Spring City, TN, 7/19/24 - At Media Day for the Spring City Middle School football and cheer team. I had a chance to sit down with head coach Anthony Loden and talk about the 2024-25 football season. Loden enters his 10th year at Spring City and the team has been consistent, with no losing seasons over that span and they have been in competition for the championship several times over that span. Bulldogs went 9-0 in 2013, 2016 and 2020 and have won at least 7 games 8 times over the last 11 years and have not had a losing season since before 2003, a 21 year span.

When asked about the team goal, Anthony said the team and staff set a goal of 10-0 for the season. That is a goal and the reality of the season will be written throughout the season as young players develop and upper classmen mature, injuries stay away and turnovers remain at MacDonalds. Loden is confident though about this team. There is a lot to like about the Bulldogs. The starting backfield is experienced, but the rest of the team does not have that experience level. The backfield consists of # 3 E.J. Casteneda, # 11 Spencer Campbell, # 20 Collyn Groce and # 23 Roark Moody. Campbell and Groce are 7th grade and Casteneda and Moody are 8th graders. Rett Robertson, Mack Chattin and Trento Ellis will also be key returners for this year's team.

Once again the Bulldogs will replace a substantial 8th grade graduation with eighteen 8th graders moving up to high school after last season. The bulldogs will field nineteen 8th graders in this year's class. The bulldogs key losses from last year's team were Bodie Marchetti, Gavyn Crowe and Jaden Fitzgerald. Bulldogs open the season on the road at Clinton on August 8th. Before the opening day, the bulldogs will travel to Rhea Middle School for the "Play Day" that will include varsity and junior varsity games involving Rhea Middle School, Spring City Middle School and Sale Creek Middle School.

The team will slowly phase out the previous offense used over the last 10 years, but it will take time to make the transistion to the offense new head coach Taylor Harvey is running at the Rhea County High School. No matter what offense if the perferred one, the Bulldogs will be heavy on the run, which has been the case every year and is the norm at middle school football. The character of this team has been toughness on offense and defense.

Coach Loden said "Norris has been our biggest rivalry coming into the season. "They play physical and they will be looking to spread it out". The bulldogs will play Rhea Middle at Spring City in the county rivalry game. Spring City has been successful against Rhea Middle over the last few years. The bulldogs will open season August 8th on the road vs Clinton with 7 pm kick.

Kevin Whitson, is the offensive coordinator, Justin Sutton will be handling the line, Eli Evans will coach defensive backs and receivers.

Coach Loden said "I am a competitor. I hate to lose. These kids work too hard for me to let them down. Its owed to them to be successful."

"I am very excited as the season gets close. I am looking forward to full contact the last week of July. When you go to full contact, you get a better idea of who your players are going to be."

2024-25 Spring City Middle School Roster