The Priceville Bulldogs got a taste of the playoffs last season under first-year head coach Chris Foster. They are looking to build off last year’s success and make it back to the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Priceville has never gone to the playoffs in successive seasons.
Coach Foster returns for his second season to lead the Bulldogs. After arriving less than six weeks before last season began, Foster has had a full summer to work with his players despite the coronavirus.
The Bulldogs return five starters on offense, including 4A All-State running Jerry Burton, who ran for 2,510 yards and 33 touchdowns last season. Leading the way for Burton will be left tackle Tyler Cappi, a second-team All-State selection. Priceville returns six starters on defense, including leading tacklers John Looney and Tristan Holmes.
Priceville was moved to 4A Region 8 following AHSAA reclassification last fall. The Bulldogs will be joining Brooks, Central-Florence, Deshler, Rogers, West Limestone, West Morgan, and Wilson.
Here’s a look at the 2020 Priceville football schedule:
Aug. 28, at Brewer
After closing out last season’s schedule, Priceville will travel to Brewer to open the 2020 season. The Bulldogs needed to come from behind to defeat the Patriots 20-16. Brewer comes into the season with a young and inexperienced team that returns two starters on offense and four on defense. The Patriots averaged 22.5 points per game on offense while allowing 29.6 points per game.
Brewer leads the all-time series 7-3.
Sept. 4, at West Morgan
Another clash of Morgan County rivals takes place at Rebel Stadium in week two. The matchup will be the region opener for the two teams that battled to a 24-22 game won by Priceville last season. The Rebels return a 1,000-yard rusher in Adam Lucas. West Morgan averaged 28 points per game on offense but gave up 34.9 points per game defensively.
Priceville leads the all-time series 7-3.
Sept. 11, vs. Brooks
Priceville’s first home game of season pits the Bulldogs against the Brooks Lions. The Lions finished second in Region 8 last season. Brooks’ offense had three games of 69 or more points in averaging 42.9 points per game last year. Their defense gave up 31.4 points, including three games of 46 or more points.
Brooks leads the all-time series 4-0.
Sept. 18, vs. Wilson
The Bulldogs play host to the Wilson Warriors in week four. The Warriors finished sixth in Region 8 with a 2-7 record last season. Wilson averaged 16.1 points per game on offense while allowing 35.6, including five games of 39 or more points.
Wilson leads the all-time series 6-0.
Sept. 25, at Danville
Priceville travels to Danville for the second consecutive season looking to avenge last season’s 26-25 loss to the Hawks. The win cost the Bulldogs a region championship. The county matchup will be a non-region game as Danville moved to Class 3A, Region 8.
This game is the first of four consecutive games against teams who made the playoffs last year.
The Hawks averaged 23.5 points per game on offense while giving up 33.7.
Priceville leads the all-time series 9-7.
Oct. 2, at Rogers
The Bulldogs travel to Rogers in a rematch of last year’s first-round playoff game won 44-23 by Priceville. The game falls in the middle of a six-game stretch for the Bulldogs, where they are facing a team that advanced to the playoffs last season.
The Pirates averaged 19.3 points per game last season while allowing 29.6 points.
Rogers leads the all-time series 3-2.
Oct. 9, vs. Central Florence
Priceville comes back home for a region matchup with the Central Florence Wildcats. The Wildcats finished fourth in Region 8 with a 3-8 record. They lost to Fairview in the first round of the playoffs.
The Wildcats averaged 25.3 points per game while giving up 29.3.
Central Florence leads the all-time series 6-0.
Oct. 16, vs. Deshler
Priceville hosts Deshler in a late-season matchup between two veteran teams looking to make a final playoff push. The Bulldogs are looking for their first victory over Deshler in a series dominated by the visiting Tigers. Deshler finished first in Region 8 last season with a 9-4 record. They advanced to the third round of the playoffs.
The Tigers averaged 29.9 points per game but only allowed 17.5.
Deshler leads the all-time series 4-0.
Oct. 23, at West Limestone
Priceville travels to West Limestone for the final region game of the season. The Wildcats finished fifth in Region 8 last season with a 6-4 record. They missed out on the playoffs after losing two region games by 5 points or less. West Limestone is led by River Helms, who has scholarship offers from multiple Division I schools, including Florida State, Georgia, and Georgia Tech.
The Wildcats averaged 34.1 points per game while allowing 18.3.
Wilson leads the all-time series 6-2.
Oct. 30, vs. St. John Paul II
Priceville and St John Paul II meet for the third time in series history and first as non-region opponents. The Bulldogs won 43-29 last year for coach Chris Foster’s first victory. The teams have combined to average over 70 points a game in the previous meetings.
The Falcons averaged 41.7 points per game, a school record while giving up 31.5 points per game.
The all-time series is tied 1-1.
