Bulldogs look to bounce back tonight against Idabel
The Muldrow Bulldogs suffered their first football loss of the 2024 football season last Friday night, losing 48-45 to the Checotah Wildcats at Marty Rogers Field, but there was something for the ’Dogs (4-1 overall, 1-1 in District 3A-3 play) to build from going into tonight’s district road game at Idabel.
“We didn’t come out and play our best game (last) Friday night against Checotah,” Muldrow coach Logan Coatney said. “The kids fought hard. We put ourselves back in a position to be in the game and a chance there at the end of the game to tie it up and send it into OT. We’re building off that this week. We started slow last week, and that’s been our big coaching point this week. We have to start a little faster. We have to execute better in the first quarter and first half of ball games. Outside of that, I thought our kids did a whale of a job coming back in the second half of that ball game. We’re trying to use that momentum of how we played in the second half to teach and learn from and try to replicate that as we try to play four quarters (tonight) at Idabel. Both teams are going to be hungry.”
The Warriors (3-2, 1-1) also lost a close one last Friday night, losing 29-28 in overtime at Stigler. That loss snapped a two-game winning streak for them as they entered last week’s game off a 41-0 rout of Ashdown, Ark., and a 41-7 rout of Tulsa Holland Hall. After opening the season with a 51-13 Zero Week blowout of Valliant on Aug. 30, the Warriors lost their annual McCurtain County battle with archrival Broken Bow by a score of 42-21.
The key word Coatney uses to describe the Warriors is athletic.
“Idabel is extremely athletic,” he said. “Out of 11 positions on the field, I think they have good athletes playing at those positions for them. They have multiple (potential) Division I kids on their team. They’re going to run the ball hard. That’s what they want to hang their hats on — running the ball, whether it’s with their athletes on the outside or lining up and running the power-I at you. Defensively, their goal is to stop the run, and that’s one thing we have to take care of. They’re a good football team. (Idabel) coach (Scott) Pratt does an outstanding job down there. I think their kids have bought into their system and what is trying to be accomplished. Both teams are going to be hungry for a win. Both teams are coming off close losses.”
Coatney said the Bulldogs cannot have a sluggish start to tonight’s game if they want to get their second district win of the season.
“We have to start hot,” he said. “We have to execute offensively, We have to put long drives together. We have to take care of the ball. We have to be able to run the ball and go win the line of scrimmage. We have to tackle on defense. We have to do a good job stopping the run. We have to be disciplined with our eyes. We have to put four full quarters together and play our style of football. Those will be big factors in the game for us.”
The good thing is the ’Dogs will enter tonight’s game healthy.
“We have our typical bruises,” Coatney said. “It was a physical football game with Checotah. As far as health is concerned, we’re full speed. We’re ready to rock and roll against Idabel.”
• • •
TO GET THERE — Take U.S. 64 east to Fort Smith, Ark., where it becomes Garrison Avenue. Continue east to Towson Avenue (U.S. Business 71). Take Towson Avenue (U.S. Business 71) south to U.S. 71. Take U.S. 71 south to DeQueen, Ark. Take U.S. 70 west to Broken Bow. Take U.S. 70/259 south to Idabel.
