QUITMAN — Last season, Quitman's main goal was to win a game. It was the school's first year to play as a varsity football team, and they achieved their goal, finishing out the season 1-9. This year, the goal has been set a bit higher.
"Our goal of course is to win," head coach Fritz Heidenreich said, "but we'd love to make the playoffs - winning the conference is a long shot. Our biggest goal is to
make the playoffs, and we've got a shot at it. We've been working hard, and we're going to
sink our teeth into it to make the playoffs."The Bulldogs return six starters on offense and seven on defense, but both sides of the ball has had to learn new systems as this will be Heidenreich's first season as head coach.
"We have new schemes on offense," he said. "We'll be throwing the ball more, and we've got some new people moving in
that will add strength. We also have a lot more experience than last year." As the season draws closer, there is some uncertainty with the defense. Although the
defensive line is big and the secondary is experienced, the linebacker core will be inexpe
rienced.
The offense, on the other hand, is shaping up much better. At the center of it is returning quarterback Tim Smith (6-1, 165). Smith threw for more than 1,300 yards and rushed for more than 500 in 2008.
"He's a versatile guy," Heidenreich said. "And we expect big things out of him." Assisting Smith in taking the snap will be Rose Bud transfer Aaron Parker (6-2, 170). He will split time between playing quarterback and receiver. Heidenreich said that he expects Parker to "help out the offense tremendously." Probably the biggest strength on the Quitman squad is the depth at receiver.
"We have six different guys who can catch the ball well," the coach said. "And the kids moving in will put a lot of depth there."The three main targets for Smith will be Parker,
Lance Fires (6-1, 180) and Forrest McPeake (5-6, 145).
"McPeake is one returning that had the biggest im
pact last year," Heidenreich said, "and we're expecting
good things from him this season." Elsewhere on offense, the coach added that the
line will be big, but the running backs will be inex
perienced.
Overall, it is not going to be an easy task for Quit
man to bounce back in only its second year as a var
sity football team, but the coach pointed to the team's
leadership as a reason this year will not end with just
one win.
"We have 11 seniors," Heidenreich said. "Our lead
ership is our team's strength, and our work ethic is as
good as anyone's."
QUITMAN BULLDOGS
Sept. 4 ...................Rose Bud
Sept. 11 ....... Mountain Pine*
Sept. 18 .............at Bigelow*
Sept. 24 ........Horatio at HSU
Oct. 2 ..... Conway Christian*
Oct. 9 ..................at Hector*
Oct. 16 ............. LR Lutheran*
Oct. 23 at Cutter Morning Star*
Oct. 30 ................. Danville*
Nov. 6 .....................at Ola*
Special, Pages 244, 245 on 08/23/2009