Bulldogs predicted to fair well in new district

If the 2020 football season holds up against the current Corona virus pandemic, the Marlin Bulldogs are predicted to fair pretty well in their new district and region.

The University Interscholastic League’s biannual realignment in February moved the Bulldogs from Class 2A Region IV to Region II for football.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine hit stores last week and Marlin is picked to finish third in Class 2A Division I District 8-2A title.

Italy and Dawson are picked ahead of the Bulldogs in the magazine’s preseason predictions; both were playoff teams last season.

Cayuga is slated to get that final playoff spot in fourth place, and also made a postseason appearance in 2019.

Kerens is picked to finish fifth and Axtell sixth.

The Bulldogs look to return 17 players off last year’s squad, with eight of those starters on offense and nine on defense.

Marlin opens the season at Riesel on Aug. 28. They continue the road schedule with a game at Waco Reicher Catholic on Sept. 4.  The Bulldogs’ home opener will be Sept. 11 against Valley Mills.

They will then host two non-district match-ups, with a game against Lexington on Sept. 18 and a game against Wortham on Sept. 25.

Marlin is scheduled to open district play on Oct. 9 against Italy and then faces Cayuga on the road Oct. 16.  The Bulldogs