9/13/25
Complete Game Coverage: SWO - 20. Dixon- 42. Final: SWO - 20. Dixon - 42.
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Photos (courtesy of Kay McCloskey): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/584ewxvrxs4e772dd4y2n/ANf1huKDHAj6_COSr0eFHCQ?rlkey=3fp3srvhoq65pec0qchzua5zf&st=3u71j9yf&dl=0
Stallion Video Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWW2T_LvnbA
Stable Talk Postgame Analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MIGTyTG3nc
Game Story courtesy of Chris Miller @ The Jacksonville Daily News: https://www.jdnews.com/sports/now-we-are-the-winners-physical-dixon-football-4-0-after-win-at-southwest/article_9b45d3d7-27a2-5c23-807e-f7b7d8c4e2f2.html
Before you read any further, take a moment to check out Chris Miller’s JDNews article (link above).
Go ahead—I’ll wait...
OK, now we’re ready to talk.
In a nutshell, here’s the line that says it all:
“Dixon, which compiled 578 yards of total offense, including 507 on the ground.”
That’s nearly one-third of a mile! Simply unheard of... unless you’re facing the 2025 Dixon Bulldogs. Their “Single Wing” (or whatever you want to call it) offensive sets are a thing of beauty. If you stripped the color from their highlights and watched it in good old-fashioned black-and-white, you’d swear you were watching a throwback team from the 1950s. The only thing missing? Leather helmets.
The Bulldogs feature the #3 rusher in the entire country—QB JJ Gulat. As Stallion head coach Zach Garvey pointed out, Dixon really only runs six basic plays. But wow, do they run them well.
Congratulations, Dixon! You earned the win and my respect. I’ll be following your success throughout the rest of the season.
Now, onto the Stallions...
It was a picture-perfect night for football at The Corral. Even better—it was "Pee Wee" night, one of my favorite games of the year. I love seeing the excitement in the eyes of future Stallions, whether they’re football players or cheerleaders. There’s something magical and soothing about it.
Unfortunately, the good vibes didn’t carry over onto the field. The Stallions endured a brutal first quarter and quickly found themselves in a deep 0–27 hole. As Billy and I discussed in our postgame “Stable Talk” analysis, it was a trifecta of adversity:
- Dixon was playing lights-out.
- SWO couldn’t catch a break—every 50/50 play seemed to go against us.
- The Stallions were their own worst enemy, committing mistakes in every imaginable way.
I was frustrated, so I can only imagine how the players and coaches felt. The effort was there, but execution was consistently undermined by correctable errors.
To their credit, the Stallions put together a “gut check” drive to close out the half. Senior RB Jabri Williams ran like a man possessed, scoring both the touchdown and the two-point conversion. SWO trailed 27–8 at halftime and would receive the second-half kickoff. A comeback was still on the table.
Coach Garvey lit a fire under the team during halftime, and the guys came out swinging. The opening drive of the third quarter was impressive, with Williams and fellow senior RB Jakell Howard grinding out yardage. A Stallion touchdown narrowed the gap to 27–14. Soon after, senior DB Isaiah Greene snagged an end zone interception—and just like that, the Stallions had life.
But credit to Dixon: they didn’t flinch. They stayed composed, stuck to their game plan, and ultimately pulled away for a comfortable win.
Stallion Summary
🔧 Needs Work:
- Mistakes & Mental Errors: This felt more like a season opener than a third game. I don't think that anyone would disagree with me when I say that we simply made way too many mental (and physical) mistakes. The good news? These are fixable, and I’m confident they’ll be addressed in practice.
- Passing Game: Still needs refinement—especially on routes beyond five yards. Not terrible, just needs more reps and rhythm.
💪 Doing Well:
- Offensive Spark: SWO moved the ball effectively on the ground. Without the miscues, we could’ve easily added 2–3 more touchdowns and turned this into a shootout.
- RB Duo: Jabri Williams and Isaiah Greene were outstanding. Their effort was undeniable.
- Offensive Line: The big guys up front showed real improvement in sustaining blocks—key to the run game’s success.
- Effort: From kickoff to the final whistle, the team never gave up.
- Composure: In a rivalry game filled with frustration, both teams kept their cool. That’s a testament to the character of both programs.
- Fan Support: Huge turnout last night! Loud, proud, and loyal. Keep showing up—good things are coming.
Next Up: A cross-town clash with the White Oak Vikings. It’s going to be a tough matchup—White Oak sits at 3–1, with their only loss coming in Week 1 against Northside. Let’s clean up the mistakes and keep building. Growth. Maturity. Improvement. That’s what I’ll be watching for next week.
GO STALLIONS!!!
#OnceaStallionAlwaysaStallion
