A YEAR AWAY FROM LIGHTING UP DIVISION I The complaint of many people that follow recruiting closely in Arkansas is that the talent pool for the 2017 class does not appear to be as strong as in past years. However, Shiloh Chrissan running back John-Marcus Carruthers has been a consistent and dangerous running back throughout his high school career. Names have started to surface such as Carruthers, Taylor Powell, and Akial Byers. Carruthers may be the most intriguing, because, I believe, that his full potennal has not yet been on display. Last season, Carruthers rushed for 577 yards in 10 games. Carruthers has the speed and is dangerous enough to push for over 1,000 yards rushing this season. Shiloh Chrissan will have an experienced team coming back this season and that means teams like Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, and Graveee already know all about Carruthers. John-Marcus is a young man that wants to connnue to improve his game and has the faith, drive and determinaaon to connnue his football career in college. The Carruthers family has been gracious enough over the past two to three years to allow Leeerman Magazine an inside look at how John-Marcus prepares for games and handles his day-to-day business. Leeerman Magazine has been fortunate enough to observe John-Marcus during his workouts before the Opening and during game accon in 2015. Both mes John-Marcus put on a show.
In fact, during the 2015 Lincoln game, John-Marcus rushed for 140 yards and 1 touchdown in a blowout win against the Wolves. The challenge that now lies ahead for John-Marcus is to improve upon his 2015 season numbers and aaract the aaennon and impress scouts with his talent at the recruiing camps. Oklahoma State and Auburn have been keeping a keen eye on Carruthers for some me; and you can bet they will be paying closer aaennon during summer workouts and as we get closer to the 2016 season. Carruthers racked up a large number of awards during his sophomore season and is looking for even more recogniion during his senior season. Shiloh Chrissan has the potennal to be a very strong football team in 2016. John-Marcus Carruthers should help the team perform well. The Saints made the playos last season and advanced with a win over Dover. The Saints then suered a tough loss to an excellent Nashville team. However, the Saints should be able to build on the success of last season and John-Marcus should contribute in a big way for Shiloh Chrissan. Carruthers is determined to have a strong season to close out his high school career and the 2016 season should be a great one for him and the fanss
-BY: TOMMY TABLER-
john-marcus CARRUTHERS
Blackhawks
Pea Ridge
T
he Pea Ridge Blackhawks had an excellent season, in 2015. The Blackhawks were able to advance in the playoffs and come within one game of a state final appearance.
Pea Ridge got off to a strong start with victories over Elkins, Green Forest, Paris, and Gentry. A win over Lincoln in the fifih week of the season would set up a big showdown against Graveee. Graveee would benefit from some Pea Ridge turnovers, and the Blackhawks would fall to Graveee 22-12. A loss to state finalist Prairie Grove would follow but Pea Ridge would find a way to right the ship.
Pea Ridge would close out the season with a big win over Shiloh Chrissan and the Blackhawks would not lose again unnl the state semi-finals to Nashville. Pea Ridge would end the 2015 season with an 11-3 record and set the bar high, in terms of goals for the 2016 season. Pea Ridge will be a team to look out for during the 2016 season, the past two years have laid the groundwork for more accomplishments.
C
oach Bill Harrelson and the Gravette Lions continue to put together solid seasons, and the 2015 season was no different. The season started out with a tough loss to Pottsville, but the Lions were able to regain momentum and pick up some key wins during the early portion of the season. Victories over Jay, Oklahoma, Mayyower, and Lincoln would set up a key matchup against Prairie Grove. The Tigers would jump on Gravette early and defeat the Lions 44-19. Gravette would recover against Pea Ridge and have momentum as they prepared for the Clash in the Ozarks against Gentry.
Gravette and Gentry played a classic to close out the regular season. Gravette picked up the win 34-30, in what was another great football game between the two rivals. Gravette moved on to the playoffs and suffered a tough defeat to Pulaski Robinson, but the season was a success with the Lions going 7-4 on the year. 2016 should be a big year for the Lions as they look to continue on the success of the 2015 season.
T
he Gentry Pioneers started the 2015 season on a winning note. Defeating West Fork and Decatur. Coach Paul Ernest and the Pioneers had trouble regaining the momentum after falling to Greenland and Pea Ridge in back to back weeks. Gentry picked up their third win of the season against Berryville, but would struggle and just miss out on the playos for the 2015 season. The Pioneers played one of the best games of the season against Gravette in the Third Annual Clash in the Ozarks. Gentry fell just short against Gravette but set the stage for what should be some classic games over the years! Gentry has to replace some key plays for the 2016 season. Leading wide receiver Jake Faulkenberry and leading rusher CJ Taylor will both be graduating this year. Gentry has the talent to remain competitive and this should be a dangerous group in 2016, as they attempt to regain the Clash in the Ozarks trophy and once again make a playo run.
CONGRATS GRAVETTE LIONS CLASH CHAMPS!
CLASH IN THE OZARKS
he Farmington Cardinals got o to a great start in the Battle of Highway 62. Farmington picked up a big win over the Prairie Grove Tigers in front of a packed house. Farmington kept the momentum going against Huntsville in week two, but ran into some trouble during the middle portion of the season. Tough losses to Little Rock Christian, Van Buren, and Greenbrier caused the Cardinals to miss out on the playos in 2015. Farmington was able to close out the season strong against Harrison and Maumelle. Those victories should give the Cardinals some momentum going into the 2016 season. Farmington has to replace some key players going into the 2016 season. The Cardinals will lose starting quarterback Brice Waggle, who threw for 16 touchdowns. Farmington will also need to nd someone to take over the running back position with Justice Hobbs moving on to college. Hobbs had an impressive season and will be a tough player to replace. Farmington closed the 2015 season strong and should be playo contenders once again this season.
