27 Aug 2011 Bald Knob: Bulldogs aim for top spot in 3-3A

The Bulldogs finished an impressive 9-3 last fall, beating the Lafeyette County Cougars, 56-18, in the first round of the playoffs before falling to Harding Academy, 41-14.

“Nobody expected us to do as well as we did,” said coach Paul Johnston. “I graduated a lot of good players in 2009. [Last season] the lack of experience showed against the best teams we played, but we still did good.”

Johnston considers some of the Bulldogs’ non-conference victories against 4A teams some of the greatest moments of the 2010 season.

“We beat Heber Springs, Pocahontas and Newport,” he said. “They will be tough competition this year. Pocahontas has gotten better and Newport has a new coach . . . Heber has a lot of players returning.”

Bald Knob returns six starters on offense and three on defense.

“They say we’re a passing team, but we’re also really strong on running,” Johnston said. “Our offense will be in the spread. Our run-to-pass ratio is 50-50 . . . We’ve got a lot of experience on our offense – kids with great athletic ability. My running back, offensive line and quarterback know what to do to win and what mistakes to look out for.”

Johnston said the challenge is going to be having a strong defense.

“We’re new on defense and show a lack of experience. Our offense will have to carry us through the year,” he said.

Junior Cordell Crisp (6-1, 165) returns as the Bulldogs’ quarterback. Senior running back Tyler Gilmore (5-11, 170) might look small, but Johnston said he is hard-nosed and can take a lick; Gilmore averages eight yards per carry.

Johnston said that two sophomores have a lot of potential to offer the team – running back Malachi Watson (6-2, 215) and slot receiver Deon Johns (6-1, 205). Their playing needs to mature some, Johnston said, and when they do the team will be a lot tougher.