Conway High • Vilonia High • Mayflower High• Greenbrier • Conway Christian School • University of Central Arkansas • Hendrix College • SEC
Football Preview
2015-16
COVER STORY:
FRIDAY NIGHT
WIVES
ALSO INSIDE:
SEASON SCHEDULES
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THE SEC
HOOTEN’S HS RANKINGS LOCAL PLAYER FEATURES
2A — Sunday, August 30, 2015
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Wives’ Tales What you will discover about the Faulkner County coaches wives:
• One met her husband on a blind date • Two have children named Tate, one boy, one girl. • One has a dog named “Coach.” • One makes custom lamp shades. • One coach and wife were high school sweethearts • One has two sons in coaching. • Two are involved in educational programs involving young people and their parents • One was a oboe player. • One met her husband as a happenstance encounter outside a retail store. • One is a physical therapist.
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‘Better halves’ of Faulkner County head coaches take on multiple duties in serving alongside husbands By DAVID MCCOLLUM LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
They have been married a combined 137 years, three of them 25 years or more and all 15 or more. They have reared, or are rearing, a total of 13 children, ranging in age from 7 to 31. Children of two different couples are named Tate, one boy, one girl. At various times they have served as chaffeur, doctor, correctional officer, confidant, counselor, fix-it guru, facilitator and cheerleader. They are a sisterhood of caring hands, warm hearts, smiling faces, broad shoulders and thick skin, They are football wives rather than football “widows.” They are the real head coaches wives of Faulkner County. They met their husbands on blind dates, in college classes, through friends, through church and through athletics. With much in common, they don’t fit into the same mold.
One was an oboe player in a classical music group. Another makes custom lamp shades, two work in different programs that help school children. Another and her husband were childhood sweethearts, even naming their daughter after the high school in which they met. Another is physical therapist for youth. Individually, they are comfortable out of the spotlight, doing the little things that create a strong foundation for family. Collectively, they are the unsung heroes of what their more famous husbands see on weekend nights and afternoons. “It’s a different life,” said Melissa Carter, wife of Conway Christian coach Michael Carter. “You have to be prepared for it and like football.” “It’s crazy busy all the time,” said Alissa Ashcraft, wife of Conway High coach Clint Ashcraft.”You have to like all sports. If they are not coaching, they are watching sports or talking about it.”
WIVES < 3A
EDITOR’S NOTE: Vilonia’s Mike Stout was hired as interim football coach in midsummer. His wife, Rebekah, is in her first year as assistant volleyball coach at the school. Because of their complicated schedules related their new jobs, family and the start of school, Rebekah was not available for an interview session despite several attempts by the Log Cabin Democrat to set something up before our publication deadlines.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 6 • Log Cabin staffer recalls life as a coach’s kid Page 7 • A look at the University of Central Arkansas program Pages 8-9 • College player features Page 10-11 • A look at the University of Arkansas program Page 12 • Meet Conway High’s quarterback Page 13 • Conway High School Page 14 • Greenbrier High School Page 15 • Log Cabin sports writer weighs in
Page 16 • Vilonia High School Page 17 • Mayflower High School Page 18 • Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Page 19 • Conway Christian School Page 20 • Hendrix College Pages 22-24 • Hooten’s High School Rankings Page 25-26 The Southeastern Conference at a glance Cover art by Avery Moorehead, staff photographer
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WIVES from 2A “You have to do everything that’s needed,” said Michelle Buchanan, wife of Hendrix coach Buck Buchanan. “Fix the plumbing. Fix the dishwasher or know who to call to figure it out. At Hendrix, we know how important it is to be there for each other.” Let’s put a spotlight on these women. Who they are tells you both about themselves and their husband coaches.
• Jonesboro • Married to Clint, 16 years • Arkansas State • Chidren: Caden, 11; Caleigh, 9; Coleson, 7
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Alissa Ashcraft, Conway
Michelle Buchanan, Hendrix
Sunday, August 30, 2015 — 3A
• White Wright, Texas • Married to Buck 15 years in December • University of North Texas • No children
ALISSA ASHCRAFT, CONWAY HIGH
A Jonesboro native, she met Clint when they were students at Arkansas State. She’s both a football wife and a baseball/soccer/softball mom. Caden, age 11, plays football and baseball and was on a traveling team this summer. “That really gets crazy,” she said. Caleigh, age 9, plays softball and soccer. Coleson, age 7, plays soccer. “There is a lot of shuttling back and forth,” she said. “There’s no offseason in playing or coaching. It’s year round. We try to have family time when we can. We like to ride bikes, go to movies, play board games. The kids really like family kickball.” Clint Ashcraft is in his seventh season with the Wampus Cats. When the children were younger, she remembers serving as referee while her husband coached. “They would get in the top row of the stands under the press box and
run back and forth and they could get loud,” she said. “Now, they are older and understand more what’s going on. Caden is ballboy and he loves it.” What is coach Ashcraft like to live with? “He’s a great guy and a great husband. Even during the season, he tries to have special time with the kids. That’s a challenge but he does what he can do. He invests a lot in football because there are life lessons there. Some of the players don’t have a male figure in their lives.” After games, the kids are usually asleep and Clint stays awake to wind down. He’s up and off to prepare for the next game before the
kids are up Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon and evening are special. “I try to let kids see him after the game before we go home and we hang out together a little bit,” she said. “I try to be awake when he comes home.” What is something we may not know about Clint Ashcraft? “He likes to cut his boys’ hair,” she said, “He does a good job.” She added, “It seems every football season I’ve had a flat tire. It’s really happened two or three times.”
MICHELLE BUCHANAN, HENDRIX
Michelle Buchanan was an oboe player in a classical group at the University of North
Texas in Denton. Buck Buchanan played football for Austin College in Sherman, a hour and a half away. “Some girls I had known since elementary school who went to Austin College set me up on
a blind date with him,” she said. “It was a shock for me,” she said. “He changed every stereotype I had. My mother actually had to talk me in to going. I said he was a dumb jock. She said,
‘He can’t be that dumb. He goes to Austin Colllege.’ After the date I told Mom I met the man I’m going to marry.” What’s it like to live with the thirdyear Hendrix coach? “Buck leaves it all on the field,” she said. “If he wants to talk about a development in the game, I’ll listen. He pretty much controls his emotions after a game. He’s an open book. Everybody instantly becomes family to him. Off the field, he is very lowkey showing he has an enormous amount of patience. He is very evenkeel. What is something we may not know about Buck? “He doesn’t pick his towels off the floor,” she said with a laugh. What’s your life like during the season? “You learn to be independent,” she said. “You have to be responsible for what you do, when
WIVES < 4A
4A — Sunday, August 30, 2015
WIVES from 3A to do it, who you see all season long. But you have a family of coaches, and players. But we have a family of coaches wives. Buck let me help with the process of selecting his assistants. How they relate to each other and how they and their families fit is very important. We’re together a lot during the season. “The families will get together after the games. And during the offseason months, when the coaches are recruiting and we don’t see each other much, the wives will have potlucks about once a month and catch up on how each other is doing.” Does she like football? “Are you kidding. I’m from Texas.” Away from football, the couple likes to fish. “We like to fish, rivers, lakes whatever. I remember a couple of years ago we were fishing and a tournament was going on and we were catching more than they were. We caught about 90 that day.” During some summers, she has accompanied her husband to the Czech Republic, Sweden and Poland as he helps with American football camps. In the evenings, she teaches Bible study. “The last time, there were 80 women in camp,” she said. “Women’s tackle football is big in Europe.”
Shellie Campbell, UCA
childhood sweethearts, growing up near Pensacolo, Fla, “We met in a Methodist youth group,” she said. “Our neighbor was youth director and said to me, ‘That Stephen Campbell is a nice young man; you ought to get to know him.’ I told my mother he was two years younger. ‘Doesn’t matter,’ she told me.” The two are such fit they have the same birthday. Tate, their youngest child, is named after Tate High School in Pensacola, where they met and she was a cheerleader and he a football player. First date was to football game for game with a crosstown rival. The SHELLIE CAMPBELL, ate later at Pizza Hut. UCA Later, she was a She and Stephen were
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
• Cantonmant, Fla. (Pensacola area) • Married to Stephen, 25 years • Florida State University • 3 children: Tate, 10; Stephen, 23; Kelsie, 24.
dance major at Florida State. He was an assistant at Auburn under Pat Dye. The teams played each other in the 1989 Sugar Bowl. “He asked me who I was going to root for,” she said. “Who do you think? Auburn. I love my school but I love you more.” What’s like to live with Campbell? “He’s a great father and great husband. He has always been there for his children and for me. He’s very compassionate. When he does something, he is all in. He’s not able to be there all the time, but when he wasn’t able to go to children’s events, he’d watch videos and send a gift or flowers.” She said he has never been around dogs. His daughter put his name on
• Graduated Clinton High School • Married to Michael, 25 years • 2 children: Kirk, 22, Haley, 20, both college students
a SPCA adoption application. He did it “because he knows we love dogs.” The dog, a maltie-pooh, is named Coach. “We have two coaches around the house,” she said. “Actually, three if you count our son.” What is something we may not know about him? “He really has a great sense of humor, really funny,” she said. “He likes to make up names for people if he doesn’t know their names. He’ll kid my daughter by making up a name and ask, ‘How is Amberli doing?’ He cooks stuff a little burned but he eats it. But he lives sometimes on Diet Mountain Dew and crackers.” His son, Stephen, is following in his footsteps. Campbell has an MBA.
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Melissa Carter, Conway Christian
His son is working to obtain an MBA while serving as a student assistant for the UCA team. Do you leave him alone after a game, particularly a loss? “We like to be right by him. I allow him to talk. He understands we understand. He doesn’t like to bring things home. Something happens, he thinks he may have given something more attention. He learns from it. I’ve never heard him blame anyone but himself.” For fun, he likes to fish. Growing up around the beach, he likes water.
