Andalusia Junior High School football head coach John Dugger said that the younger Bulldogs will be emulating the high school football team in many fashions this season.

“We have been doing workouts for two days each week this summer,” Dugger said. “Coach (Trent) Taylor has been helping us out and we are doing the same workout program that they are.”

Dugger said that the workout program includes weight lifting, agility drills and running.

“It’s been a great summer so far,” Dugger said. “These kids have really worked extremely hard because they are excited about having the chance to play Andalusia Bulldog football.”

As for how the team will perform on the field, Dugger said it’s to early to tell, but he knows they have a lot of potential.

“We haven’t put on pads and hit yet,” Dugger said. “Until you get out there and hit, you just don’t know. With that said, if they just continue to work like they have this summer, we will be just fine.”

The work effort that the team has shown this summer has left an impression on Dugger.

“This summer we have averaged nearly 50 players at each workout,” Dugger said. “For seventh and eighth graders, that’s very impressive. They want to be a part of Andalusia football and they are excited to do what it takes in the offseason.”

Dugger said that they junior high players have been especially thrilled getting to workout in the high school facilities.

“You can see it when they walk in see that weight room that they are excited to be there,” Dugger said. “Coach Taylor has just been amazing by allowing us to use the facilities.”

Besides just the weight program, Dugger said the team will also run similar offenses and defenses to what AHS will run.

“We are going to do the same things they do on offense and defense, or at least as much as we are capable of,” Dugger said. “They will have things we aren’t able to run, but for the most part it will be the same system. That’s something that is going to really help our program. From the time they get in seventh grade, they will be learning one system.”

The AJHS team will start their season on August 25 with a home game against Dauphin Junior High.

“I’m just excited to see what this team can do,” Dugger said. “The work they have put in this summer has been impressive and the coaching staff has been the same way. We are playing a tough schedule, and it is going to be exciting to see how we can do with it.”