Depth among concerns for the Bulldogs

Harlem football coach Jimmie Lewis had requested a calendar item run in The News-Times during the summer announcing the Bulldogs were looking for players.

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Lewis said he received his first call from the announcement during the first week of practice.

The boy told Lewis he was interested in football. Lewis told him he would need a physical.

The caller told Lewis he wanted to be waterboy.

"The only question I had for him was, 'Is your name Bobby Boucher?'" Lewis joked.

Harlem's latest member probably won't have the superhuman hitting ability of Adam Sandler's character in the 1998 comedy "The Waterboy," but the Bulldogs are looking for help wherever they can find it.

Lewis had 34 players at practice Aug. 7, fewer than half of the number he had the same time last year. He said 17 of his current group were freshmen. His concern as practice began was whether Harlem could field a junior varsity team.

"We're going to do everything in our power to have one," Lewis said. "JV is your life line. They come from middle school, they need to play JV to keep them interested, learn the system and then go on up"

Junior varsity also is where players begin learning Lewis' system -- the triple-option offense and 5-3-3 defensive scheme. Lewis said senior linebacker Forrest Christian and senior quarterback Zach Morris were among the few Harlem players with game experience.

Morris will have new company in the backfield this season after running back Seth Hill left to play his senior season at Grovetown High. Morris said Dominique Taylor and Brandon Jenkins would join him in Harlem's backfield. Lewis said Christian could also see time there.

Morris said he felt he had the triple-option down, but that it was a tough system for younger players to learn.

"But once you learn it, it's easy," Morris said. "It's just learning it."

Harlem's numbers will force the majority of its players to play both sides of the ball and special teams.

Lewis said he might be able to rest some players on the return teams, but the punt and kickoff teams would require the best he has to avoid giving up easy touchdowns.

Morris said the Bulldogs' biggest challenge would be getting in shape and staying there. He is approaching Harlem's lack of depth with optimism.

He thinks the low numbers make for a tight-knit Harlem team.

"Everybody knows everybody and knows what they can do and where they go and everything," Morris said. "It makes it a little easier, actually, during practice."

2009 Harlem High football schedule

Sept. 4 vs. Greenbrier

Sept. 11 vs. Glenn Hills

Sept. 18 at Evans

Sept. 25 at Lakeside

Oct. 2 vs. Richmond Academy

Oct. 9 at Cross Creek

Oct. 16 at Hephzibah

Oct. 23 vs. Butler

Oct. 30 at Josey

Nov. 6 vs. Westside