Northeast Lauderdale High School’s football team has not made the playoffs since John Douglass last coached the team in 2018. Now that he is back at the helm of this Trojans program, Douglass is looking to make this team more consistently competitive.

The Trojans have just three playoff wins since 1981, the last of which came in 2018. Every coach would like to make a playoff run each season, but Douglass is just focused on improving each week to compete in a new-look Region 4-4A for now.

“I think we have a chance to be competitive in our district,” Douglass said. “If we continue to get better each and every week, and we’re playing our best football in the middle of October, I think we’ll have a shot to get into the playoffs, and at that point you just take them one at a time and see what you can do.”

Douglass said his predecessor, Dillon Mitchell, put this program on the right track by establishing a strong culture, and he is just looking to continue that culture at Northeast Lauderdale. Mitchell led the Trojans to a 4-6 record last year to complete Northeast Lauderdale’s winningest season since Douglass was last the coach.

“Louisville is not in the district anymore, (Kosciusko) is not in the district anymore,” Douglass said. “I just think it’s a more level playing field now as far as the schools. Obviously, West Lauderdale has been the cream of the crop, so to speak, in recent years. I think once you get past them and Newton County, … I think we’re right there with the other teams in our district.”

The Trojans have junior Jase Jimison back at quarterback. Douglass said the young signal-caller is the kind of leader this team needs because he works hard and leads by example.

“He’s here every single time we open the weight room for practice, or whatever it is,” Douglass said. “He always puts in his work, and he’s a heck of an athlete. Going back and looking at the film from last year, and watching him through spring, he’s gotten stronger, and he’s throwing the ball a lot better.”

Jimison will be protected by a young offensive line this season. Douglass said his young offensive line will need to step up, as he plans to throw them into the fire early.

“We’re going to throw them out there, and they’re going to have to perform,” Douglass said. “If they will continue to fight and continue to improve, just like we’re asking from the entire football team, we expect them to be a much better offensive line (by mid-season).”

Running backs Aaronyoun Johnson and Brandon Wilson will be tasked with moving the chains on the ground behind this offensive line, while Courtney Bourrage and Tristian Young will move the ball through the air as wide receivers.

Douglass wants to stop the run first on defense so that opposing offenses are one-dimensional and predictable. Defensive lineman Montana Holt will be joined in the front seven by middle linebackers Bourrage and Lake Brooks and outside linebackers Tre Brock and Jamarrio Clayton.

“Our front seven are going to be pretty active,” Douglass said. “There will be a couple of new faces up there, but guys that we have a lot of confidence in … Those four guys at the four linebacker positions have all played, and they all have experience.”