Under the Friday night lights, the crowds roar; another pass complete, and soon after, the touchdown is made, but is it enough to secure the win in this backyard battle for a second year in a row? Continuing the ongoing rivalry between Texas and Arkansas, the Tigers faced the Fayetteville Bulldogs at Tiger Stadium at Grim Park on Sept. 19, 2025.
Despite initial resistance from the Bulldogs’ noticeably impressive tactics, the Tigers came off strong in the first quarter, with running back Tradarian Ball scoring a touchdown against the Bulldogs, putting the Tigers up 7-0.
“The kids just came out, executed the game plan the entire night,” head coach Gerry Stanford said. “We made a couple of adjustments within the game plan tonight, but the biggest thing all night long was we played with effort and we executed accordingly.”
Continuing the strong start that the Tigers achieved early on, the offensive line stepped up to the challenge and scored pivotal touchdowns in both first and third quarters to secure the Tigers’ victory.
“I think our offensive line really showed up tonight against a big defensive line,” head coach Gerry Stanford said. “Xavier Powell really showed up and had some great plays tonight. Overall, I think just our offense in general played with some toughness and grit.”
A major component of the Tigers’ success in this game happens to be a byproduct of increased accountability among team members.
“My teammates had a big impact on my morale,” wide receiver Xavier Powell said. “They make me want to play harder and make bigger plays. We criticize each other and tell [one another] what we need to work on.”
The Tigers secured hometown glory with a final score of 42-29 against the Bulldogs, putting their record up 3-1. Continuing the season, the Texas Tigers will face the Hallsville Bobcats on Sept. 26, 2025, at Bobcat Stadium at 7:30 p.m..
