While the outcomes of the first two games this season have not gone the way coach David Wagner would like, the first-year Bulldogg mentor knows it’s all part of the process.
It’s part of a building process which takes time. It doesn’t happen in a week. It doesn’t happen in two weeks or a month or even a season. Yet, Wagner believes the first steps are being taken.
“When Coach (Shane) Davis was at Apalachee, he went 1-9 his first season,” Wagner said. “When you are 1-9, many people don’t see those little steps you are taking to build that foundation. We still have a lot of football to be played this season and we are going to do everything in our power to break through, starting this week.”
While Wagner understands the importance of building a program step by step, he admits to also being somewhat impatient.
“I don’t like losing,” he said. “There are so many things involved that the average Joe doesn’t understand. I am pleased with where we are and what we are doing. I want the end results to be different but we are doing things for 48 minutes on Friday night that haven’t been done in the past.”
Up next for the Bulldoggs will be Madison County this Friday at 7:30 p.m. at W. Clair Harris Stadium.
Wagner said the Raiders run 4-3 and 4-4 looks defensively.
“They are similar to us,” the WBHS coach said.
On the offensive side of the football, Madison County will use multiple pro sets running out of the I, off-set I and even the shotgun on occasion.
“They stay multiple and make you prepare for a great deal of things,” Wagner said.
While the Raiders enter Friday at 0-2, Wagner knows it will be a battle.
“They’ve played tough in their first two games,” the coach said. “They are a competitive group, just like us. We hope to be able to go out and play well and close the game out and get a victory. We have a chance but we know we have to play well.”
WBHS offensive coordinator Kenneth Sanders has broken down the Madison County for this week.
“Madison Co. runs a 4-4 defensive front with Cover 3 in the secondary,” Sanders said. “They also will use a 4-3 front with Cover 4 and Cover 2 in the secondary. Offensively we will need to sustain drives by putting first downs together and keep them off balance with a good mixture of run, pass, and different looks.”
