Scouting Ozark's season-opening contest at Carl Junction:
Gametime Friday at Carl Junction has been pushed back to 8 p.m. ...
This will be the Tigers debut for Ozark coach Jeremy Cordell. ...
The Bulldogs have a new coach, sort of, in Todd Hafner. He was previously their head coach from 1997-2000. Hafner was the head coach at William Penn (Iowa) the past 19 years and was 112-93-1. Also, he had a three-year stint as offensive coordinator at Emporia State (Kansas). ...
Former CJ coach Doug Buckmaster was highly respected by his colleagues around the COC. With Carl Junction's enrollment of 975 at least 400 less than the rest of the COC schools, he compiled a 71-43 record with the Bulldogs. After resigning at CJ, he was hired by Wyandotte, Oklahoma, as its head coach. ...
Under Hafner, the Bulldogs will feature a pistol option offense and a 4-2-5 formation on defense. ...
Quarterback Dexter Merrell returns for his senior season. He ran for two touchdowns and threw for an 87-yard touchdown pass at Ozark last year. Merrell went on to finish the season throwing for 1,525 yards and running for 785. ...
Running back Johnny Starks and Tony Stewart are back after rushing for 400-plus yards apiece a year ago. ...
The Bulldogs' strength defensively is at linebacker, where Starks, Stewart and Bentley Rowden teamed for more than 200 tackles last season. ...
Ozark sophomore Peyton Russsell will be making his first varsity start at quarterback. ...
The Tigers' leading returning rusher from last season is safety Peyton Bullinger, who had 37 yards on 11 carries. But Jack Bowers is back after missing last season due to a broken wrist. He rushed for 451 yards two years ago. ...
Carl Junction's 42-21 victory at Ozark in 2022 saw the Bulldogs lead by as much as 42-7. ...
CJ went on to go 4-7 last season, with all 11 games decided by three touchdowns or more. ...
Ozark lost three first-half fumbles against the Bulldogs last year. ...
Two years ago, Ozark beat CJ 38-16. ...
Ozark hasn't won a season-opener since beating Neosho four years ago.
