When Randy Lynch took over the Sweeny football program in 2016, the Bulldogs bounced back from a 2-9 season with a 7-5 campaign that ended in the second round of the playoffs. Sweeny built on that mark last year, going 9-4 and advancing to the regional semifinals before falling to Wimberley.

Now, the Bulldogs are off to a 5-0 start as the team looks to push through to the fourth round of the playoffs and make a run at a state championship appearance in what appears to be a wide-open Class 4A Division II.

“The first year, you definitely want to come in and make a bang and we were able to do that,” Lynch said. “Last year, we went on a nice run before running into a pretty good Wimberley team. This is our third year together now and having the same system and coaching staff in place really helps. 

“I kind of saw the skill kids coming, though, and that’s been big for us.”

Sweeny has a load of talent throughout its skill positions, starting at running back, where Cameron Adams and Quinton Martin have shined through the first half of the season. The duo has combined for 921 yards and seven touchdowns on 103 carries, spearheading the Bulldogs’ Wing T style offensive attack. 

“They’ve just complemented each other so well,” Lynch said. “Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve always tried to have a committee of running backs. They work for each other and know they’re going to get their touches. We’re going to go right and we’re going to go left, we just try to confuse them with who’s getting it.” 

Despite losing a handful of key starters on the offensive line from last year’s team, the Bulldogs have stepped up in the trenches as well to take some of the pressure off Adams and Martin in the run game. Quarterback Joe Effenberger, who started at inside linebacker last year, has thrown for 490 yards and seven touchdowns thus far. 

Courtlyn Davidson (10 catches, 197 yards, one TD) and Justice Clemons (10 catches, 182 yards, four TDs) are the leaders on the perimeter, helping Sweeny excel through the air at a higher rate than years’ past. 

“We’ve made it a point to throw it a little bit more this year and we’ve been able to do that,” Lynch said. “We’re going to have to throw it in the playoffs because I don’t want teams in there packing the box against the run.”

While the offense has played well at times through the first five games of the year, Sweeny has thrived on the defensive side of the ball as the Bulldogs are holding opponents to an average of just 10.25 points per game.

Trayvon Brooks (22 tackles) and Josh Ellis (35 tackles, 11 TFL, five sacks) have shined on the defensive line while Trey Fields (49 tackles, three TFL) and Trevin Parson (38 tackles, six TFL, five sacks) anchor the defense at inside linebacker. 

The Bulldogs have rotated eight players in the secondary due to injuries but have seven interceptions – including two apiece from Fields, Davidson and Justice Clemons. Starting safety Blake Benavides and cornerback Bryce Williams are expected to return to the lineup next week, providing a boost of both talent and experience on the back end. 

“I was expecting our defense to be pretty good, but they’ve really stepped up their game even more than I anticipated,” Lynch said. “I figured it would take us a little bit to get there. They get really upset when teams score against us and that’s a good thing to have.”

Sweeny has a bye this week before opening District 11-4A Division II play against La Marque at home next Friday night. The Bulldogs are the only team in the district with a winning record at this point in the season and are projected to cruise to a district championship.

Even so, the team is trying not to look too far ahead as their expectations continue to rise. Sweeny has climbed to the No. 1 ranking in 4A DII, surpassing Jasper, Pleasant Grove and Cuero. 

“Our expectations are there, there is no doubt about that,” Lynch said. “We want to go four rounds and beyond, and it’s going to be a tough road. We just have to continue to focus on ourselves and what we’re doing here each week. 

“La Marque may be 0-5 but they’re still La Marque. I don’t think Sweeny has ever beaten La Marque, so that’s something we’re really stressing this week. It’s the start of our run to the playoffs and we’re going to take it one week at a time.”