Starting his second season with the Waldron Bulldogs is head football coach, Jonathan Bates. Prior to his position at Waldron, Bates was the head football coach at Dierks High School. From the moment Coach Bates stepped onto the Bulldogs field, he made quite the impression. To the outside world, Jonathan Bates is just another person. But to the Waldron community, he is the heart of the Bulldogs.
In 2017, the Waldron football program was seeing great success in having made it to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. Coach Bates knew he had big shoes to fill but it has been a challenge that he has risen up to from day one. Coach Bates, along with his world-class skilled coaching staff of Mark Brigance, Nick Stovall, Cory Chambers, Chance Tanner, Garett Lazenby, and newcomer Robert Coker, has been putting in long hours all summer to ensure that their Bulldogs see success in the upcoming season.
The 2019-2020 Waldron football season is sitting in the 4A-4 conference with Dardanelle, Dover, Elkins, Mena, Ozark, Pottsville, and Subiaco Academy. The Bulldogs possess a senior-laden roster and are returning all six of last seasons starters. Although last year Waldron didn’t quite have the season they were hoping for due to a few mental errors, this year is a whole ‘nother ballgame.
Not looking to repeat last season, the Bulldogs have an overwhelming desire to win and they will take down anyone who stands in their way. Waldron holds an abundance of depth in their skilled positions and a team of players who hold enough horsepower and determination to take down a Mack truck.
A few key players to keep your eye on this upcoming season is junior Quarterback and Linebacker, Braden Williams, junior Running Backs and Safeties, Caden Fuller and Bryson Bailey, senior Running Back and Cornerback, Carson Pyles, junior Offensive and Defensive Lineman, Ethan Slater, senior Running Back and Linebacker, Kennedy Rice, and senior Offensive and Defensive Lineman, Rylee Shupert and Joey Cardenas.
The Bulldogs are going to continue working day in and day out so that when their time to shine gets here on opening day, they will then be able to prove that Waldron will sit in the shadows no more. The Bulldogs will hold their annual Orange and Black Scrimmage on August 16 with the Jr High playing at 530 p.m. and Sr High playing at 730 p.m.
