The Pike County Bulldogs are riding high after claiming a region championship in 2016. Now they look towards the future with the start of practice.

In their first season in region 3, the Bulldogs went a perfect 6-0 in region play on their way to a championship. After a successful summer, the Bulldogs are excited to get back on the field.

“We have had a great summer,” said head coach Fred Holland. “Our guys are really looking forward to the season. We were limited to what we could do in the summer, but now we can do some of those things and get ready for the season.”

Last season the Bulldogs had very limited experience on both sides of the ball. This season Holland feels he has more of a veteran team.

“We have more experience than we had last year,” Holland said. “We have a lot more leadership. Last year we had guys playing that didn’t have a lot of experience. I think experience will really help us this year.”

Jaidyn Wilson and Jahzarian Lampley will make up a veteran backfield this season at the quarterback and running back position.

“Hopefully we will improve our running and throwing game,” Holland said. “As the year goes on I think those guys will get better and better. We are going to be led by Lampley, our top running back. He had a great summer and he brought the guys long.”

The Bulldogs will open the season ranked eighth in the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s preseason rankings.

“I don’t look at the rankings, but it’s the strides this team has made,” Holland said. “I think we overachieved last year because we had little experience. We are looking to improve on that. Everybody is seeing that we have improved as a team and I think they sky is the limit with this team.”

The Bulldogs will take on Charles Henderson in preseason action on August 25 before opening the season the following week at home against Elba.