The GMC Bulldogs are 2-2 coming off the bye week as it prepares to take on Mount Paran Saturday afternoon in Kennesaw. The Saturday start allows for one extra day to prepare, but the change in schedule is a concern for head coach Jon Cawley and the team.

“I’m concerned about the travel with us leaving at 7:30 on a Saturday morning. That is going to be a huge test for us after eating breakfast, riding two or three hours up to Kennesaw, getting off in a place we’ve never been before and playing mid-day. I’m worried about that.”

However, the Eagles of Mt. Paran will be facing similar distractions as well as the team will be returning from a three day retreat the day before.

If the Bulldogs can get past the change in routine, they should be able to have success on the field against an 0-4 Eagles team that is in its first full season of football.

“It’s hard to get a gauge on them because they haven’t really played anyone strong. But they can do some things that can hurt us. Their passing game is pretty good. That’s their strength.”

The Eagles base offense is run out of the shotgun, a formation the Bulldogs have not faced this season, but the GMC defense does not plan on doing anything different.

“We’re going to put some pressure of them and try and make them make some quick decisions, but we’re not going to change a whole lot. We’re just going to line up and run our defense,” Cawley said.

Cawley believes that one of the Bulldogs biggest advantages may come down to speed, something GMC appears to have to have an edge on Mt. Paran.

Although, injuries continue to be a problem on an already thin depth chart. Ben Crawley has been out most of this week with back spasms and the secondary will be tested as corner back Jake Meeks sits out again with an injury. With several others banged up for various reasons, the Bulldogs will need an extra push from those still available to get a ‘W’ on Saturday.

Because Mount Paran is a first year program, many fans are expecting an easy Bulldogs victory, but Cawley isn’t so quick to assume a win.

“People are talking like because they’re a first year football team that we’re going to go up and whoop them, but they’ve got some players that can hurt us.”

Assistant coach Steven Simpson may have explained it best in saying: “They’re a pretty good football team, but they’re still feeling things out. Once they figure it out, they’re going to win some ball games and we just hope Saturday isn’t the day they figure it out,” said Simpson.

The Bulldogs and Eagles kick things off Saturday at 2 p.m. in Kennesaw.