Football opens season with 5A’s best

Clinton Red Tornado football begins its 2016 regular season against the returning 5A state champion Altus Bulldogs 7 p.m. Friday at home.
The Reds aren’t unfamiliar with opening the season against state champions. Last year, they opened against the 2014, 5A state champs, Lawton MacArthur Highlanders.
The Red Tornadoes are preparing for a grind-it-out contest. The Bulldogs run their powerful rushing attack out of the flexbone option offense. Head coach Philip Koons said the team needs to prepare mentally to stop the run.