25 Teams in 25 Days: Vancleave Bulldogs

“We’ve got something to prove every year because we’re always at that point where we make the playoffs and we get beat in the first round, but Coach Fant has talked about it a lot. We’re trying to get over that hump. We’re trying to go further in the playoffs, not just try to make the playoffs. That’s a great thing, but we’re trying to go further and deeper in the playoffs,” said senior offensive lineman Dalton Toothman. “One of our biggest goals this year is winning district and trying to win a district championship.”   

  “We’re going to show people what we’re about this year,” said senior center Brayden Peterson. “The previous years have kind of been slow, but I really think this year we’ll be putting on a show.” 

All off-season long, the Vancleve football team has aimed to prove their capable of doing great things this year. Going 5-6 last season wasn’t the ideal Bulldog way to end things, but seven year Head Coach Kevin Fant says he’s hopeful about seeing improvement, especially in his underclassmen.

“Just improvement mainly,” said Head Coach Kevin Fant. “I don’t want to sound like a broken record and I think every coach says they want to improve not necessarily in wins or losses because they’ll come if we do all the little things right, so we’re just trying to bring these young guys around and try to improve everyday. We tell our guys we don’t care what grade you are or where you’re at. If you perform better, you’ll play, and that goes with Dalton as well. It’ll be a little harder to take his spot because he’s a pretty good player, but right now these first two weeks we’re doing a lot of evaluating.“

“We definitely have some kids that don’t necessarily start, but they’ll get plenty of playing time this year. We have some kids that have a lot of potential that are going to be good,” said Senior quarterback Wyatt Adams. “They’re just a great group.

“We have a bunch of great young guys and they’re already working in and they’re listening,” said senior wide receiver and cornerback Kaden Peterson. “

If they continue to improve, the younger guys will be vying for starting positions with only five Bulldogs returning on offense and four returning on defense. Although over half of the team will look different this fall, the leading rusher and passer duo of Wyatt Adams and Kyle Capers are ready to run it back.

“It’s awesome,” Adams said. “Having one of your best friends back there, just turning back and seeing him there in the back field every time, it’s just awesome. Awesome to have that type of connection with somebody.”

“It’s very exciting,” said senior running back Kyle Capers. “I think we have a really good chance at being really good this year in the backfield and all over the place, so I think it’s going to be a good year.”

“I have full trust in those guys,” Toothman said. “Having a guy like Kyle in the backfield running the ball just makes me want to do my job even harder. It’s a really good feeling.”

If you ask anyone what the biggest strength of the Vancleave roster is this year, without hesitation they’ll tell you the offensive lineman, led by Mississippi State commit Dalton Toothman.

“Obviously our offensive line,” said Toothman. “I believe in those guys with everything that I have. We have a really good group, a really strong group. This summer I think we had close to 24 guys get after it all summer long, so just have guys showing up and working. Another thing like I said, we’re been working, but just getting together as a unit and working by ourselves and getting out here and doing drills on our own and getting that unity as a group and being able to rely on each other is a huge thing.” 

“Well definitely I think we’ll be strong up front with Dalton, and both tackles are returning, our center is returning, and the two guards who are replacing our seniors got a lot of playing time last year, so I think we’re going to be strong up there,” Coach Fant said. 

“We have a really big offensive line and a really good back field with a bunch of experience in varsity football, but I think our offensive line is going to help us the most,” said Capers.

“This team is really coming together this year especially because we’ve had a lot of returners come back and I think our offensive line especially is going to be really strong this year and be able to help out a lot,” said Peterson. “ 

Whether it’s relying on the o-line, the run game, the young guys or all the above, this group of 21 seniors is ready to prove what they’re all about this final season together.

“I’m really ready to just hit someone else other than my teammate,” said Peterson.”

“All these practices go by a whole lot faster than you think, so we’re living for that first game and jamboree,” Adams said. “There’s nothing like that first snap”

“The first game and just playing with my guys,” Toothman said. “We’ve been working our butts off this season, so just getting back out there and playing football and just hitting somebody is what I’m most excited for.”

“Just that first Friday night,” said Capers. “That’s what I’ve been looking forward to since the last game of last year, so just getting back on the field and getting in front of the fans.”

“Thou shall not work shall not eat, so we’ve been kind of preaching that lately and hard work pays off and we’re just working hard so we can eat on Friday night,” said Coach Fant.

The Dawgs will prepare to eat on August 29th as they face St. Martin for their first challenge of the 2025 season.