Going into the season with a schedule that featured back-to-back games with Hartsville and Myrtle Beach to start region play, the Bulldogs knew that they would have to play outstanding football to avoid an 0-2 conference record. They also need those two highly-ranked opponents to make a few mistakes.
The Bulldogs played great defensively for the first half against Hartsville but fell apart in the second half. Against Myrtle Beach, the defense played well but could not

After falling from the ranks of the undefeated, the Marlboro County High football team faces another tough challenge.
"This will be something of the proverbial gut check for us this week. It isn't so much about winning or losing but about playing our best football for 48 minutes," said head coach Dean Boyd.
Last week against Hartsville, the defense kept the game close for a half but the flood gates opened after intermission. With the offense struggling, the defense could not maintain the pressure on the Red Foxes.

After defeating South Florence handily last Friday, the Marlboro County High football team has wrapped up the non-region segment of the season undefeated at 4-0. Last season at the same juncture, the Bulldogs were 2 and 3 and struggling.
So what is the biggest difference?
“It has to be the turnover ratio. Turnovers by our defense and our offense protecting the ball has been a key to our success so far this season,” said head coach Dean Boyd. “Creating turnovers is mainly a result of a defense that is causing chaos with an offense, penetrating into their backfield and not letting them operate comfortably. That's what we have been doing.”

Thursday night was supposed to be the Bulldogs' night on television. Channel 21's Thursday Night Lights telecast was to originate from McAlpine Stadium as Marlboro County High took on South Florence.
However, Hurricane Florence had other ideas. With the storm scheduled to make landfall somewhere along the North or South Carolina coast Thursday, the Bulldogs first moved the game until Wednesday. That plan was altered just now, as South Florence called MCHS head coach Dean Boyd to postpone the game.

For the Marlboro County Bulldogs and their fans, last Friday was very sweet.  The Bulldogs snapped a losing streak to Scotland County that dated back to 2011, coming from behind for a 41-25 victory.
"This was a big one for us.  We haven't had any success against Scotland in a while and given how close the communities are to each other, that has been a tough pill to swallow," said MCHS head coach Dean Boyd.