Bulldog For Life: HOF Head Coach David Gentry Hangs it up
TeamFYNSports June 13, 2021
The winningest coach in North Carolina has decided to close the “coaching” chapter of his life after 50 years. Murphy Bulldogs head coach David Gentry announced today that he is retiring from coaching football. He will retire ranked top 20 in the country in all-time wins, leaving a mark on the town of Murphy that will never be erased.
If there ever was the perfect time for the old ball coach to hang it up, it’s now. With his daughter Lauren Gentry Grubb having a grand-baby on the way; And after winning his 9th state title in North Carolina’s one and only “spring” football season, the stars seemed like they were aligned.
After every football season for the past 10 years it seems like we have been speculating whether or not Coach would be coming back at the helm for the Bulldogs. You would think that would make hearing the news that he was finally going to hang it up easier to swallow, but for some reason now that it’s really official, it’s kind of hard to believe.
Growing up, every kid’s dream in Murphy is to be a Bulldog. A huge part of that is because of David Gentry. I mean who wouldn’t want to play for a guy with 426 wins and 9 state titles. Plus, there’s just something about him. An aura that makes it seem like he is larger than life. An old man swag like I have never seen before!
The upcoming season will be weird to watch, not looking down and seeing Coach G on the sidelines. However, with the road map to success that he has left, I don’t expect the Dogs to miss a beat. The coaching tree he has left behind will take over the reigns seamlessly, and the Dogs will still be on top.
The rest of the Smoky Mountain Conference can sleep a little easier tonight, knowing they never have to face Coach Gentry again.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the town of Robbinsville (or Bryson City) throws a parade.
Dogs On Top! Win 426 For Coach Gentry is Championship Number 10 For Murphy
TeamFYNSports May 16, 2021
Photo courtesy of BT Douthit
Win number 426 for legendary Murphy Bulldogs Head Coach David Gentry was one for the books. His Dogs defeated Northside-Pinetown 14-7 to claim the schools 10th State Title, and 9th under his reign.
This title was definitely not one of the prettiest or easiest to come by. The Hall of Fame coach even said it himself, “This win wasn’t pretty. It was probably the ugliest state championship i’ve ever won- but, at the end we’re state champions so no ones going to remember that much. I’m just proud of these young men and our coaching staff and how this team came together and made a great football team.”
Defense was the name of the game for the Dogs, as they shut down the Northside offense, aside from a 70 yard touchdown run by the Northside Offensive Player of the Game James Gorham. Longtime Defensive coordinator and Murphy grad Thomas Nelson called a near perfect game in his final stint with the Bulldogs. Nelson will be the Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Athletic Director at Union County High School in Georgia next year.
Rathburn takes the handoff from Rumfelt
It wasn’t just the number of tackles that Rathburn had that earned him the Defensive Player of the Game award, it was the moments that those tackles came in. Every time the Dogs needed a big third down stop or needed to come up with a big play on defense, Rathburn had his head on the ball.
Offensively, the Dogs relied heavily on the passing attack from quarterback Kellen Rumfelt and wideout Payton McCracken. Rumfelt was named the MVP of the game, and rightfully so.
Junior QB Kellen Rumfelt
Northside shut down the Murphy running attack, and the only way Murphy could move the ball was through the air. Rumfelt threw for 254 yards and a touchdown through just two and a half quarters. He was injured and had to come out of the game with about 6 minutes left in the third quarter, which makes his stat line that much more impressive.
This was McCrackens first game back since he had knee surgery a month ago, and he sure made the most of his opportunity. He had 5 catches for 127 yards and was named Murphys Offensive Player of the Game.
Coach Gentry had to hold back the tears when talking about what it meant to have Payton McCracken back for this game. “What a young man. We never thought he would come back. We really didn’t. He was on crutches until the Wednesday of the Robbinsville game….. All he did in the Robbinsville game was hold the PATs, thats all he was cleared to do. But he worked hard, and Wednesday of this week they released him completely. He’s a tremendous young man who brings a lot of enthusiasm to our football team. He gave us the fire that we needed. I cant say enough about him. He was “touched” I believe. I really do.”
This tenth State Championship Trophy will just shine a little different compared to the others sitting in that trophy case. The story about this football season is one that will be told for years to come.