By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
Conference: South Fork 2A.
Head coach: Trent Lowman (18-28, 4 years).
BANDYS SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)
August
18 – at St. Stephens
25—Fred T. Foard
September
8—Bunker Hill
15—Hickory
22—at MAIDEN
29—NEWTON-CONOVER
October
6—at LINCOLNTON
13—at E. LINCOLN
20—W. LINCOLN
27—at LAKE NORMAN CHARTER
November
3—N. LINCOLN
Last season’s records: 3-8 overall; 1-6 Southern District 7 Athletic 2A, tied for seventh place.
Last season’s results: S. Caldwell, W 46-24; at Fred T. Foard, L 18-34; at Alexander Central, L 32-75; St. Stephens, W 36-29; at E. LINCOLN, L 6-44; W. CALDWELL, L 0-35; LINCOLNTON, L 28-54; at MAIDEN, L 40-56; at BUNKER HILL, L 6-26; W. LINCOLN, W 21-14; at NEWTON-CONOVER, L 29-31.
SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY
Last season in state playoffs: 2014, 2AA.
Last state playoff victory: 2012, d. Newton-Conover 49-24, second round.
All-time state playoff bids: 22.
Conference titles since 1980, last: 6 (3 outright, 3 shares), 2009 Catawba Valley Athletic 2A.
BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL
Returning starters: 8.
Returning lettermen: 18.
OFFENSE
Returning starters: 5.
Leading returning rusher: Ethan Howard (125-710, 7 TDs).
Leading returning passer: Ja’Tay Culliver (6-16-2, 132, 1 TD).
Leading returning receiver: Travis Russell (11-70, no TDs).
Other players to watch: Aaron Johnson (Jr., OL); Anthony Bisulca (Jr., OL); Kaleb Nicholson (Jr., OL); Coby Morgan (Sr., RB).
DEFENSE
Returning starters: 3.
Players to watch: Jason Early (Sr., LB); Isaiah Talbert (Jr., LB); Jason Ellis (Sr., DB).
OUTLOOK
LOWMAN
Always cautious to make outright predictions, Lowman says the Trojans will be improved but he’s not bold enough to pick a number of victories.
Bandys has one thing in more abundance that last year – speed at some skill positions, some of it electrifying – and that alone will give the Trojans a chance to be more competitive than last season.
Even though they lost a starting QB who contributed – Hunter Burkett is playing now for the Hickory Hawks – they have the potential to have a more explosive offense.
Culliver runs the 40 yards dash in 4.48 seconds and is a threat anywhere on the field with the ball in his hands.
Will the Trojans contend? They could, if they play better defensively. They were picked by league coaches to finish in fifth place.
To get into the upper four teams, Bandys has to win a league game or two where it is the underdog.
The Trojans have gotten a feel for that of late, one of the key reasons Lowman is modest about his approach yet pushing his players to plug into the school’s football tradition – three trips to state finals – and regain some football glory.
“The biggest thing is our guys’ motors ran hard and fast,” Lowman said after his team’s first scrimmage this season. “They fly around and they play hard.”
The key to the season?
“How our front linemen mature and how healthy we can stay,” Lowman says. “The comradery and chemistry of this team is really strong.”