When the Hampton-Dumont-CAL football team defeated Woodward-Granger in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs, it accomplished a feat that hadn’t happened in a decade. It was the team’s first playoff win since 2015.
That year, the Bulldogs defeated North Polk in the first round before falling to North Fayette Valley in the second round. Since that playoff appearance, the program has only had two winning seasons, but went to 5-4 with Friday’s win. Head Coach Cole Miller says this year’s team has set the tone for the trajectory of the program.
“That’s what told them in the breakdown too, it’s been 10 years since we’ve hosted a playoff game, it’s been 10 years since we’ve won a playoff game,” Miller says. “And they just stamped that on their legacy. They were the team that hopefully gets the ball rolling and we can have some playoff success for some years to come. And they’ve paved the way. They’ve shown the young kids a great way to work to get here. And they’ve also showed those young kids that even though there’s a little adversity in the season, it doesn’t mean that your season has to end or has to be like that, that you can flip the switch and write a better chapter.”
The Bulldogs will travel to #4 (2A) Osage for Friday’s second round game at 7:00 p.m., which’ll air on 99 The Wave.
