By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

Montevallo High School football coach Jamie Williams endured the typical first season a coach faces when he arrived at the school last summer.

Year one is about making sure everybody is on the same page on and off the field, Williams said.

“Now you can do more football stuff,” said Williams, entering his second season at the helm.

Williams’ biggest change in the program this spring was installing a new option offense, which was partly on display in the Bulldogs’ 24-23 loss to St. Jude Catholic School of Montgomery in a scrimmage May 12.

Williams moved scatback R.J. Scaife to quarterback and put former wide receiver Anthony Whitehead in the backfield. The move is set to give Montevallo’s fastest three players plenty of touches in the fall, Williams said.

However, in the scrimmage, Williams kept things simple and didn’t want to give opponents in the fall a good look at the offense.

“We ran only three plays,” Williams said. “But we put in a new offense and we’re excited about it.”

The Bulldogs gained 250 yards on the ground in the scrimmage. The Montevallo defense limited St. Jude to only 25 yards on the ground.

“I’m proud of our defense,” Williams said. “We played lights out.”

Rising senior running back Garrius Chappell accounted for all three Montevallo touchdowns in the scrimmage. Chappell scored on a 19-yard run, a 23-yard run and a 46-yard scamper.

Rising senior kicker Brett Gray also added a field goal in the scrimmage.

The Bulldogs scored two early touchdowns to go up 14-0 early in the game and held a 17-16 advantage at halftime following Gray’s field goal.

St. Jude outscored Montevallo 8-6 in the second half.

Williams said moving Scaife to quarterback will allow the team’s emotional leader to touch the ball on every play.

“He’s just a natural leader,” Williams said.