Air Bulldogs: Priceville's Eubanks leading dynamic passing attack

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Sep. 17—PRICEVILLE — It's been quite a start to the 2026 season for the Priceville Bulldogs.

Priceville has been blitzing teams en route to a 4-0 record, winning by an average of 26 points. Success is nothing new for the Bulldogs, but how they're achieving it is.

Over the last decade, few things have gone together better than Priceville football and running the ball. It's a program where physicality is required and 1,000-yard rushers are an annual tradition. This year, however, the Bulldogs have shattered that mold with a potent passing attack averaging more than 200 yards per game and helping an offense score 40 points per game.

"When you think of Priceville, most people don't think of a school full of great athletes. They think of us as a physical team that's going to play hard-nosed football," quarterback Jack Eubanks said. "That hard-nosed style hasn't changed, but I think what people are realizing now is we have some really talented players, and now we're getting the chance to show everybody what they can do."

Three years ago, Priceville ran the single-wing, an offense that didn't even use wide receivers. When former head coach Seth Parker took over in 2024, he brought a more modern attack. Now first-year head coach Austin Burke and new offensive coordinator Zach Linley have expanded the passing attack.

"We still try to stay balanced, and we do want to run the ball primarily, but Coach Linley has done a great job of seeing what the defense is giving us," Burke said. "We have some great athletes that can make things happen in space, and so when (Linley) sees that space, he does a great job of getting our guys the rock."

The Bulldogs have plenty of weapons, with four players who have at least 95 receiving yards. Garrett Wilson leads the way with 16 catches for 274 yards and four touchdowns, while Urijah Burnham has nine catches for 226 yards and three touchdowns.

Tripp Sivley has added 13 catches for 182 yards and three touchdowns, and Casen Drawbaugh has five catches for 95 yards.

That production represents a dramatic change for a program that didn't use wide receivers three years ago.

Those receivers also need someone to get them the ball.

The last Priceville quarterback to pass for more than 2,000 yards was Kaleb Barker, who threw for 2,848 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2015. Eubanks has put himself in position to challenge that mark, leading the area with 841 passing yards and 10 touchdowns through four games.

"It's not all me. I have a great (offensive) line protecting me and receivers that are able to get open," Eubanks said. "Playing quarterback, it's a lot more mental so it makes things a lot easier when you have great players around you. I guess I have a good enough arm to get them the ball."

Unlike most quarterbacks, Eubanks also plays full time on defense. He was an all-state defensive player last season after recording 101.5 tackles, making him too valuable to remove from that side of the ball.

Burke spent last season as Priceville's defensive coordinator before being promoted to head coach. He said the leadership and knowledge Eubanks displayed on defense convinced him Eubanks could excel at quarterback, too.

"He does a lot more than just line up and hit people. He was a guy we trusted to get everybody lined up every play on defense," Burke said. "People talk a lot about football IQ; if there was an IQ test, I think he would score among the highest in Alabama. He does such a good job of understanding what our game plan is on both offense and defense, and it's a big reason we've been so successful."

Eubanks split time at quarterback last season, primarily as a runner, and joked that he has had to rein himself in this year, leading him to pass more often.

"I've had to dial it back some," he said. "I like to hit people, but my coaches have told me to get down or get out of bounds more. It's a little different than how I normally play."

Eubanks and Priceville will put their dynamic passing attack to the test this week when they travel to Howard Chappell Stadium to take on the Deshler Tigers. Deshler represents a significant step up in competition, and the Bulldogs know they will have to be at their best.

"Deshler is a powerhouse in 4A, and we know we're walking into a crazy atmosphere," Eubanks said. "We're a physical football team, so we're not worried about size or ability. Eliminating the mental mistakes, that's what we have to do if we want to take care of business."

— caleb.suggs@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2395. Twitter @CalebSuggs2

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