The 2026 version of the Wayne Bulldogs will hit the gridiron for the first time this season Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Crooked Oak.

The Rufnex are led by former Bulldog assistant Shane Collins. Collins was on Brandon Sharp’s staff for eight seasons, where he ran the defense for the previous five seasons.

“Coach Collins knows these kids well and knows us as a team inside and out,” Sharp said.

Crooked Oak will base out of multiple running formations with a sampling of the spread and the diamond formation, according to Sharp.

“They will be extremely prepared.” Sharp said. “They’ve got some incredible skill guys that we need to keep tabs on. We need to stay in our gaps and keep leverage because if we let them get out in space we will be in trouble.

Sharp noted the Bulldogs will need to play sound assignment football on the edges to keep the Rufnex hemmed up.

Crooked Oak will also run a version of head coach Collins’ version of the Wing-T.

“They will be extremely multiple and want to get the ball in the hands of their athletes,” Sharp said.

On defense, Crooked Oak will run an odd stack with plenty of blitzing and stunting.

“They’ve got athletes all over the field defensively and we will need to do a good job of sustaining our blocks and play buttoned up football to keep them in check,” according to Sharp.

Last Friday night Wayne traveled to Apache for a three-way scrimmage with the hosts and Frederick.

Sharp said he and his staff came away from the scrimmage particularly pleased with the Bulldogs attitude and effort which are two traits that are non-negotiable with his teams.

“Overall, I’m pleased with how hard the kids went. We always look for attitude and effort in scrimmages and our guys were flying around and gave great effort and attitude,” Sharp said.