By GABE JORDAN

gabe.jordan@gaflnews.com

VIENNA — Speculation is soaring about the future of Dooly County High Head Football Coach Darryl Silas. Rumor has it that Silas will be leaving the Bobcats to accept a head coaching position at Mitchell-Baker High School in Camilla.

Those rumors have yet to be confirmed by anyone, however. Repeated calls to Silas and to Dooly County High School principal Randolph Ford went unreturned Monday.

According to a spokesperson with the Camilla Enterprise newspaper, the board of education in Camilla approved Silas’ hiring at a called meeting last Thursday, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Silas has taken the job. The spokesperson said he is also waiting to hear from either the head of the Mitchell-Baker athletic department or from Silas for confirmation.

Silas has held the top job at Dooly County for the past four years with a record there of 28-15; his overall head coaching record is 31-30. Silas has ties to the Mitchell-Baker area as well, having served as assistant coach at Mitchell-Baker High School and at nearby Cook County High early in his coaching career.

If Silas were to leave Dooly County, he would be leaving a Bobcat team that has 34 players returning from last year’s 10-2 squad, including six starters from the defense and five from the offense.

“The only two losses we had all year,” Silas told the Dispatch in a pre-season preview interview, “were to the ECI team that won state and the Wilcox High squad that finished second to them.

“That says a lot about just how close we came to having a really great season. Hopefully, the 34 guys we have coming back from that team will want to do just as well if not better.”

The Bobcats’ football season begins Aug. 29 with a home opener against Crisp County.