One Hot August    TCHS 20 JOCO  7  Bulldogs win scrimmage, but lose a starter The Toombs County Bulldogs varsity scored three times and shutout Johnson County in a scrimmage in Wrightsville. The Trojans scored their touchdown in the final quarter when the JV squads were playing. Demery Hawkins scored on a 49-yard run, Scottie Roach finished a drive with a 2-yard run and in the second half Seth Stroud threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Bennamon. Unfortunately, middle linebacker Josh Sikes was injured on the first play of the game.  Listen to Audio Highlights from Y-101. Coach Mark Stroud talks about the scrimmage.  Audio  Audio Story with player interviews   Bulldogs' last day of contact After 20 practices in the month of August, Wednesday was the Toombs County Bulldogs last day of full contact hitting in pads prior to Friday night's season opening game at Southeast Bulloch. Coach Mark Stroud talks about the matchup.  Audio      Bulldogs gear up for scrimmage at Johnson County The Toombs County Bulldogs aren't treating this like a game week, but they do have a practice game on Friday at Johnson County. The game has been pushed back, due to the heat, to 7 p.m.. Y-101 will broadcast the game and will begin its coverage at 6:50. Coach Mark Stroud talks after Monday's practice.  Audio          Bulldogs get after it on defense  The Toombs County Bulldog number one defensive unit was challenged in practice, by head coach Mark Stroud, to play with passion and the Bulldogs did. Linebacker Demery Hawkins and cornerback Jonathan Bennamon made several big plays as the Bulldogs cranked it up physically. Coach Stroud talks about his number one defensive unit. Audio     Bulldogs say cheese  Saturday was picture day for the Toombs County football team. The players had individual pictures made with their families and group pictures, like the one to the right which is a shot of the Bulldogs' junior class. For the freshman it was the first chance to put on a varsity uniform and Dylan Joiner said, "I just love playing football and really looked forward to this day for awhile."     Its TOO hot to wear these  On Thursday the Toombs County Bulldogs had to shed the pads because of an obsessively high heat index. T.J Smarts said, "Everybody wanted it to be more physical, but we have to work with the weather and it was kind of hard to deal with the heat."     Heat forces the Bulldogs to practice into the night  The severe heat and humidity forced the Toombs County Bulldogs to delay the start of their Tuesday practice until 6 p.m. and their second day in pads ended in the dark at 9:05. Head coach Mark Stroud discusses dealing with the heat and this practice. Audio     A very hot day sends the Bulldogs inside A dangerously hot first day in pads sent the Bulldogs into the gym for awhile until the heat index dropped into the safe range. The Bulldogs did do about 10 minutes of hitting in pads before the summer sun forced them to shed the gear. Watch the Bulldogs practice inside and outside. Video  Audio    Cool and wet on day three   The Toombs County Bulldogs final day without pads was cool and wet. A light drizzle fell for 2/3's of the practice as the Bulldogs continued to work on their offensive plays. Case Schofill said after practice that he is ready to put on pads, "We're blocking dummies right now and I'm ready to get out there and tee it up and see what it is really going to be like."      Defense dominates second day of practice The defense was the top priority on the second day of practice and the Toombs County Bulldogs first unit was getting to the ball.  Y-101 Story       Bulldogs open August with first practice The Toombs County Bulldogs worked out for 2 1/2 hours in helmets and shorts on what started off as a very hot day with a heat index of 100 degrees. But after six o'clock it cooled thanks to some clouds. The Bulldogs worked in groups and as a team. Watch the Bulldogs practice and listen to head coach Mark Stroud.  Video    Y-101 Story   Picture Gallery