By Alex Benzegala
Panhandle Post
The time is here. On Friday night, the Alliance Bulldogs will open the 2023-2024 season under first year Head Coach T.D Stein, in hope of giving Alliance their first win since September of 2022. Despite a tough 0-9 record last year, The Bulldogs feel confident with the amount of returning players they bring back along with fresh faces, but Stein knows his team will be tested by the Chase County Longhorns.
"Historically, they're just a tough team, they got big and physical guys," Stein said. "But as long as we're doing our jobs and what we need to do, we'll be alright."
Chase County snuck into the postseason last with a 5-4 record before losing to Ord in the opening round of the playoffs 40-0. Longhorns Head Coach Nathan Gaswick tells Panhandle Post that they only graduated four seniors last season. "I think our strength will be our offensive and defensive lines as we have tremendous experience in those positions." Gaswick said.
Alliance is experienced at the line of scrimmage as well bringing back seniors Matt Moomey, Matthias Benzel, Angel Trejo on the lines. That matchup in the trenches between the Bulldogs and Longhorns could decide the game.
Looking a the series history, Alliance went to Chase County in the season opener last year and fell 35-8. The Longhorns limited the Bulldogs to just 121 yards of total offense. Jonah Amill had an interception in that game a year ago, and the Bulldogs are looking for their returning playmakers like Amill, Espen Lanik, Tristen Timbers, Aiden Hancock and Landon Crowe to make a huge impact on Friday night.
Tune in to the br0adcast from Bulldog Stadium starting at 6:45 on KCOW, 92.5 and 1400 and on panhandlepost.com.