2009 Football Preview: Bozeman program continues maturation (See Schedule, Photos, Video)
SAND HILLS — The maturation of the Bozeman football program mirrors the enrollment of students in grades 1-12 that the school serves.
When the Bucks began playing varsity football five years ago, they were, as their name might suggest, caught in the headlights. Somewhat like a 6-year-old boarding the bus for the first time.
Then came the slow process of striving for their first victory. The next goal was achieving a first winning season. Finally, in 2008 Bozeman reached the state playoffs for the first time.
Coach Loren Tillman’s squad may not be ready for graduate-level football, but he thinks it is coming of age.
“I remember that first year playing football when you asked me if the kids were looking at the upcoming district games any different,” Tillman said. “The answer was no, it wasn’t different to them at all.
“But now our main focus is district games, and to play as good and get as many wins to get back to the playoffs. A lot of them have had a taste of the playoffs now, and some play baseball where they went deep in the playoffs and some play basketball and that made the playoffs.”
Instead of three district games deciding the Bucks’ fate as in past years, and one of them an insurmountable obstacle in Florida High, they have moved into nine-school District 1-1A for 2009.
They do so with a strong group of skill players returning, some mainstays on defense and possibly a little more versatility on both sides of the ball.
Senior quarterback Travis Register passed for 1,175 yards and nine touchdown in basically his first season of competitive football. Tillman also has Tyler Grier back to add to 1,200 yards rushing, 11 receptions for 249 yards and a team-leading 88 points.
“We’ve got our tailback, quarterback, three of the top four receivers, our tight end, it’s really going to be where our offensive line progresses,” Tillman said. “Are they going to be good at pass blocking, or are they going to be good at run blocking?
“I think we’ll be similar in that we can get big and pound the ball or spread you out and throw it and have a nice mixture of what we’re trying to do offensively.”
Dylon Kenney (21-254) and Jace Wade (9-191) also are capable receivers and returning tight end Michael Dillard should improve on his numbers.
“Right now I’m hoping we’ll be better at all skill positions because everybody is a year older,” Tillman said. “Travis is going to be a little better quarterback. Tyler should be better at running back. We should be better across the board.”
The offensive line could be a composite of Aaron Hadley (6-foot-3, 217 ), Dillard (6-3, 190), Nathaniel Walsh (6-3, 177), Isaiah Robbins (5-11, 200), Kenneth Jenkins (6-2, 189) and Cable Mayo (6-1, 223).
Defensively the Bucks will miss the speed and ferocity of standout linebacker Paul Myers, but Tillman sees positives. One reason is that the next seven leading tacklers (Hadley 74, Wade 60, Walsh 54, Dillard 36, Robbins 35, Grier 29 and May0 28) are back.
“Because Jace (Wade) is returning, Hadley is returning and Isaiah Robbins was the next guy in that relieved any of them,” he said of the linebacking unit. “It definitely wasn’t as big a concern as offensive line to us.
“The one thing we’re missing is experience at defensive back. We’ve got kids there with a lot of playing time, but they don’t have that true experience.”
Tillman foresees a balanced and competitive district from top to bottom. Like many coaches, he prefers added district games to maintain the focus of both the players and fan base, while also allowing a misstep or two.
“It’s who can stay healthy and play the best football over the course of the season,” Tillman said. “If anybody goes undefeated they’ve earned it. I think it’s going to be tough.”
Bozeman should find out early where it stands. After a nondistrict opener at Liberty County, the Bucks play at Vernon, which has been solidified by geography as a rival, then host South Walton, which swiftly is becoming one.
“Vernon is just 20 minutes up the road, and Walton is only 40 minutes away,” Tillman said. “We beat South Walton two years ago and last year they beat us twice, but in both those ballgames it was close.”
