After weeks of preparation, the Bulldogs can finally get down to business.
New Waverly, which took its lumps during the nondistrict slate, is all set to get back on the field and open up district play tonight against Centerville.
“This is what counts,” New Waverly head coach Ken Craig said on Thursday. “This is what you practice for. This is what you made yourself ready for since we stopped playing at the end of last November.
“That’s what the focus has been on. Now we have to take positive steps to get toward that point. We certainly ought to have a fire in our belly when you play that first district ballgame. You want to win every one you play, but that first one that goes toward the ultimate prize is a big one.”
The Bulldogs (3-2) come into tonight’s district opener looking to continue where they left off last season when they swept through District 21-2A on their way to an outright district title.
“I’m real excited,” senior center Jesse Elias said. “We just got off this break, so we’ve been practicing real hard lately. I can’t wait.”
New Waverly hit a couple of bumps in the road when it lost to Franklin and Hearne in the nondistrict portion of the season. But as far as the Bulldogs are concerned, the season is just beginning — the one that counts the most, anyway.
“We’re hoping to go undefeated in district again,” Elias said. “So far, we haven’t done so good. We’ve lost a couple of games, but we just have to get started again.”
The Bulldogs know they can’t take Centerville lightly. After dropping their first four games of the season, the Tigers (1-4) trounced Elkhart 41-7 in their final nondistrict game.
“You’ve got to step up and play now,” Craig said. “You can’t have any excuses now. You’ve got to step it up on every play.”
The Bulldogs spent their bye week trying to heal from injuries and getting ready for district play. Craig was pleased with how his team has practiced and prepared during that time.
“I feel good about the plan going into the game,” Craig added. “I feel good about the attitude and how prepared the boys are to play and how focused they’ve been.
“We’re going be ready to step out Friday and play. We’ve had some good practices this week. We’re in better shape than we have been in a while. We’ve got our legs back under us. We’ve certainly got a lot of energy today. You’re trying to get them focused because they’re ready to go play. That’s always a pretty good sign.”
Almost at full strength
The Bulldogs suffered through a multitude of injuries during the first half of the season. But the bye week couldn’t have come at a better time as the Dogs are almost all healed up now.
“We’ve had time to get over being banged up a little,” Craig said. “We’re as healthy as we have been in a while.”
Of the injuries that the coaching staff had expected to have players back from, only running back Rodney Thomas remains out of action with a broken arm. Thomas still hasn’t been cleared by doctors, but is expected to return in a couple of weeks.
Senior Eli Amador, who suffered a broken wrist early in the season, has been cleared and will play in tonight’s game.
“He feels he’s ready to come back and play,” Craig added. “I certainly like to see him suited up because he has such a positive influence with everything that he does.”
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David Magallanes
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Discussion
No excuses now
New Waverly kicks off district season at Centerville tonight
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