The Trion Bulldogs enter the 2026 high school football season looking to turn a year of growing pains into a return to the winning tradition that has long surrounded the program.

Head Coach Sean Patrick and the Bulldogs are coming off a 4-7 campaign in 2025, but the final record doesn’t tell the entire story. Trion went 2-2 in region play and still earned a trip to the state playoffs, where the Bulldogs’ season ended with a narrow 24-21 loss at Hawkinsville.

That season followed a major turnover in personnel after Trion had gone 10-3 in 2024 and 11-1 in 2023. A younger Bulldog team was forced to gain experience on the field last fall, and many of those players are now back with another year of varsity football behind them.

That experience could be one of Trion’s biggest advantages in 2026.

The Bulldogs’ current roster includes 50 players and a senior group featuring Hudson Thomas, Dawson Crane, Linc Allen, Asher Clark, Silas Mills, Meisner Perez, Caden Sloan, Coleman Lee, Zeke Burrage, Jancarlos Morales and Hayden Woolard.

Allen gives Trion an experienced senior option at quarterback and also contributes in the secondary. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior is listed at quarterback and free safety.

Junior Landon Kimbell is another player to watch, giving the Bulldogs experience at running back and outside linebacker.

Thomas returns for his senior season at defensive end and tight end after emerging as a leader on the defensive side of the football. His presence should be important for a Trion defense looking to take a step forward this fall.

The Bulldogs also have plenty of size in the trenches.

Junior Jaxon Woods is listed at 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, while sophomore Danny Gonzalez is listed at 290 pounds. Jarrett Helms checks in at 260, Lisandro Calderon at 245 and Jancarlos Morales and Hudson Wilbanks at 240 pounds. Hayden Woolard, Kam Hanes and Hayden Linam are each listed at 230 pounds.

That combination of size and returning experience gives Trion some building blocks as Patrick and his coaching staff look to get the Bulldogs back among the contenders in Class A.

Trion will not have to wait long for a major test.

The Bulldogs open the regular season Friday night, August 21, when Gordon Lee comes to Sam R. McCain Stadium. The matchup renews one of Georgia’s oldest high school football rivalries and will put the Bulldogs in the spotlight immediately to begin the new season.

Trion then remains at home against Model on August 28 before hitting the road for back-to-back games at Ridgeland on September 4 and Dade County on September 11.

Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe visits Trion on September 18, followed by a September 25 road trip to Northview.

After an open date, the Bulldogs begin the most important portion of their schedule in October.

Trion travels to Greenville on October 9 and then faces one of its biggest challenges of the season with an October 16 trip to Bowdon. Manchester visits Sam R. McCain Stadium on October 23 before the Bulldogs close the regular season at home against BEST Academy on November 6.

The region schedule will leave little room for error, making Trion’s early non-region games particularly important as the Bulldogs work to establish their identity before October.

For a program accustomed to postseason football, last year’s playoff appearance provided valuable experience despite ending in a three-point first-round loss. The challenge now is turning that experience into more victories.

Trion enters 2026 with an older roster, experience at several key positions and size along the line. After the rebuilding that came with significant personnel losses a year ago, the Bulldogs have an opportunity this fall to show how much that young group has developed.

The first opportunity comes Friday night under the lights at Sam R. McCain Stadium, where Gordon Lee and Trion will renew their historic rivalry and officially begin the Bulldogs’ 2026 campaign.

Trion Bulldogs 2026 Schedule

August 21: Gordon Lee — Home
August 28: Model — Home
September 4: at Ridgeland
September 11: at Dade County
September 18: Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe — Home
September 25: at Northview
October 9: at Greenville
October 16: at Bowdon
October 23: Manchester — Home
November 6: BEST Academy — Home

WZQZ Radio will provide coverage of Trion football throughout the 2026 season on FM 99.1, AM 1180 and the WZQZ Radio Facebook page.