Week 5...Scalped

We five for the Bulldogs brought us back home after two road games and was Homecoming. You would think that the excitement of homecoming would fire up the guys and bring home a win, especially since we welcomed the Indians who we demolished last year (one of only 3 wins).

Things didn't start off so well as the Indians scored early in the first and took a 7-0 lead. We had several chances to score but for some reason our receivers didn't want to catch the ball. So we quickly got down 14-0 before one of our senior recievers decided it was time to catch a ball in the endzone. 14-6 after the missed extra point, have I mentioned before that we don't really have a kicker. At halftime, the score was 20-6 and we only hoped things would change.

After halftime we put together a long drive and scored making the score 20-13. Our defense played a great second half but our offense struggled at times. With a little less than 3 minutes to go in the game our defense held them to a 4th and 1, but a hard count drew our linebacker off sides giving them a first down. Again we held them to a 4th and 4 and forced a punt, but instead of the block we ran into the punter giving them another 1st down and securing their victory.

Another loss by the Bulldogs bring us to 1-4 on the season. We travel to Wendy's school district next week and face the Zebra's for their homecoming. Luckily the Zebra's are 0-5 but that doesn't really mean much with the Bulldogs coming to town. Stay tuned!

WHEN?????

I am so ready to have the baby. Since Friday, Wendy has been have some contractions but nothing to rush her to the hospital about. I guess I am saying that they aren't regular yet. I am hoping that it happens in the next few days. Please pray for everything to go well once it happens.

Week 4 - What a birthday present...

I celebrated my 31st birthday yesterday and luckily we had a football game...or unluckily since we had to play the defending 5A state champions. We played on Thursday night because we played a Tulsa Public School and there are only so many fields for the TPS teams and so often times there are games on Thursday and Friday. I really don't think it matters what day we play East Central because they are good and we...well, we aren't.

No much to write about except to say that it was impressive to watch them play and unimpressive to be on the same field as them. Final score 69-0. What a beating.

There was a little humor during the game. Along with 2 other coaches, I sit in the press box (0r on top of the press box, as was last nights honor). We help with personnel, alignment, etc. We are eyes in the sky. Well right before halftime a storm came up with lightening and so we decided to climb down. Well the storm moved through duing halftime and afterward we decided, since no one was in the stands, that we would just stand at the top of bleachers for the second half...it was only 48-0 at half. Well shortly after the 3rd quarter started we noticed a group of...how do I say this...african american boys sitting a section over and a few rows down. We quickly realized that they were about freshman age and that they were heckling us. I can't repeat all that was said but let me just say that we laughed the entire second half at them and what they were saying. At one point their team scored again, and they were in our face laughing, all we could do was slap them five and enjoy the moment. There is no need getting upset over a 69 point defeat.

Well homecoming is next on the schedule. I don't think we should take them for granted.

Week 3 - Dirty Birds Victorious

Well, sorry for the delay in updates, but we faced our longtime rival on Friday night the Collinsville Cardinals (aka Dirty Birds). Last year we traveled the 20 minutes to C'ville and lost a heart breaker. This year we again had to travel to C'ville to face a 2-0 Dirty Bird team. Our scouting report told us that they were not that good and we, of course, were coming off the biggest win in several years.

Long story short, we got blown up!!!! Final score 38-14. We had a touchdown called back early in the game because of a block in the back 30 yards behind the play. However, that is not what cost us the game. Our rookie QB, after a great outing the week before, threw 2 interceptions and had 3 fumbles. We lost another fumble and also had a punt blocked. We did not give ourselves a chance to win.

Well that game is over and we can't think about anymore. We have short week, because Thursday night we travel into Tulsa to face the defending 5A state champions. We don't have a prayer. They are quite athletic and we are not. So look for a devasting blow out on Friday.

