WOODLAWN - After getting an unexpected open date last week, the Woodlawn Bears will return to action this Friday night when they host the Rose Bud Ramblers at the Carl Jones Sports Complex. The junior high teams kick off at 5 p.m. followed by the varsity teams at 7 p.m.
The Bears were originally scheduled to play a varsity game against Augusta last week, but the Red Devils did not to field a senior high team leaving Woodlawn with an open date. Coach Doug Means said he was able to get a make-up game with Rose Bud, which was originally scheduled to play Augusta this week.
Rose Bud will come into the non-conference matchup with a 1-0 record after knocking of the Midland Mustangs, 36-18, to open their season at home this past Friday night.
The Bears knocked off the Ramblers, 42-24, at Rose Bud last year to open the 2025 season.
After previously playing eight-man football as a club sport, Rose Bud is now one of the sanctioned teams according to the Arkansas Activities Association. The Ramblers, a member of the West Conference, will be eligible for the eight-man playoffs for the first time this year.
Woodlawn is coming off a 66-62 win over the South Side-Bee Branch Hornets on Aug. 28. While the Bears survived that track meet without any major injuries, Means said there are a couple of linemen battling sickness earlier in the week and did not know their status for Friday night.
Overall, Means said Rose Bud is a young team with a quality quarterback in sophomore Kade Wortham. Rambler Coach Garrett Haag told Arkansas Football magazine that Wortham “can throw the ball better than anyone I have ever seen as a 9th grader.” Means said he is a good runner as well.
Wortham led the Junior Ramblers to a 22-0 win over the Junior Bears last year to open the 2025 season.