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MEAGAN HALL
MEAGAN HALL
08.24.17
A season ago, Athens was continually just short.
A blocked extra point at Logan caused the Bulldogs lose by one, 31-30.
They also lost to Canal Winchester, 21-14, in a game in which Athens lost its starting quarterback and a running back to injury.
A change in luck in either of those games could have pushed the Bulldogs over the line of one of their ultimate goals, making the postseason.
Athens had made the playoffs five straight seasons, from 2010-14, ending with a loss in the state championship game in 2014. The Bulldogs, however, have not made the postseason since.
Matt Starkey | FILE
Nick Engelman (68) gets the Athens High football team hyped up before kickoff agaist Nelsonville York Friday night.
“Those are things that we were kind of getting accustomed to at Athens,” coach Ryan Adams said. “(The players) certainly want to get back to that level.”
The quarterback that led the Bulldogs to the peak, Joe Burrow, is now a redshirt sophomore at Ohio State, and last season’s quarterback, Brendan Sano, graduated.
Treyce Albin had won the starting job last season, but was the quarterback injured in the loss to Canal Winchester, and when he came back, he was used in a different role on offense.
He will remain in that role, playing on both sides of the ball, mostly at wide receiver and cornerback.
“We think we’re going to get more value out of Treyce Albin by putting him on both sides of the ball,” Adams said. “He’ll be able to help us more by putting him out on the edge with (Robert) Dickelman opposite him at receiver and he’s a kid that will certainly be a lockdown corner.”
And to use the weapon of Albin out wide will be the new quarterback Clay Davis.
The junior is a great fit for the Bulldog offense, according to Adams.
The Bulldogs aren’t a team that looks to throw the ball deep a lot, preferring to throw shorter passes and putting the ball in the hands of their playmakers.
Adams and offensive coordinator Nathan White like when their quarterbacks can make pre-play adjustments based on what the defense is showing on that particular play.
Adams says Davis can be really good at that.
“Clay has got a great understanding and that’s promising to us,” Adams said.
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This story is part of a series of specially designed stories that represents some of the best journalism The Post has to offer. Check out the rest of the special projects here.