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Who else would it be? The LaFayette Bulldogs are top dogs this week, as they come off of another win for a 2-0 record to start the season. After last season’s 1-9 record, LaFayette looks to have turned a page.

“What’s different this season is our kids have been young the last two years and [been] in a very incredible, tough region,” said Juan Williams, LaFayette’s head coach. “These guys are a little older, a little more mature in their roles.” 

One of those mature players is Zephaniah Phillips. Phillips is a running back, defensive end and kicked for the Bulldogs. 

“We have a lot of kids stepping up right now. Jamorrious Broughton was our defense player here last year. He is stepping up really [well] right now…A lot of our kids wear many hats. We have a young, new quarterback who is really bought into the system that we brought in, offensively,” Williams said. 

Williams added that the team worked hard over the summer and the addition of new coaches has been positive. 

Both sides of the ball have looked good over the first two games. 

“The Offensive line is doing a really good job this year. Right now, we’ve put up 49 and 41 points in the last two games. And also our defense has stepped up. We really haven’t given up for [but] eight points, you know, six on a block field goal,” Williams said.

On Friday, Ranburne comes to Bulldog stadium, in what Williams said will be their toughest game of the season. 

“They bring a lot of challenges to us for what they do upfront. They’re really big up front. They’re gonna be very well coached, so we’re gonna have to play our best game this week,” Williams said. “So we’ve been working hard on just making sure our kids know their responsibilities.”

Ranburne is currently 1-1 on the season, but they are coming off a win against region opponent Woodland. This will be LaFayette’s first region match. 

“They are four and five yards in the dirt team that will put together methodical drives. They will keep the ball. So we got to be ready for that. We got to be ready to play that kind of ball. We’re teaching physicality this week over here with our lineman and D lineman,” Williams explained.  

However, the Bulldogs are not getting ahead of themselves. The head coach said they are just trying to take it a week at a time. 

This is a particularly special season, as it is dedicated to someone who had gotten the bulldogs to this point. 

“One of our coaches had passed away this past April, our defensive coordinator Corey Thornton, and we’ve dedicated this season to him…Our biggest thing every day is to do something for someone else,” Williams said that sentiment is the motto for the team this year. 

LaFayette coaches wore LLCHOP, which stands for Long Live Chop, Thornton’s nickname, at last week’s game.  

Williams asked the community to come out and support the Bulldogs at home on Friday night to hopefully watch the team go 3-0. 

“All in all, it’s just more of a breath of fresh air right here and right now. We’re the Bulldog Nation,” Williams said.