The Hampton-Dumont-CAL football team will host Iowa Falls-Alden in the latest installment of the Battle for Bradford Friday on 104.9 KLMJ.
“My thing is you got skin in the game,” Iowa Falls-Alden coach Eric Walkingstick says. “We’re 17 miles apart, our kids know their kids, they’re talking about names. I know their kids are talking about names. So whenever you get into something like that, first game of the year, both sides are gonna be excited. The student body’s gonna be going crazy on both sides. The plays are gonna be huge, the players are gonna be making big plays. And with that being said, this is the state championship game for both teams, because who doesn’t wanna start off with a 1-0 record. So there’s a lot on line and we know that the Battle for Bradford is a notorious game and it’s pretty even. And we’re sitting there wanting to get another notch on that trophy.”
Hampton-Dumont-CAL coach Cole Miller says it’s a long-standing rivalry that has recently been fueled by the addition of a trophy.
“It’s been a rivalry for as long as I can remember, and throwing that trophy on top of it gives a little added measure for the kids,” Miller says. “So it’s a really cool thing that they started. I’m glad that they did. It adds a little more excitement and a little more thrill to the game. So I know the kids have prepared and they’ve done everything they can this week in practice to make sure that we’re the ones hoisting it at the end of the game.”
The Bulldogs will have a new-look team due to the loss of the vast majority of last year’s offensive production. Miller says multiple options will be used early on.
“We definitely want to establish the run. I think that’s the most important thing in most games. If we can stay ahead of the sticks, then we don’t have to get in those negative down situations where it’s second and long or it’s third and long and you’re kind of forcing your hand and they know it. They can really dial up something and put some pressure on your quarterback or take away some run lanes. So yeah, we definitely want to stay ahead of the sticks on offense. It’s going to be running by committee, so we’re going to have a lot of running backs carrying the ball for us. So that’s kind of our offensive philosophy going into this game.”
Defensively, Brody Strother and Taylor Mahler are back as last year’s leading tacklers.
The Cadets will also have a new-look team, and for the most part, will have different starters on offense and defense. Walkingstick on his team’s keys to success.
“The thing that we’ve promoted, which we didn’t do a good job of last year, was ball security. We have to have good ball security. If we turn it over two or three times, it’s probably not a good situation for us. We have to have great ball security. We have to be able to move the chains. That’s an easy one. Our young guys have to eliminate some of the mistakes. I know they’re going to make some. We’ve got a ton of sophomores playing, and I know that they’re going to make some degree of mistakes. But the thing is, can we make them when it’s not as crucial of a moment? Can we make them and erase them on the following play?”
The Bulldogs have won three straight in the series, including a 42-20 win last year where they used a 26-point fourth quarter to pull away.
The Roling Ford Road to the Dome Warmup Show will begin at 6:15 p.m., and the kickoff is scheduled for 7:00.
Eric Walkingstick interview:
Cole Miller interview:
