Football Friday 2024 Team Preview: LCA Bulldogs

LCA Bulldogs

Head Coach: Frank Rocco (19th year, 7th season in 2nd stint)

Record/playoff result of last year: 14-0, State Champion Class 3

Starter Back: 6 in the offensive, 6 in the defensive

Key players (with position(s)): Gideon Davidson, Sr. RB/Safety, Easton Ware, Sr. OL/DL, Robert Payne, Soph. OT/DT, Justis Belford, Sr. RB/CB, Jayden Coward, Jr. RB/FS, James Deyo, Sr. QB/LB

Games for circling: August 30th against Salem (season opener), September 27th against Heritage, October 11th in Rustburg, November 8th in Jefferson Forest

Team plan (Kick-off at 19:00, unless otherwise stated, home games in CLEARLY):

• 30.8.Salem
• 9/6Bye
• 13.9. at Franklin Co.
• 20.9. at Amherst Co.
• 27.9.Cultural Heritage
• 10/4Bye
• 10/11 in Rustburg
• 18.10.Freedom
• 10/25at EC glass
• 11/1Brookville
• 8.11. in Jefferson Forest

Summary: Few teams in recent history have looked as dominant from opening kickoff to cup victory as LCA did in 2023. Frank Rocco's Dawgs are back in 2024 and are looking to rebound behind Football Friday Player of the Year Gideon Davidson, who has swept opposing defenses out of the backfield. While the offensive line has a few big holes, LCA has enough depth and size up front, including new starters from the JV squad, so don't expect the running game to miss much. Last year's quarterback Jeb Moon focused on his running career, leaving senior James Deyo to take the snaps. Other than some minor question marks about preseason execution, there's no reason to believe LCA won't play in the state playoff rounds.