By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

VANCLEAVE — A decade ago, the Vancleve High football team made one of the deepest state playoff runs in program history.

This season, the Bulldogs may just be in prime position to perhaps duplicate that accomplishment 10 years later.

Vancleave returns two key components in the offensive backfield and combines that with a future Southeastern Conference lineman and a a few solid, experienced defenders as it moves into a revamped Region 4-5A this season.

The Bulldogs are in search of their first-ever region championship in the four decades plus since a state-wide playoff system was implemented in the state of Mississippi. The Bulldogs, in their seventh season under the direction of former Mississippi State standout quarterback Kevin Fant, have qualified for the postseason for the past three seasons and in six out of the past seven campaigns and five of six under Fant’s direction.

Of course, Fant will once again feature his ground and pound offensive attack that his teams have become known for during his tenure at VHS.

“People ask me why in the heck do you run the ball so much when you played quarterback,” Fant said, in a recent interview. “The best plan a quarterback likes is a running game. And the best plan your defense likes is a running game because it keeps ours off the field and theirs on the field. So we’re gonna try and run the ball first and then lay together some of my old quarterback stuff and get it in there also.”

And, on paper at least, VHS certainly has the “Dogs” to get that done once again this year. Leading the way is a trio of senior stalwarts, in quarterback Wyatt Adams, tailback Kyle Capers and massive offensive lineman Dalton Toothman.

Adams started almost every game last year and was at the helm of a Bulldog unit that produced almost 3,000 yards of total offense. When the ball wasn’t on the ground at a clip that exploded for almost 2,500 rushing yards, Adams was keeping opposing defenses honest as he completed 53% of his passes for right at 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns.

Capers led VHS in rushing last year, eclipsing the magical 1,000 mark with 162 carries for 1,083 yards and 12 scores. He registered five games of over 100 yards on the ground.

The Bulldogs also got just over 900 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns from departed fullback Hunter Harper.

The powerful Toothman returns as a major presence up front for the Bulldogs as they look to return to the State playoffs for the fourth straight season.

The massive 6-5, 290 pound three star recruit recently committed to Mississippi State over other offers from Auburn, Ole Miss, Clemson, Arkansas, Baylor, Florida, FSU, and LSU among others.

“I’m excited to see what this offense is gonna do,” Fant added. “We’ve got a good nucleus coming back and some key pieces.”

Defensively, linebacker Aidan Hall returns for VHS after making 98 total tackles last year, which was second on the team in that category.

He’ll get support on that side of the ball from linebacker Bradyn Woodworth, who led VHS with four sacks last year and recorded 56 total tackles, as well as fellow linebacker Dez Chatmon who made 50 total stops also.

Also, VHS returns to a revamped Region 4-5A this season that again includes longtime arch-rival East Central, Stone and Wayne County. New to the league this season are Northeast Jones and Purvis, who replace Laurel and Gautier.

The Gators and Golden Tornadoes won the past two Region 4-5 titles

“You never know with two new schools coming in,” Fant concluded. “Purvis and Northeast Jones are coming in. Northeast Jones had a really good team last year and you still have to play Wayne County, and Wayne County is always tough. Every week is different, and we are going to be the best we can be.”

In 2015, Vancleave won two playoff games for just the second time in program history.

The Bulldogs open the new season up on Friday, Aug. 29th hosting Jackson County rival St. Martin.