The 2020 football season was a troubling one for the McAdams football team.
Because of COVID, the Bulldogs were constantly shuffling their schedule and ended up with a 3-8 record.
“It was a tough year all the way around,” McAdams Coach Kenneth Nelson said. “We only had four teams in our district last year, so scheduling was tough. Hopefully, they will all play this year. I think us playing last year puts us all on the same level now.”
After a jamboree Aug. 20, the Bulldogs will open the season on Aug. 27 as they host Sebastopol, a team they lost to 40-6 last year.
“They are a very familiar opponent,” Nelson said. “Our offensive coordinator was on their staff a couple of years ago. They are a very fundamentally sound program and will be a very good opponent. We will see how good we are right away.”
The Bulldogs will hit the road the next week as they travel to Hamilton on Sept. 3
“They are a new opponent,” Nelson said. “They reached out to us a couple of years ago, but we couldn’t work it out. They have played Ethel the last couple of years, so we have been able to see them on film. I think they have a new head coach and I think they will be a good opponent.”
Then in game three, the Bulldogs will host county rival Ethel in a non-district game. Last year, Ethel took a 23-20 win.
That’s the Super Bowl for us,” Nelson said. “We are in the North and they are in the South so that takes a little bit of the intensity out of it. They have a good group and have a good system. They snuck in there and took one away from us last year. We have to get the bragging rights back. We will be motivated by that game.”
On Sept. 17, the Bulldogs will make the trip to Jackson to play St. Andrews.
“They actually called us last year, but we had already agreed to play St. Joseph,” Nelson said. “St. Andrews wanted to fill the same date and we got back and agreed to play. They will be a solid 3A football team and a good test before we start district.”
The Bulldogs will then open division play as they host Coldwater.
“I don’t know much about them, but I know they have a speedy team,” Nelson said. “They have been known for basketball and have struggled in football. We have to see if we can match up with their speed.”
On Oct. 1, the Bulldogs will travel to West Bolivar.
“They will be tough,” Nelson said. “They didn’t play last year so you know those kids will be happy to play some ball. It’s a long road trip and you have to show up every week in this district. You just don’t know what they will have.”
The Bulldogs will then host South Delta on Oct. 8.
“They moved down from 2A last year and were a pretty strong team,” Nelson said. “They are coming down to 1A, so they should be pretty strong. They have been a solid and disciplined program. It’s another tough game for us.”
After South Delta, the Bulldogs will travel to Hollandale Simmons on Oct. 15. Simmons beat McAdams 30-12 last year.
“We have gone back and forth with them the last two years,” Nelson said. “They hit us in the mouth last year. This will be a great game against a great program. They came on late last year and beat a good Sebastopol team in the playoffs. They have their running back and quarterback coming back. I know it will be another tough game for us.”
The Bulldogs will then travel to Coffeeville on Oct. 22
“That has been a tough game the last couple of years,” Nelson said. “We have been very evenly matched. The last two years, it has depended on who got the ball last and who didn’t make a mistake at the end.”
On Oct. 29, McAdams will then host West Tallahatchie to finish out the regular season.
“They didn’t play football last year either,” Nelson said. “I know we will be ready to get back on the field with them. They hit us in the mouth for homecoming a couple of years ago.”
McAdams football schedule
Aug. 20 Fall jamboree
Aug. 27 Sebastopol
Sept. 3 at Hamilton
Sept. 10 Ethel
Sept. 17 at St. Andrews
Sept. 24 Coldwater
Oct. 1 at West Bolivar
Oct. 8 South Delta
Oct. 15 at Hollandale Simmons
Oct. 22 at Coffeeville
Oct. 29 West Tallahatchie
Nov. 5 at McEvans
