Bulldogs gear up for scrimmage with Buena

By Bruce Whetten

Douglas Dispatch
Published/Last Modified on Thursday, August 16, 2012 12:30 PM MDT


The Douglas Bulldogs concluded their first full week in pads with a brief practice Saturday morning all in preparation for this Thursday’s controlled scrimmage with the Buena Colts.


Bulldog running back Dylan Guerrero finds a hole in practice last week as the Bulldogs continue preparations for Thursday night's scrimmage with Buena. The controlled scrimmage will start at 6 p.m. at Armando DeLucas Stadium.

The scrimmage will start at 6 p.m. at Armando DeLucas Stadium. The season opener will be a week later, Aug. 24 when Empire comes to town.

Bulldog football coach Dick Keith said Saturday things went really well for the most part.

“We’re still looking for kids in certain positions,” he said.

The coach said he and his coaches have got their offensive and defensive line personnel figured out as well as the tight end.

“Our No. 1 and 2 running backs throughout the season will be Dillon (Guerrero) and Grant (Watkins),” the coach said. “Blaze (Rose) will be at QB. There will be a lot of other people working in and out trying to give those three somewhat of a breather.”

The coach said a lot of the players will have to go both ways which has been the case in previous years.

“I’ve got a good feeling about it,” he said. “I hope to know more after our scrimmage on Thursday.”

Coach Keith said the kids are “tired of beating up on each other” and are looking forward to seeing someone else for a change.

“They want to see what they got against someone else and Buena will be a good test for us,” the coach said. “They’re a 5A school, they play a really tough schedule and they’re definitely a good test for us.”

Injury wise the coach said there have been a few slight concussions that have been flaring up and the DHS trainers have been taking extra precautions with those players.

Friday, Aug. 10 was the last day Keith would allow players to come out for the team this year. That day he had several new players show up who are now behind schedule because they have to have the state mandatory 10 practices in before they can even put on pads and have contact.

“We’ll try to work these kids in as the season goes on and see what happens,” he said. “Right now we have 37 players on the varsity roster.”

Coach Keith said Rose, a sophomore, continues to show improvement in practice.

“He misses some of his throws and things like that but he’s such a natural back there,” the coach said. “He’s not big but he’s strong and fast … he’s got a small frame but he’s very intelligent. He loves to play the ball; throws a great ball.”

The coach said with a solid line in front of him and Watkins and Guerrero to help him in the backfield, Rose should be okay leading this team.

At tight end the coach is auditioning Matt Nelson along with Jason Linden and James Bresenio.

Nelson will play tight end against Buena while Linden and Bresenio will be at right tackle and guard.

Coach Keith will be sending some of his coaches out tonight to scout Empire’s scrimmage with Catalina and on Friday to scout Safford vs. Tanque Verde.

Empire, Safford and Catalina are all on Douglas’ schedule this year.

Douglas has six home games and four road games this year.

Catalina will be homecoming on Oct. 4; Bisbee will be Mom and Dad’s night on Oct. 19.

Copyright © 2013 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    Love DHS footbal wrote on Aug 20, 2012 3:20 PM:

    " This is no time to be stubborn, coach! Do what is best for the team. Utilize all of your coaches not your volunteers- "

    Eli wrote on Aug 19, 2012 9:35 PM:

    " The wat both lines were dominated I think there seems to be a lot more issues than qb and rb. Watkins was hit before he got to the line on 7 or 8 occasions. Blaze would have been sacked another 2 or 3 times and they were not blitzing most of the time . Watkins did have a couple nice runs early though but had to break tackles in the backfield to gain yardage. I'll give credit to Buena. They are big and athletic but think we can be more competitive with them with Watkins at QB. "

    Bulldog wrote on Aug 19, 2012 10:15 AM:

    " Watkins will be the target this year in what ever position. At least at QB he could run the ball and throw. Hopefully Keith has a plan..... "

    Douglas Football 88 wrote on Aug 18, 2012 5:04 PM:

    " Think its a little early to jump ship on the season. A team as athletic as Buena will help get our team ready for the better schools we will face like Nogales who is similar to Buena athletically. Think the pounding on the field Thursday night was more about what they have become and less about what we are. Do think Watkins needs to move back to QB. Buena defense smacked him around pretty good and he only had 2 or 3 carries for positive yards. Blaze didn't do much throwing against the top group of Buena DBs. We will get better. Its just a scrimmage. Still excited for the season. "

    Wow wrote on Aug 18, 2012 4:43 PM:

    " Don't you all just LOVE all the know it all's in this town!! Get a life. People make it seem like they are some retired Pro NFL football players. Can't even say has beens, more like never weres'!! Let the kids play and the coaches coach. If they win, Great! If they lose, oh well! Its just a game. "

    Fan wrote on Aug 18, 2012 4:38 PM:

    " I agree with DHS dawg! "

    DHSDawg wrote on Aug 18, 2012 7:50 AM:

    " I was not happy with how unathletic we looked on both sides of the ball. Buena has a bunch of kids who can fly and we couldn't keep up. Regardless of wether or not we were showing everything we need to be able to take away what teams like that do best. They ran at will and passed at will. We were covering recievers with linebackers. I know its just a scrimmage but it exposed us a bit. "

    question wrote on Aug 17, 2012 3:53 PM:

    " what happens if Blaze gets hurt? Keith did not practice anyone else last night. Who is the 2nd string QB? Blaze has a good arm, but can not run- We lost a lot of good talent last year- "

    Douglas Resident wrote on Aug 17, 2012 3:45 PM:

    " Leave Blaze and Grant alone- Why would they ever want to play football in a community who criticizes for every little thing, is beyond me! Lets just support the Bulldogs! This might be a growing year, they are a young team. "

    football player wrote on Aug 17, 2012 3:38 PM:

    " Watkins- you should have come to play with us in Tucson- "

    ex-player wrote on Aug 17, 2012 3:35 PM:

    " No way can Grant play QB- He needs to be playing both ways- He looked strong as RB- Douglas needs more players- Very young team- "

    DHS 92 wrote on Aug 17, 2012 3:16 PM:

    " DHS didn't "show" everything they had at the scrimmage. Calm down. They will be fine. "

    CoEleven wrote on Aug 17, 2012 2:00 PM:

    " My brother, a former varsity player who graduated with the class of 2012, watched the scrimmage with Buena yesterday. He reported to me that Blaze was doing a great job as quarterback and the team did well and should be a lot better with a bit of improvement, but the fine tuning bit was like that during the first few games of the years he played so that is a normal process. As a former player, he knows the teams workings and strategies. I believe that Blaze, with some practice, can become a great quarterback and that Grant will have much more of an impact as a running back. Keith may not be the greatest coach in the world, but at this stage, I think he knows what's going on. "

    Bulldog22 wrote on Aug 17, 2012 1:35 PM:

    " Went to watch the Buena scrimmage. Watkins pretty much a non factor against the 1's. Buena had much better athletes and swarm. We need to be able to play with teams like that if we are gonna be playoff contenders. I am sure we wont see that same athleticism next Friday at Empire but down the road we will and we have to be able to compete with them. And where are all the players. Looked like we only dressed 35. "

    Dhs 10 wrote on Aug 16, 2012 2:14 PM:

    " Grant is where he needs to be you will see "

    Bulldog wrote on Aug 15, 2012 6:12 PM:

    " I can not believe that Watkins is not at QB! He is your leader on the team! "

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