Coach has high hopes for Bulldog team's upcoming season

By JASON BLASCO

Lake County Leader 

SAINT IGNATIUS — Mission High School football coach Jake Bosley has a solid mixture of veteran and returning players on his team roster of 25 headed into their season-opener against Lincoln Community at Mission High School.

“Right now, we are the smallest team in Class 6B in the state,” Bosley said. “However, we have great coaches, a great staff, and a group that buys in. Our conference is going to be really competitive and every game is going to be a dogfight this year but I have high hopes for us.”

Because of their small numbers compared to their conference foes, the Bulldogs have to learn to play “iron-man football” and according to Bosley, conditioning was the main point of emphasis headed into the off-season.

“Because of the amount of kids we have on the field on offense, defense, and special teams, our conditioning in the off-season is going to be huge,” Bosley said.

Bosley said he felt his team will be “competitive” this season.

“We have the ability to be competitive with every team we step on the field with,” Bosley said. “We just have to stay healthy, get our offense going, and get everyone on the same page. I’ve been really pleased with our effort in the preseason. Everything went great.”

This year, the Bulldogs have some key contributors including RB Gus Bosley, who ran for 690 yards, and also added RB Leondre Bolen, a transfer from Arlee High School who Coach Bosley said he is impressed with his work ethic.

Bosley also mentioned other key contributors including: C/DL Joey Kipp, FB/MLB Benton Adams, OLB/T Josh Huggs, and CB/WR Troy Mitchell.

“We have the ability to get the practice squad out there and I think we will probably finish in the middle of the pack this year,” Bosley said. “We will be competitive with every team and it’s just a matter of staying healthy, and meshing and peaking at the right time of the season.”