Looking back the at 2009 football season one word can be used to describe the Altus High School campaign: Frustration!

It was a 4-7 season that could have been better. There were so many times during the season, the Bulldogs were on the brink of victory but were unable to finish in the fourth quarter.

There was a one point loss to highly touted Lawton High in which the Bulldogs held a 14-0 victory with 10 minutes remaining in the game. A one-point loss to Duncan when the Bulldogs led the Demons 13-0 in the fourth quarter. Then there was a three point loss to Chickasha, a game the Bulldogs were favored to win.

In six of the seven losses, the Bulldogs were still in the game in the fourth quarter.

And with all of that, frustration was a term that Lyn Hepner agreed summarized the season.

“I think so,” Hepner said. “In a positive way because we knew we were in every game except for the last one (against Shawnee). We sat down at the first of the year and decided that if we could stay close in every game that would give us chance to win. Offensively we tried to control the clock and keep the ball away from the other offense. It’s another way to play defense. I was kind of disappointed we didn’t do better on offense. Special teams could have been better.”

There were some positive things about the season.

Altus made the playoffs. They ended a three year losing streak to Red River rival Vernon and certainly a defense led by linebackers Tyler George and Ryan Feller played well enough to win more than just four games.

Record breakers

There were two records broken. Feller broke the career tackle mark. He recorded 435 tackles and assists during in three years with the Bulldogs.

Also the Bulldogs defense held Northwest to a minus 20 yards and that single game mark was a new record.

George almost broke a season tackle record. He led Altus 177 stops six short of the record.

A look to 2010

Offense

Hepner and his staff are already looking as what can be done different. With that in mind better execution of the offense could have produced better results. The Bulldogs were guilty of stopping themselves mixechanges on snaps and handoffs and other errors that stopped drives during the year.

“We’ve already started to look at it as what we have to do to improve,” Hepner said.

Hepner said he and his staff plan on going to several clinics in the off season.

“It’s like any other craft or profession you never are satisfied,” Hepner said. “You are always looking different ways to improve. But you also have to watch out about getting too many cool new ideas and overloading the kids. It’s a fine line. You always pick up something from every meeting you go to.”

The Bulldogs must find a quarterback. Dom Nortonen worked there some but there are others in the mix and one could be Bob Laub. The coaching staff is not ruling that out that but on the other hand it might by difficult to move Laub because he was the leading receiver on the team.

“He can’t throw it to himself,” Hepner laughed.

Prospects are also coming from the junior varsity and freshman team.

Six regulars return from last year’s offense including Laub. Nortonen who was used as a running back and wide receiver returns. Also back are lineman Jeremy Delzer, Lane Billarrial, Joe Willaims and Clint Lucas.

Defense

By an large Hepner and his staff was satisfied with the odd stack defense but there are some things that need to be tweaked.

“Looking at the Shawnee game, there are some things teams are doing to us (blocking scheme wise) that we are going to have to address,” Hepner said. “If you watch the first of the Shawnee game to later on, Coach Pruitt (Defensive Coordinator Gerry Pruitt) was adjusting to it. They just had so many weapons. We may be more satisfied with the defense but not completely satisfied.”

Five regulars return from the defense including George. Defensive end Kyle Sullivan. who was the third leading tackler on the team is also back. Other returnees include Laub (defensive back) Ryan James (linebacker) and Ramiro Flores (Bandit).

Special teams

As a freshman Michael Perez did a good job kicking. In his first attempt as a freshman he made a 47 yard field goal. He was 16 of 18 in the PAT department and made 13 in a row.

2009 results

Altus 34, Vernon 7

Lawton Ike 10, Altus 0

Lawton High 15, Altus 14

El Reno 22, Altus 3

Duncan 14, Altus 13

Altus 34 Western Heights 7

Altus 54, Northwest 14

Lawton MacArthur 24, Altus 13

Altus 14, Deer Creek 0

Chickasha 13, Altus 10

Shawnee 43, Altus 13