After 5 Games...

The Bulldog Insiders takes a look back at how the Bulldogs performed after their first five games of the 2021 fall season.

As the old saying goes time flies when you're having fun. Considering we have already finished with our 5TH GAME of the season I'd say it's spot on cause I'm having a BLAST!!!

After week five, the Bulldogs have a 3-2 record with a trip to Mars Hill in line for the young squad. This season has been a learning experience for Barton. The unusual thing about it is that the team is putting into practice the lessons they are learning from week to week. And they're doing it with confidence.

The season started with a tough matchup with Newberry College (3-2) in which they lost 31-7. This was somewhat of a surprise considering Barton came close to winning during the spring matchup (20-17). Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise for the Bulldogs, almost like a wakeup call. Coach Chip Hester said it was a testament to how good of a team Newberry was as he has a long relationship with head coach Todd Knight. It was evident Newberry did not take Barton lightly.

Barton traveled to Greenwood, SC to face the Erskine Flyers (1-4) for their second matchup. It was there at Greenwood High School's JW Babb Stadium that the Barton College football program won their first regular season game in 71 years by defeating the Flyers 38-25. This game seemed a little personal to a few in the program as it was Erskine who defeated Barton in their first game played during the spring 2021 season at Barton's Truist Stadium. After the win, several Erskine players celebrated on Barton's 50 yard line logo. I was with the team in their post game huddle and the entire team sat quietly watching. It was easy to tell that no one...players, coaches, nor support staff...ever wanted to see that happen again. Me included. Needless to say, it made me proud to see our players, while excited for the win, immediately declare that they would not do the same to Erskine's field. Celebrations properly ensued in the locker room and on the bus ride home. I don't believe they reached the levels of the movie The Hangover, but I’m sure the guys had a good time.

Barton's third game took place at Catawba (3-0) on September 18th in Salisbury, NC. This was a VERY tough game for both teams. In the end, the Catawba Indians came out on top 17-10 after a game ending drive by the Bulldogs came up short. This game was a special opportunity for several Barton players who had been recruited by Catawba as well out of high school. One particular player was told by Catawba that they would have to settle for a walk-on position with the team if they committed to the Indians. This player obviously thought they had more to offer a program and committed to Barton instead. That player is now Barton's team leader in tackles (41), tackles for loss (8), second in sacks (3.5) and ranks 19th nationally in total tackles and is tied for 10th nationally in tackles for loss. That player is starting linebacker Shane Perry. I hope he will not mind me sharing this story, but I'm sure he is not the only one who has something to prove to a lot of folks on opposing teams.

After the game, Coach Hester's comments to the team were very appropriate and fitting:

"I am proud of you cause you fought like crazy today. You played hard, you played physical, we just didn't execute well enough. But look, we will be back. We keep fighting, I don't care what the situation is, if something if something good happens we [team shouts "KEEP PLAYING], if something bad happens we [team again shouts "KEEP PLAYING"], that's the way we're gonna do it."

Well Coach Hester, it's safe to say that message was received.

The Bulldogs took to the road again the following weekend to Gaffney, SC, home of the Limestone Saints (0-3). What happened next was masterful as Barton dominated and took a commanding 31-0 lead in the FIRST HALF. Jaquan Lynch, Kameron "Jay" Johnson, Jordan Terrell, and Jackson Brooks all contributed with scores, and even the defense (dubbed "The DAWGS") got in on the action as Kendarius Jenkins scored on a 95 yard interception. Barton finished the game with two more scores in the second half and won 45-7. Jordan Terrell finished with Madden-like numbers at 256 rushing yards and two TDs. Malcolm Wilson also contributed 95 yards on the ground. Quarterback Jaquan Lynch finished with 141 passing yards and two TDs. Kameron Johnson and Jack White added a touchdown each respectively receiving wise. It was after this game that Jordan Terrell took the lead nationally in Division II football in rushing yards. Not too shabby for a freshman, right?

This past weekend (Oct 2, 2021), Barton returned home after their three game road swing and found Bulldog Nation ready to see their team in person again. Carson-Newman (0-4) came to Wilson without a win to their credit this season, however they have been a historically sound program over the past. They are a program with a record of 643-343-32 stretching back to their first year of football in 1895, five time national championships, five time national runners up, and 21 SAC championships to their credit. While this is a program that Barton wouldn't mind sharing a similar history with, the Bulldogs are working on creating their own track record of success.

