Paul reflects on how this Bulldogs’ team was his favorite

Morgan County boys’ soccer coach Aaron Paul would be remiss if he didn’t say this season’s team was his favorite to coach, especially after how hard his guys battled through adversity all year long.

Despite not reaching the third round as the Bulldogs had hoped, Paul enjoyed every second of 2023.

“Both last year and this year, I felt like we should have gotten to the Elite Eight, which is definitely not easy to do,” Paul said. “We had the pieces but we just couldn’t put them together. However, this year, was one of the most favorite teams I have ever coached. It was a great group of guys. They worked hard and never quit. They never complained and bought into everything we were trying to do. They fought for each other, and it was just a fun group to be around.”

A few weeks ago, Peach County edged out Morgan County 2-1 in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs. The Bulldogs ended the 2023 season with an 8-6-1 record and a 7-1 mark in region play.

Paul wasn’t disappointed so much in the loss, but because this group would never play together again.

“I was so mad that we lost, but was more angry that it was over,” Paul said. “Every year, every team is different. Every team has its own personality. You’ll never have the same group of guys twice, so I really enjoyed this year’s seniors, plus I liked getting to know our freshmen. Also, watching our sophomores and juniors get out there and compete and get better. It was a fun season.”

The eighth-year head coach also highlighted he saw “a lot of changes” in his team from January to April.

“We went through a lot of changes on where we were with personnel and what we were trying to do,” Paul said. “I wanted to run a really aggressive formation with three defenders, instead of four. I really wanted to put our strength in numbers. Like in our midfield and our attack, which we did.

“We ran it a little bit against Putnam (County) in the first game and a little bit against Gainesville. We were trying to figure things out but it just didn’t work well for us. So, I told all of the guys, ‘Look, if I ever mention this again, drop a piano on my head. We’re just not going to do it.’”

Morgan County reeled off some big wins in its 2023 campaign, including one against region rival Harlem.

The Bulldogs of Columbia County defeated the Bulldogs of Madison 2-1 in a game that went to overtime on Feb. 28. A few weeks later, Morgan County claimed the Region 4-AAA title with a 2-0 revenge victory over Harlem, which set it up as a No. 1 seed entering the Class AAA state playoffs.

Paul said the Bulldogs decided to revert back to that formation in their April 23 matchup with Harlem.

“We had to go to Harlem and win by two goals, and that aggressive four-back formation came up again,” he said. “In fact, it was Caleb Keener that I think mentioned it. I told them it was an option and they all bought into it. That’s what we had to do in the last 20 minutes of that game to overrun Harlem and win it. It was just a fun season. We were very fortunate to win and compete together.”

Paul admitted he’s relieved that his players didn’t have to, in fact, drop a piano on his head.

“That led to us winning our third region championship in a row and getting back to the Sweet 16,” he added. “We’ve gotten to a minimum point now where want to win the region and get to the Sweet 16, but obviously, we want to get to those three games after that. We want to get to the Elite Eight, Final Four and eventually to the state championship. That’s what we are going for now.”

No Morgan County boys soccer team has ever gone beyond the Elite Eight, so Paul wants to be the first coach in program history to accomplish that feat. He also wants to bring home a state title.

Paul plans to return to Morgan County next season in 2024 and continue building the boys’ soccer program. He hopes that this year’s team can leave a mark moving forward in the near future.

“As frustrating as it is to lose that (last game), I am extremely blessed,” Paul said. “I’ve told this to multiple people, but I feel like the luckiest soccer coach in the state because I’ve got such a good group of guys. We’ve got great facilities here (at Morgan County). We have lighted practice fields.

“I don’t know of any schools, with the exception of three or four, that have their own lighted practice fields. We’ve got our own space and our booster club has done a great job fundraising and for the school getting us stuff. I am in a great spot, we’re in a really good spot as a team and program.”

Morgan County graduates nine seniors – Mason Foster, McKaylan Williams, Scott Chamberlain, Peyton Camp, Gianluca Corrias, Jose Alejandro, Alex Ortiz, Caleb Keener and Omar Lizarde in 2023.

However, the Bulldogs return a lot of talent heading into next season, including keeper Blake Downs, as well as Teddy Young, Kentucky Outlaw, Julian Tenerio and Carson Keener, among others.

Paul acknowledged he is going to miss his seniors, although he is stoked he has so much coming back.

“I am going to miss this senior class. They were special to me,” Paul said. “But this group that is returning is very talented and seems to be very hungry. I can’t wait to see what they accomplish (in 2024).”