Smyrna football not using youth as excuse for opening-game struggles

SMYRNA - The departure of several key players from last year’s Smyrna squad left the Bulldogs with a lot of question marks going into the 2019 season.

Unfortunately for Smyrna, there may be even more question marks going forward, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.

The biggest losses from last year's 7-4 squad were Alex Bannister, a two-year starter at quarterback and Blake Watkins, a three-year starter at running back.

Replacing those players isn't an easy task, but losing senior running back Mike Hartfield - the incumbent to replace Watkins - to an ankle injury during Friday's 42-0 loss to East Nashville, won't help.

Inexperience is a theme of the 2019 Smyrna team.

“We have a lot of kids right now who are playing that haven’t play on Friday nights, Smyrna coach Matt Williams said. “As for Mikel, we really don’t know anything right now other than it is his ankle.”

Smyrna (0-1) is hopeful that junior quarterback Tavien Tigg will settle into the quarterback role. He showed flashes of why he won the job during the offseason on Friday. But he and the Bulldog offense struggled overall as a team.

Tigg finished Friday's game 6-of-16 for 52 yards and two interceptions.

Williams, who took his team directly in the locker room after the contest, stated that the team needs to focus on being positive going forward.

“I took them in because I wanted to talk to them one on one pretty much and I think they got a positive attitude and determined attitude to get better,” Williams said.

“We took them in because its not for any other reason than to say what we needed to say, and sometimes when you are on the field and you have a crowd of people you can’t say exactly what you want. I wanted to have some time with my guys.”

East Nashville scored three first-quarter touchdowns and Smyrna managed just 54 yards of offense in the first half and 148 for the game.

Williams reiterated that the youth of his team won't used as a crutch for Friday's loss or any other contest going forward.

“We are a young team, but there is no excuses," Williams said. "There won’t be any going forward, either.”

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