MELISSA CARTER, CONWAY CHRISTIAN
Michael Carter, a former Greenbrier star, played football under Harold Horton at UCA,
where the couple met, introduced by mutual friends. He has coached both of his youngsters. At Little Rock Christian, he switched from coaching baseball to softball so he could coach his daughter. “He likes being challenged, enjoys it,” she said. “He has a great sense of humor. It’s a dry sense of humor. When people first meet him, they might feel intimidated. But he really is fun to be around.” What is something we may not know about him? “He loves to cook. He thinks he can cook anything better than I can.” How do you treat him after a loss? “I give him a day of mourning,” she said. “I don’t talk much because I know he is upset. After 24 hours, we move on. If it’s a really bad loss I might go to a friend’s house. Getting beat by a team that is just better is one thing. When you make a lot of mistakes and don’t play well, it’s a lot worse. He tends to go over and over what could have been different.” What do you do as a family for fun? “Dead week means a family vacation to the beach,” she said. “There’s not a whole lot of time because, as a coach and athletic director, there is always something. There are many meals on the road. … But he likes a small community where
WIVES < 5A
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Sunday, August 30, 2015 — 5A
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
WIVES from 4A he can get to know kids. Elizabeth Langrell, He also has a young Mayflower staff who are just starting their coaching careers. He likes that because he gets to train them how he wants.” She works with school systems evaluating kids with special needs an learning disabilities. She used to help teach and counsel them. “I’m on the other side of it now, where I evaluate what the problems are and what programs to help them. “There are smart kids who have trouble learning,” said Carter who has a bachelor’s and master’s in special education and education. “Everybody learns in a different way. When kids who are actually smart struggle, they don’t think they are smart and it can was real happy Todd got to coach in his homelead to depression.” town. He’s gotten to ELIZABETH LANGRELL coach the sons of some of the players he taught MAYFLOWER A child if a single at Mayflower the first mom, she knew little time he coached there.” What is it like durabout football. When she was 15, ing the season? she was talking with “Todd pretty much friends outside J.C. Pen- leaves it on the field,” ney when a 17-year-old she said. ‘He really athlete from Mayflower doesn’t rant and rave approached her. The re- much. He doesn’t relationship with Michael act much. He’s pretty grew from there. They much himself. A lot of dated seven years be- us (wives) hang out after games. But he’s not fore they were married Todd was an assis- home much during the tant to Randy Tribble at season. There’s not a Greenbrier before tak- whole lot of time during ing the head coaching the high school season.” What doesn’t the job at his alma mater average person know last year. about Todd Langrell? “I loved our GreenbriHe can do anything. er family,” she said. “It was tough to leave but I build a house, fix things.
• Conway • Married to Todd, 19 years • UCA • 2 boys, Tate, 13, and Trent, 16
He’s a good cook. He can do everything.” One fun thing is Todd is able to coach both his sons this year. “One thing all coaches’ wives have in common is our husbands are not home as much during the season, but that’s part of it. So, it’s good to be around the assistant’s wives who understand what it’s like to be a coach’s wife. One of the best parts is the relationship with players and how they come back and email and text him. It shows they are making a difference. And he’s coaching sons of players he has coached and of families he has known. And the bond continues.” And there’s always
Tina Tribble, Greenbrier
the unexpected. A devastating tornado hit Mayflower the week after Todd was hired. “It was a hard time,” she said. “Real hard.” She works for an organization (HIPPY) that works with preschool parents to help them learn how to use the school supplies as best fits their child.
TINA TRIBBLE, GREENBRIER
The coach’s life comes natural for her. Her father was the late Bobby Reese, who coached basketball throughout Arkansas and is a member of the Henderson State Hall of Fame. She and Randy met at Harding, where Ran-
• Married to Randy, 37 years • Harding • 3 boys: Luke, 26, Zach, 28, and Jake, 31
dy was a defensive back and she was a cheerleader. Their first date was homecoming of their senior year. What is life like with Randy during the season? “Randy is blessing,” she said. “We’re very busy during the season but it’s a little different with grown boys. We try to see them when we can (two in Searcy, one in Montgomery). But I grew up in a coaching family. I’m used to it.” One of the Tribble’s sons, Luke, coaches in Searcy. The other, Zach, coaches at Faulkner University in Mobile, Ala. “I think it’s rewarding for him to have two sons who are coach-
es (the other works for Wal-Mart in Searcy),” she said. Tribble has been a head coach both in college (Harding) and high school (Greenbrier). He has had a successful transition to high school coaching. Some of his coaching staff played for him at Harding. “The talent level is different but you don’t have to recruit. But the coaching is a lot the same. It’s a blessing ” Relationships are important to her also. “Being a coach’s wife is a struggle, but there is nothing you can do about it. ... One of the big things is the relationships you build with the coaches wives,” she said. “We have family get-togethers after games. There is not a whole lot to do in Greenbrier late so we have after-game parties in the media room of the fieldhouse.” What is something we may not know about Randy? “In the offseason, Randy helps teach a pre-K children’s Sunday School class at Robinson and Center Church of Christ,” she said. “He’s really good with little kids.” She makes custom lamp shades for a Little Rock business. “A friend taught me how to do it and it’s something I can do at home,” she said. “I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom and this was a way to do it.” David McCollum can be reached by email at david.mccollum@thecabin.net.
6A — Sunday, August 30, 2015
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
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Happy birthday and welcome to football I was born into high school football — literally. On a Friday night in October 1978, at the height of the season, as players were boarding a bus headed from Monticello to an away game, the head coach got word his wife was in labor. The bus had to leave without him so he could be there to welcome me into the world. He made it to the game, though, and by the time he arrived on the field, the word was out. As he walked onto the field to join his team, the high school band played “Happy Birthday.” Dad later sneaked back
into the hospital for the night, celebrating a win and a new baby. It was epic. My mother was a cheerleading sponsor, so Friday nights were family nights. My brother played for Dad, so he rode the appropriate bus. My sister was 11 years old and had a spot with the cheerleaders. As my mother tells it, by the next season, I also was riding the cheerleading bus in a car seat. By the time my first birthday rolled around, the whole town was in on celebrating. My mother has “pictures to prove” there were more than 100 people at my first birthday par-
KELLY SUBLETT ty — an entire high school football team, a cheerleading squad, a high school band, etc. … Such was life from that point forward. Mother eventually quit sponsoring cheerleaders, and Friday nights in the fall meant my hopping on a big yellow school bus, full of sweaty high school boys, sitting immediate-
ly behind my dad with the water coolers. I had birthdays on the bus, lost my first tooth on the bus and had my first crush on an older boy on that bus. I knew him by “No. 14.” He brought me butterfly stickers. When my family moved to Katy, Texas, a big football suburb outside of Houston, I still had no choice about going to games. My mother was the quintessential coach’s wife. She wore the colors, sat with the other wives in the stands, waved at my dad when he would look up from the field and followed the buses home no matter how late. … Every once in a while on a Friday night, my mom and I would play hooky from the lights and action and pop popcorn, freeze bottle cokes and watch The Dukes of Hazard and Dallas. Those were my favorite times. I hated football my entire childhood. I hated that the games were always on a Friday night. I hated that Daddy would miss my birthday parties on Saturdays because he had to “watch film.” I hated that everything in my closet was the same color. I hated that the boys nicknamed me “Little Ferg.” (My maiden name is Ferguson. My dad was Coach Ferg, mom was Mrs. Ferg, etc.) But there was something special about being a coach’s kid, too. It meant that all eyes were on MY DAD. People in town knew
his name, stopped him at the grocery store to talk about his team, his choices and what he was preparing for next weekend. I stood on the 50-yard line in the Houston Astrodome before a state playoff game. That was really cool. When I was in junior high school, Daddy quit coaching and became a principal. Life changed. I had all the time I wanted with him. He was involved and at my sporting events. He cooked homemade pizzas for my sleepovers. He was always great, but he was even greater to me then. Only looking back now do I really get to value what my father did for all those years and what it meant to so many people. He is still in touch with many of his players. We have attended a lot of weddings and events over the last four decades. Just two summers ago, one of his championship teams held a reunion in his honor. He was humbled and overwhelmed. It’s been 40 years, and they love him still. And my dad is a big man. He’s 6’4” and 270 pounds. He played college football for the University of Arkansas at Monticello in the 1970s. No matter where he ended up, he was a presence. I realized that he commanded a room, whether it was a football banquet or elementary cafeteria. It wasn’t about what job
he had. It has always been about the man that he is. I eventually found a love for football, too, — at Texas A&M University. Being an Aggie changed my relationship with the game and also with my dad. At the first opportunity my freshman year, he stood with me as part of the 12th Man during a game against the Longhorns. Experiencing that with him was one of the best memories of my life. I think about the things that I took for granted, but I was a little kid. I missed my dad. And he made a decision to quit coaching because it was a drain on family time. And I was lucky to have him when I needed him the most as a teenager. Being the “coach’s kid” is a mixed bag. There are huge advantages and perks, but there are significant drawbacks, too. I guess the thing is, overall, my daddy loved us. He made that evident and none of us ever questioned that. He always pushed us to do the very best we could, not for anyone other than ourselves. He taught us about commitment and authenticity. He taught us to be aggressive and forward thinking and to never let anyone dictate how we feel about ourselves. He was a built-in life coach and I am a better person for it. Kelly Sublett is the Vice President of Audience for the Log Cabin Democrat. She can be reached by email at kelly.sublett@thecabin.net.
