Spring football isn’t just about the scoreboard — it’s about the grind, the details and the moments that only teammates see.
We were on the field in Wilson on Saturday night as Barton College wrapped up spring practice for 2025. Here’s what caught our camera’s eye from the Bulldogs’ annual Blue-White spring game — from touchdown celebrations (there were two after big pass plays), to hard-hitting defensive stops to the camaraderie among coaches and teammates.
Eye on the prize 
Corbin Kerr 28 slogs through a pair of tacklers Blue defense stacking up the run game 
Pregame Prayer before the spring game kicks off 
Barton College football players get hyped before their spring game Photo by Eric Lusk | NC Football News 
Pregame huddle 
Coach Chip Hester gets the Bulldogs ready for the spring game 
Celebrating a big play in the second half 
Jackson Parris 22 finds himself covered up by Blue teammate Alex Barnes 43 and white defender Connor Baker 
Trevor Nored slings it for the White team 
Barton College spring football 
Somehow Jackson Parrish stayed on his feet during this play during a rainy stretch 
Parrish gets the motor revved back up 
Parrish turns the corner 
Parrish reached the end zone on this run but alas a flag called the play back 
Jackson Parrish takes the ball toward the end zone in the first quarter 
Zakil Smith hauls in a pass from Nazir Garrett 
Zakil Smith heads for the end zone 
Zakil Smith finds himself all alone after haul in a pass from Nazir Garrett 
A touchdown is within reach 
Nazir Garrett congratulates Zakil Smith after a scoring play on the first snap of the second half 
Tay Long 2 gets ready for a showdown with Jaylen Neal 
Luke Smith looks for the open receiver 
Escaping in the open field 
Looking for yardage 
The ball floats just out of reach 
Isaiah Jacobs celebrates his touchdown 
Kedar Mangum after a big play from the Blue team 
Nazir Garrett hands off to LJ Williams 
LJ Williams with a stiff arm 
Blue team wins The iconic Barton College football helmet
Barton football is getting ready for its first season in Conference Carolinas. Read more about the debut season of the D2 league, which also includes UNC Pembroke and Chowan from North Carolina.
Barton just relaunched its football program five seasons ago and already has two winning seasons and a couple of professional prospects to show for it. What’s next for Chip Hester and the Bulldogs? We wrote more about Barton’s 2025 outlook in a special February feature.
Barton unveiled its complete 2025 schedule during Saturday’s spring game. The Bulldogs will open Thursday, Aug. 28 at home against Virginia State from the CIAA. Other non-conference foes include West Virginia State (away), West Alabama (away) and Delta State (home).
Barton 2025 Football Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time/Result | TV/Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 28 | vs | Virginia State | 7 p.m. | |
| Sept. 6 | at | West Virginia State | 12 p.m. | |
| Sept. 13 | at | North Greenville* | ||
| Sept. 20 | at | West Alabama | 6 p.m. | |
| Sept. 27 | ||||
| Oct. 4 | vs | Delta State | ||
| Oct. 11 | at | Ferrum* | ||
| Oct. 18 | vs | Chowan* | ||
| Oct. 25 | vs | Shorter* | ||
| Nov. 1 | at | UNC Pembroke* | 3 p.m. | |
| Nov. 8 | vs | Erskine* | ||
| * denotes conference game |
Leon Royal
April 13, 2025 at 5:57 pm
I seen a lot of improvements on the Defensive side of the ball. Not so much on the offensive side. Looks like a good QB and running back competition. Number #11 and #28 on the white team are dawgs where they been at. #1 on the Blue team is a dog also linebacker