Bulldogs looking to return to playoffs
After qualifying for the playoffs for nine straight seasons, Strong has missed the postseason in three of the last four years.
With Sirl Wright now at the helm of the program, the Bulldogs are hoping for a reversal of their recent fortunes.
However, it won’t be easy. The Bulldogs open the Friday night against 4A Hamburg before hosting Village a week later.
Strong then takes on Rison before opening league play with Fordyce and Junction City.
Although the challenge is certainly daunting, Wright is embracing it.
“The non-conference is really season rival Lake going to test us and get us ready for conference,” Wright said. “We’ve really got our big hitters in conference at the beginning, so our guys that don’t have much experience, they’re going to have to get in there and get some experience with those non-conference games.
“They can learn how to play and compete at a high level at the beginning, and I think it’s going to set us up for the beginning of the conference. With the way the schedule is set up, we’ve got to control what we can control, and not make major mistakes. We’ve got to make those teams earn what they get.”
With Woodlawn and Hermitage both playing eight-man football this fall, the Bulldogs were faced with the prospect of going three weeks between games, but Wright was able to add a game against Clinton to the schedule to prevent that.
“Three weeks off would have been a killer,” Wright said. “Getting that extra opponent was critical for us. No matter if they’re quality or not quality, just getting some extra reps and getting to fine-tune what you’re doing.
“It’s a hard motivator just to practice and not really play on Friday night while all of your peers are playing while we’re sitting around, kind of twiddling our thumbs and beating up each other. It’s kind of
like going back to camp where you’re just hitting on each other.
“You don’t want to get each other hurt by hitting on each other, but you get in better game-shape and also playing ability when you play more games.
“I would have hated it for my seniors to lose two games and those opportunities of possibly getting scouted or extra looks. I was excited to find an opponent. Hopefully, we can fill the other spot, but as of right now, I’m going to assume it’s going to be open.”
Wright wasn’t hired until the end of June, and with several players joining the team earlier in August, there hasn’t been much time to get everything installed on both sides of the ball.
“I think there are going to be some growing pains as far as just learning the terminology,” Wright said. “In football, what happens with kids is if they don’t know the terminology, it’s hard for them to play fast, so we’ve got to make sure we keep it simple and preach core principles so they can play faster, make more plays and build their confidence.
“By the time we get to conference, I think we can actually develop a little bit more and show a little bit more versatility.”
Strong opens the 8-2A against Fordyce and Junction City, two teams expected to contend for the league crown.
“By having those two teams at the beginning, they’re really going to test our abilities,” Wright said.
“From there, typically at that time of the year, it’s still kind of hot, so that’s going to be a factor. Teams get to know who their featured player or back is closer to game five, six or seven.
“With the heat, you have to be disciplined. That’s what I have been preaching to the kids. You’ve got to be smart, because when you get tired, you make bad plays. I think by having Junction and Fordyce early, we can be possibly more competitive versus at the end of the season when they’re well-oiled machines.”
If the Bulldogs are to bounce back, Wright said his team must avoid the injury bug.
“One is staying healthy,” Wright said. “We don’t really have a lot of depth, so staying healthy is very critical. Being tough-minded and imposing our will on our opponents is going to be another factor.”