Depth, experience assets as Pilots set sights on hosting playoff game

Despite being one of the smallest schools in the state of Kentucky, Fulton County High School Pilots Head Football Coach James Bridges is excited for the upcoming season for one reason: this year’s squad has 25 players, which allows for more 11-on-11 situations in practice, and more depth to allow for more substitutions during games.

The Pilots will look to improve on last season’s 1-10 record, with a 26-20 win over Ballard Memorial Oct. 13 being the lone bright spot on the season. A loss to Kentucky Country Day in the first round of the Class 1A 2023 UK HealthCare Sports Medicine State Football playoffs ended their season.

Making up this year’s roster will be seven seniors, James Parker, Damien Hill, Jackson Major, David Allison, Ryan Prehoda, Braxton Bridges, and Jaycob Davis, who all four years of starting experience; six juniors, Kalon McCauley, ShaMarian Gray, Zayden Kinney, Marcus Bonds, EDrece Bonds, and Vincent Scott; five sophomores, Daloton Blankenship, Preston Smith, Brayden Eakes, Zyian Frame, William Jackson; and seven freshmen, Wesley Goodman, Davarius Freeman, Rashaud Houston, Cooper Drake Thorpe, Hunter Stonecipher, Charles Keys, and Chrisstjeane Gordon.

Also a positive for this year’s squad is they will be heavily experienced, as 16 players are returnees, while nine are new players.

Coach Bridges is entering his 11th season as Head Coach, and his 20th season overall. He is also the longest tenured head football coach in western Kentucky.

Rounding out his coaching staff are assistant coaches Will Greer, Rick Major, Johnny Smith, James Blakney, Jimmy Simone, and Tyler Love.

When asked who Coach Bridges saw as players who will take on a leadership role for this year’s team, the entire starting offensive line, Braxton Bridges, Davis, Allison, Bonds, Scott and Prehoda. Also looking to take on leadership roles are WR/LB McCauley, WR/CB Hill, LB/QB Parker and QB Smith.

Smith completed 70 of his 156 passing attempts last year, throwing for 785 yards and six touchdowns while playing in all 10 games last season.

On the offensive side of the ball, McCauley, Hill and Freeman are expected to be the best players on the field.

Hill was the team’s leading receiver and ball carrier last season, as he led the team with 50 total points scored. He played in all 10 games last season as he tallied 100 rushing attempts for 511 total yards and five rushing touchdowns, and 26 receptions for 305 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.

In six games as a sophomore, Hill had 11 rushing attempts for 13 yards, and three receptions for 25 yards.

In 11 games as a freshman, Hill rushed 63 times, racking up 156 yards, while also catching 11 passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

In the 2023 season, McCauley was the team’s second leading receiver in terms of receiving yards despite playing in only three games. He had four receptions for 151 total yards and one receiving touchdown. He also had 35 rushing attempts for 160 yards and one rushing touchdown.

During the 2022 season, McCauley carried the ball 65 times for 345 yards and scored four touchdowns in 10 games. He also caught 12 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, Bridges, McCauley, Parker and Allison are expected to be the best players.

In the 2023 season, Bridges had 45 total tackles, including 21 solo and five tackles for losses, and two sacks. McCauley had seven total tackles, including five solo. Parker had 33 total tackles, including 11 solo. Allison had a team-high 46 total tackles, including 18 solo and five tackles for losses, and a team-high 2.5 sacks. Bridges also had a team-high three fumble recoveries last season, while Parker and Allsion each had one fumble recovery.

When looking ahead to the season and trying to determine the strongest opponent, Coach Bridges had two that came to mind, Russellville and Caverna, as both are district opponents. The Pilots will to Horse Cave, Ky. Oct. 4 to take on Caverna, and three weeks later will host Russellville at Sanger Field Oct. 25.

The Pilots will also host South Fulton, Obion County Central, and Ballard Memorial this season, while traveling to Gleason, Calloway County, Fort Campbell and Hopkins County Central.

In terms of the biggest asset for this year’s team, Coach Bridges hoped the team experience and depth would lead to a successful season. “We have a great group of offensive linemen that have been playing together since middle school. We also have numbers on both sides of the ball on defense and offense that can sub in as needed,” he said.

When asked for what his goal for this year’s team was, it was to host a KHSAA playoff game at Sanger Field.