25 Teams in 25 Days: Vancleave Bulldogs

Some junk yard dogs at Vancleave High School, checking in as stop number two on News 25’s 25 Teams in 25 Days.

It’s also year number two of the Kevin Fant era, now just 32 days away and counting from the Bulldogs season opener.

- some junkyard dogs, at vancleav- high school...- checking in as stop number 2, o- news 25's 25 teams in 25 days.- it's also year number 2, of the- kevin fant era... now just 32 - days- away and counting... from the - bulldogs season opener.

- - and now... news 25's 25 teams i- 25- days... with jeff haeger.

- nat ---> "you edged out this year, conner mallette."

- - - nat ---> clapping - as a part of the junkyard dog - culture, at vancleave high- school... the team's off- seaso- program, under second-- year head coach kevin fant... - includes workout based- recognition, given to five- players... in five different- weight- classes... known as dog - soldiers.

- "been working for that for two years because last year i didn'- get to do it because my back- was hurting.

It was hurt.

It wa- injured, it wasn't hurt."

"we work hard in the weight roo to get that.

I mean it means a- lot to all of us.

We- want to be on there."

With the 20-20 campaign - previously in doubt, due to - - - - covid-19... starting the season- on september 4th, - against east central... now - brings a whole new meaning... t- have it your way.

- "yeah i was at burger king, i was working.

I was working in - the back.

I was putting - some patties on the grill, and- one of my coaches texted me and- - - - said i had a season."

"personally, with me playing baseball, i had some guys that- missed out on their - - - - senior season.

So for our - seniors, we're thinking that we- might not even get this - season, so we're pushing- ourselves and we want this- season more than we've ever - wanted any other season."

Perhaps a blessing in disguise,- in terms of motivation... - as the bulldogs look to improve- upon last year's overall mark,- of- 5-6.- and despite three straight- trips, to the class 4-a - playoffs... vancleave is still- in search of its first post-- season victory, since 20-15...- and its first winning season...- since - 20-13.- "we haven't talked about it.

We've just got to act.

I mean - these last two years, - yeah, we went to the first- round, lost in the first round.- but i mean, got to bounce - back."

"you go talk to any football team, everybody wants to win- - - - state championships and - everybody wants championships.- and it's, man, making - improvements at every position.- these guys give us everything - they've got,- and they try to play and they'r- almost mistake-free and they're- playing with- all-out effort, the scoreboard- - - - will speak for itself."

Corona-virus un-certainty - aside... the name of the game i- still football.

- and it's up to vancleave's 14 - seniors, to live up to that - - - - j-y-d -- junkyard dog mentality- -- as a means of not letting a- global- pandemic interfere, with- legacy... and whatever else - the bulldogs had planned... in- 20-20.- "i just really want to play thi year, man.

Covid-19 really got- me scared.

I just want- to play, man."

"i just want to bring home the river bowl trophy.

I want to- have a winning season.

I- - - - want to go past the first round- i want to see how far we can- go."

"if a team beats us, they bette pack their lunch because these- guys work hard and- that's all i expect out of- them."

- vancleave lost games at gautier- in week 1... and at home agains- west harrison, in week 2... as - result of the season being- delayed by two weeks.

- - and here's a full list of the - dog soldiers, from monday's - reveal... starting with the - lowest weight class... and- working our - way up.

- alec simmons is the group 1 - winner... followed by - christian kell, in group 2... - hunter waltman, in group 3... - ethan - davis, in group 4... and