players that you would consider large.  In fact, one of the biggest players on either side of the line may not be as big as the smallest lineman from seasons past.  Fortunately, there is alot more to being a football player than just being big.

"This group of players is not very large" said Dukes Head Football Coach Richard Lewis.  "We don't really even have very many kids who are tall.  What we do have though are a solid group of kids that work well together and they are working hard.  We also have some kids who are quick.  Faster is always better, but with what we're trying to do this season we really need that quickness on the lines."

What he and his team are doing is starting to put in some of the new offensive and defensive schemes that Cougar Head Coach Todd Jones is putting in for the Cougars.  "The kids are excited about both of the new schemes" said Lewis.  "We will be trying to use as much of that as possible so that the kids can start getting a little more comfortable with the system they will see when they get to the high school.  Coach Jones, as was the case with Coach Turner and Coach Hicks, has been very supportive of the efforts at both middle schools.  These kids are the future Cougars, and we want them ready."

Coach Lewis, who has been coaching for thirty years and has been the head coach at Dublin for twenty three years, has some solid help on the sidelines.  John Myers has been involved with coaching the Dukes for fifteen years, and Randy Grubb joined the Dukes this season after coaching at Pulaski Middle last season and PCHS in his first year.  "I'm very much looking forward to this football season.  I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to teach and coach the students of Dublin Middle School."

The offensive line for Dublin has done well to this point in the preseason.  "Our current starting offensive line is Tanner Dotson, Shane Chrisley, Ryan East, Tyler Gravely, and Sam Grissom" said Lewis.  "They've been blocking well, and it looks like we have some very solid players backing them up, but we need to get more aggressive." 

At quarterback there have been three players rotate in and out.  Jesse Draper has been the starter to this point, and has shown that if things go bad he will tuck the ball in and run....sometimes over top of a few defenders who get in his way.   When not at quarterback, Draper lines up either in the backfield or on a wing as a running back.  Malik Eaves has seen time under center and in the shotgun, and he provides a dual threat with his ability to take off and slash through the defense or pull back and throw the ball.  Seventh grader Kevin Smith has also seen considerable time at quarterback in the preseason, and while he has had a few ball handling issues at first, Smith is quickly proving to be a solid player at the position.

There are a good assortment of running backs, with the majority of the carries so far going to Malik Eaves, Jesse Draper, Jake Callahan, Elijah Booth, and Levi Clark.  Elliot Brewster has shown that he has the speed and skill to do some damage when he gets the ball, as well as Adam Lawson, and Mark Southern.  There are several other backs that could see playing time throughout the season.

"The defensive secondary has made a good showing to this point, showing solid open field tackling and the ability to see the ball well" said Coach Lewis.  "Darion Brown, Kevin Smith, Ryan Spangler, and Elliott Brewster are currently our starters in those spots.  Our linebackers are starting to see the ball better as well.  They are making better reads and moving to the ball.  Again, we just need to continue to improve each day.  Our defensive front is coming along pretty well, but we have more work to do on stance and technique."

So with thirty years of coaching, I ask Coach Lewis what he thought the Dukes would have to accomplish to have a successful season.  "As would be the case in any other year, we will feel like this team is successful if we work to the best of our ability "together" to become the best "team" that we can possibly be.  If we do that, we will have success winning some games and developing in other areas.  We try to impress upon the players that we know that if they will first show a great work ethic in the classroom, and great and unselfish character in working with their teachers and classmates, then we know they will also be great teammates on the Dublin Dukes.  We want them to realize that each one of them as teammates has an important role to play in making this years season a success.  We also want them to take what they learn here and continue it on at the high school as Cougars."

After competing in the Tazewell Jamboree this coming weekend, the Dukes will kick off their season as they host Giles on Thursday, August 26.  Game time is set for 5 pm.