Waldron Bulldogs Suffer First Loss

Story by Konnor McKay
If you weren’t in Mena, Arkansas Friday night, you missed an electric atmosphere!
As it has been over a decade since the Bulldogs of Waldron have defeated the Mena Bearcats, this years story may be similar in the win/loss column. But on that field, you seen some heart shown from each sideline that you wouldn’t trade for anything.
Waldron began the game on defense against the number 10 ranked team in class 4-A, The Mena Bearcats. And after driving down the field in the first three minutes of action, Waldron’s Matthew Poor steps up big on third and goal for a tackle in the backfield to force Mena’s special teams to attempt a field goal which went through the uprights.
Waldron struggling to get anything going on offense is forced to punt which was returned for a touchdown for Mena, making the score a quick 10-0 lead for the Bearcats. At this point things already looking grim for the Bulldogs, but they weren’t done playing yet.
Levi Hayden comes up big for the bulldog offense running a 79 yard touchdown. Mena puts up another score and makes it 18-6 to end the first quarter of action. The second quarter was interesting with Waldron recovering two defensive forced fumbles, one of those recoveries coming from Waldron’s Gerardo Lopez.
After two more touchdowns were added for the Bearcats, Waldron again shows signs of life when Cole Huddleston plunges his way into the end zone, along with Jarrod Starr adding another score to make the halftime score 33-19 in Mena’s favor. The second half things quickly got interesting.
The fans on The Waldron side were as ecstatic as ever. With much momentum, Waldron quickly pulls to within 2 points of the Bearcats making the score 33-31. One score added by Trey Williams and the other coming from Levi Hayden. Waldron just didn’t quite have enough to grab that victory that was so close you could taste it, Mena in the fourth quarter pulls away with a 47-31 lead and that’s where the score would stay.
It was a well fought game and a lot of players, got a lot of good experience.
Waldron drops to 2-1 on the season and Mena goes to 3-0. Waldron will face the Hillbillies of Ozark In Waldron at Bulldog stadium this coming Friday night. This starts conference play, and the road to the playoffs! So come, wear your orange and black, and be prepared for a bulldog takeover! Kickoff set for 7 p.m.