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Sunday, August 30, 2015 — 7A
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
UCAQuickFacts
WhatToExpect
Coach: Steve Campbell Record at school: 6-6 2014: 6-6 (T-3 Southland at 5-3) Returning starters: 7 offense, 8 defense Offense: Spread Defense: 3-4
2014 at Texas Tech L, 42-35 UT Martin W, 26-24 at Montana State L, 43-33 Missouri State. L, 33-31 Nicholls W, 52-16 at SFA W, 49-39 Houston Baptist W, 70-0 at SE Louisiana L, 41-24 at NW State W, 58-35 Vs. Abilene Christian (Plano) L, 52-35 Lamar W, 44-41 (OT) Sam Houston State L, 36-31
2015Schedule Sept. 3 at Samford Sept. 12 at Oklahoma State Sept. 26 at Northwestern State Oct. 3 Abilene Christian Oct. 10 at Houston Baptist Oct. 17 McNeese State Oct. 24 at Lamar Oct. 31 Southeastern Louisiana Nov. 7 SFA Nov. 14 at Nicholls Nov. 21 Sam Houston State
Spotlight:Kicking game The UCA Bears begin the season as solid as they have ever been in the kicking game. Senior Jace Denker was six of seven last year on field goal attempts inside the 40. He was perfect on PAT’s in alternating kicking duties with Eddie Camara. Matt Cummins of Conway is one of the Bears’ top recruits. Both nailed 52-yard field goals in the Bears’ major preseason scrimmage. Ount Matt Spencer led the Southland in net punting last year. Jataviious Wilson is a preseson All-American as a return specialist. “And I think we have the best deep snapper in the conference,” said coach Steve Campbell. “The kicking game is very important and I feel good about ours in all aspects.” — DAVID MCCOLLUM
JOSH GOFF, UCA Sports Information
Conway’s Brandon Cox, an Arkansas State transfer, figures prominently in UCA’s plans at receiver. By DAVID MCCOLLUM LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
During preseason, University of Central Arkansas coach Steve Campbell talked a lot about desperation and hunger. The Bears were 6-6 last season, tied for third in the Southland Conference and missed the postseason because of a couple of junctures in a couple of games. They averaged 41 points a game but had trouble getting off the field defensively on third down. They were 87 percent in the red zone. “On defense, we need to elimminate big plays and improve red shot defense,” Campbell said. “We scored in the red zone 58 times. I would like to have more explosive plays (longrange play) where our red zone scores are in the high 30’s to 40’s.” The Bears are more of a confident team in Campbell’s second year. “In year two, they are a lot more comfortable with me and I’m more comfortable with them,” he said. “I know what to expect from them and
they know what to expect from me.” That is helped by 25 seniors, the most UCA has had in awhile. “I like our maturity on offense and we have some maturity on defense,” Campbell said. “I think we will be able to handle sudden-change situations better.”
Best and Terrance Partee. They are backed by veteran linebackers Ricky Wyatt and DJ Holland plus sophomores George Odum and Dalvin Simmons. The secondary, led by senior Dillon Winfrey and juniors Tirrell Wellmaker and Bobby Watkins is more battled hardened.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS
CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
Senior Taylor Reed has a better grasp of the offense in his second year as a regular. Juniors Desmond Smith and Jatavious Wilson, senior Courtney Whitehead and Justin Dickey and transfers Brandon Cox and Brady Moore lead the receiving corps. Linemen Lance Kloker, Kyle Stouffer, D.J. Appe, Jordan Kersh, Alec Willis, Gilberto Garcia and Stockton Mallett form a strong front for a deep group of running backs.
Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin and Southeastern Louisiana, three playoff teams from last year, are at the top but McNeese State, UCA and Northwestern State could become serious challengers.
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
What shape will the Bears be in, both mentally and physically, after the first three games (Samford, Oklahoma State and Northwestern State), all on the road?
End Jonathan Woodard is a preseason All-American and anchors a veteran front that includes Dawson Hadnot, Jordan Tolliver, Cardell
PRESEASON OUTLOOK
Better than fifth or sixth in the league, where they are picked in preseason.
BIG QUESTION
8A — Sunday, August 30, 2015
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
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Howard should feel at home in Bears’ opener By DAVID MCCOLLUM LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
When Ryan Howard first saw Samford and a trip to Birmingham on the University of Central Arkansas’ 2015 schedule, he asked, “Why couldn’t this happen a year earlier?” In his senior year with the Bears last season, Howard, a native of Birmingham, shared quarterback duties with Taylor Reed. After graduation, he was looking for a coaching job, the right one to begin his career. Lightning struck this summer. Robert “Boomer” Cunningham left for an offensive line coaching postion at LaGrange College in Georgia. UCA coach Steve Campbell quickly named Howard as Cunningham’s replacement as Director of Football Operations. When the Bears open the season Thursday, Howard will be on the sidelines in his hometown. “It’s great it worked out this way because a lot of my family and friends will be there,” Howard said. “It is also neat I get to coach my first game where Dad coached,” he said. Howard’s dad, Mike Howard, is the longtime coach at Vestavia Hills High School in Birmingham, one of the strongest programs in the city. Mike Howard served as an assistant at Samford under Terry Bowden. Another assistant on that staff was former UCA coach Clint Conque, which formed the connection that led Ryan to UCA. Ryan’s sister, Lauren, is a 2010 graduate of Samford. When Ryan was playing for UCA, his parents rarely missed a home game, driving to Conway after Mike’s high school game on Saturday.
UCA SPORTS INFORMATION
Ryan Howard, now on UCA coaching staff, showed strong leadership skills as UCA quarterback.
Now, they just have to travel 10 minutes from their home to the Samford stadium. “We will certainly have many locals in the stands for the game, including his high school coaches, teachers and other friends that look forward to the homecoming
mother. “I knew I wanted to be a coach from an early age,” Ryan Howard said. In addition to his administrative duties, he will be working with the quarterbacks. “I now get to see things from a coach’s perspective and I’ve seen things from the quarter-
“It is also neat I get to coach my first game where Dad coached.” — Ryan Howard
of sorts. This will be one time many of the people in our community, including us, will not be cheering for the Samford Bulldogs,” said Darla Howard, his
back’s perspective,” said Howard. “I’ve been communicating with Nathan Brown (offensive coordinator and his quarterback coach) a long time. We’ve had a good relationship and he and I know the offense. And I’ve played with (quarterbacks) Taylor Reed and Hayden (Hildebrand). We hang out and watch video together. They want to learn.” “As a player, Ryan was a coach on the field,” Brown said. “When the opportunity came for him to join the UCA staff, it’s great he gets to work with the quarterbacks. He knows the UCA way.” “The quarterbacks will go into his (Howard’s) office before practice and just talk about things,” said Reed. “He know what we’re good at and what we are not good at.” “As part of my job, I get to see the other side of things,” Howard said. “I help prepare what the guys will be doing in practice and help make the playbook. That’s interesting for me to do some of the planning. “It helps that as far as the offense, I’ve been there, done that.”
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FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Sunday, August 30, 2015 — 9A
Conway’s Jackson was Razorback from the get-go me to have the mentality I am coming in to play.” That’s how Pittman wants it though he minces no words that Gibson bears an advantage from the redshirt fall and subsequent spring that obviously Jackson doesn’t have. “We are working both Johnny and Colton at left tackle,” Pittman said.
By NATE ALLEN Special to the log cabin
FAYETTEVILLE — History rides on Colton Jackson’s side that he will excel for Arkansas eventually. For when it comes to the highly touted Arkansas high school athletes become Razorbacks for the University of Arkansas, it so often seems the ones ironclad committed early without fanfare fare better than those eventually signed amid high drama with several schools’ ballcaps arrayed to choose for the donning as they signed. Two-time Doak Walker Award winner/twotime Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden, among Arkansas football’s greatest native sons to grace the Razorbacks, never visited any school other than the UA. Many other Arkies among Arkansas’ greats never glanced anywhere but towars Fayetteville. On that path, Conway’s Jackson, a 4-star, 6-6, 303-pound offensive tackle, follows suit. Never mind that it was 2013 and he couldn’t sign until 2015 and new Coach Bret Bielema had just arrived inheriting the 4-8 shambles of the John L. Smith interim off the chaos of Bobby Petrino’s scandal and firing in the spring of 2012. Jackson was Wampus Cats to Razorbacks bound and that’s all there was to it, even back with Petrino axed and Smith summoned in the 2012 inter-
Colton Jackson, who was offered a scholarship to Arkansas as a sophomore at Conway, is learning the ropes in the offensive line. ALAN JAMISON PHOTO, Nate Allen News Service
im. “I got offered the summer after my sophomore season and I knew I was going to come here,” Jackson said. “I got a lot of letters from a lot of other schools but I didn’t pay them any attention because I knew I was going to come here.” He explained why. “I was going to stay in state and Arkansas is the best program and the biggest program,” Jackson said. “Arkansas is the main attraction.” It attracted Jackson like a magnet. He had barely walked off the Conway commencement stage before he was in Fayetteville enrolled in UA classes and training under strength coach Ben Herbert. “I was up here both summer sessions and improved with my body and the workouts and all that stuff,” Jackson said. Jackson said he need-
ed every UA summer “They both are doing a minute. good job but I am going “It’s a pretty big adjustment,” Jackson said. “A lot more plays and details to the game. You have to know a lot more than I did in high school. Much faster.” Offensive line coach Sam Pittman started Jackson on a fast track alternating with redshirt freshman Johnny Gibson of Dumas behind junior starting left tackle Denver Kirkland. If Jackson proves precocious and there is a need for him to play right away, he will. Ideally he would redshirt, apprenticing at building towars a fifth year that for most offensive linemen promises to be better than the first. “He (Pittman) wants me to come in here thinking I am going to play instead of thinking I am going to redshirt,” Jackson said. “I think he wants
to tell you Johnny Gibson is really, really having a good first five days.” That, Pittman said, is a reflection on Gibson’s maturity and not any disappointment with Jackson. “Colton is very talented and athletic and really done a nice job,” Pittman said. “He doesn’t make a whole lot of mistakes assignment-wise. But right now, he’s not the two left tackle.Right now he’s a three and most three’s redshirt. That doesn’t mean that we are going to, but that’s where he is on the depth chart right now.” While not at Gibson’s expense in the early pre-
season, Gibson predicts big things for the true freshman from Conway. “He is a good, young player,” Gibson said. “All I am trying to do is help him come in and work along with us and try to get him play the way he should play because he is a great player.” Jackson said he tries to soak up knowledge anywhere he can find it. Both the redshirt freshman and true freshman say they glue their eyes on Kirkland. Though starting the last two years at right guard because the Hogs were set at tackle with cur-
JACKSON < 10A
10A — Sunday, August 30, 2015
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
JACKSON from 9A rent junior starter Dan Skipper and 2014 grad Brey Cook, Kirkland was a tackle at Booker T. Washington High in Miami, Fla. and a natural left tackle fit, Pittman said. Jackson certainly concurs. “Kirkland is probably the best offensive tackle I have ever seen,” Jackson said. “Great pass set, great running game, works hard, just an allround player. He actually tries to work with the freshmen and all that stuff and tries to help them out. Just an allround team player.” The kind that Colton Jackson aspires to be.
