Bulldogs enter season with plenty of experience and talent returning

Though a veteran group with many starters returning, the Lovell Bulldogs are still ironing out a few wrinkles as the 2025 season begins, head coach Nicc Crosby said this week.

Coming off a 7-3 2024 campaign, the Bulldogs hosted Buffalo Saturday for a week zero controlled scrimmage and shut out the Bison 21-0 with the varsity and junior varsity results combined. The varsity won 7-0, the only touchdown coming on a five-yard run by senior running back Chase Crosby, capping a 49-yard drive set up by Crosby’s interception. The varsity played the first half and the first offensive and defensive series of the second half. The JV team finished the game, and freshman quarterback Mac Morgan threw touchdown passes to junior Nathan Cornia and sophomore Hunter Krei.

“We moved the ball fairly well but just had some little mistakes here and there that caused some of our drives to stall out,” Coach Crosby said. 

Crosby said the Bulldogs are certainly a work in progress.

“I was a little discouraged. I thought, with as many returners as we had, we’d do a better job being in the right spots defensively at the linebacker position and in the defensive secondary,” he said. “We got out of position quite frequently. So we certainly need to clean up knowing our responsibilities, being in the right spots and doing our individual jobs on defense.

“One of the good things is, I feel like we played pretty hard on a toasty day. I think it was only in the low to mid 80s, but it felt warmer than that to grind through a game in the heat like that. I thought they played pretty hard, and I was pleased with how guys responded when they were called out for not doing their jobs. I feel like they did a better job of being in the right spots and making some plays.”

Crosby said the offensive line played well, and the backfield just needs more time to get in sync.

“I think we were pretty solid up front,” he said. “If we execute a little bit better, it’s going to make a big difference. Pass protection was solid all day. I feel like Jeff Hessenthaler filled in really well for us. Tazz (McArthur) was out this week. And Halen (Strom) did a pretty good job sliding over to center.

“I think it was clear we were a little bit out of sync in the backfield with a new quarterback and fullbacks. That will be easy for us to fix this week. I feel like our receivers ran good routes, got open. I thought Kyson (Crosby) made good decisions on who we threw the ball to. I would like to see our receivers be more consistent with their stalk blocking. We had a couple really key ones that sprung some big runs, and then we had a couple really critical ones that really cost us, critical ones we didn’t make.”

The lineup

Sophomore Kyson Crosby will get the nod at quarterback, taking over for brother Davin, who graduated in May. He will be backed by senior Cash Wassmer and freshman Morgan. Coach Crosby said the team was still awaiting word on whether Rocky Mountain transfer Joaquin Scheeler, a junior, will be eligible to play.

“I think Kyson is pretty calm out there. He understands what’s going on,” Crosby said. “He makes good decisions and has a good arm.”

Running backs will be Chase Crosby, Wassmer, Scheeler if eligible, junior Wilson Hendershot, sophomore Anthony Garcia and Krei.

The explosive senior Matthew Newman will line up at the slot, backed by Chase Crosby, Wassmer and Krei. Talented and tall Owen Walker, a senior, will be joined by senior Owen Edwards at wide receiver, along with Cornia.

“We definitely have some weapons,” Crosby said.

Senior Jaxon Whittington has moved from Utah and will play tight end along with Edwards, Cornia and Walker in certain formations.

The offensive line is big and experienced. The starters are Brody Muller at left tackle, Kalell Gruell at left guard, McArthur at center, Strom at right guard and Kyle Wilson at right tackle. All but McArthur are seniors. Providing depth will be Hessenthaler, fellow junior Travis Asay, sophomore Grant Hill and sophomore Ryder Lohof.

Crosby called his offense “multiple.

“We try to take advantage of our size and run some heavy formations, and we run some other formations that are tighter, where we try to use our speed and athleticism and quickness with a single back,” he said. “And then we’ll do some really heavy formations with a couple tight ends and a full house backfield.

“We like to be able to move the ball in several different ways, especially breaking in a new quarterback. It would be nice to be able to throw the ball on our terms and not out of necessity. Perhaps teams will be worried enough about our run (game) that it gives us some good looks in the passing game.”

Defense

Crosby said there’s work to be done on the second and third levels (linebackers and defensive backs) for the Lovell defense.

“I’m looking for guys who are going to fly around and be in the right spot, so we’ll see,” Crosby noted. “We’ll have a better idea after this week who’s going to be getting the job done.”

The strong offensive line equates to a strong defensive line, Crosby said, and he likes the depth on the line.

“It was nice to be able to rotate in lots of fresh guys (Saturday) and have them give us some good looks out there,” he said.

Linebackers include Chase Crosby, Wassmer, Scheeler and Hendershot, with Newman, Walker, Edwards and Hendershot in the secondary. Newman is the kicker, with Walker doing the punting. Crosby said volunteer coach Aden Mayes has been working with the kickers.

Besides his head coaching duties, Crosby is the offensive coordinator and coaches the quarterbacks and defensive backs. AJ Montanez is the defensive coordinator and coaches the offensive and defensive lines. Bob Weber is the junior varsity offensive coordinator and coaches the running backs and linebackers, while Michael Jameson is the JV defensive coordinator and coaches the ends.

Volunteer coaches Josh Gruell, Bill Sheckler and Erik Ferbrache help with line coaching, Greg Rael is the special teams coordinator and coaches receivers and defensive backs. Mayes is helping with kickers.

Tough opener

The Bulldogs will travel to Big Horn to open the season Friday, with the kickoff set for 6 p.m. The Rams were undefeated last season (11-0) in winning the Class 2A title and beat the Bulldogs twice: 28-24 in Lovell and 35-25 in the playoff semifinals in Big Horn.

“They lost quite a bit (from last season), but like any good team, they have a great program underneath, and they do a pretty good job of filling in,” Crosby said. “They have a good system and showed last week in their zero week game (against the Casper Natrona sophomores) just how explosive they can be. They’ve got a lot of speed and athleticism coming back. They’ve got to replace the quarterback and a handful of offensive and defensive linemen, but they’re going to be tough. It would be nice to go get after them, and it’s always nice because we have fans that travel well, so we’ll be well represented. It should be a good game Friday night.”