Coach counts on seniors to get Pirates to playoffs

The Dover Pirates have a small senior class this year, but there’s quality in it, coach Greg Smith said.

“The past two seasons, we’ve had big senior classes, 16 to 18,” he said.

This year, he has six seniors.

The 4A-4 team had a 7-4 record last year and was 4-3 in conference. The Pirates lost in the first round of the playoffs to Nashville.

“We started out 5-0, then stubbed our toe with Booneville and Pottsville,” Smith said. “We won two in a row, then lost the final against Ozark. … Week 10, we lost and dropped a playoff game.

“The 7-3 regular season was a pretty good mark for us. We actually finished tied in fourth place, and it was a really ugly knot; there was a tie for second.”

Smith has confidence in his starting lineup. The Pirates run a Wing-T offense, which will be led again by junior Blake Massengale (6-0, 205). That’s just the beginning of what Massengale offers, the coach said.

“He plays multiple positions — linebacker, free safety, tailback , fullback and quarterback,” Smith said. “He knows the whole offense and defense, and he will be rare for us because we don’t like to start people on both sides of the ball.”

Smith added that Massengale runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6.

“He can fly,” the coach said.

The Pirates’ senior starters include Ethan Bryant (5-11, 225), offensive guard.

“The guy’s played a lot of football,” Smith said. At tight end will be Isaac Talkington (6-0, 190), also a three-year starter. Both Talkington and Bryant will play linebacker on defense, too.

Presley Williams (5-11, 195) will start at linebacker and will work in and play a lot of fullback.

“He’ ll play both sides of the ball,” Smith said.

Jaden Hopkins (6-0, 180) will start at tailback and play in the defensive secondary. Chandler Signor (6-0, 195) will start at linebacker and play fullback, too.

Then there’s Gaven Davis (5-9, 260). “He is my strongest man on my team,” the coach said. Davis will start at defensive nose guard.

Rounding out the starting lineup are juniors Landon O’Bryant (6-3, 180), returning at free safety; Dylan Villareal (6-2, 245), a two-year starter who will fill the right tackle position; Ethan Jacobs (6-1, 225) at center; Cade Williamson (5-11, 190) at left guard; second-year starter Dillan Duvall (5-8, 150) at cornerback; and Chris Bewley (5-6, 145) at the other corner and tailback.

“Our strength is going to be in our offensive line; our offensive line has four returning players — not starters, but returning players. We have four out of our starting five who have played a lot of football,” Smith said.

“Our goal is to solidify ourselves for a home-playoff spot, and that would be traditionally the top three in our conference. Ultimately, we want to be a playoff team; we want to be one of the tops in the state.”

The 7-3 regular season was a pretty good mark for us. We actually finished tied in fourth place, and it was a really ugly knot; there was a tie for second.” GREG SMITH DOVER HEAD COACH