Hogs’ outlook changes a bit after first scrimmage NATE ALLEN SPECIAL TO THE LOG CABIN
Colton Jackson
Coaches Preseason ALL-SEC Teams FIRST TEAM OFFENSE TE: Evan Engram, Mississippi OL: Laremy Tunsil, Mississippi OL: Vadal Alexander, LSU OL: Cam Robinson, Alabama OL: John Theus, Georgia C: Mike Matthews, Texas A&M WR:haroh Cooper, South Carolina WR: Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss QB: Dak Prescott, Mississippi State RB: Nick Chubb, Georgia RB: Leonard Fournette, LSU AP: Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
DEFENSE
DL: Myles Garrett, Texas A&M DL: Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss DL: A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama DL: Chris Jones, Mississippi
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State LB: Reggie Ragland, Alabama LB:Curt Maggitt, Tennessee LB: Jordan Jenkins, Georgia DB: Vernon Hargreaves, Florida DB: Cyrus Jones, Alabama DB: Jalen Mills, LSU DB: Jonathan Jones, Auburn SPECIAL TEAMS PK: Marshall Morgan, Georgia P: JK Scott, Alabama RS: Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
TE: Hunter Henry, Arkansas OL: Dan Skipper, Arkansas OL: Greg Pyke, Georgia OL: Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M OL: Denver Kirkland, Arkansas C: Ryan Kelly, Alabama WR: D’haquille Williams, Auburn WR: Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia QB: Maty Mauk, Missouri
RB: Derrick Henry, Alabama RB: Alex Collins, Arkansas AP: Leonard Fournette, LSU
DEFENSE
DL: Jonathan Bullard, Florida DL: Derek Barnett, Tennessee DL: Jonathan Allen, Alabama DL: Montravius Adams, Auburn LB: Antonio Morrison, Florida LB: Kentrell Brothers, Missouri LB: Kendell Beckwith, LSU DB: Will Redmond, Mississippi State DB: Tre’Davious White, LSU DB: Cameron Sutton, Tennessee DB: Tony Conner, Ole Miss
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK: Austin MacGinnis, Kentucky P: Jamie Keehn, LSU RS: Leonard Fournette, LSU (asterisk) RS: Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia (asterisk)
FAYETTEVILLE — From trashing Texas, 31-7, at the Advocare Texas Bowl through spring practice, summer conditioning and the first 14 days of August, the Arkansas Razorbacks rolled. Then Aug. 1,5 they waged their first preseason scrimmage. Their senior quarterback kind of fell flat and their senior running back fell out. Quarterback Brandon Allen, the MVP of the Texas Bowl, only completed 10 of 23 passes and was intercepted without a TD pass. Last season he threw 20 TD’s against only five picks. “Not one of Brandon’s better days,” Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said. But really not that bad. Bielema said, especially with Allen surging at the finish completing five of his last seven. And especially upon recalling his favorite wideout, senior leading returning receiver Keon Hatcher, was withheld to rest an injury while his other favorite receiver, Mackey Award watch list tight end Hunter
Henry, scrimmaged only briefly so the other eight tight ends in camp could get some snaps. Besides much time remained for Allen to regroup before the Sept. 5 season opener against UTEP at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Give Allen a healthy Hatcher and lots of Henry plus time to work with the other receivers, including speedster newcomer junior college transfer speedster Dominique Reed of Camden, and his quarterback will be fine, Bielema said. Unfortunately senior running back Jonathan Williams won’t be football fine in 2015. The team’s leading returning rusher (1,190 yards and 12 touchdowns on 211 carries), won’t play this season except maybe a bowl game, Bielema said. Williams injured his left foot during that Aug. 15 scrimmage. It required inserting a screw in his foot through surgery and a prolonged rehab sidelining him
for the regular season, Bielema said. Never redshirted, Williams has a 2016 Arkansas season available but is projected to heal fully by winter and opt this time to declare for the NFL draft from which he withdrew in 2015. A team leader in addition to a stellar back, Williams will be missed but as Bielema said, “If there’s one team in college football that could take a hit at the running back position it’s probably the Arkansas Razorbacks and not get fazed too much.” Junior Alex Collins, the co-star with Williams and exceeding 1,000 rushing yards in 2013 and 2014 and tying Williams with 12 rushing touchdowns in 2014, takes center stage alone now but with capable understudies in the wings. Fullback-tailback Kody Walker, a 260pound bruiser, and freshman Rawleigh Williams III, a freshman speedster popping a 63yard touchdown during the scrimmage, provide “change the pace” backups, Bielema said. Collins, the SEC Freshman
HOGS < 11A
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HOGS from 10A of the Year in 2013 and starting this season on the Doak Walker Award and Maxwell Award watch lists. Getting Austin Allen, Brandon’s brother and sophomore backup, ready to step in on injury notice is a priority. Hatcher, a senior who had 43 catches for 558 yards and six touchdowns and junior twotime All-SEC tight end Hunter Henry, 28 catches for 409 yards and four touchdowns, are Brandon Allen’s old reliables but he has more targets now. Elusive redshirt freshman Jojo Robinson and speedster Reed add sizzle at receiver. Sophomore Jared Cornelius
seems more confidently shifty while junior Drew Morgan excelled as Brandon Allen’s scrimmage improved. Veterans Jeremy Sprinkle and Alex Voelzke both spell Henry and complement him in two tight end sets. The offensive line, the biggest in the country, filled the cover of Arkansas’ media guide. Returning starters Mitch Smothers at center, and left guard Sebastian Tretola, both seniors, and returning junior starting tackles Denver Kirkland, a guard the last two years, and Dan Skipper, all are one some preseason award watch list. Sophomore Frank Ragnow, starting in Kirkland’s old right
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
guard spot, was on the 2015 All-SEC Freshman team from backing up Smothers at center. In the wake of 2015 defensive stars Trey Flowers, Martrell Spaight, Darius Philon and Tevin Mitchel drafted into the NFL and steady safety Alan Turner graduated, too, Bielema affectionately calls his defense “The Bad News Bears” as a collection of no-names excelling like the Little League no-names did in the movies. Indeed they were “Bad News” for the first offense much of that first scrimmage. What Arkansas defense lacks in names, the Hogs make up in depth. The defensive line, its linemen say, and Biele-
ma concurs, go 1A, 1B, 1C deep across the board and dominated the first scrimmage. Third-year sophomore defensive end Tevin Beanum of Forrest City, Flowers’ understudy last year, had a big-play first preseason scrimmage in the Flowers tradition with three sacks. “On the back end, we’re deep, man,” Bielema said of the secondary. He said he’s never had the five-man cornerback depth like with first-teamers Jared Collins, DJ Dean and nickel/corner Henre Toliver plus the August emergence of true freshman Ryan Pulley and sophomore Cornelius Floyd. Another true freshman, Willie Sykes,
Sunday, August 30, 2015 — 11A
emerges behind safeties Rohan Gaines and Josh Liddell while versatile sophomore Kevin Richardson of Jacksonville is the backup nickel and available at safety and corner. At linebacker, Bielema would love to clone junior Brooks Ellis. Starting the last two years at middle linebacker, Ellis moved to Spaight’s SEC leading tackling weakside linebacker spot last spring. However as true freshman backup weakside ‘backer Dre Greenlaw surged in August, Bielema pondered moving Ellis back to the middle because spring promoted sophomore first-teamer Khalia Hackett struggled. Ellis stayed weakside as Josh Harris, only 5-10
but playing big among the tackling leaders every spring scrimmage and impressing in August, too, was promoted first-team middle linebacker. Toby Baker led the punting and redshirt freshman Cole Hedlund led the place-kicking in the early preseason. In Bielema’s second season, the Razorbacks improved from 3-9 overall and 0-8 in the SEC to 7-6, 2-6 with SEC shutouts over LSU and Ole Miss before trashing Texas. Improved but not satisfactory, Bielema said noting 7-6 was his worst record in seven years coaching Wisconsin. “It’s a launching pad, not a landing point,” Bielema says repeatedly.
12A — Sunday, August 30, 2015
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
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Smith a clear leader on Conway offense By ANDY ROBERTSON LOG CABIN CORRESPONENT
Conway High School football senior quarterback Breylin Smith is poised to lead the Wampus Cats to their second consecutive 6A/7A Central Conference championship. Smith is one of five returning starters for Conway and is regarded as one of the best quarterbacks the state of Arkansas has to offer. According to 247sports.com, Smith is ranked as the No. 22 player in Arkansas. “It’s an honor,” Smith said about the recognition. “It’s always a player’s goal to be the best they can be. “For other people to recognize me as one of the best in the state, I can’t be thankful enough and I appreciate all the help and all the encouragement I’ve gotten on my way up.”
Smith has started under center the past two seasons in coach Clint Ashcraft’s pro-style offense and has thrown for more than 2,000 each of the last two years. During his sophomore year, the 6-foot-3 quarterback threw for 2,003 yards, while throwing 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. His junior year was more efficient, throwing 24 touchdowns to four interceptions, while passing for 2,187 yards and completing 62 percent of his passes. Smith contributed in a big way to an offense that gained 4,600 yards
WY HAWKINS PHOTO
Conway High School football senior quarterback Breylin Smith, No. 3, is poised to lead the Wampus Cats to their second consecutive 6A/7A Central Conference championship.
and averaged 37 points Despite the team losper game last season on ing several players on their way to a 10-1 re- both sides of the ball, cord. Smith is confident the team can have another strong season. “I think we’ll be pretty good,” he said. “We’ve got a couple guys coming back on offense and defense. There will be a lot of learning, but I think we’ll be all right.” Smith, who had committed to UCA, is happy he has gotten college recruitment out of the way before it becomes a distraction during the season. On July 28, Smith made the “hard” commit to UCA after visiting a few colleges and receiv-
ing an offer from Southeast Missouri State University. “I committed to UCA because it was one of the places I felt most comfortable,” he said. “I’ve been over there a lot for a lot of games and I am very close to the coaching staff and they were the first place to send me an offer.” Once Smith gets to UCA in the fall of 2016, he’ll compete against current sophomore quarterback Hayden Hildebrand, freshman Riley Perkins, Kirk Baugh and Kolton Harfield. All of these quarterbacks have the chance to be held in a similar
regard to former Bears’ quarterback Nathan Brown, but Smith would be honored to be in the same conversation. “When my collegiate career is over and I’m up there with (Brown), that would be great,” Smith said. “He’s a great guy and a great quarterback. I watched him a lot when I was younger, and that would be great. That would be an honor.” Smith leads the Wampus Cats in his final season at Conway starting with the first regular season game in a nonconference matchup at 7 p.m. Friday at Cabot High School.
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ConwayQuickFacts Coach: Clint Ashcraft Record at school: 49-19 2014: 10-1 (10-0 conference, 1st), 7A state quarterfinals Returning starters: 3 offense, 3 defense Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-4
Sunday, August 30, 2015 — 13A
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
WhatToExpect Conway High School
2014 Cabot W, 24-22 Jonesboro W, 49-28 at Har-Ber W, 31-18 at Siloam Springs, W, 45-10 Van Buren W, 35-10 At Greenwood W, 42-37 Alma W, 35-0 LR Catholic W, 38-28 at Russellville W, 41-10 at Bryant W, 24-10
2015Schedule Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6 7A playoffs
at Cabot at Jonesboro at Har-Ber Siloam Springs at Van Buren Greenwood at Alma at LR Catholic Russellville Bryant
Spotlight:BreylinSmith Senior quarterback Breylin Smith makes a lot of big plays for the Conway Wampus Cats. That’s not the whole picture. “How he gets us out of a bad play is a good thing,” said coach Clint Ashcraft. “People see his athleticism. They don’t see his intelligence. And he handles things very well. He’s very humble.” Smith has a great rapport with his teammates. “Last year, thje guys protected Breylin because they saw how Breylin protected them by getting us into the right plays,” said Ashcraft. “That gives us a lot of freedom.” The CHS coaches give Smith a lot of freedom at the line of scrimmage. “If he goes up to the line and sees what we have called is no good,” said Ashcraft. “We’re not sure what he’s doing, but when he changes a play, 90 percent of the time it’s what we wanted.” — DAVID MCCOLLUM
WY HAWKINS PHOTO
McCall Dail (28) should be one of Wampus Cats’ major running backs this season.
cob Brown and Sam Cloyd are senior leaders in the line.
By DAVID MCCOLLUM LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
For an encore to a 10-0 regular season and a 7A/6A championship, the Conway Wampus Cats have a bunch of young faces but a key older one. Senior uarterback Breylin Smith, who has committed to the University of Central Arkansas, passed for 2,093 yards and 19 touchdowns last season and has led the Cats to 19 victories in two seasons. “He’s sharp mentally,” said coach Cliint Ashcraft. “He does so many things for us.” The Cats recorded the first undefeated regular season for the first time in 37 years last year. “We had a good group of seniors,” he said. “It was a fun group to coach.” This season, the Cats return three offensive and three defensive starters. Some of the regulars
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
Lineman Austin Norris is a college prospect. Other players to watch are end Datrion Macon, linebackers Sawyer Tomlin, Untavis Ellis, Nick Fletcher. Defensive backs Jaron Jackson, Cole Tollett and Connor Maltbia.
CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
In the final year of the mixed this season were key backups last classification, Conway and Bryseason. ant seem poised to battle for a top playoff seed.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Running back Mark Odom, who was injured early in preseason, has both power and speed. McCall Dail was a top junior varsity back. The receiving corps is completely new after the transfer to Maumelle of DJ Johnson, but Smith has been working regularly with the newcomers all summer. Zach Mills, Ethan Williams, Ja-
PRESEASON OUTLOOK
Smith and Odom will have to be the catalysts to the offense early. The defense has some growing up to do alongside Norris.
BIG QUESTION
How well a large group of players without varsity experience will mature and develop.
14A — Sunday, August 30, 2015
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
GreenbrierQuickFacts
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WhatToExpect
Coach: Randy Tribble Record at school: 52-31 2014; 8-4 (Tie 2nd, 5A-West Retiurning starters: 2 offense, 5 defense Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3
Greenbrier High School
2014 Beebe W, 48-29 at Heber Springs L, 46-28 at Benton L, 52-32 at Morrilton L, 28-20 Farmington W, 56-31 Maumelle L, 34-20 at LR Christian W, 26-21 at Harrison W, 48-38 Clarksville W, 56-19 Vilonia W, 52-19 5A Playoffs
2015Schedule
Sept. 1 (TUE) Beebe (War Memorial, Little Rock) Sept. 11 Heber Springs Sept. 18 Benton Sept. 25 Morrilton Oct. 2 at Farmington Oct. 9 at Maumelle Oct. 16 LR Christian Oct. 23 Harrison Oct. 30 at Clarksville Nov. 5 at Vilonia
Spotlight:EthanHall In a 48-29 victory in their opener against Beebe, Greenbrier made six straight two-point conversions. Because of injuries, the Panthers had no reliable place-kicker. As the video got out of the Panthers’ various gadget extra-point formations, the success rate dropped significantly. “It got ugly,” said Greenbrier coach Randy Tribble. This season, sophomore Ethan Hall, who booted a 43-yarder in junior high last season, gives Greenbrier its best place-kicker in several years and gives Tribble a bonafide field goal option. “I told my coaching staff they will have to educate me on field goal strategy,” said Tribble. In preseason practice, Greenbrier’s principal saw Hall kick back-to-back 41-yard field goals. “He was texting people and talking about it at teachers meetings,” said Tribble. — DAVID MCCOLLUM
ERIC WHITE FILE PHOTO
Quarterback Harold Ross, who passed for 2,436 yards last season, will again lead Panther offense.
By DAVID MCCOLLUM LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
Greenbrier seems ready to tip the scales back toward the pass this season. On the way to an 8-4 season last year, quarterback Harold Ross passed for 2,436 yards and running back Carson Matthews rushed for about 1,800. Ross returns and will be backed up by Carter Burcham, a brother of former Greenbrier star, Neal. “We’ll lean more toward the pass,” said coach Randy Tribble. “Ross has a strong arm and can make about all the throws,” Tribble said. “Burcham is a little different moving about the pocket and using his feet to extend plays.” One of the biggest improvements for the Panthers will be along the offensive front and defense. “We have a little more experience on the back end on defense and our
Cope and Tre Crawford appear strong up front and Tribble thinks they will match up with spread teams because of speed. Sam McNabb, Jesse Buchanan, D.J. Harmon form the nucleus at linebacker. Returning starters Meek, Shawn front should be stronger than in Howard and Massey anchor the secpast years,” Tribble said. ondary.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS
In addition to Ross, running back will “probably be by committee,” Tribble said. None of the receivers has started but the Panthers have a varietypack mix among Conner McGuire, Ben Wilson, Alex Massey, Brandon Thomas, Carter Coats, TJ Roberts, Jason Hill and Brock Meek. Senior center Logan Cope is the only starter returning on the offensive line.
CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
Little Rock Christian, with 14 returning starters, is the clear favorite.
PRESEASON OUTLOOK
Nonconference games will be critical as the Panthers will experience some growing pains. They still appear to be a serious contender.
BIG QUESTION
How will Greenbrier fill the void of nine new starters on offense and Kyle Harshberger, Jimmy an entirely new frontline receiving Strough, McGuire, Brody Hogg, corps?
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
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FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Sunday, August 30, 2015 — 15A
For starters, questions for everyone
Here are 21 questions for the football season in Faulkner County, three for each team. 1. Can the University of Central Arkansas survive a tough early road schedule (not playing at home until the first weekend of October) into a more favorable advantage later? 2. Can the UCA defense get off the field better on third and long? 3. Can the Bears produce a long-range threat at running back? 4. How will an experienced Hendrix team adjusts to being a target? 5. Can Hendrix quarterback Seth Peters go a
season without injury? 6. How much better will the Hendrix defense be? 7. With major losses at the skill positions, can Conway quarterback Breylin Smith provide the leadership for a state contender? 8. Will the Wampus Cat defense handle the power teams better? 9. Can Conway or any other Central team break the West’s dominance in state title games? 10. With a new crew of receivers, can Greenbrier’s passing game flourish under quarterback Harold Ross? 11. Can Greenbrier’s
David McCollum david.mccollum@thecabin.net
defense better limit opponent’s big plays? 12. Do the Panthers really have a reliable threat on field goals and extra points? 13. Can Mike Stout, a last-minute hire by Vilonia to replace Jim Stanley, institute his program and make the Eagles a contender in his first sea-
son and only months on the job? 14. How will the Eagles adapt to a Spread offense, a total reversal from the double wing? 15. Can Vilonia avoid the penalties and turnovers that have taken them out of games in past years/
16. Can Mayflower replace 90 percent of its prolific offense from last year? 17. Can the Mayflower defense make stops in key games? 18. Can the Eagles finally jump over Harding Academy for a conference championship?
19. Is depth, which is always an issue at Conway Christian, becoming a major issue? 20. Can the CCS defense continue its ability to stop teams in key situations it established last year? 21. Can the Eagles, who got to the second round last year, go farther in the playoffs? AND, the universal question for all teams. Some injuries are inevitable. But who, what position and when?
(Sports columnist David McCollum can be reached at 501505-1235 or david.mccollum@ thecabin.net or follow him on twitter @dmaclcd)
16A — Sunday, August 30, 2015
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
ViloniaQuickFacts Coach: Mike Stout (interim) Record at school: 0-0 2014: 4-6 (tie 5th 5A West) Returning starters: 6 offense, 9 defense Offense: Spread Defense: 4-4
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WhatToExpect Vilonia High School
2014 Sylvan Hills, L, 41-18 at Harding Academy L, 29-20 Beebe W, 20-13 at Clarksville W, 36-18 Morrilton W, 28-14 LR Christian L, 28-=12 at Maumelle L, 45-21 at Farmington W, 27-20 Harrison W, 41-28 at Greenbrier L, 52-19
2015Schedule Aug. 31 Sept 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30
Sylvan Hills (War Memorial, Little Rock) Harding Academy at Beebe Clarksville at Morrilton at LR Christian Maumelle Farmington at Harrison
Spotlight:ShaneSteward When he took over as interim coach, Mike Stout stressed to his players about doing the right thing. The mandate seemed take hold with linebacker Shane Steward. Here’s a story veterinarian Nick Gentry related on the Vilonia Football Foundation’s Facebook page. “Shane was driving down Highway 64 this afternoon and saw a dog wandering along the road. He stopped and coaxed the dog into his truck and brought it up to the Vilonia Animal Clinic. “He came in and asked to speak to me. He told me that he didn’t know what to do exactly but he was afraid that the little dog was going to get hit up on the road. He told me he could tell this little dog belonged to somebody. So, he brought it into the clinic and we immediately knew it was a dog that had been lost for quite some time. So, we called the owners and they were elated that their dog had been found. The owner literally was in tears talking to us. Shane Steward, you did the right th ing!” — David McCollum
ERIC WHITE FILE PHOTO
With nine returning starters from last year’s defense, Vilonia, shown here on the goal line against Clarksville, hopes to better complement the offense.
,are Jeremiah Santiago, Blaine Norman, Tripp Reed and Wade Richards. Braxton Barber and Nick Gentry Jr. appear to be the leaders in the line.
By DAVID MCCOLLUM LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
Because of a quick and unexpected transition, the Vilonia Eagles are one of the state’s mystery teams this season. Jim Stanley, who compiled a 7665 record at the school, resigned suddenly in July to take an assistant’s coaching position with Jacksonville. Mike Stout, who had coached quarterbacks and outside linebackers for Stanley, was named interim head coach. “We were on the beach for a family vacation when I got the call in July,” Stout said. “It’s been a whirlwind.” Stout has had to made a rapid transition with the Eagles being one of the first high school teams in Arkansas to begin the season with a Buzz Kickoff Classic game Monday against Sylvan Hills at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. He’s switching from Vilonia’s traditional double-wing offense to a
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
Linemen Daron McClusky, Ryan Pierce, linebackers Shane Steward and Dylan Wimberly and defensive Spread. He began the season with back Gage Johnston and Zach Cole. 15 players who had not previously played football, bringing Vilonia’s CONFERENCE OUTLOOK numbers up to about 70. Litte Rock Christian is slated as He he literally has a strong track the team to beat with Greenbrier a record at Vilonia. As head track possible strong challenger. coach, he led the Eagles to 5A state titles in 2012-14 and just missed a PRESEASON OUTLOOK four-peat last year by one points. With so many changes, a mystery.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS
With the change in offense, positions were in a state of flux in preseason. Junior Luke Gordon was set to take over at quarterback with sophomore Jeremy Kimble another possible option after leading the junior high team to a 9-1 record, Skill players, who could find new roles
BIG QUESTIONS
How quickly can Vilonia adapt to Stout’s system, particularly with a completely different shift in offensive philosophy? How well can the Eagles deal with a brutal nonconference schedule against Sylvan Hills, Harding Academy and Beebe?
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Sunday, August 30, 2015 — 17A
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
MayflowerQuickFacts
WhatToExpect
Coach: Todd Langrell Record at school: 9-4 2014: 9-4 (2nd in 2-3A, 3A quarterfinals) Returning starters: 3 offense, 3 defense Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3
Mayflower High School
2014 Dumas W, 46-41 Gravette L, 48-24 at Dover L, 45-44 Rose Bud W, 49-12 at Perryville, W, 51-13 Barton W, 59-39 at Bald Knob W, 40-39 Atkins W, 55-20 at Harding Academy L, 55-48 Marianna W, 56-36 3A Playoffs
2015Schedule Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6
at Dumas at Gravette Dover Rose Bud Perryville at Barton Bald Knob at Atkins Harding Academy at Marianna
ERIC WHITE FILE PHOTO
Improvement in the Mayflower defense will be critical in a possible drive to conference title.
Spotlight:SeanMartin Sean Martin has figuratively fallen from the skies to be figure prominently in Mayflower plans. He’s a move-in from Colorado (his dad is a pilot) and he hadn’t played football until coach Todd Langrell made an appeal to the student body for players. “He may be the most athletic player in the whole school and he has never played football,” Langrell said. “We list him as a slot receiver but he goes whereever we need him. He can kick, catch punts, everything.” The Eagles also have some familiar last names on their roster. Running back Marcus Harper Jr. is a son of Marcus Sr., who was a teammate of Langrell’s when he played at Mayflower. Kelton McCuien is a son of former Mayflower great Raphael “Rocket” McCuien. — DAVID MCCOLLUM
ly the top receivers. Braylen Carter, Ben Catchcart, Justin Cases, Micah Stafford, Chase Hulslander and Triston Capel form a solid front.
By DAVID MCCOLLUM LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
The Mayflower Eagles will have a new approach this season. “I tell people it’s gonna be different; come watch us play,” said coach Todd Langrell. The Eagles, who averaged 42 points a game last season, lost 17 seniors, including a three-year allstater who passed for 10,000 career yards, plus two 1,000-yard receivers in Drew Duncan and Josh Woodham and almost 2,000-yard back in Justin Bailey. Mayflower started practice with 37 players, up 10 from last year’s roster. “I went to classes and told kids that if they ever thought they wanted to play, to come out and try us out,” said coach Todd Langrell. “We have some players who have never played eating it up.”
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
Linemen Jesse Ryan and Aaron Mason, linebackers Dylan Liner and Bruyan Brown and defensive backs With new quarterbacks, a good Kelton McCuien and Christian Forrunning back and more strength in rester should be the leaders on a the offensive line, the Eagles will be young defense. more run-oriented this season. “We have to be better tacklers CONFERENCE OUTLOOK and more fundamentally sound on It’s Harding Academy until provdefense,” Langrell said. en otherwise.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS
PRESEASON OUTLOOK
Junior Austin Bixler and Sean With a lot of new faces, lots of Harris will take over at quarter- blending to do. back. Senior Marcus Harper, a track champion, will carry much of the BIG QUESTION load in the backfield. Sean Martin, With the loss of 17 seniors, can J.W. Estes and Taylor Hulslander, the Eagles come together on offense none whom have played, are like- or defense or both?
18A — Sunday, August 30, 2015
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
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Red Wolves picked third in Sun Belt BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer
NEW ORLEANS — The old-school approaches of Georgia Southern and Appalachian State have brought a new look to the Sun Belt Conference. Relying on their ability to run the ball and play defense, the newest teams in the league quickly rose to the top of the standings last year, their first as full Division I Football Bowl Subdivision members. Georgia Southern wound up conference champs in 2014, and they
were the favorite to repeat in the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll. Appalachian State wound up third last season. Both teams’ styles are a departure from the pass-heavy spread offenses that have characterized the conference for most of its 14year existence. “A formula for winning, for like maybe ever in football, is if you can run the football and play good defense,” Appalachian State coach Scott Satterfield said. “Georgia Southern obviously won it playing great defense and was No. 1 in rushing. We were a running
team.” Satterfield also noted that Louisiana-Lafayette, which was second in the Sun Belt last season and the preseason pick to finish second again, is “more of a running team” as well. While several Sun Belt’s contenders now appear to be running teams,
Satterfield doesn’t necessarily expect the rest of the conference to follow suit. “Coaches, they do what they want to do. They do what they feel comfortable doing,” Satterfield said. “Fans want to win. Teams want to win. That’s the bottom line, no matter how you get to it.” New Mexico State coach Doug Martin agrees to some extent, but asserts that winning in the Sun Belt consistently will still require an ability to put a lot of points on the board, no matter how a team choses to do it.
“When you look at it, it’s really an offensive league,” Martin said. “The only way you’re going to win in this league is if you can score points. There’s not many teams that are dominant defensively. There are teams that are exceptional on offense.” Some story lines to watch in the Sun Belt this season:
CONTINUITY
Arkansas State, which played a bowl game in Mobile last season, is playing for the first time in several years under the same head coach,
Blake Anderson.
SCHEDULING BREAK
Not only is Georgia Southern favored to repeat, but with the way the eight-game conference schedule works out in the 11-team league, the Eagles won’t have to face Louisiana-Lafayette, which was picked second in the Sun Belt preseason coaches’ poll, or Arkansas State, which was picked third. Georgia State coach Willie Fritz said it was up to him, “We’d love to be able to play everybody. I think that would be good for everybody in
ASU < 21A
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Sunday, August 30, 2015 — 19A
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
CCSQuickFacts
WhatToExpect
Coach: Michael Carter Record at CCS: 29-17 2014 (9-2, 7-0 conference), 1st Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense Offense: Spread Defense: 4-2 2014 results Episcopal L, 41-0 Benton Harmony Grove W, 32-20 at Rose Bud W, 36-22 Poyen W, 38-14 at Mountain Pine, W, 49-14 England, W, 21-0 at Quitman, W, 42-7 at Cutter Morning Star, W, 64-35 Magnet Cove, W, 17-14 Bigelow, W, 21-7 2A playoffs
2015Schedule Sept 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 5
at Episcopal Collegiate at Benton Harmony Grove Rose Bud at Poyen Mountain Pine at England Quitman Cutter Morning Star at Magnet Cove at Bigelow
Spotlight:BrendenCamp Running back Brenden Camp transferred from Conway High last year and made an immediate impact. Off the field. “He sat out last year but never missed anything, every practice, every meeting, every early morning stuff,” said CCS coach Michael Carter. “He never said a word of complaint. He made us better with his work ethic. “This year, he will make us better on the field.” Another running back will be Clayton Dent, who rushed for 745 yards last year. “He’s one of the best I’ve coached,” said Carter. “He has unbelievable hands and runs very hard (4.7 speed). If we get the ball in his hands, good things happen.” — DAVID MCCOLLUM
SUBMITTED PHOTO BY LADD ELLIS
Sophomore Luke Gates could work his way into Conway Christian backfield or receiving corps.
By DAVID MCCOLLUM LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
FROM COACH MICHAEL CARTER
Last year (a conference championship, nine straight victories and reaching second round of playoffs): “We played a tough non-conference and found out a few things about another. We knew what we need to work on and turned out to be a pretty good football team.” This year: “We have good skill kids and return a lot of starters on defense. We had some sophomores who played last year and they gained confidence. We are light years ahead of last year. We have a lot of speed and we hope that overcomes size.” Seven starters return from a defensive that allowed an average of 13 points a game last year.
“The difference in last year and the past was: “Spring practice: ‘In spring practice at larger schools, you have to see and evaluate a lot of people. Here, we know what we have and we use the spring to fine tune. Before practice starts in preseason, players get to know their position and maybe another position as well.
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
Defensive ends Shawnell Gill, Bramlett, end Lyndon Cobble, tackle Zack Staley, linebacker Robbie Hogue, linebacker and defensive backs Will Callaway, Luke Gates and Bennett Pascoe.
CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
“The road to the championship seems to always go through MagOFFENSIVE LEADERS net Cove,” said Carter. “England has Senior quarterback Jakob Hen- scary athletes. Everybody is good.” ry (145 of 245 passes last year for 1,781 yards). Running back Clay PRESEASON OUTLOOK Dent (9 yards per carry) and 462 reThe Eagles seem to have enough ceiving yards, Receiver Jon Mark weapons, particularly at the skill Wood (42 receptions, 595 yards). positions, to contend for a champiSeth Smith, 454 yards in receptions. onship. Offensive linemen Carter Bramlett, Carter Free, Cameron Horton and BIG QUESTION Brett Callaway. Depth and avoiding injury is always a question at CCS.
20A — Sunday, August 30, 2015
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
HendrixQuickFacts
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WhatToExpect
Coach: Buck Buchanan Record at school: 25-15 2014 (6-4, tie 3rd SAA) Returning starters: 10 offense, 9 defense Offense: Spread Defemse: 4-3 2014 at Westminster W, 42-28 Bacone W, 24-14 Birmingham-Southern W, 48-31 Millsaps W, 34-30 at Washington (Mo.) L, 59-19 at Berry L, 46-24 Austin W, 38-28 Centre L, 36-25 at Rhodes L, 27-23 at Sewanee W, 41-11
2015Schedule
Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Nov. 14
at Austin College Lyon Millsaps at Centre Birmingham-Southern at Berry at Chicago Rhodes Wash U at Sewanee
Spotlight:SethPeters A key for the Hendrix Warriors this season is making sure quarterback Seth Peters plays a full season. The quarterback from Greenbrier, who passed for almost 2,500 yards last season and ranked No. 1 in all of the NCAA in completion percentage, has never had an injury-free season in his two years at Hendrix. “We need to keep Seth healthy, but with the backups this season, we are not seeing much of a dropoff,” said coach Buck Buchanan. What makes him special? “He’s a great student and a great leader, but he’ a great team player,” Buchanan said. “If you are around him, you would never know he’s a star. He’s always encouraging his treammates.” His ability to read defenses helps set him apart. “It’s the way he processes information and digests a huge playbook,” Buchanan said. ““He processes a lot of information before a play and during a play and the onus is on him to make the right play.” — DAVID MCCOLLUM
HENDRIX SPORTS INFORMATION
Greenbrier quarterback Seth Peters enters his junior season as one of the top quarterbacks in NCAA Division III.
that first group of 52. fensive linemen, led by Trent Mid“We have backupss, on offense, dleton and Jared Lincoln, have LOG CABIN STAFF WRITEr defense, everybody,” he said. “We started at least 20 games. The Hendrix Warriors have a finally have depth and have true different perspective going into scrimmages.” DEFENSIVE LEADERS the third season in a revived proShould be much improved, led by gram. OFFENSIVE LEADERS linebacker Thomas Eddlemon. who “We’re not the start-up program The offense will revolve around had 68 tacklees last season. Other with a bunch of new guys you junior quarterback Seth Peters of mainstays are ends Gray Stanton may take for granted,” said coach Greenbrier, who led the NCAA and Jake Falleur, cornerbacks Matt Buck Buchanan. “We have juniors last year with a 73.1 completion Ramirez, Shaquille Grant and Cawho were part of the start-up. We percentage, passing for 2,494 leb Shannon. “We have more speed aren’t going to sneak up on any- yards and 15 touchdowns. Junior on the defensive side.” one. “We have to earn our chicken running back Dayton Winn (5-10, fry every week.” 160) ranked third in NCAA III CONFERENCE OUTLOOK The Warriors, coming off a 6-4 in all-purpose yards, averaging The Southern Athletic Associaseason in which they were in con- 189.4 yards per game. tion has an automatic bid into the tention for the NCAA Division “Pound for pound, he’s prob- playoffs thus year and it’s wide III playoffs until the next-to-last ably the best I’ve ever coached,” open. week of the regular season, are said Buchanan. “He’s probably not without proven weapons. the best I’ve seen in making folks PRESEASON OUTLOOK “Our skill players are as good miss a few times and ending up Hendrix should be in the mix for as any in the league,” Buchanan in the end zone.” a title. said. “Our quarterback (Seth PeThe receiving corps is deep, led ters) is one of the best in the coun- by Spencer Smith, Ethan Hoppe BIG QUESTION MARK try. We have one of the best place- and Ben Leudtke. “Of the 10 best How will the Warriors handle a kickers (Steve Crenshaw). We receivers in the league, we prob- tough road schedule that includes have a really good core group from ably have eight,” Buchanan said. game at Centre, the University of that first class.” Crenshaw made 12 of 15 field Chicago, Berry (Georgia) and SeAnd greater numbers (85) from goals last year. All returning of- wanee (Tenn.) By DAVID MCCOLLUM
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ASU from 18A the conference.”
TRANSFERS
ater shooting in July. The Cajuns also look like a formidable program, having reached nine victories in each of the past four seasons. They key to matching or improving on that is whether they find a solid replacement for three-year starting quarterback Terrance Broadway. Brooks Haack, Jalen Nixon and Jordan Davis all have worked with the first-team during August camp.
South Alabama benefited from UAB’s decision to disband football last December. By the time UAB changed course and reversed that decision, some key players had already committed to transfer elsewhere, and coaches had found new jobs. Former Blazers who’ll be with South Alabama this season include quarter- GREAT EXPECTATIONS back Cody Clements and Louisiana-LafayOffensive Coordinator ette running back Elijah Bryant Vincent. McGuire has been named the Sun Belt’s preseason LAFAYETTE STRONG offensive player of the The Louisiana-Lafay- year after racking up ette Ragin’ Cajuns will 1,848 total yards last seawear “Lafayette Strong” son, including 1,264 rushstickers this season to hon- ing. The preseason defenor victims of a movie the- sive player of the year
honor went to Texas State senior defensive back David Mims, who had five interceptions last season — and whose father by the same name played in the NFL. Meanwhile, Georgia Southern QB Kevin Ellison has been named to the Manning Award watch List.
BOWLING
Sunday, August 30, 2015 — 21A
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
The Sun Belt has added fourth bowl tie-in this season. The Cure Bowl in Orlando will match the Sun Belt and American Athletic. Predicted order of finish: Georgia Southern, Louisiana-Lafayette, Arkansas State, Appalachian State, Texas State, South Alabama, Louisiana-Monroe, Troy, Georgia State, New Mexico State, Idaho.
A good night’s sleep for a player? There’s an app for that STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — About an hour before a Tennessee football player’s scheduled bedtime, he gets a reminder via an app on his phone or a text message. That’s when he puts on orange glasses that block out the glow of smartphones or computer screens, making it easier to fall asleep. All the players have been given sleeping masks as well. Some have sensors above their mattresses and under their sheets to monitor
heart rate, movement and respiration rate to detect their quality and quantity of sleep. Jones’ staff is working in conjunction with Rise Science, a Chicago-based company hoping more teams follow the 25th-ranked Volunteers’ lead. The result is a carefully orchestrated sleep monitoring program for the team. Three former Northwestern students came up with the idea three years ago. They studied how increased sleep produced better athletic performance and started assisting various North-
western teams. Rise Science officials cite studies showing that players sleeping over eight hours per night were 50 percent more likely to play error-free throughout an entire practice and high school athletes sleeping at least eight hours per night were 70 percent less likely to get injured. They say an extra 30-90 minutes of sleep per night can increase reaction time by 10 percent. Other studies show increased sleep leads to higher field-goal accuracy, better weight training and faster sprint times.
