Murphy – The Bulldogs lost their leading rusher, receiver and scorer as they enter the 2024 season, but the cupboard is not bare.
Hunter Stalcup, who graduated in the spring, led the team in rushing, averaging 156 yards per game, as well as receiving and scoring. Also gone is Ricky Queen, the anchor for both the offensive and defensive lines, but the Bulldogs do return eight starters on both sides of the ball.
Brady Grant, who averaged just over 80 yards a game passing last year in a run-heavy offense, will begin his second season as the Bulldogs’ quarterback. Also returning is his second favorite target, Ryan Payne, who caught 12 balls on 15 targets last season. And Cameron Clem, who rushed for 940 yards on 111 carries as a freshman, will return in the backfield.
“All of these kids have showed up this summer and continue to get better,” head coach Joseph Watson said.
Replacing Queen on the lines won’t be easy, he added.
“We’ve got some kids that are vying for that positions” Watson said. “There is certainly some competition going on, but it really doesn’t matter who wins the starting position, because we will use all of them at various times during the game.”
Waylon Spivey, who did not play last year, and Jude Pinkerton will probably be two of several competing for the position. Another returning lineman, Janthony Goodin, has also gotten better in the offseason.
“Janthony has done an outstanding job this summer,” Watson said. “He has actually lost a little weight and gotten stronger. I think Janthony is setting himself up for a breakout season.”
In addition to that, a few returning freshmen will add to the Bulldogs’ depth this year, Watson said. Haden Williams, Grayson Hall and Sheldon Owens should be able to come in and give some help as they are needed.
The Bulldogs’ defense should show improvement from last year, as the leading tackler and sacks leader returns in All-Western North Carolina first-teamer Camden Breazeale. The second- and third-leading tacklers return with Brody Orton and Kadence Leatherwood.
Breazeale and Orton were ranked first and second in number of tackles in the Smoky Mountain Conference last season. Breazeale was also ranked second in the conference in sacks with eight.
Leatherwood, who was ranked in the top 10 in the conference in tackles last season, will lead the linebacking corps. With additions of Pinkerton and Spivey, Murphy’s front seven should be good.
The Bulldogs’ secondary will be anchored by All-Western North Carolina defensive back Ryan Payne, who led the SMC with five interceptions last season.
“We have to replace a corner, an outside linebacker and a defensive lineman, but we think we have got some kids that can step up to do it,” Watson said.
The Bulldogs will be tested early, as they will open with a scrimmage game at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, at 3A AC Reynolds in Asheville. The Dogs will open the regular season with Franklin at home, followed by a new opponent to the Bulldogs’ schedule in Heard County, Ga. Murphy will then travel to 3A West Henderson.
West Henderson, which went 13-1 last year before losing to eventual state champion Hickory, returns many players from last year’s team. This game will be a tall order for the Dogs.
If everything gels, Murphy will definitely be in the hunt for the Smoky Mountain Conference crown, with the largest challenges coming from the usual suspects in Robbinsville and Swain. Both of those teams lost several skill players to graduation, but like Murphy they seldom rebuild, they just reload.