It’s been a long wait for Carmi-White County football fans. In fact, it’s been over 325 days since the Bulldogs last played a game at the friendly confines of Harrington-Jeffries Stadium. That drought finally comes to an end on Friday night when the Bulldogs will run out of the tunnel for their 2025 home opener against Hamilton County. It’ll be a big moment not only for the players, but also for the community, which has been waiting since last fall to pack the stands and cheer on the maroon and white under the lights.
The Bulldogs enter Week 3 with an 0-2 record, their first 0-2 start since the shortened 2021 spring COVID season. It’s not the way head coach Clinton Wolff and his team wanted to start the year, but to be fair, Carmi has drawn a pretty tough schedule right out of the gate. The first two weeks had them on the road against two of the conference’s top squads in Johnston City and Flora.
Last week’s game at Flora was especially challenging for the Bulldogs, and not just because of the opponent. Due to a referee shortage, the game had to be moved up a day and played on Thursday instead of the normal Friday night, giving Carmi one less day to prepare. Despite the short turnaround, the Bulldogs fought hard against the Wolves and had a chance to steal the win in the final seconds. In the end, Flora pulled it out with a 20-14 victory, but the Bulldogs showed big signs of improvement compared to their Week 1 performance.
Despite the better performance, Carmi had multiple players suffer injuries last in the game, effecting their ability to be at full strength for this week. Jazz Duckworth and Cooper Hill both suffered ankle injuries in the 4th quarter of last week’s loss to Flora, and both will be game-time decisions to play on Friday.
This week’s opponent, Hamilton County, brings a unique challenge. The Foxes like to spread things out on offense and put the ball in the hands of their athletic quarterback, Dallas Benbrook (#1). Benbrook has carried the ball 18 times this year for 126 yards, making him the team’s leading rusher. He’s also thrown 14 passes for 92 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. He’s still gaining experience, but he’s proven to be dangerous when he tucks the ball and takes off.
The Foxes also feature running backs Braxton Miller (#42) and Kyle Williams (#10). Bulldog fans should remember Miller well, he torched Carmi last season with a 215-yard performance and three touchdowns. So far this year his numbers are much quieter, with just 21 yards on nine carries. Williams has been a little more involved, logging 15 rushes for 44 yards through the first two games.
“Their quarterback is young, but very athletic. They have two other really nice skill players,” said CWC Head Coach Clinton Wolff. “Defensively we will have to be very disciplined and be able to tackle in space.”
Hamilton County is known for its defense. Under Head Coach Rhet Vaughan, the Foxes have built a reputation for playing a tough, physical style of football. They’ll bring plenty of pressure with their aggressive 3-5 defensive scheme, mixing in blitzes from all over the field. That can cause problems for opposing offenses if they aren’t prepared to pick it up.
“We have to make sure we get a hat on a hat, and take care of the football,” said Wolff.
Kickoff is set for 7 PM on Friday Night. Fans can watch and listen to the game on 97.3 FM WRUL and the WRUL Sports YouTube Channel.