Things could not have started any better for the Muldrow Bulldogs in 2024 as they won their first four games of the season. However, they went into a five-game losing streak before beating Locust Grove in the regular-season finale to end the season at 5-5.

“We didn’t lose a game in September,” Muldrow coach Logan Coatney said. “We didn’t win a game in October, and we finished the year 1-1 in November. (Going) 5-5 is nothing to shake a hat at. (Class) 3A, as a whole, is just a monster. The district we play in (District 3A-3), top to bottom, there’s going to be one, two or three good teams who will miss the playoffs. The kids are excited about what we have coming back and what we can put on the field. The idea and the mantra of the team right now is a lot of grit and a lot of great effort. We have a lot of kids who have been on the field for us that have been playing since they were freshmen. They’re entering their senior season. Hopes are high. Our attitudes are great. We’re excited for 2025 to get started. The kids are chomping at the bits.”

The ’Dogs, who will open their season Sept. 5 in the annual “Battle of 64” against the archrival Roland Rangers at Ranger Stadium, are wanting to have good luck befall this season, and not the bad luck in which they lost a couple of games by one score.

“We want to get that bad taste out of our mouths,” Coatney said. “We lost two ball games by a combined eight points. We lost to Checotah by three points (48-45) after being down 28 (points) to them at halftime. We had a good rally in the second half. There just wasn’t enough time on the clock. We lost at home to Stigler by five (points, falling 14-9). In those games, we had a combined nine turnovers. When you turn the ball over on offense, that puts a lot of stress on your defense. That could have been the difference in us being a 6-4 or 7-3 football team, and possibly sneaking in (the Class 3A playoffs).”

After having him be a running back as a sophomore, Coatney made the move to put Teaguen Collins as his quarterback starting last season as a junior. To say the move paid off is an understatement.

“Teaguen is a great athlete,” Coatney said. “He’s being recruited from all over the place right now at all different positions. When you have a student-athlete of his caliber, you put him where he can get the ball in his hands the most times. For us, it’s putting him at quarterback. Last year playing quarterback, he did an outstanding job. He had a 58-percent completion rate. He threw for over 1,000 yards and rushed for over 1,000 yards. He had 26 total touchdowns. There’s things he can do at quarterback that a lot of kids just can’t do. We have a great plan for Teaguen. Don’t be surprised to see Teaguen line up somewhere else other than at quarterback.”

When Collins isn’t running with the ball, he can hand it to two running backs De-Shawn Willson and Jo-Von Hood.

One of the strengths for the Bulldogs is their receiving corps.

“We didn’t graduate a skill guy last year as far as receivers go,” Coatney said. “Those kids are going to be heavily relied upon as we enter 2025.”

There will be a plethora of receivers to whom Collins can throw the ball — Gabe Miller, D.J. Massey, Jermauree Palmer, Kade Scott, J’Vion Mays and Trey Turpin.

Caden Grinstead likely will be the starting tight end, but don’t look for him to be used for a target for Collins.

“He is another kid who has had a really good spring,” Coatney said. “Caden’s workload is going to be more on the defensive side of the ball. Caden is another kid where if we decide to go a little bit bigger, I think he can come in and really help us in the run game as far as the blocking part of the decision. He also has shown great growth as far as catching the ball.”

If you want to see Coatney smile, just ask him to talk about his offensive linemen, who he believes is the top strongpoint of his team.

“I think our offensive line is a really bright point of our program,” he said. “We return for starters. They have put in the work this summer — from showing up ear-ly to staying late to the offensive line camps that we’ve been to and to the film study and working with the coaches.”

Four of the five offensive linemen will be Tasker Colbert at right tackle, Alejandro Santacruz at right guard, Braxton Thrailkill at center and Braxton Miller at left tackle.

The left guard position currently has a trio of player vying for it — Antonio Fujarte, Tyrin Releford and Kane Brewer.

The Bulldogs are going to be in a more threefront defensive unit this season, with defensive end E.J. Zanders keying the men in the trenches on defense.

There are several candidates for the other defensive line spots — namely Thrailkill, Santacruz, Colbert and Braxton Miller.

Don’t be surprised if three freshmen — Xavier Coby, Briston Weaver and Elijah Lopez — see some time in the trenches.

The ’Dogs have a good core group of linebackers, with Gabe Miller, Grinstead, Hood, Patrick Nance and Jackson Phillips leading the way.

Just as Collins is going to be counted upon to spearhead the offense, he also is being counted upon to be the leader in the defensive backfield.

“The thing about Teaguen is he is a natural leader,” Coatney said. “That’s a wonderful thing with a young man who wants to do everything he can. He primarily is going to be put at safety this year. He’s a kid we have different packages in. We have stuff where he may not be a safety for us.”

Scott, Mays, Palmer, Wilson, Massey and Parker Likens also will figure prominently in the defensive backfield.

Coatney is high on three underclassmen, sophomore quarterback Jace Prewett and freshmen Ashton Jones and Creed Matthews.

“We’re at a very good spot right now.” Coatney said. We’re blessed with our program. I have a really good coaching staff and a great administration that allows me to do what I do. We’re excited about 2025. We have a lot of kids. We can only play 11 players (on one play), but we’re going to have to fund opportunities to get these (other) kids on the field.”