Friday, September 26, 1997

Bulldogs take struggling offense to Merkel

By MARK WILSON / Abilene Reporter-News

MERKEL -- While Wylie head coach Hugh Sandifer is wondering how to find a spark for his football team's offense, Merkel coach Jack Dorsett is wondering how his Badgers are going to block the Bulldogs' defenders.

Wylie has used its outstanding quickness on defense and some timely turnovers to record a 3-0 record coming into tonight's District 6-3A opener. But the Bulldogs have struggled offensively. Wylie capitalized on a combined total of six second-half turnovers to rally past Graham 17-9 two weeks ago and Snyder 7-3 last Friday.

Inconsistency on offense, dropped passes, crucial penalties and other miscues have made Wylie's unbeaten season far from perfect. The Bulldogs didn't turn the ball over against Snyder, but came up with only five first downs. No back other than quarterback Grant Gregg has scored a touchdown this season.

"It's a concern," Sandifer said of the offensive struggles. "We're working very hard on it -- on timing, execution, the basics of football. Our inexperienced offensive line is going to take some time. I see them making strides. We played two good defenses the last two weeks and we've made a lot of mistakes and some untimely penalties. The biggest key is to continue to step up our game a notch. It's time to pick up the level of our game."

Wylie, the defending district champion, is seeking its 10th consecutive win over the Badgers.

Dorsett is not only concerned about Wylie's quickness, but also about his team's emotional outlook.

"I'm not really happy about the way we're playing," Dorsett said. "We're not playing with any emotion or intensity. That's got me as concerned as anything else."

Nose guard Heath Henderson, who started for the Badgers last Friday night but had to be admitted to a Lubbock hospital on Saturday, is in "critical but stable condition" as of Thursday. His father, Greg Henderson, told the Reporter-News that his son has an aggressive and rare form of viral pneumonia that is "not person-to-person transmitted."

The Bulldogs' defense, which has yielded only 12 points this season, has impressed Dorsett.

"They're probably the quickest team I've ever seen," Dorsett said. "Nobody can run a play against them. They're lightning-quick.

"We've got to be able to block their front three. You don't know what you can do after you get past them. We're not quick enough to block them."

In the Jim Ned game, Merkel's all-area running back Jason Hudman rushed for 107 yards, and fullback Bobby Howe 113 yards.

Hudman has a team-high 260 yards rushing with two touchdowns, but three other Hudman scores have been wiped out by penalties.

Merkel quarterback Jet Carriker has thrown for 210 yards and two touchdowns. David Kahn, a 6-2 senior, is one of his favorite targets.

The Badgers have turned the ball over only once in their three games -- a fumble on a long kickoff return.

"That's keeping us out of trouble and keeping us in ballgames," Dorsett said.

"They're playing well," Sandifer said. "They have some weapons offensively. We're going to have to really play to slow those guys down."

-- Where: Badger Stadium, Merkel

-- When: 7:30 p.m.

-- Radio: Star 98.1 FM

-- Last week: Wylie 7, Snyder 3; Merkel 26, Jim Ned 17

-- Records: Wylie 3-0, 0-0 in District 6-3A; Merkel 2-1, 0-0

- Last meeting: Wylie 31, Merkel 7 (1996)

-- Injuries: Wylie: TB Sean Bailey (knee), probable; DL Jason Hearon (slight shoulder separation), probable; TB Dustin Williams (shoulder), out. Merkel: NG Heath Henderson (illness), out.

-- Scouting Wylie: The Bulldogs continue to be impressive defensively, led by linebacker Scott Unger with a season total of 21 tackles and 17 assists. Linebacker R.D. Hussman has 17 tackles and 17 assists. Defensive tackle Jason Hearon leads the squad with three fumble recoveries, and also has eight tackles and 10 assists. Tailback Sean Bailey, expected to play after being sidelined with a knee injury late in the third quarter of the Snyder game, leads the Bulldogs in rushing with 113 yards on 37 carries. Quarterback Grant Gregg is second with 93 yards on 39 carries, and leads the team with three rushing touchdowns. Gregg (20 of 46 for 305 yards passing with two interceptions) had his first 100-yard passing game (112 yards) of the season Friday.

n Scouting Merkel: Senior running back Jason Hudman leads the team with 260 yards rushing on 60 carries, and has scored four touchdowns. In last Friday's win over Jim Ned, senior fullback Bobby Howe led the way with 113 yards rushing. Senior quarterback Jet Carriker has passed for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Junior linebacker Adam Tarpley and defensive end Monty Moore lead the team in tackles. The Badgers have 18 seniors on their 26-member varsity squad.

What the coaches are saying

"No one's really stopped them -- they've stopped themselves. That's a scary thought. They're liable to be clicking on all cylinders Friday night. I'm really impressed with them a lot."

--Merkel head coach Jack Dorsett

"I think we've accomplished a lot, other than just winning games. I see a team bond forming. We had physical games the last two weeks. That's done nothing but help us. We've grown up and matured."

--Wylie head coach Hugh Sandifer