Bulldoggs face another quality foe

Home has been an unfamiliar place for the Winder-Barrow High School football team this fall.

The Bulldoggs will play only their second home game of 2012 this Friday when they host Heritage at 7:30 p.m. WBHS is coming off its open date while the Heritage Patriots suffered their first defeat of the season falling to Gainesville 42-14.

“You are always concerned coming off a game like that,” said Heritage coach Chad Frazier. “However, our players are pretty mature and we should rebound. We watched film Sunday and began preaching to our players that this game Friday is the most important one for us right now. We can’t lose sight of that.”

Frazier said he has seen improvement on the part of the WBHS team this season.

“What a weapon Chad Platt is,” the Heritage coach said. “He really had an impact in the Salem game for Winder-Barrow.

“Defensively, they are tackling better and did a good job for the most part against the Salem quarterback (Damian Gordon). Their kicking game is also solid.”

The Patriots pride themselves on special teams play, including the blocking of punts but Frazier said the WBHS special teams are doing a strong job of preventing blocks.

“Offensively, they are very multiple and you are never sure what you are going to see,” Frazier of the Bulldoggs. “We will get some shotgun spread looks along with two tight end, wishbone formations. With option football, you have to be sound on your assignments.”

In recent years, WBHS has played Heritage tough and Frazier expects that again this week.

The Patriots are dealing with various injuries and some players have been out for several weeks. Frazier said he hopes to have some injured players return for the WBHS game this Friday.