Bulldogs, Cardinals set to do battle in state-ranked clash

MOKANE - South Callaway Bulldogs head football coach Tim Rulo is doing his best to play down the pizzazz among his players.

South Callaway heads to Tipton tonight (kickoff at 7) to clash with the Cardinals in a showdown between unbeaten, state-ranked teams. The Bulldogs - ranked No. 9 in Class 2 - are 6-0 after last week's 39-3 home win over Orchard Farm.

Tipton is also 6-0, but was forced to rally last week for a 20-14 victory at Cole Camp. The Cardinals, who slipped a spot to No. 4 in Class 1, have won 55 straight regular-season games since bowing in the 2006 opener.

"The biggest thing we try to convey to our guys is that when you play better opponents - instead of getting focused on the opponent and the hype behind the game - you have to, instead, focus on the goals you specifically want to accomplish," Rulo said after practice Wednesday night. "That has to be where we're at.

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.