Bulldogs prepared for jump to 9-man

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Now that Bowman County is playing without long-time co-op partner Scranton and in 9-man football, the team has found a new swagger.

The Bulldogs, who were 1-7 in 11-man last season, lost 11 seniors from last season, five players from the Scranton co-op.

“We’ve got a really young team this year,” Bowman County head coach Travis Hager said. “That takes a big hit to our numbers. We had 17 guys come out and we got a lot of new faces.”

Hager said this year’s team, led by four seniors, is a very different team from year’s past.

Alex Burke plans to take over at running back for the Bulldogs. Hager knew Burke was going to be relied on heavily and said that so far in practice, he has shown he is ready.

“He exceeded our expectations,” Hager said. “He came in with a little pop in his step and he was faster than what he expected.”

The team’s vocal leader, Bryce Wood, exceeded Hager’s expectations as well, but more in the leadership sense.

“Bryce and Alex have really taken this young team and showing the ropes,” Hager said.

DJ Goodshield will man the quarterback position. Goodshield was new to the team last year and now gets a chance to show what he can do on the field. The final senior on the team is Marcqus Ohlmacher.

The Bulldogs have seven incoming freshmen, the most Hager said he has seen in his three years as head coach.

“We are starting to see numbers get a little bit higher in our younger grades,” “The numbers are higher, so if we can pull those, we are going to start seeing a number increase.

“Football is a numbers game.”

Heading into its first-ever 9-man season, the Bulldogs continue to keep their goals high.

“Failing to make a goal, that’s not the end of the world,” Hager said. “Never having a goal to achieve, that’s the end of the world.”

Bowman County Bulldogs

Head coach: Travis Hager

Last season: 1-7

Returners: Bryce Wood, Sr., FB/LB, 5-10, 175; Alex Burke, Sr., DB/RB, 5-6, 150; Eric Bucholz, Jr., WR, 5-7, 145.

Newcomers: DJ Goodshield, Sr., QB/DB, 6-0,155; Chandler Braaten, Fr., WR/LB, 5-7, 150.

Losses: Nick Germann, QB; Tate Wallman, WR; Beau Mutschelknaus, OL/DL; Daniel Ruggles, OL.

2011 schedule: Aug. 23–at Hettinger-Scranton, 7 p.m. Aug. 27–vs. Divide County at Badlands Activities Center, 4:30 p.m.; Sept. 2–at Parshall, 6 p.m.; Sept. 9–vs. Shiloh Christian, 7 p.m. Sept. 16–at Central McLean, 6 p.m. Sept. 23–vs. Trenton-Trinity Christian, 7 p.m. Sept. 30–vs. Mott-Regent, 7 p.m. Oct. 7–at Center-Stanton, 6 p.m. Oct. 14–vs. Beach, 7 p.m.

Tags: high school football, kickoff football preview