The Winslow Bulldogs will face a tough football schedule in the 2011 season, the first under new head Coach B.J. Little. The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) has realigned regions and conferences for high school sports and Winslow will face a tougher group of opponents than has been the case in the recent past.
Old 3A North Region teams still on the schedule include Holbrook, Ganado, Chinle and Monument Valley. Holbrook and Snowflake are longtime rivals who remain on the schedule. Former 3A East Region teams besides Snowflake on the schedule are Show Low and Blue Ridge. All three teams from that region are expected to be very formidable opponents. Flagstaff and Coconino were formerly 4A Conference teams, and are likely to be difficult opponents. Sedona, formerly of the 3A West Region, will complete the schedule.
Winslow will host Camp Verde on Friday, Aug. 18, for a preseason controlled scrimmage. The regular season will begin on Friday, Aug. 26, when the Bulldogs host the Sedona Red Rock Scorpions in the season opener.
The Holbrook Roadrunners will come to Winslow on Friday, Sept. 2, to renew one of the oldest and best rivalries in the state. The Bulldogs will play their first road game on Friday, Sept. 9, against the Flagstaff Eagles.
Homecoming for the Bulldogs will be on Friday, Sept. 16, against the Ganado Hornets. That game will be followed by a trip to Chinle to meet the Wildcats on Friday, Sept. 23.
Winslow will be at Snowflake on Friday, Sept. 30, to meet the Lobos in what is also an outstanding rivalry of long duration. The defending Arizona 3A Conference Champion Show Low Cougars will come to Winslow on Friday, Oct. 7.
The Bulldogs will renew an old and very competitive rivalry with the Coconino Panthers on Friday, Oct. 14, in Flagstaff. Winslow will play the Monument Valley Mustangs in Kayenta on Friday, Oct. 21. The final game of the regular season will be at Winslow against the Blue Ridge Yellowjackets, one of the most successful high school football programs in the United States. That game is set for Friday, Oct. 28. Playoff games will follow if the Bulldogs are successful enough to qualify.
Most varsity games are likely to begin with 7 p.m. kickoffs, though that is subject to change. Schedules for junior varsity games and other contests are not yet completed.
