Pictured is #10 Caden Fuller
When it comes to life, nothing is more heartbreaking than being so close to something that you can taste it. Whether it be a job promotion or a big-time football game, that gut-wrenching pain is never forgotten. On Friday, September, 25, holding an undefeated 3-0 season record, Waldron just knew that this would be the season when their 26-year losing streak to the Mena Bearcats would come to an end. Since 1993, the Sr Bulldogs have had zero victories against the Bearcats but with a new head coach and a fresh coat of paint on their football program, the same winning feeling was felt all throughout the community. The night was going great. Homecoming had been a success. The stadium was Covid-19 packed. And the weather was perfect. What more could a football fan ask for?
The match was officially underway. The name of the game in the first quarter was definitely defense rules! As each team’s offense tried to get things off the ground and running, the opposing team’s defense was rock solid in not allowing that to happen. Quarter number one ended with a score of 0-0. The score gave the Bulldogs the reassurance that was needed for them to know that they really could get the job done. In the second quarter, Mena capitalized on a broken Bulldog play, leading them to gain the first touchdown of the night.
With the scoreboard reading 7-0 Mena, Waldron answered right back when Trenton Hunt jetted 35-yards downfield faster than a 747 at takeoff for a Bulldog TD and tying the game 7-7 which is where the score remained going into the half. Coming back refreshed and re-pumped, the Bulldogs were ready to keep the party going. And boy did they! Caden Fuller was quicker on his feet than a Kangaroo at a kids’ birthday party as he delivered a massive Pick 6 to move the score to 14-7. After a time out, Mena came back to see the Bulldogs touchdown and raise them a touchdown of their own placing the score at 14-14.
As hearts were racing and fans were pacing, the anxiety level of the game hit the roof. The Bearcats laid out a pass play that set them up nicely for paydirt as they delivered a TD run allowing them to control the board 21-14. But that control wouldn’t last long as QB Braden Williams ran the ball in from the one-yard line to earn a Bulldog touchdown. Add in the PAT acquired by Leo Lopez and the scoreboard was lit at 21-21 with 29 seconds remaining in the game. With most people assuming that the match was about to go into overtime, the worst happened. After a few wonky plays by Mena, the QB caught wind of his receiver downfield permitting him do catapult a successful 50-yard hail mary at the final buzzer ending the game 28-21 Mena. The Waldron Sr Bulldogs are now 3-1 in total season play and 0-1 in conference.
