DECATUR -- Both the Decatur Bulldog junior high and varsity football teams spent most of the week of July 11 getting the weight room upgraded. Due to the extreme heat the area has experienced over the past six weeks, the teams were only able to get in a light practice session on Thursday and Friday in preparation for another team football camp in Berryville on July 18 and 19.
After these camps, Coach Jake Denzer will gather his troops together for the first week of preseason drills on Aug. 1 in preparation for the first game of the 2022 season at Bulldog Stadium in Decatur on Aug. 26 against Little Rock Episcopal.
But things will be different this season than in the past four years, with Decatur moving back into the 2A, Region 1, 11-man football league. In 2018, the Bulldogs helped establish the 8-man football league. However, since the end of the 2021-22 school year, the Arkansas Activities Association realigned some of the teams, moving schools like Decatur back into the 2A 11-man conference, a move that pleased Denzer.
But the same problem that plagued Decatur in the past before the move to 8-man began to plague this year's senior high program. But Denzer found a strong showing in the junior high team, especially in his freshman class. He may move some of these ninth graders up to the high school ranks.
And, as in years past, the Decatur program picked up a lot of players on the first day of school since most of the senior high kids have summer jobs, with some assisting with family businesses and helping at home.
The first day of classes is August 15, with the junior high practice scheduled for the first hour while the senior high will practice during the athletic period at 2:30 p.m. Either way, Denzer expects his numbers will grow enough that they will have a good season this year.
Decatur Varsity Football schedule
08/26: Episcopal at Decatur 7 p.m.
09/02: Decatur at Carlisle, 7 p.m.
09/09: Yellville at Decatur, 7 p.m.
09/16: Decatur at Berryville, 7 p.m.
09/23: Magazine at Decatur, Homecoming, 7 p.m.
09/30: Decatur at Mountainburg, 7 p.m.
10/07: Decatur at Conway Christian, 7 p.m.
10/14: Hector at Decatur, 7 p.m.
10/21: Bye (open date), 7 p.m.
10/28: Decatur at JC Westside, 7 p.m.
11/04: Bigelow at Decatur, Senior Night, 7 p.m.
Decatur Junior High Football schedule
08/25: Gentry at Decatur.
09/01: Bye (open date).
09/08: Decatur at Yellville.
09/15: Decatur at Bigelow.
09/22: Decatur at Magazine.
09/29: Mountainburg at Decatur.
10/06: Conway Christian at Decatur.
10/13: Decatur at Hector.
10/20: Bye (open date).
10/27: JC Westside at Decatur.
All games start with the 7th grade at 5:30 p.m., followed by the junior high at 7 p.m.
All games are subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen factors.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS The Bulldog quarterback tries to find an open receiver near the end zone as a herd of wild Mustangs tries to run him down during the Sept. 24, 2021, Decatur-Midland 8-man football contest in Decatur. The Bulldogs switch back to 11-man football, rejoining the 2A Region 1 conference for the 2022 season.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS A Bulldog running back finds an opening around a Mustang defender as he makes a 60-yard run into the end zone during the Decatur-Midland junior high football contest at Bulldog Stadium in Decatur on Sept. 24, 2021. The junior high Bulldogs start their 2022 football season during the preseason Blue/Gold scrimmage in Decatur on Aug. 17.