The Shadow
HOT SPRINGS – 311-80.
311.
That’s how many points the Bath County Chargers (6-0) varsity football team has scored through their first six games of the 2023 season.
Slightly over 51 points per game Bath County is averaging as they are unbeaten heading into their first Pioneer District game of the season against the Eastern Montgomery Mustangs (2-4, 1-1 Pioneer).
Last season, Bath County scored 250 total points for the whole year.
There’s so much that can be said about the Chargers football team this season that has completely flipped the program around are back on the map,
It starts at the top with Bath County’s second-year head coach, Jake Phillips. Phillips who was the last quarterback to lead the program to a 6-0 start exactly 20 years ago in 2003, is enjoying one of his best starts to a season coaching on the sidelines.
Phillips and his staff from top to bottom has put together a team that is clicking on all cylinders through their first six games as the team has yet be held below 40 points in a game.
Junior standout, Wyatt Campbell is fun to watch. Last week alone he ran the ball just five times and rushed for 207 yards and scored six touchdowns (3 rushing and 3 passing). Campbell on the season has 33 total touchdowns (17 rushing, 14 passing, 1 special teams).
While Campbell is the driving force behind the Bath County offense, he is surrounded by an offensive line that has given up less than five sacks on the season.
Campbell also has key weapons in the offense from Luke Turner in the run game, and Andrew Turner, Ethan Bryant, Braiden Mabe, and Bransen Gordon in the passing-game. An. Turner leads the team with six touchdown receptions.
80.
That’s the number of points the defense has surrendered this season which is just over 13 points a game. In four of the six games, the Bath County defense has given up less than 10 points.
It’s a defense that’s led by Bryant and Cooper Lowry who each have 50-plus tackles on the season.
The defense has been revamped compared to last year where they gave up just over 33 points a game. To this date, that is a 20-point difference compared to last year.
This season alone the Chargers, following their 47-0 win over Auburn last week, have put together two shutout victories. It’s the first time in over eight years that has happened.
And yes, sure, there is plenty of football to go. But where and how to do you stop Bath County?
Six teams have tried and haven’t come close.
If you put pressure on Campbell, he’s going to avoid you and find that opening to run the ball. If, IF you score on the defense, the offense will come right back at you, fast. If you look at all of the teams drives on offense, they are averaging around four minutes per drive.
Eastern Montgomery is coming off their best win of the season, 44-24 over Craig County in a district showdown where they rallied from an 18-0 deficit.
However, the Mustangs offense is only averaging just over 14 points a game. You need to be able to score a ton of points if you’re going to hang with this Bath County football team.
If Eastern Montgomery is going to pull off this upset, they’ll need to contain their turnovers. Sophomore quarterback Chase Bierman threw two pick-6’s in the win over Craig County last week.
While toning down on the turnovers will be needed, the Mustangs will need a big performance from Xavier Brown who can pound the ball up the middle. The 5’11, 248-pound senior can bulldoze his way through an offensive line.
In four of their six games, Eastern Montgomery has given up 40+ points a game on defense. That falls back into play of how and where do you, and can you stop the Bath County offense.
This is a district showdown, and the season can make or break with these matchups.
Prediction: Bath County 43, Eastern Montgomery 13
