This is an opinion piece.

Trent Taylor saw something special building in his eighth Andalusia football team as early as last February.

“I told the kids then that, ‘Hey, I really like your approach. I like the way you are handling your business,’” Taylor said. “At that point, there was no discussion about this year. It was just about getting better.”

The Bulldogs have handled their business convincingly up to this point in the season.

Andalusia (7-0) has outscored the competition 343-91 in 2022. The Bulldogs have scored at least 49 points in each of their last four games, including 69 last week against Geneva. They’ve played exactly one game that was even reasonably close – a 42-31 victory over Milton, Fla., in Week 2.

“The one thing I see is there are some really good 4A football teams out there, and it seems like a lot of them are in the South,” Taylor said. “(Montgomery) Catholic, Handley, Anniston, T.R. Miller are all good. Jamey (DuBose) has a good team down there (Orange Beach).

“We talk a lot to our guys about not worrying so much about the opponents. Let’s just take care of Andalusia. I tell them all the time just to enjoy the ride. We’ll ride it as long as we can, and we won’t worry about the destination. We will just enjoy the journey. There is a good personality about this team. I do know that.”

Taylor said the biggest surprises about the Bulldogs so far have been the play of the defense and of quarterback Jack Lathrop. The defense has allowed an average of just 13 points a game. Lathrop, a junior, is completing 70 percent of his passes for 898 yards and 12 TDs.

“He’s a young man who moved here as a ninth-grader and didn’t even play football his first year,” Taylor said. “He came out as a 10th-grader and was a backup, but he had a good offseason in the weight room and summer throwing the ball. His calmness has been really good, probably biggest surprise of the whole team.”

It helps that Lathrop operates behind an experienced offensive line (4 of 5 starters returned from a year ago) and is surrounded by playmakers like star running back J’marrion Burnette and wide receivers Kaden Denson and Tycamren Jackson.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Burnette is one of Alabama’s top five recruits in the Class of 2024. He’s averaging 10.8 yards per carry this year with 10 touchdowns. Those statistics would be much higher if Andalusia’s scores weren’t so lopsided.

“He’s the real deal,” Taylor said of Burnette. “He has a chance to be really, really special.”

Andalusia, ranked No. 3 in the state in Class 4A, hosts Slocomb (3-3) tonight. The Bulldogs then travel to B.T. Washington on Oct. 14 before finishing the regular season with the game everyone can’t help but look toward — at home on Oct. 21 against No. 1 Montgomery Catholic.

“I know kids talk,” Taylor said. “I know they are probably snapchatting or tweeting or whatever it is they do. I’m sure our kids are fully aware of how good Catholic is, but, if they are thinking it on the inside, they’ve done a good job of not voicing it. I really think they have bought into, ‘Let’s take care of Andalusia.’”

Getting defensive

A pair of highly ranked defensive players made two of the biggest plays in the state in Week 7.

Alabama DB commit Jahlil Hurley blocked a 40-yard Bob Jones field goal attempt on the final play of the game to preserve Florence’s 38-35 victory last week. Earlier, Hurley set up the Falcons’ go-ahead field goal with a 29-yard reception.

In Alabaster, Thompson DB Anquon Fegans picked off a pair of Hewitt-Trussville passes, returning one for a score, as the Warriors head off Hewitt-Trussville 14-12. His second interception came on a two-point try by the Huskies that would have tied the game with less than two minutes remaining.

Hurley is ranked as the No. 3 recruit in the state in the Class of 2023, according to the 247 composite rankings. Fegans, who is uncommitted, is ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2025.

Henderson’s big night

In case you went to bed early Thursday night, you missed a huge performance from Elba running back Alvin Henderson.

In a 62-28 win over Georgiana, the sophomore rushed for 412 yards and 6 TDs on 22 carries.

For the season, Henderson now has 1,790 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns. Could a sophomore win Mr. Football? It may depend on how deep Elba goes in the playoffs.

Thought for the Day

“There is always light. If only we are brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it.” – Amanda Gorman.

80s quote of the week

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life. Electric word life. It means forever and that’s a might long time, but I’m here to tell you. There is something else.” – Let’s go Crazy, Prince 1984

In acase youase yoase yase aseasathe high school sportswriter at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected]. His weekly column is posted each Wednesday and Friday on AL.com. He can be heard weekly on the Cooper Restaurants “Inside High School Sports” on SportsTalk 99.5 FM in Mobile or on the free IHeart Radio App at 2 p.m.