11 hours ago, Honey Badger said:

@New Colonel @nees1212 Is Dixie still in spring practices?

Kicks off tomorrow, I believe.

Heard Mason Fields is looking good!!!!

On 7/14/2025 at 7:38 PM, Honey Badger said:

Heard Mason Fields is looking good!!!!

Mason looked very good today in 7v7 vs Anderson (OH) and South Dearborn (IN)

 

13 hours ago, WSL-BIRDS said:

 

That's a cool pic!

On 1/12/2025 at 1:07 PM, ProblemChild said:

The schedule is an issue if you're trying to build something. The past two seasons, Dixie has been, in my opinion, a top 8-12 football team in 5A. You wouldn't know it though because the schedule is brutal and unforgiving. I get wanting to challenge your guys, but the constant losses without a signature win can take it's toll when trying to build. Cooper and Highlands in district, Beechwood, CovCath, Ryle out of district. Ouch. I mean, last season, half their schedule went to the State Semi-finals or beyond. Highlands has moved classes and seemed to move on from the running clock games against Dixie. I would drop Ryle as well. No need to get beat up and blasted the last game of the regular season each year, especially right before the playoffs. I have no idea if they would do it, but a Lloyd/Dixie game should be played each year. Lloyd needs to improve their schedule and the two schools should be rivals given the proximity. The SK and Conner games will be battles year to year, and Scott/Boone Co still have their work cut out for them. Coach Burke puts in the time, builds relationships, and knows the game, but he isn't doing himself any favors with this schedule each season. 

They have had tough players like Armoni Gregg and Brach Rice, but have lacked a game changing athlete on the outside. Bryzgot and Morris are solid, but not speedsters. Dixie put up points last season with the ground game, but when teams stacked the box, they could only do so much. Mason Fields, from what I saw, improved throughout the season, but it's hard to judge his talent without athletes to throw to and a line that offered consistency. Too many drops from the wide receivers. If you watched the Colonels last year, you would realize that while they had some warts, the defense continues the be the issue.

Dixie gave up over 40pts in 7 games last season. Yes, they were undersized for a 5A school, but I was often left scratching my head in the games I saw. They consistently gave up 3rd/4th and longs. The pass rush was non-existent most games, combined with DBs that get blown by routinely. For the life of me, I will not understand why Dixie plays so much press coverage. Lastly, if your going to move Armoni Gregg to RB, why not play him on defense, too? Before someone tells me that too much on him, see Cash Harney at Covington Catholic. Coach Burke started playing more guys both ways after his first season, but defensive philosophy remains an area of concern. 

As for next season, the "Seniors to be" went winless as Freshmen. Back then, the varsity coaches were also coaching the freshmen team. That was a disaster. I am happy to see that the Freshmen now have their own coaching staff in place to get the help and attention they need. I'd look for Golsby to improve and help with skill positions, while Chase Daniels can hopefully provide an anchor to the defensive line. Unfortunately, I fear they are looking at another 3-4 win season. 

 

Dixie had a new DC last season. Their DC from the year before took the HC job at Purcell. Going to be some growing pains and guys are going to be a little timid. New system +  a gauntlet of a schedule. Defense is going to struggle a little bit. But I think it will be different this year now that these have had a year under this system. 

5 hours ago, JuanHenry1997 said:

Dixie had a new DC last season. Their DC from the year before took the HC job at Purcell. Going to be some growing pains and guys are going to be a little timid. New system +  a gauntlet of a schedule. Defense is going to struggle a little bit. But I think it will be different this year now that these have had a year under this system. 

I thought there was a new DC again this season?? 

4 hours ago, New Colonel said:

I thought there was a new DC again this season?? 

Correct, Cody Smith came over from LaSalle. He is the new DC at Dixie for 2025.

10 hours ago, JuanHenry1997 said:

Dixie had a new DC last season. Their DC from the year before took the HC job at Purcell. Going to be some growing pains and guys are going to be a little timid. New system +  a gauntlet of a schedule. Defense is going to struggle a little bit. But I think it will be different this year now that these have had a year under this system. 

Defense can't struggle any worse than last 2 years.  But I guess we will see.

13 hours ago, New Colonel said:

Defense can't struggle any worse than last 2 years.  But I guess we will see.

As long as he makes the defense simple for the kids and he makes them run to the ball, they’ll be alright. 

There wasn't a thread for the Dixie/GRC scrimmage, so I'm not gonna make one after the fact. But just a quick run down on last night's scrimmage. 

Started out 10 & 10. Dixie's first play a 70 yard TD pass from Mason Fields. Dixie would add another TD as well and GRC did get one. So thru 20 offensive and 20 defensive plays Dixie had a 2-1 TD advantage. GRC's score did come against a mixture of starters and backups. The 3rd 10 & 10 series was the Freshman. Dixie drive 80 yards in 8 plays for a TD. GRC was limited to 18 yards on their 10 plays. Varsity came back out on a 10 & 10. Dixie scored twice to GRC once. Then had a halftime break. Then played down and distance with a full 12:00 quarter. After a defensive battle for about the first 7 minutes, Dixie punched one in. GRC wasn't moving the ball very effective but broke one off for a score. After a Dixie defensive stand, Dixie took over with 12 seconds left in the quarter and answered with a 75 yard TD pass from Fields to Waters. Then in the 4th quarter Dixie put up one more score and with 6 minutes left the Freshman came back in. GRC had great field position and grinded one out for a score. Dixie then drove the ball and then hit a 65 yard TD pass to Jeremiah Carnes, that was called back, ineligible man down field. Time ran out and the scrimmage was over. 

Dixie has some work to do, but this was a very good and positive scrimmage. GRC had some grown men out there! 

 

West Clermont is up next!

Thanks @WSL-BIRDS for the recap.  I watched some of the scrimmage on the NFHS but I was too involved watching the Ryle/Beechwood scrimmage to report on anything of substance other than there was a lot of red on the field. ?