DECATUR -- The Decatur Bulldogs will open their 2014 season in a benefit contest with Gentry at Pioneer Stadium on Thursday.
The preseason scrimmage raises money to benefit the Arkansas Activities Associations Catastrophic Insurance Fund. In addition to this fund, 80 percent of the proceeds will be split between Decatur and Gentry and will go toward reconditioning football helmets.
With the return of senior quarterback Victor Urquidi, the Bulldogs are primed and ready to begin the 2014 football season. The Bulldogs hope this will be the beginning of their march toward the playoffs in November.
For many of the players, this will be the first time to play in the varsity ranks. But Shane Holland, head football coach, feels confident his players will overcome the opening game jitters.
"We are very young in the line, " Holland said. "It's going to be interesting to see how that plays out. It will be a learning experience for our kids."
The Bulldogs will be counting on two sophomores playing two key positions this season. Leng Lee will play backup quarterback and running back. Cameron Shaffer, the first female to play on the varsity, will serve as center for Urquidi. Both Lee and Shaffer played outstanding football for the junior high team in 2013. They are expected to hit the field ready to show the big boys what they are made of.
A problem that has plagued Decatur for the last few seasons is the number of players going out for football. This season is no exception. The Bulldog roster for this season stands at 23. That means that most of Decatur's players will serve double duty, playing offense and defense with little rest between sets. This put Holland at a severe disadvantage during preseason because he was not able to put out full defensive and offensive lines to see how each would react in a game setting.
"Because of numbers, we haven't had the chance to be in a lot of scrimmage situations, so we will see where we are at during the Gentry game on Thursday," Holland said.
The varsity teams will play Gentry Aug. 28 at 5:30 p.m. ,with the junior high teams playing on Aug. 29 at 5:30 p.m.
For a complete Bulldog football schedule, visit the Decatur Athletics facebook page or go online at www.decatursd.com.
Sports on 08/27/2014