Barton took advantage of a quick start and jumped on top of the Eagles 14-0 in the first quarter. Jaquan Lynch scored on the first offensive snap for the Bulldogs and ran for a 61 yard score. Lynch then hit Kameron "Jay" Johnson for a 80 yard touchdown pass. Carson-Newman made adjustments going into the second quarter and the teams traded scores and finished the first half with Barton in the lead 17-10.

The third quarter was an old school football lovers dream. Defensive stands, three & outs, hard running by the offenses, it had it all. No one scored in the third as both coaching staffs kept their chess match in full swing. It wasn't until the fourth quarter that the offenses really showed back up as Barton had scores on the ground by Jordan Terrell and Jaquan Lynch. Carson-Newman added a late score but the Bulldogs were too much as the final score from Truist Stadium read Barton 31, Carson-Newman 17. This was the Bulldog's FIRST OFFICIAL HOME WIN as the scrimmage against Louisburg in the spring didn't officially count. This would be the celebration that a tiger might have ended up in someone's bathroom (a reference to the before mentioned film The Hangover).

So what's next? That would be another road trip. This time the Bulldogs are heading to the Blue Ridge Mountains to face the Mars Hill Lions (3-2). Outside of the obvious similarity in record, Mars Hill is like Barton and knows how to put points on the board (32.4 pts/game). They are also coming off an overtime win against Newberry. This will be a real test for the young Bulldogs as the Lions are led by senior quarterback Jimmy Urzua (1264 passing yds, 12 td, 2 int, 125.9 efficiency rating) and a high powered offense. The good news is that Barton's defense has been surging led by Shane Perry, Kendarius Jenkins, Toney Black, Franklin Wheeler, Matt Smith, J.L. Ledbetter, Noah Johnson, and Milton Chandler to name a few of the standouts.

On offense the team operates through running back Jordan Terrell. He is a powerful back who gets stronger as the game goes on and has shown he is ready to deliver at any given time during the 60 minute span of a game. Through October 2nd, he now leads the nation in rushing at 936 yards total, 165 yards more than the next player. Jaquan Lynch is the leader of the offense and it is obvious he commands the huddle when they are on the field. His ability to run or pass presents trouble for defenses and he will take advantage of any one on one matchups if he runs. If he is passing, he's usually aiming for leading receiver Kameron "Jay" Johnson (13 receptions, 323 yards, 3 td). Nate Byers, Jackson Terrell, and Jack White are next in line statistically for the season. Anton Popov continues his role as returner but has really shown a niche for blocking. He is still getting targets throughout games as well.

Speaking of blocking, you can't have a national leader in rushing without a fantastic offensive line. Barton's line has been spectacular at creating running lanes for Terrell, Lynch, Wilson to work with. Alex Buschow, Trent Jones, Trey Pickard, Hunter & Connor Sauls, Xavier McCreary, and Gage Redmond have all shown improvements from not only the end of the spring season but also throughout this season. If you didn't pick it up, I more or less listed the entire offensive line unit. These guys have been working their asses off and you can see it coming to fruition each game.

So here we are at 3-2. I don't want to sound like I was not buying stock in the Bulldogs or anything, but I really did not expect these types of returns already. It's wild to see the reality of an upstart program going toe-to-toe with well established teams and getting wins this early. Keep in mind this is happening all while having a team made up of predominantly underclassmen. They have really taken to heart what the entire coaching staff has worked with them on and their talent is busting at the seams. They will not settle with being known as the "new team". It's obvious they are hungry and will not settle for anything less than being the best. They want to be THE TEAM in the SAC when they fully join. As a wiseman once said, to BE the man you have to BEAT the man.

That wiseman? Ric Flair.

If you can't make the trip to Mars Hill, make sure you find yourself in Wilson on October 16th at 6:00 pm for a BIG matchup against Wingate. They are currently 4-0 with their game against Catawba being cancelled due to Covid related matters. Anything is going to be possible and I'm looking forward to seeing what our players have in store.