The idea behind the fourth annual “Bulldog Bash” is to give Baldwin High football supporters an exciting kickoff to the 2005 home season.

If last week’s season openers are any indication, the fans who will cram Liston Stadium for a showdown at 7 tonight between Baldwin and Paola certainly will be entertained.

While the Bulldogs were busy beating up host Gardner-Edgerton, 50-28, it wasn’t even the biggest eye-opener in the Frontier League’s first week. That honor belongs to Paola, which extended a rude welcome to traditional Class 4A power Fort Scott – a state quarterfinalist a year ago – in a 41-6 blowout.

“They (Paola) dominated a very history-rich program,” said Baldwin coach Mike Berg, who speaks from first-hand experience, having seen his own squad dropped from playoff contention each of the past two seasons by Fort Scott.

“We know we’re in for a matchup.”

The Panthers (1-0) tallied 501 yards of total offense against Fort Scott, inclu-ding 490 yards on the ground courtesy of their wishbone-based option attack. At the controls was junior quarterback Jeremy Dillard, who, despite his status as the lone non-returning starter on the Paola offense, proved he belonged while ripping off 259 yards and three touchdowns on just 14 carries.

Add to it a 129-yard, three-touchdown performance by senior fullback Mike Shay, and it’s enough to make any opposing coach’s head spin.

“I’ve probably watched them too much. They’re just very impressive on film,” said Berg, who especially was smitten with Dillard. “It’s very impressive to watch. We’ve just got to find a way to stop him.”

Then again, the Bulldogs (1-0) aren’t the only ones whose game plan revolves around stopping Jeremy.

The Panthers will be following the same credo after watching Baldwin quarterback Jeremy Wright rush for 125 yards and two touchdowns while throwing for another pair of scores in the victory over Gardner-Edgerton.

“He was everywhere, just had one of the best games of his career,” Berg said.

With two offenses that have proven themselves capable of eating up huge chunks of real estate, Berg is confident the deciding factor will come down to location, location, location.

“Our stadium will be full,” Berg said. “It’s huge. I think it’s really going to help us having the big crowd and the noise.

“I like our chances.”