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#GREATNESS
L L U B R U T A C E D
S G O D
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THROWBACK PIC LETTERMAN MAGAZINE FIRST ISSUE-HISTORY!
The season did not start out in the
The Wolves picked up wins over Ber-
best way for the Lincoln Wolves. The
ryville, Huntsville, and Gentry to clinch a
Wolves lost the rst two games of
playoff spot. Making the playoffs was a
the season to Westville and Keys,
goal the Wolves had at the beginning of
both schools out of Oklahoma. Lin-
the season and it was accomplished.
coln was able to right the ship
The Wolves would fall to Dardanelle in
during the third week of the season,
the playoffs. The Wolves have momen-
picking up a big win over Cedarville
tum as they start to work on goals for
61-14. All three phases of the game
the 2016 season. You can never under-
were clicking in the win over Cedar-
estimate the Wolves who will be looking
ville. The middle portion of the
to make some noise this season.
season was a bit of a roller coaster for the Wolves. Lincoln fell to Gravette and Pea Ridge in back to back weeks.
The Rogers Mounties played well and suffered some heartbreaking defeats during the 2015 season, but the future is shaping out to be a bright one for the Mounties. Early losses to Siloam Springs and Claremore, caused the Mounties to try and regain momentum during conference play. The improvement through the course of the season was seen in the effort the Mounties put in against Missouri power Jefferson City. Rogers fell 28-24 to Jefferson City, but the progress they were making was clear.
The highlight of the season came in a win against rival Rogers Heritage. The Mounties took control early and did not look back, defeating the War Eagles 28-6. The 2016 season is going to be a bit of a question mark until the Mounties can replace Coach Shawn Flannigan. Grayson Lee is returning for the Mounties in 2016. Lee played well from both the free safety and wide receiver position. Rogers improved in 2015, no now the key is to see if they can continue to make another step forward in 2016
T
T
he Shiloh Chrissan Saints had another impressive football season during the 2015 season. The Saints opened up the 2015 season with an impressive victory over the Charleston Tigers. Shiloh would have a tough game the second week of the season, squaring off against Louisiana power Bastrop High School. The Saints would fall to Bastrop, but the loss would give them a wakeup call that was needed to finish out the season with some solid victories. Shiloh would rack up some impressive victories over the Lincoln Wolves, Huntsville, and Graveee. The Saints would advance into the playoffs and get an opening round win against Dover. Shiloh would fall to eventual state champion Nashville in the second round of the playoffs. Shiloh is a young team and will have several division 1 caliber student athletes returning for the 2016 season. Connor Reece will be back as the signal caller. Reece’s performances were impressive during the 2015 season and Saints’ fans should be anxious to see him play again. One of the best running backs in the 2016 class will also be returning in the form of John-Marcus Carruthers. Carruthers rushed for over 550 yards this season and tacked on 8 touchdowns. The Saints will be a tough team to play in 2016 and should be tle contenders if all goes well.
LIFE
COACH
BY: SHAUNSIA MOY Football is a great example to use when ex-
When you apply humility to your accons,
plaining how essennal humility is. A coach
it’s easy for you to objeccvely idennfy
desires a player that puts the team’s inter-
your weaknesses and enhance them. Not
ests above their own. In order to win a
only is it easy, but it’s a deed you are eager
game, all the players must work together to
to achieve, because you realize that by
execute the strategies and techniques im-
beeering yourself, you are beeering ev-
plemented by the coach. In order to consis
eryone else’s opportunity for victory. You
tently win, players must make personal
revel in being a fundamental part of a
sacrifices and even play posiions that
bigger vehicle, and you feel honored to
weren’t their dream choice, but one that
use your unique talents for a good cause,
best facilitates the teamCC overall because
and when you win a game, you feel elated
it best uulizes that individual’s talents. One
that you and your fellow players worked
must have an unselfish desire to receive
hard to win it together.
construccve criicism from both the coach and his fellow teammates.
When you possess humility, you forgo vanity, pretension, and ego. It’s one of
The most popular definiion of humility is the quality or state of not thinking you are
Humility has ooen been described as the
those cheesy phrases you’ve heard since
beeer than other people. At first read, this
foundaaon of growth. How does a player
elementary, but there truly is no “I” in
sounds very limiing, no? One might ask
grow if he feels like he already has all of the
team. However, there are two “I’s” in hu-
themselves, “Well, does this mean it’s im-
answers? How does he plan to be the best
mility, and we all know two people make a
possible to be a beeer swimmer than my
player he can be if he believes he’s already
team, and paired with a humble founda-
brother?” or “Can I no longer say I am the
given his best and there is no room for im-
ion, that makes for an unstoppable team
smartest student in my class due to me
provement? How does one open himself to
with unlimited potennal for prosperity.
having the highest grade point average out
learning if he feels like the team’s triumph
of all my classmates?” Of course not. Hu-
is ullmately a direct result of his accons
mility can be beeer viewed as simply not
and not the colleccve effort of the team as
placing one’s importance above others.
a whole? He robs himself of honing his
Just because you possess certain skills that
compability and adappve skills, skills that
are unique to you that you personally excel
are both essennal no maaer what you plan
in, doesn’t mean that you, as a human
to do in life, and unfairly robs the team as
being, maaer more than anyone else.
well from reaching their peak.
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