The 2024 high school football season has finally arrived, and the Carmi-White County Bulldogs are preparing to host the Flora Wolves at Harrington-Jeffries Sports Complex on Friday Night.
The Bulldogs went 7-3 in 2023, in a season where injuries and lack of depth played major factors. Despite the setbacks, the Bulldogs were able to make the playoffs and host a playoff game, but ran into a buzzsaw in Breese Mater Dei in the 1st Round of the IHSA Playoffs. CWC lost 8 seniors, all 8 started on both sides of the football, leaving plenty shoes to be filled in 2024.
Not only will the Bulldogs look different in terms of personnel, but in terms of formation as well. The Bulldogs plan to shift to the double-wing, foot-to-foot offense, ran in previous years by Fairfield and Johnston City.
Madden Anderson will take over the Bulldog offense at the quarterback position. The 5-foot-10, 150 pound junior has led the JV Bulldogs over the last two seasons, and he has the experience at the position to run the offense. There is no question that Carmi will be a run-first team, but they will have the potential to throw the ball if needed with Anderson.
Noah Pollard returns to the backfield for his senior season. Pollard was 3rd in the BDC in rushing in 2023 with 993 yards and 12 touchdowns on 147 carries. Joining him behind Anderson will be a combination of runners; Kade Stockton, Kale Wiggins, Jazz Duckworth, and Cade Allen. Kade Stockton (6’1″ 195 lbs) will be in the fullback role, after starting at tight end in 2023. Kale Wiggins (5’7″ 155 lbs) saw some time in the CWC backfield as a junior, carrying the rock 13 times for 98 yards and 1 touchdown. Sophomore Jazz Duckworth (5’8″ 185 lbs) will have some opportunities at running back, he rushed for 69 yards on 12 carries last year. Senior Cade Allen (5’8″ 165) led the team in receiving last year with 229 yards and 3 touchdowns on 12 catches. His speed adds another dimension to the Bulldog offense.
Sophomore Javan Agen (6’0″ 190 lbs), along with Freshman Kyzen Edwards (5’10’ 175 lbs) will play the two tight end spots, both starting varsity for the first time.
The Bulldogs graduated three of their five starting offensive linemen from 2023, with senior Eli Bryant (6’1″ 325 lbs) and junior Dakota Southerd (6’2″ 255 lbs) returning at each tackle position. Junior Michael Miller (5’11” 225 lbs) steps in at left guard, junior Nolan Aud (5’8″ 215 lbs) becomes the starting center, and junior Easton Sullivan (5’11” 195 lbs) moves from fullback to right guard.
Defensively, the Bulldogs will send out a different combinations of players depending on the opponent.
Agen, Bryant, Sullivan, Miller, as well as sophomore Laeden Vargas (5’8″ 260 lbs) and junior Josyah Perez (5’10” 190 lbs) will all see time on the defensive line.
Pollard, Stockton, and senior Stone McGhee (5’6″ 155 lbs) will manage the defense at the middle linebacker positions.
Wiggins, Allen, Anderson, Duckworth, and freshman Dakota Brown (5’7″ 125 lbs) will be starting defensive backs for the Bulldogs.
CWC will lack experience heading into Week 1, with 9 total players making their first varsity starts of their careers, and others playing brand new positions.
The Flora Wolves are coming off a 3-6 campaign in 2023, a year in which they started out 3-1 but dropped their final 5 games.
Quarterback Parker Helm was 2nd in the BDC in passing as a sophomore last season, with 1,234 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions.
Flora did lose Helm’s number one receiver to graduation, but they do bring back senior Garrett Patridge and Braxton Huddlestun who combined for over 500 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns last year.
In 2023, Flora was a pass-first team, who didn’t run the ball very successfully as they only ran for 413 yards for the entire season.
The biggest key to stopping the Wolves will be to take care of Helm, both in the pocket and on the run. He has shown the ability to scramble for yardage, but it will also be key for the CWC defensive backs to not let anyone get past them for a long pass play.
“We have to make sure we limit our mistakes and we can’t let up the big plays,” said CWC head coach Kurt Simon. “Their quarterback can make some plays, we will have to be sure and contain him.”
Someone else who the Bulldogs will try to contain is Mother Nature, who has made her presence felt all week. The yearly late-August heat wave forced the Bulldogs to practice at 6 AM on Tuesday and Wednesday, and an early morning thunderstorm cut Wednesday’s practice short. Heat and thunderstorms are in the forecast for Friday, and it’s important for the Bulldogs to be prepared for both.
“First game of the year is always the hottest,” said Simon. “Our guys have to be hydrated and prepared to battle the elements. It’s going to be hot for both teams, we have to make sure than we’re the team who endures it the best. As far as rain, we have to make sure we hang on to the football if the conditions are wet.”
As for head coach Kurt Simon, 2024 will be his 28th season leading the Bulldogs, but it will also be his last.
Simon is set for retirement from his Athletic Director and PE Teaching positions at CWCHS at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, and with that comes the end of his coaching career as well.
Anyone who knows Kurt Simon knows that he is not one for attention, and he wants to make sure this season is strictly about football.
“I don’t want it (his retirement) to take anything away from our players and program,” said Simon. “It’s about them, and making sure we have a great season for these seniors.”
The Bulldogs and Wolves will kick off the 2024 season on Friday at 7 PM at Harrington-Jeffires Sports Complex. Fans who can’t attend will be able to listen to the game on 97.3 FM WRUL and WRUL.com, and they can watch on the WRUL Sports YouTube Channel.
Listen live – https://tocstreams.com/public/wrul
Watch live – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m90vFCCdhuE
Calpreps.com predicts the Bulldogs to win 34-17.
Southern Illinois Week 1 HS Football Schedule:
CZR at Johnston City
Eldorado at Edwards County
Flora at CWC
Hamilton County at Sesser-Valier
Benton at Carterville
Red Hill at Casey-Westfield
Carlyle at Nashville
Chester at DuQuoin
Harrisburg at Anna-Jonesboro
Herrin at Marion
Highland at Breese Central
Massac County at West Frankfort
Mt. Carmel at Gibson Southern (IN)
Murphysboro at Carbondale
Newton at Shelbyville
Olney (Richland County) at Taylorville
Pinckneyville at Red Bud
Robinson at Effingham
Salem at Centralia
Waterloo at Mt. Vernon
