Call it a statement win, call it ‘just another win’ in August, call it whatever you like. But their win over Philadelphia in Week 2 was telling.
Bay Springs was supposed to have a year of rebuilding in 2017; instead, the Bulldogs finished 8-4 and advanced to the third round of MHSAA Class 2A playoffs. Some folks were surprised. Bay Springs head coach Dan Brady was not. He knew his team would shock some people – and they did.
This year the shock was supposed to have worn off, but in preseason polls Bay Springs was nowhere to be found in most 2A Top 5 polls.
Philadelphia, however, was.
So when Bay Springs traveled to Philadelphia last Friday night in Week 2, Brady used the game as a measuring stick to see where his team stood early in the season. Others did too, keeping a close watch to see if Bay Springs belonged in the discussion as one of the top teams in 2A.
Bay Springs pasted the test, besting Philadelphia, 38-14.
“[The win] was a great measuring stick as to where we are in August,” said Brady. “But the thing is, we can’t get to high off of it because we still have a Buch of games left to play.
“I think it just shows our kids that we can compete with anybody. I think Philadelphia is one of the top [2A] teams in the state in my mind. After last week I think we showed that we belong up there pretty close too. I’m by no means saying that were the best, but I think we should be mentioned in the Top 10 at least.”
After both Philadelphia and Bay Springs traded opening kickoff returns for touchdowns in the opening minute of the contest, it was all Bay Springs after that. The Bulldogs racked up 336 yards of offense, led by senior fullback Jamarius Hosey. Hosey rushed for 167 yards on 21 carries, an average of eight yards per run, and two touchdowns.
Philadelphia was held to just six points after running the opening kickoff for a touchdown and converting a two-point conversion.
“We just competed,” said Brady when asked what his team did well. “We went out there, and when adversity struck, we stepped up. We didn’t let it hit us in the mouth. I think that is the most important thing when you play a team like Philadelphia.
“We played as a team, and that is the thing I’m most proud of. I challenged them to go out there and be the better team and take care of business as a team. Last year Philadelphia wore us out and embarrassed us at home. This win moving forward gives us confidence.”
Bay Springs still had a tough non-district schedule left to play before Region 5-2A opens up, including Morton (3A), West Jones (5A), Northeast Jones (4A), and Quitman (4A). In 2017, with the same scheduled teams as this year in non-district play, Bay Springs entered 5-2A play, 3-3, and by the beginning of Week 3 were 1-1. This year, heading into Morton, Bay Springs is unbeaten (2-0).
“We have to beat Morton [this week],” Brady laughed when asked about the road ahead. “West Jones, who we’ll play later, has a tremendous defensive line. But so does Morton. I think people are casting some doubt on Morton. They’re a talented football team.
“Our schedule gets us ready for anything. When we step on the field in Week 7 versus Taylorsville, we know they’re going to be a good team, but we’re also going to know that for six straight weeks we played good teams to prepare us for it. There are no off weeks for us per-say.”
The Bulldogs return an experienced crew from a year ago.
“Last year we were young and inexperienced,” Brady noted. “This year [were experienced] and it lets us know that anytime we go to play a game, we have an opportunity to win that game.”
When asked about injuries and trying to avoid them during the tough non-district play ahead, Brady said that those things are sometimes unavoidable.
“We play the game,” said Brady. “If someone gets hurt, it’s the next man up who will have to get it done. It’s just a part of this game. I don’t believe in overlooking opponents, even if we played the New Orleans Saints were going to play our guys. If someone gets hurt, that is part of football.”
Kickoff at Morton is set for Friday night at 7 p.m.
