HCHS Bulldogs looking
to bounce back in ‘20
SPARTA, Ga. — Fifth-year head coach Marleau Blount has
been busy trying to build a football program at a school known
more for basketball.
The Hancock Central High School Bulldogs seemed to be
turning that corner last year when they earned a landmark victory
against Aquinas, but it all disintegrated when it was found that the
Sparta school fielded an ineligible player in multiple wins. Blount
called the mishap “purely clerical” and unintentional since there
was a mix-up as to where one of his players resided. The Bulldogs
wound up forfeiting three wins, including the big one against
Aquinas and finished 2019 at 2-8 well outside the playoff picture.
“It was real unfortunate that the team had to pay for that,” said
Blount. “I thought last year’s team was a really, really good group,
so that really set us back a lot.”
The HCHS head expects a bounce-back in 2020 due to one
thing all football coaches covet — a big senior class.
“This is my best senior group. I’ve been waiting on these guys to
become seniors. This was my first ninth-grade JV group, and they
went undefeated. Everything’s falling into place like I wanted it
to. They’ve been getting their teammates to do workouts on their
own to make sure they’re in some kind of shape when we do come
back.”
By GIL POUND
That point Blount made about individual workouts is very
important for Hancock Central because it was one of the few
programs in the state that did not hold summer conditioning. The
COVID-19 pandemic hit Sparta very hard, causing the tiny town’s
situation to be covered by national news media. The school felt
it was safer to have kids remain at home than have them come
to campus and possibly spread the virus even more, so summer
workouts did not happen.
When The Union-Recorder spoke to Blount in late July, he said
he was hoping to have his guys report the first week of August.
Preseason scrimmages were canceled so the coaching staff could
get more time with the players before hitting the field for real
competition Sept. 4.
The Bulldogs are expected to have between 40 and 50 players
dress out this season with around 20 of them being those experienced
seniors Blount referenced. Both the total roster and senior
counts are very good for Class A programs like Hancock Central.
“Our numbers are going up,” said Blount. “When I started as the
head coach I wanted not just to put a team on the field, but to really
build a legit program where kids could look forward to playing
from the middle school to JV to varsity.”
Among that senior group is two guys who already have a couple
HER MAJESTY
1881 Hancock Courthouse
Good Luck this SEASON to the Hancock
Central High School Bulldogs and the
John Hancock Academy Rebels
Chairman Helen G. “Sistie” Hudson
District 1 Commissioner Gloria Cooper
District 2 Commissioner Steve Hill
District 3 Commissioner Terrell Reid
District 4 Commissioner Randolph Clayton
Tax Commissioner Virginia Kendrick
Sheriff Tomlyn T. Primus
Clerk of Superior Court LeShauna R. Jackson
Probate Judge Sabrina Lamar
Chief Magistrate Judge Shirley R. Ingram
Coroner Adrick Ingram
BANK OF
HANCOCK
COUNTY
12855 Broad Street Sparta, GA 31087
(706) 444-5781
414632-1
“Have a great Season
Hanock County Central
High School and
Go Mighty Bulldogs”
12630 Broad Street, Sparta
GA 31087 • (706)444-5746
www.hancockcountyga.gov
416802-1
44 Football Preview 2020