Football Game Preview: McGregor Bulldogs vs. Rockdale Tigers

The McGregor Bulldogs will venture away from home to take on the Rockdale Tigers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. McGregor will be strutting in after a victory while Rockdale will be coming in after a defeat.

McGregor took a 28-point loss the last time they faced off against C.H. Yoe, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Bulldogs narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past the Yoemen 20-17.

McGregor relied on the efforts of Bubba Zacharias, who rushed for 44 yards and one TD, and Isaiah Jones, who rushed for 58 yards and one score on only six carries.

Another reason for the win was McGregor's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Edward DeHoyos, Quincy Glasson, and Devin Gripp, who each picked up one sack apiece.

Meanwhile, Rockdale played a tough game on Friday in which they were outscored in every quarter. They were outmatched by Little River Academy and fell 55-21. The Tigers were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 38-7.

McGregor will have to contain Deandre Stephens as he made an impact in Rockdale's last game. He picked up 165 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. Stephens really caught the secondary sleeping when he pulled down a catch that went for 81 yards. The team also got some help courtesy of Greyson Williams, who threw for 217 yards and a pair of TDs.

Rockdale has been struggling recently as they've lost three of their last four contests. That's put a noticeable dent in their 3-3 record this season. McGregor's first victory this season bumped their record up to 1-5.

McGregor took their win against Rockdale when the teams last played back in October of 2024 by a conclusive 49-28 score. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was Stephens, who picked up 170 receiving yards and one score. Now that he's got a second chance to win this matchup, will the Bulldogs still be able to contain Stephens? There's only one way to find out.