“We are doing what Palisade should do” Bulldogs want to come back

GRAND JUNCTION, Colorado (KJCT) – The Palisade Bulldogs football team is looking to take a step in the right direction in 2023 after a season of ups and downs.

The Bulldogs held their own in league play in 2023, finishing 2-2, but a five-game losing streak early in the season and another difficult stretch late in the season meant the Dogs finished the 2023 season 3-7.

Some of the players who returned to the football team this season say the team will look different on the field, and they hope that will lead to more success.

“Just physical. I mean, last year we were timid, we were young, we didn’t want to play our style of football. And this year it’s a lot different. The O-line is physical. We’re mean. We’re doing what Palisades wanted to do and going out there and trying to run the ball the best we can,” said senior offensive lineman and defensive tackle Vincent Johnston.

“A lot of us have had an experience. We’re coming back. A lot of kids are so excited about it and I also think we have a different mindset this year and we’re just ready to go. We’re really excited about the season and definitely hoping for a better outcome,” said senior safety and wide receiver Easton Embrey.

This new version of Bulldogs football will have one of the toughest first assignments ever when it faces the reigning state champion Delta Panthers in the upcoming 2024 season opener for both teams at Stocker Stadium.

“We know they have a great program and if they’ve been in the championship for over 10 years in a row, it shows they’re definitely good. And we’re just going to prepare. We’re going to go out there and try to play our style, we’re going to try to drive the ball down their throats like we’ve been doing and see what happens,” Johnston said.

The last time these two played each other in 2023, Delta won 35-10.

“They’re a great team. We’ve played them the last few years and they’ve definitely been better than us, but they’re well coached. They have a good team even though they lost a lot of kids, they still have a couple of returners and they always have kids that play well there. So I definitely think it’s going to be a tough battle. I think it’s going to be good to play in the first week and I definitely think we could beat them, but I’m just really excited to play them, especially because they’re the defending state champions,” Embrey said.

You can watch highlights and updates from the Bulldogs and Panthers game, as well as football games across the Western Slope, on Friday Night Blitz, following The Ten

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