Week 2...Instant Classic

That's right, see it tonight on ESPN Classics...okay, not really but what a night of football in Bulldog land. After our week one beating, we welcomed to town the #7 team (the TV says #10...we will stick with #7) in 5A featuring the best running back in Oklahoma. We entered the game giving up 232 rushing yards to the opposing quarterback last week, I can not begin to explain what Mr. Baker-Hughes could do to us. I entered the game expecting us to get rolled up (I'm realistic in my thinking). We took the ball to start the game but did not accomplish much, so we punted and the Eagles fumbled the return and we took over again with decent field position. Our sophomore QB took the field and marched us down to the 5 yard line. 1st and 5, we might score first, but the Eagle defense held and then blocked our field goal attempt. They scooped the block and returned it 93 yards for an apparent touchdown, fortunately it was called back because of a penalty. So the Eagles took over 1st and 10 at their 7. On the next play Baker-Hughes took it 93 yards for a touchdown. We were behind. We then battled for a most of the second quarter until Baker-Hughes to a screen pass 76 yards for another TD. 14-0, Eagles. However the Bulldogs were not ready to throw in the towel and responeded with a TD pass by the rookie. Of course, the extra point was blocked...14-6. Just before halftime, the Bulldogs mounted another drive scoring on the rookies 2nd TD pass of his career, we successfully scored the 2 point conversion to tie the game at 14 going into halftime.

With a little less than 9 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter, the Eagles had taken a commanding lead of 28-14. I guess they got jumped at halftime and decided that they better stop overlooking the Bulldogs. However, that is all the Eagles would get. The 4th quarter belonged to the Bulldogs. Rookie QB added two more TD passes to his stats (of course on the fourth TD we had to go for two because...you guessed it they blocked our extra point). Two minutes remaining 28-28. Our defense held and received the punt, a rookie mistake gave the Eagles the ball back on an interception (#2 on the night). However the Eagles turned around and threw it back to us...so with 19 seconds remaining and about 60 yards between us and victory (we can't kick a field goal remember) we moved the ball about 20 yards when time expired. Hello overtime.

For those of you not familiar with Oklahoma overtime each team gets the ball on the 10 yard line and gets 4 downs to score, either by TD or FG. The Eagles took the ball first and ran it 3 times moving the ball to the 3 yard line. However, the Eagles decided to go for the glory and our defense stuffed them keeping them from scoring. Do you feel the tension...we should not be in this situation. Get ready 1st and Goal from the 10...rookie drops back and nails the slant for the game winning touchdown (Rookie was 13 for 33, 5 TD's and 2 Int's). Man the place erupted. What a night!!!!

Now we may go out next week and get rolled up by another mediocre team but we at least will win one game this year. I must also tell you that one of our players is being nominated for player of the week (Nose Guard - 18 tackles, 7 assists, 1 tackle for loss, and 1/2 a sack...let me put the tackles in perspective for you...he had 25 tackles in 58 plays.)

Isn't it nice when we win, don't you feel like you get more information and feel like you were a Bulldogs for just a moment. See you next week on the Gridiron.

Week 1

Well I have told many of you about the upcoming football season where I coach and have promised to keep you updated on how we do. So we entered week one last night with a home non-conference game on our new turf field. Now before I get to the game, let me just tell you that it was touch and go whether we would even have a field to play on for our first week. It was literally finish in the final few hours before game time. We even had a crisis hit 4 hours before game time when one of our school employees hit the power box with a tractor and knocked out all the lights in our fieldhouse and on the field. Luckily that was fixed almost immediately. With the field finished, the Bulldogs took the field for the first time on new turf and with a new head coach. Unfortunately, it did not end the way we would have wanted. The first half ended at 14-3 Hornets. We had several chances to score but could not punch it in before halftime. The second half was a different story. We were outscored in the second half 27-6 (all of their points came in the 3rd quarter). I think we fumbled about 4 times, losing all 4. It was a rough night. I am sure things will get better. Final score 41-9. Bulldog record 0-1. Stay tuned for updates over the next 9 weeks.