Dothan’s Jay LeGrand leading team to cusp of playoffs

A big part of Dothan’s success has not only been the play of quarterback Jay LeGrand, but how he handles adversity.

Last year, as the Tigers struggled to a 1-9 record, LeGrand was his own worst enemy and was eventually benched for the last three games.

This year, he’s limiting his mistakes and, when he does slip up, handling them better. LeGrand, who has hit 50 percent of his passes for 1,184 yards, 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions, leads Dothan (5-2, 3-2 Class 6A, Region 3) into tonight’s home game with Enterprise.

“Last year I was a little bit of a head case,” LeGrand said. “This year, I’ve tried to calm down, take it one step at a time and try not to force anything. I’m just one piece of the puzzle.”

LeGrand moved into the starting role near the end of his sophomore season but ended up sharing time with Lazaro Aguilar last year before Aguilar took over late. It was the first time LeGrand had ever been benched at any position.

“I didn’t see the field for the last three games,” LeGrand said. “I had to go with what the coaches thought was best and not try to be selfish and cheer my teammates on. It helped me keep my head small.”

This spring, he competed with Headland transfer Jahwon Williams and was neck-and-neck, head coach Kelvis White said, but Williams eventually moved back to Headland.

LeGrand is the first quarterback for Dothan since 2000 to break the 1,000-yard mark. The Tigers haven’t made the playoffs since 2001, but a win tonight over Enterprise would clinch a playoff berth.

The Tigers’ signature win came this year over state-ranked Opelika, when LeGrand threw for 273 yards and four touchdowns in a come-from-behind, 45-41 win. Dothan scored twice in the final two minutes to get the win.

“You’ve always got to have a good quarterback to have a good high school football team,” Dothan offensive coordinator Jake Collins said. “We knew that if he plays well, we had a chance to be pretty good.

“That’s the kind of game we need him to have for us to beat somebody like that. If we get a great game out of him, we’re tough to beat.”

LeGrand also stars on the baseball field as a catcher and would love to play both sports in college, if possible. UAB and Faulkner, among others, have shown interest in baseball, and head football coach Kelvis White said he’s heard from small schools about his quarterback.

“I’ll send (film) wherever he wants me to send,” White said. “He’s definitely going to have an opportunity to choose whatever sport he wants to play.”

LeGrand is also part of a resurgence in Dothan’s football and baseball program. The Tigers made the playoffs in baseball for the first time in seven years this spring, losing two close games at Prattville in the first round.

“This year, turning the corner is incredible,” LeGrand said. “I’m glad I’m getting to be a part of it and putting my footsteps down so somebody behind me can come up and keep it going.”