Its funny how things have a way of working themselves out.

Several months ago many of us wondered what kind of football season we would have this year when our new football coach abruptly resigned due to extenuating circumstances.

In steps Dick Keith who in one year has done wonders with a program that was once considered one of the weakest in the state.

Not any more.

In just a few months Coach Keith, his staff and this remarkable group of young men have helped restore pride and glory to a program that is rapidly gaining respect from opposing teams from all over the state thanks in part to impressive road wins over Amphi and now Scottsdale Arcadia who the Bulldogs humbled this past Friday night 35-17 in the first round of 4A DII state playoffs.

During its seven game win streak the Titans had outscored their opponents 329-128, an average score of 47-18.

The Bulldogs held Arcadia 30 points below their average allowing them a mere 17 points all of which came in the first half.

Defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Ron Ellsworth has become a defensive genius of sorts coming up with ways to stop Vern Fredilli’s vaunted wishbone offense and the impressive aerial passing attack of Arcadia.

Next up is Glendale Cactus, a team that appears to run the ball right at you daring you to stop them. The Cobras are 10-1 on the season (their lone loss coming to Scottsdale Saguaro 38-21) and are coming off a 69-7 opening playoff romp over Mohave Friday night.

The Cobras have a huge line which consists of guys weighing 272, 289, 273, 271 and 278 and all over six-feet. The 278-pounder is 6’5”.

Cactus has a running back, Alan Woods, who has run for over 2,000 yards this season and scored 31 touchdowns – his longest being 71 yards. As a team the Cobras have run for over 3800 yards. Quarterback Brody Ray is the second leading rusher on the team and he’s also thrown for 837 yards this year with six touchdowns and three interceptions.

It should be quite a game. I have no doubt Coach Ellsworth will have some kind of defensive scheme to try and stop what looks to be a explosive running attack.

This Bulldog team has shown some real maturity this year. I was so impressed by what I saw from these young men  during last week’s Veteran’s Day parade up G Ave.

This town is excited to begin with about the Bulldogs going back to state and seeing them walk up G Ave. behind that DHS football banner in their game jerseys got us even more excited.

The players then stopped in front of the Veteran’s bleachers at the American Legion and went into the stands and shook hands with the dignitaries that were there thanking them for their service to this great country of ours.

The defending state champion Douglas Bulldog soccer team led by Coach Ken Cormier, followed suit two floats later.

Their actions really impressed me and I want to commend the coaches and players for their display of patriotism. I felt this reflected positively on the kind of kids we have in this town.

I was also very pleased by the huge support we had Friday night at Arcadia and hope we can have a similar kind of crowd this weekend at Cactus.

Initially I estimated 300 people supporting Douglas were at the game Friday night. Later that night I learned the number was actually closer to 500.

We had fans from all over the state at the game. Lee Palmer who has been at all but the Santa Rita game this year said there were fans at the game Friday night he’d never seen before but they were there wearing their black and gold and cheering on our Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs are going to have their hands full Friday night but win or lose they can take great pride in the fact they have brought excitement back to DHS football and that the Gila Region has shown itself to be a legitimate football powerhouse landing five teams in the 16 team tournament and four in the final eight.

I’m hoping Coach Keith is strongly considered for Coach of the Year when the post season awards are handed out in a few weeks. He certainly deserves it.

He’s got my vote.