Milestones push Bulldogs' prospects

South Callaway head coach Tim Rulo talks with his varsity squad toward the end of Wednesday's practice at the high school in Mokane. The Bulldogs - coming off their 2010 milestone season - open the 2011 campaign at Fayette at 7 tonight.
South Callaway head coach Tim Rulo talks with his varsity squad toward the end of Wednesday's practice at the high school in Mokane. The Bulldogs - coming off their 2010 milestone season - open the 2011 campaign at Fayette at 7 tonight.

Now that the model is in place, the 2011 South Callaway Bulldogs football team's task is to determine how to follow suit.

South Callaway - which starts its season tonight at Fayette (kickoff at 7) - is entering its fourth year under head coach Tim Rulo, who has steered the Bulldogs to three straight postseason appearances.

The program's breakthrough came in 2010, when South Callaway posted a school-record 10 victories. The Bulldogs also claimed their first-ever district and conference titles, leading to their first playoff home game and win - a 41-21 romp over Clopton/Elsberry in the Class 2 regionals.

South Callaway eventually lost to Mark Twain 28-6 in sectional play, completing its season with a 10-2 mark.

With a lofty standard set, expectations for the Bulldogs - both internally and externally - have been ratcheted up. South Callaway was tied at No. 10 with Mountain View-Liberty in the Class 2 preseason state poll released earlier this week.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.