Since that win under Craig Agnew in the Class A title game in 1999, the Bulldogs have had five head coaches and only two winning seasons.
Things have turned around quickly under first-year coach Joe Mullins, who has the District 26-A champion Bulldogs in the playoffs after last year’s winless campaign.
Bartlett (7-3) battles Chilton (6-4) at 7:30 tonight at Mart ISD Athletic Complex in a Class A Division II bi-district playoff. The winner will advance to the area round to play Ganado, which has a first-round bye.
“Our kids are ready,” Mullins said. “This is just another game to them. They’ve had a good week of practice.”
Both the Bulldogs, the undefeated 26-A champs, and the Pirates enter the postseason on a hot streak. Bartlett has done its damage on defense, allowing a total of 14 points in five district wins. Chilton’s won three straight, averaging 48 points in those games.
Bartlett’s defense, which is ranked No. 1 in the area at 171 yards per game, faces one of its toughest tests of the season. The Pirates have scored 30 points or more in all six of their wins out of their option-based offense.
Xavier Shaw and Demeris Randolph have rotated at quarterback and Mantraze Landrum is the primary running back.
“We’ve got to stop the quarterback,” Mullins said. “We want him to pitch the ball.”
Stopping the run has been one of the Bulldogs’ strengths. Led by linebackers Kevin Garcia, Eric Benavides and Eric Walker, Bartlett has allowed 98 rushing yards per game. Only two running backs, Iola’s Spencer Murray and Hubbard’s Darrett Lang, have cracked the 100-yard barrier.
“We’re going to have to play good,” Mullins said. “They run the option real well.”
The Bulldogs run the ball well themselves. Benavides and Walker are the primary ball carriers in an offense that has rushed for more than 2,000 yards. Both Benavides and Walker eclipsed the 100-yard mark in last week’s lopsided win over rival Granger.
Quarterback Pierre Smith, also a threat to run the football, had one of his best passing games of the season against the Lions. He completed both of his pass attempts for 127 yards and two TDs. One-third of Smith’s 39 completions this season have gone for scores.
Though they’ve achieved more success than most Bulldog teams this decade, Mullins said his players aren’t content with where they’re at.
“They realize they’ve done a good job,” Mullins said. “They want to keep playing and they realize they’ve got to play their best.”
rschneider@temple-telegram.com
