The evening started off looking like the rain was going to wait its turn so that the Waldron Sr High Bulldogs and the Mena Bearcats could face off in a dry football battle. The game got underway with both teams getting a feel for each other while finding the others weak spots. By the end of the first half, not only had the rain picked up but Menas running game did as well.
The Waldron defense knew they had their work cut out for them against a powerful Bearcat run game. The Bulldogs weren’t intimidated by anything though. Braden Williams and Matthew Tegtmeyer were Bulldog bulldozers as they were knocking Bearcats from right to left earning themselves a combined 13 solo tackles and seven assists. Unfortunately, Menas ground and pound running game was just too much for the Bulldogs to handle for four quarters. Offensively, Gabino Grano fearlessly led his team with a dominating force by rushing 15 carries for 76 yards, two solo tackles, three assisted tackles and secured Waldrons lone touchdown of the night.
Unfortunately, once everything was said and done, it was Mena who took the win 35-6. Offensively, Williams completed 11 passes for 86 yards and rushed 16 times for 48 yards. Jace Black was able to snag one big reception for 39 yards. Caden Fuller rushed four times for 17 yards and made four solo tackles. Isaac Villarreal made two receptions for five yards, three solo tackles and two assisted, and secured 32 KO return yards. Bryson Bailey picked up three receptions for 13 yards and two total tackles. Fernando Uribe earned one 2-yard reception along with two solo tackles and two assisted. Cody Starr and Seth Hunt each netted one solo tackle. And Bradley Smith and Patrick Poor combined for five assisted tackles.
The Bulldogs will not be deterred by Friday night’s outcome. Instead, they will take what they have learned from the game and apply it to their last two conference games of the season. Waldron will travel to Ozark to face off against the 5-0 Hillbillies on November 1st starting at 7 p.m. Then the Bulldogs will host their last conference game on November 7th against the Dover Pirates.
