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While the Pike County Bulldogs didn’t make the playoffs this season, they went from an inexperienced, young football team to an experienced one by the end of the season.

The Bulldogs, though, went into the final regular season game with a shot at the playoffs. PCHS needed to beat New Brockton and hope that Daleville could upset Ashford. While the Bulldogs dominated New Brockton, Ashford also beat Daleville, which eliminated Pike County from playoff contention.

“I felt like we played really well,” PCHS Coach Mark Hurt said of the New Brockton game. “I think we saw how well we can play when we play mistake free football. I think we played well in all three phases of the game.”

Coming into 2024, Pike County was a confident football team but injuries and transfers just before the season started changed the outlook.

“We thought we had a good chance to have a really good season and possibly win the region,” Hurt said. “Then, at the beginning of the season everything changed and we became a team that had to play a lot of really young players. We were able to get a lot of experience, so it became sort of a learning season for us. I think we got a lot of experience and at the end, we were a better team.”

Pike County’s senior class included the likes of Khalil Foster, Quentavian Carter, Kamarian Toney, Antonio Patterson, Massion Reynolds, Cruz Cueyactle, Arturo Perez-Hernandez, Kobee Rogers-Wallace, Jamarcus Franklin, Kamauri Brown, Aaron Lumsford and Rofitte Townsend.

“Our seniors did a great job this season,” said Hurt. “They had to be leaders as older guys playing with younger players. They led by example and showed up and worked hard every day and played hard every day. They really did a great job and I’m proud of them.”

The 2025 Bulldogs will feature a number of returning veterans like Braylin Jackson, Gavin Mortellaro, Jakori Green, Kimari Green, Quedelle Johnson, Zaikelien Adams, Isaiah Pittman, Ayden Foster, Justice Toney, Mark Griffin, Artrayvian Davenport and Massai Lucy.

“We have a lot of young players coming back that got a ton of experience this year,” Hurt said. “I feel good about those guys we have coming back.”

That returning group will also feature quarterback Azhoree Eutsey, who was thrust into a starting role as a freshman at the beginning of the season due to injuries.

“He got experience,” Hurt flatly said. “He made a lot of mistakes early in the season and he had to get used to the pressure. When you see a freshman quarterback in there you want to put pressure on him as a defense and they did that a lot against us.

“Towards the middle of the season, he settled in and started to learn how to play the game. He got experience and one thing you can’t beat is experience, especially at quarterback.”

Pike County finished the season with a 4-5 record and a 4-3 region record with wins over Geneva, Ashford, Daleville and New Brockton.