GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Gridley Bulldogs football team is under new direction and in the short time, you get a different feel about the program. Mike Meyer is entering his first season as the head coach of the program after replacing former head coach Matt Kemmis, who stepped down in December 2022.

Meyer has been a coach in the Gridley program since the 2019 season and gets to input his ideas and seek the school’s first playoff win since the 2018 season.

Meyer expressed to the Herald that he wants his team to become a big family. He said that when he accepted the job, he had a good relationship and the players’ trust as he was a coach on another level as well as being a teacher on campus.

“We talk about more than just football so they know a lot about me as I also know a lot about them,” Meyer said.

Meyer added that with his new plans for the program they are trusting his process and what he is bringing in and secure with his personality as well.

His new additions and plans for the program include a more balanced offense with throwing and less rushing attempts and knocking down the overall number of players that will play on both sides of the ball.

“I’m a firm believer in kids can stay more fresh throughout the game the less they are on the field,” Meyer said.

Meyer added that if he can get one athlete to focus on one side of the ball and own it, they will be competitive all the way around.

Meyer told the Herald that he plans to have his offensive and defensive play both sides of the ball consistently.

Key returners for the Bulldogs include junior quarterback Gus Stogsdill, who is ready to throw the ball more downfield.

Stogsdill added the group is more focused this season and ready to play hard this season. Meyer told the Herald that the Bulldogs will have three captains this season as they were voted by their teammates on who people thought and wanted Gridley football to be represented around were.

Stogsdill was voted as captain along with senior running back/linebacker Ryan Woolery and senior lineman Cesar Ortiz.

Woolery expressed to the Herald that Meyer has given the Bulldogs a family feel since he has taken over the program.

“We have been able to meet with one another a lot more, have been able to have plenty of team dinners and have a group chat,” Woolery said.

Stogsdill told the Herald the new offensive scheme of passing more is fluid with all of the time they have been inputting towards the new offense in the program.

One of the biggest changes besides his physical attributes that Meyer has seen in the growth of Stogsdill is his leadership skills. Meyer expressed to the Herald that Stogsdill leadership has been there, but he has seen a big increase in the vocalness and that is exactly what he wants from his starting quarterback.

“One of the best things about Gus is he always leads by example and this current class has always followed him,” Meyer said.

Defensively for Gridley, they bring back sophomore lineman/linebacker Jason Davis. As a freshman who got pulled up to varsity last season, Davis led the Bulldogs with 64 tackles last season.

Meyer said to the Herald that Davis will be the vocal leader of the defense where he will be making sure everyone is lined up correctly.

Junior linebacker/ wide receiver Nathan Zumwalt comes back as he finished with 40 tackles last season.

Gridley’s preseason schedule is similar to last year as they added Riverbank and dropped Fortuna but their first four games remain the same as they open up on the road tonight with Wheatland at Yuba City High School.

Stogsdill told the Herald that although they beat Wheatland last year, they want to show them what the new Bulldogs look like as a whole.

On September 15, they will host cross-town rival Live Oak for the Harvest Bowl trophy where they look to make it a double-digit win streak over the Lions.

Ortiz told the Herald they ‘gotta’ keep their focus right and get better every day.

Non-league opponents also include their home opener on September 8 vs. Marysville. Gridley will travel to Cottonwood on September 22 to play West Valley and travel down to Riverbank the following week.

For the Bulldogs Butte View League schedule, they will only play at two locations that include “The Boneyard” as they host Corning (October 6), Paradise (October 20) and Orland (November 3).

The only road games for Gridley will be to Oroville in Harrison Stadium as they play Oroville (October 13) and Las Plumas (October 27).

One of the biggest takeaways from preseason that Meyer told the Herald was their scrimmage against small school power East Nicolaus as they held their own and he added that it was an evenly matched scrimmage.

Kickoff for the game against Wheatland tonight is at 7:30 p.m.