READY FOR THE CHALLENGE
BULLDOGS
TAKE ON 11-MAN
BY ANDY MORPHEW
Empire Public Schools is growing , so much so that the ADM numbers graduated the Bulldogs to Class A from Class B , which in turn puts them up from 8-man to 11-man football .
Following much success in the last two years in Class B , Coach Brant Hayes will enter his fourth season at Empire and will return a few players in key positions .
Hayes , equipped with experience from leading an 11-man football program at his last stop in Maud , has worked with the team since the news came out and feels the transition is going well .
“ Expectations would be really high if we were staying in 8-man and it will be a big transition for us having to go up to 11-man this year ,” Hayes said . “ Hopefully the kids will buy in and do the things that we will ask them to do . I think we can be successful and be in the same spot or close there to it . It will take some time and it will take some learning the game . A lot of these kids have never played 11- man – they have been 8-man their whole lives , except for kids who have moved in .”
They will begin the non-district schedule with Rush Springs and then face off against Pauls Valley JV , followed by Healdton to open up the campaign before playing seven district games for 2022 .
Hayes said the non-district schedule will bring a challenge , however he knows with the transition to 11- man this will prove a good test for his team ahead of the seven district games .
“ We are trying to learn everything that we need to learn ,” Hayes said . “ You know our defensive schemes and even our offense , which won ’ t change that much , but defensively that will be the biggest change for our guys … It is just going to
42 STEPHENS COUNTY GRIDIRON GUIDE | 2022