Chapel Hill Tries to Climb Back Into Playoff Race On the Road At Bullard
Chapel Hill Bulldogs (2-5, 1-2)
vs.
Bullard Panthers (5-1, 1-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
Panther Stadium, Bullard
Coaches
Chapel Hill: Thomas Sitton
Bullard: Shannon Wilson
Last week
Chapel Hill: def. Spring Hill, 52-33
Bullard: def. Gladewater, 26-6
Next week
Chapel Hill: vs. Kilgore
Bullard: at Henderson
Playmakers
Chapel Hill
- QB Andrew Black, Jr., 6-0, 180 (42 of 104, 705 yards, 9 TDs, 7 INTs; 58 carries, 313 yards, 1 TD)
- RB/S Joseph Clark, Jr., 5-9, 175 (74 carries, 617 yards, 5 TDs)
- ATH Jamarcus McCowin, Sr. (49 carries, 344 yards, 4 TDs)
- WR Corey Starks, Sr. (10 catches, 227 yards, 3 TDs)
- WR Gabriel Robinson, Jr., 5-9, 150 (12 catches, 200 yards, 1 TD)
Bullard
- QB Colton Mebane, Sr., 5-10, 180 (55 of 98, 977 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs; 52 carries, 320 yards, 1 TD)
- Brentavian Henderson, Soph. (61 carries, 435 yards, 10 TDs)
- WR Haden Bryant, Sr., 5-10, 170 (29 catches, 655 yards, 8 TDs)
- WR/LB Zack Holladay, Sr., 5-10, 185 (5 catches, 107 yards, 3 TDs)
- RB Houston Alexander, Sr., 5-9, 170 (47 carries, 159 yards, 3 TDs)
Just the facts
- Chapel Hill exploded for a season-high in points and yards in last week's win over Spring Hill. The Bulldogs put up 52 points and registered 540 total yards of offense, including 411 on the ground.
- For the season, Chapel Hill is averaging 22 points per game, while the defense surrenders an average of 31.4.
- The Bulldogs' opponents have combined for a 28-17 record this season, including 6-0 Whitehouse.
- Bullard has lost its last two meetings to Chapel Hill by a combined score of 112-6.
- The Panthers' offense is averaging 37.3 points per game. Bullard's defense is only giving up 7.5 a game.
- Bullard's opponents have combined for a record of 14-25 this season. The Panthers' most impressive win to date is a 52-6 drubbing of Class 2A White Oak (4-2).
Key matchup: Chapel Hill running game vs. Bullard defensive front. As mentioned above, the Bulldogs ran for a season-high 411 yards and six touchdowns last week against Spring Hill. In Chapel Hill's two wins this season, the Bulldogs are averaging 319 rushing yards. However, Chapel Hill runs for an average of just 202.6 in losses. So finding success in the running game will be a huge key for Chapel Hill's offense. Bullard, despite lacking in size, has faired well this season in stopping the run. In their two district games, the Panthers have limited run-heavy Kilgore and Gladewater to a total of 405 yards. The key in stopping Chapel Hill this season has been putting the
Bulldogs' offense in obvious passing situations, which is not a strength of the Chapel Hill offense. Bulldogs quarterbacks are completing just 40.6 percent of their passes with eight interceptions.
Don't be surprised if: The Chapel Hill defense pays extra-special attention to Bullard star receiver Haden Bryant, who torched the Gladewater secondary with 12 catches for 244 yards and three touchdowns last week. For the year, Bryant accounts for 65 percent of Bullard's receiving yards. He has 29 receptions with the next closest teammate at 10. Expect Chapel Hill's defense to do everything in their power to keep the ball out of Bryant's hands.