SPORTS

H.S. FOOTBALL: Milan plans to bounce back in 2014

Brandon Shields
  • Milan finished 3-7 last season
  • The Bulldogs are healthier than they were much of last year
  • Marshall Harrison is expected to play quarterback

MILAN – Jeff Morris will readily admit he took the 2013 high school football season personally.

"I hope everybody around here did to be honest with you," said the Milan High head football coach. "After everything we've accomplished last year, we knew going in that it would be a tough year with the teams we had on the schedule.

"Then to have all the injuries and everything else that happened, I've never been through a season like that and hope I never do again."

The one positive for the Bulldogs compared to previous years for 2013 is they won their final game of the season, but considering that was in Week 10 and not five weeks later at the end of the playoffs, there's plenty of motivation to work hard for 2014.

The good news is a lot of those players who could've helped last year but were hampered by injuries are back healthy heading into 2014.

Marshall Harrison should be back at quarterback. Isiah Ross and Skylar Hopewell will be in the backfield waiting to help out when they take the handoff.

A concern for the Bulldogs is the line as it's not as big as it has been in recent years.

"We've had to order some new jerseys because the linemen jerseys we had are too big for the ones who will up there for us," Morris said. "They're older kids that know what they're doing, but they'll be lining up against guys bigger than they are more times than not."

Morris and the Bulldogs will need all the help they can get. Their schedule was rated by The Sun earlier in the season as the toughest in the paper's coverage area with teams like CPA, Huntingdon, Lexington, Peabody and Humboldt on the non-district schedule.

Then there are District 13-AA games against Westview, Dyersburg, Crockett County, Obion County and South Gibson.

Brandon Shields, 425-9751

Milan Bulldogs

• 2013 record: 3-7

• Last year was the first time in over 30 years Milan didn't make the playoffs.

• According to last year's roster, there are nearly 20 seniors on this year's team.