After an unsuccessful visit to Fort Worth, the 0-2 Tioga Bulldogs return home to host the 0-2 Callisburg Wildcats on Friday.
Both teams come into the matchup looking for their first win of the season, after the Wildcats suffered backto- back losses against Bowie, 40-0, and Millsap, 29-15.
“We’re similar teams,” said Zach Birdwell, Tioga athletic director and head football coach. “They had a really good group that graduated last year, and they’re going through some early-season adversity and finding out a lot about themselves early in the season just like we are, so we’re looking forward to this game.”
Despite the early-season struggles, the Bulldogs found a rhythm in the second half against Southwest Christian and hope to build on that momentum against a leaky Wildcat defense that has allowed over 300 yards of offense each of its first two games.
“Our whole season is about building off the positives and fixing the negatives, and we had a lot of positives in the second half, and we’re looking to pick right back up there this Friday,” Birdwell said. “The game plan didn't change from the first to the second half. The only thing that changed was our level of execution and our sense of urgency, so those have been the key things we're focused on this week.”
On the other side of the ball, the Bulldogs’ defense will look to rebound against a Wildcat offense averaging 7 points a game through the first two weeks.
The unit will also do their best to rally together after losing senior defensive back Justin Arrington to a broken collarbone in Week 2.
“Regardless of where you’re at in the season or who you’re playing, when you lose someone like Justin, it hurts, but we’ll do our best to figure it out,” Birdwell said. “We’re going to see a team or two in district that has this style of under center; run-it-at-you offense, so we wanted to see it now, and our guys are excited and looking forward to the challenge this week.”
Birdwell emphasized that the team’s chemistry will be key this week as the Bulldogs look to get their season back on track.
“We’re a program that’s rooted in the process and our standards, and we’ve been talking with the kids about trusting in that and continuing to chase the goals that we have set for ourselves and believing that they’re going to happen,” he said. “So, we’re not as worried about the outcome of the game, as we are about how we execute and the level of energy and urgency we play with. We believe if we get those things fixed and moving back in the right direction, the wins are going to take care of themselves.”
Tioga and Callisburg will get things underway at 7 p.m. Friday at Bulldog Stadium.
