THREE RIVERS AREA — The Bald Knob Bulldogs ended last year thinking about what could have been. After starting their conference schedule with four consecutive losses, the Bulldogs recovered to win their final three games and squeak into the playoffs to face a Newport team that had drubbed them 55-26 earlier in the regular season.
Newport was held to seven yards of offense in the first half. The Bulldogs held a 21-18 advantage with a minute anda half left in the game. On third and short, a missed assignment on the line led to a fumble, which led toan 83-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
The Bulldogs lost 27-24. A second-round playoff game went from reality to empty dream, and "this year" became "next year." Still, there is a silver lining. The Bulldogs (5-5 last year) return eight playoff starters on offense and nine on defense and begin their march deeper into the playoffs when they begin their 2009 schedule against Bauxite.
One of the returning starters for head coach Paul Johnston's Bulldogs is senior quarterback Nick Glaze. Glaze took
over the Spread offense for the Bulldogs during the fifth week
against Lonoke. He started the final seven games for Bald
Knob, including the playoff loss to Newport.
"Nick throws well and runs well," Johnston said. "I'd like to
see him play a full season and stay healthy - he has a chance
to throw for over 2,000 yards. We are a passing offense, but we
may try to throw a few more runs in there, which does include
him. I expect Nicholas to shine in a balanced attack." Glaze's top passing targets figure to be seniors Trey Gavin
and Nathan Leonard, a transfer from Searcy. Throw junior
Jordan Johnston into the receiving mix, and Glaze should have
a skilled set of options to whom he can throw. Gavin (6-5) and
Johnston (6-4) offer height, while Leonard, who runs a 4.6
40-yard dash, offers good speed. Taking many of the snaps in
the backfield will be senior Eli McGlothlin.
Up front, the Bulldogs return senior Garrett Wright at left
tackle and junior Zack Shoebottom at left guard. Joining them
on the line is the team's biggest lineman, junior right tackle
Mickey Godfrey, who Johnston said has the ability to be "a
tremendous lineman." Defensively, senior middle linebacker Jared Atkins leads
the Bulldogs. Senior outside linebacker Blake Rouse returnsafter a successful campaign in which he tallied 118 tackles. A number of players will line up on both sides of the ball for the Bulldogs, including Shoebottom and Wright on the line and Johnston at defensive end.
One of the question marks on defense for the Bulldogs is the secondary. Gavin is the only returning starter in the secondary, heading back to free safety for Bald Knob. Joining him will be Leonard at strong safety. Junior Terrell Woods will take over at cornerback with either junior Joey Miller or senior Brandon McSpadden filling out the pass coverage.
Secondary is a particular concern because, Johnston said, the Bulldogs are the smallest 4A school. They are slated to play relatively bigger and faster teams like Marianna Lee, Heber Springs, Stuttgart and Lonoke.
"It's a tough league as far as we're concerned," Johnston said. "These teams put athletes on the field year in, year out because of the size of their schools."
Still, Johnston expects his team to finish in the top four in the conference and punch a return ticket to the playoffs. He said the team has plenty of motivation to get back.
"These kids still remember the Newport game, which is good," Johnston said.
"They realize that when they play and everybody does their job, then we're going play well. They have a hunger for it now after the missed opportunity."
BALD KNOB BULLDOGS
Sept. 4 ..................at Bauxite
Sept. 11 ................. Newport
Sept. 18 ..........at Valley View
Sept. 25 .................. DeWitt*
Oct. 2 ................. at Lonoke*
Oct. 9 ................... Stuttgart*
Oct. 16 ........ Heber Springs*
Oct. 23 ............... at Clinton*
Oct. 30 ........... at Marianna*
Nov. 6 .. Southside Batesville*
Special, Pages 161, 162 on 08/23/2009