PALESTINE - The Bullard Panthers will kickoff the 2009 season on the road on Friday night against Palestine-Westwood, at Panther Stadium, with the kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m.

The Panthers enjoyed week zero off, and had the opportunity to heal some early wounds, and double-up a scouting venture last Friday night.

Westwood could not hold Chapel Hill back from a rally to take a 27-26 loss at home, and the BHS players and coaches alike could assess next week's opponent, and a first-look at district foe, Chapel Hill.

"Westwood had a fine program and they are probably a little better than they were last year, and they were good last season," said BHS head coach, Jim Taylor. "They played against a good Chapel Hill, playoff team last week and could have very well won the game."

Westwood will run the spead offensively, so a big test for the secondary as Westwood threw the ball at will.

In the Westwood-Chill game, Cameron Shead, the Westwood running back, ran for 136 yards and two scores and caught an 18-yard touchdown pass. Shead is cousin of Cayuga star Traylon Shead.

Westwood quarterback, Tevin Watson, completed 13 of 25 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns, and added 56 yards on the ground. Domanick Turner made eight receptions for 184-yards, and Nick Morrow added two grabs for 33-yards.

After having the final scrimmage of the preseason for Bullard cancelled and an off week last week, Taylor had hoped to get more plays under their belts before the opener against Westwood.

"To play on week 0 or not to play has got it's advantages and it's disadvantages," Taylor said. "If you are on a roll, the last thing you want to do is stop the momentum with an open week in the middle of that.

"And if you have several banged up, the week off is a blessing, so you never know ahead of time when you set the schedule, and if we had the scrimmage not cancelled, I think being off this week would have helped us to take an extra look at some things," Taylor added.

Last season, Bullard bested a playoff Westwood team that finished at 6- 5 on the year.

DIRECTIONS TO WESTWOOD - Take Hwy. 155 South to Palestine. From 155, take 79 South. Westwood will be on the right. The field is on campus.