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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

The Montevallo Bulldogs are avoiding the choppy waters that come from an offseason full of changes by maintaining their current course–one that has them poised to make some noise in their first year in Class 5A.

For the first time in the nearly 100-year history of Montevallo football, the Bulldogs will compete in Class 5A, following their latest six-year stint in Class 4A that saw them make the playoffs in four of those six years.

The last two of those playoff campaigns came under the leadership of Blake Boren, who oversaw winning seasons in three of the past four seasons, including a 7-3 campaign in 2023 that saw them lose out on another playoff berth on a tiebreaker.

However, with Boren off to Prattville, Montevallo faced an important crossroads with its coaching search, but it went with a coach who may have the team even more energized than ever: Garrett Langer.

The players expressed their enthusiasm throughout the offseason for their former defensive coordinator taking the job, and it’s all because he pushes them to work harder and be the best version of themselves in the weight room and on the field.

That growth is going to be crucial going into a higher classification where the Bulldogs will be faced with athletic tests that they’ve never seen before.

The move is nothing that Montevallo hasn’t been preparing for as even under Boren, the coaches were scheduling challenging games and preparing their players in anticipation of a move up to Class 5A. The hope is that the past few years have prepared them well, and the fruit of those decisions will show on the field soon.

As for those players taking the field, they’ll have a few key spots to fill, including all-time sack king Charlie Adams, Kennesaw State-bound receiver Javon Rogers and quarterback Braxton King.

Internally, the Bulldogs are excited by the new crop of players they have to take the graduating seniors’ places, but especially by their new signal caller Jordan Ward.

Ward presents a big dual threat option and is as solid with his legs as he is with his arm. He’ll look to make the offense even more multi-dimensional and utilize Montevallo’s returning weapons including new No. 1 target Dee Cutts.

Another way Ward will assist the offense is by complementing the Bulldogs’ breakout star from 2023: running back Razareo Conwell. After rushing for over 1,200 yards and 15 scores, he’ll have some help in the backfield behind a talented veteran offensive line.

Montevallo will also look to keep its momentum going on defense with Langer still in charge of the unit. He’ll have a bevy of options at both pass and run defense between Cutts and Keiston Ross in the secondary and Nylan Hill-Goode and K’erius Cockrum on the defensive line.

Those pieces and more give the Bulldogs hope that they can keep moving forward and challenge for the playoffs right away in Class 5A.

 

Prediction: 7-3. Even with a new classification and coach, I think the Bulldogs will pick up right where they left off last year. Langer has done a great job at ensuring continuity from last year’s team and will in particular help the defense to continue to be a strong suit.

Montevallo has the tools to excel both in the pass rush and in coverage with many pieces back. They also have the tools to be multi-faceted on offense with a strong offensive line and two rushing options behind them in Razareo Conwell and new quarterback Ward as well as an experienced and proven top target in Dee Cutts.

How Ward and the new receivers adjust to in-game action will say a lot about their ceiling on that side of the ball.

While everyone will have to adjust to Class 5A competition, Region 3 is decidedly less of a gauntlet than Montevallo’s old region, which should prevent tiebreaks or anything else from keeping the Dawgs out of the postseason.