22A — Sunday, August 30, 2015
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
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Hooten’s preseason football rankings Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
Class 7A, Week 1, 2015 1. Fayetteville 2. FS Northside 3. Bentonville 4. North LR 5. Cabot 6. FS Southside 7. Har-Ber 8. Conway 9. Bryant 10. Heritage 11. LR Central 12. LR Catholic 13. West Memphis 14. Rogers 15. Springdale 16. Van Buren
LAST SEASON Hootens.com correctly predicted winners in 99 of 125 games (79.2 percent) involving Class 7A teams. WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored teams in ALL CAPS followed by point spread)
7A/6A CENTRAL Alma vs. FS SOUTHSIDE (7): Game of the Week at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1 at Razorback Stadium during Hootens.com Kickoff Week. Conway at CABOT (6): Conway won this matchup 24-22 last year, but Cabot returns talented junior QB/RB Jarrod Barnes (5-10, 160; 9.4 yards per carry in 2014) and nine defensive starters from last season’s 6-5 team. Cabot coach Mike Malham is the third winningest coach in Arkansas history with 274 victories. Conway linemen Zach Mills (5-10, 295; 320-pound power clean) and Austin Norris (6-4, 234; 5.08 speed and 4.2 shuttle) were named to the CHI St. Vincent Super Team in Hooten’s Arkansas Football magazine. Conway all-state QB Breylin Smith (6-3, 183) passed for 2,093 yards with 19 TDs and just five interceptions. BRYANT (3) vs. Benton: Benton tied
Bryant 14-14 last year, avoiding a ninth straight loss in the series. The Panthers return seven defensive starters and feature their best offensive line since Coach Scott Neathery took over in 2010. Bryant did not cross the Benton 40-yard line in the second half during last year’s Salt Bowl. The Hornets went on to win nine games, including their fourth playoff victory in 12 seasons under coach Paul Calley. Springdale at GREENWOOD (14): Springdale has lost 13 straight games. First-year head coach Zak Clark, a former Arkansas Razorback and University of Central Arkansas QB, inherits a deep set of skill position players. Greenwood senior RB Jordan Green rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 13 TDs in 2014, including 157 yards and two scores in a 56-26 win at Springdale. LR Catholic at NORTH LR (7): Catholic pushed the more talented Charging Wildcats (17-7) last year and look to spoil the opening of North LR’s new stadium. Catholic QB Andre Sale (6-3, 215), a D-1 college prospect, passed for 2,002 yards and 19 TDs with nine interceptions as a junior. New North LR coach Jamie Mitchell (163-61 record at Mississippi schools) inherits returning starters at just seven positions, but the Charging Wildcats have been to the playoff semifinals five of the past six seasons. North LR receiver Tobias Enlow, offensive lineman Jacob Roberts and defensive lineman Tre Chism
were all named to the CHI St. Vincent Super Team in Hooten’s Arkansas Football magazine. RUSSELLVILLE (8) at Morrilton: Russellville has beaten Morrilton eight of the past nine seasons. The Cyclones enter 2015 with an eight-game losing streak and a new head coach (former Nashville coach Billy Dawson). White Hall at VAN BUREN (7): Arkansas native Greg Werner (FS Northside class of 1984) takes over at Van Buren after coaching in Oklahoma the past 24 seasons. The Pointers won 10 games over the past four seasons. White Hall auditioned six QBs in summer workouts. ROGERS (13) at Siloam Springs: Rogers beats Siloam Springs by 17-point average the past three seasons. Siloam returns a dozen starters, including all-conference RB Ricky Hughes (613 yards, 5 TDs in 2014).dd
Class 6A, Week 1, 2015 1. Pine Bluff 2. Greenwood 3. EL Dorado 4. Benton 5. Jonesboro 6. LR Parkview 7. Lake Hamilton 8. Siloam Springs 9. Texarkana 10. Alma 11. Searcy 12. Sheridan 13. Russellville
14. Marion 15. Mountain Home 16. LR Hall
Loughridge says, “and they have one of the better coached offensive lines in the area.”
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
HOOTENS TV SHOW
No. 10 Alma vs. Class 7A No. 6 Fort Smith Southside Night two of Hootens.com Kickoff Week begins with Alma and Fort Smith Southside meeting at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. These teams are familiar with each other, playing junior varsity games and preseason scrimmages over the past few years. Both teams won their openers a year ago during Hootens.com Kickoff Week. Alma pounded Poteau, Okla. 28-0 inside Mayo-Thompson Stadium in Fort Smith, while Southside edged Warren 29-22 at UAPB’s Golden Lion Stadium. Alma went 2-3 against Class 7A teams last fall, beating 7A West member Springdale 28-0 Week 2. The Airedales feature a solid backfield with two quarterbacks (senior Alex Beneux and junior Noah Dotson), senior running back Landon Brigance (4.5 speed) and sure-handed senior fullback Alex Key. All-conference senior receiver Heath Friddle caught 36 passes last year for 451 yards and eight touchdowns. Beneux, a two-year starter at safety, Friddle (66 tackles), senior linebacker Thomas Hall (76 stops) and senior tackle Brock Dailey (6-4, 380) lead a veteran defense. Southside captured a share of the 7A West title in 2014, defeating eventual state champion Bentonville Week 4. The Rebels will rely on senior QB Cooper Johnson and a talented group of linemen. Junior Miguel Hernandez (5-11, 255) anchors the offensive line at center. Junior guard Hunter Moreton (6-2, 275) owns a scholarship offer from Arkansas State. All-state junior defensive end Daevon Johnson (6-2, 230) finished last fall with 14 sacks. “Their defensive line is pretty tough,” Alma coach Doug
Hooten’s Arkansas Football airs 11 a.m. on KATV 7 (ABC-Little Rock) Saturdays this fall starting Sept. 5. The show features the Hogs and their opponents.
Class 5A, Week 1, 2015 1. Pulaski Academy 2. Batesville 3. Beebe 4. Hot Springs 5. LR Christian 6. Camden Fairview 7. Wynne 8. Maumelle 9. Watson Chapel 10. Morrilton 11. Nettleton 12. Hope 13. Greenbrier 14. Forrest City 15. HS Lakeside 16. Sylvan Hills 17. Blytheville 18. Vilonia 19. Jacksonville 20. Mills 21. LR McClellan 22. Harrison 23. White Hall 24. De Queen 25. Valley View 26. Magnolia 27. Greene County Tech 28. Farmington 29. Paragould 30. LR Fair 31. Clarksville
LAST YEAR Hootens.com correctly predicted 169 of 210 games (80 percent) last season. WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored team in CAPS followed by point spread)
5A WEST Syvlan Hills vs. VILONIA (3): Vilonia
has won three of the past four in the series. Former junior high coach Michael Stout elevated to interim coach on July 5 after Jim Stanley (76-65 record in 11 years) unexpectedly resigned July 1. Almost 70 Eagles drilled during the summer and offensive coordinator John Steward expects to pass the ball more in 2015. Sylvan Hills had almost 80 players complete summer workouts, and coach Jim Withrow believes athletic QB Jordan Washington is a Division I prospect. Greenbrier vs. BEEBE (1) (Tue): Greenbrier has won five straight over Beebe, with the past three by a total of 77 points. Beebe senior running backs Trip Smith and Jovaughn Wyrick combined for more than 3,000 yards last season. Greenbrier senior QB Harold Ross passed for 2,436 yards and 23 TDs last season while splitting snaps. RUSSELLVILLE (8) at Morrilton: Russellville has beaten Morrilton eight of the past nine seasons. The Cyclones enter 2015 with an eight-game losing streak and a new head coach (former Nashville coach Billy Dawson). HARRISON (18) at Mountain Home: Harrison has won six of the past nine in the series. Joel Wells takes over at Harrison (Goblin’s third coach in five years) after coaching the past 24 seasons in Missouri. Wells implemented a multiple/balanced offense in the spring after the Goblins ran a pass-heavy pass scheme the past four seasons. Mountain Home has lost 30 games in a row since defeating Harrison 49-34 in 2012. Jacksonville at MAUMELLE (6): Jacksonville second-year coach Barry Hickingbotham expects the Red Devils to contend for the playoffs this fall. The Red Devils won their final three regular-season games last fall. David Farr takes over as Maumelle coach. Farr led Heber Springs to eight wins last fall. Maumelle’s offensive linemen impressed Farr in August
HOOTEN’S < 23A
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HOOTEN’S from 22A workouts. PRAIRIE GROVE (1) at Farmington: Prairie Grove chases its third conference title in the past four seasons. Tiger senior tight end Dylan Soehner (6-7, 275) owns scholarship offers from Arkansas State, Illinois, Louisiana Tech and Memphis. Farmington senior QB Brice Waggle (more than 2,000 yards last year) and senior running back Justice Hobbs (more than 900 yards) were All-5A West players last fall. Clarksville at LAMAR (27): The Battle of Highway 64. Clarksville has won just four games over the past three seasons, while 4-3A favorite Lamar has won 26 games in that span. Fountain Lake at LR CHRISTIAN (1): Expectations soar on Highway 10. The LR Christian Warriors won six games last fall, and received a boost in the spring when senior QB Kyron Sanders moved from Magnolia. All-state running back Damarea Crockett (1,178 yards and 17 TDs in 2014) committed to Boise State in the summer. Fountain Lake senior Parker Ross ran for 1,651 yards and 23 TDs last fall.
Class 4A, Week 1, 2014 1. Dardanelle 2. Nashville 3. Star City 4. Pulaski Robinson 5. Hamburg 6. Prairie Grove 7. Malvern 8. Gosnell 9. Arkadelphia 10. Lonoke 11. Shiloh Christian 12. Dollarway 13. Pea Ridge 14. Pottsville 15. Mena 16. Dover 17. CAC 18. Warren 19. Fountain Lake 20. West Helena 21. Ashdown 22. Pocahontas 23. Heber Springs 24. Highland
25. Newport 26. Gravette 27. Stuttgart 28. DeWitt 29. Crossett 30. Ozark 31. Monticello 32. Clinton 33. Trumann 34. Jonesboro Westside 35. Huntsville 36. Dumas 37. Cave City 38. Bauxite 39. Gentry 40. Riverview 41. Arkansas Baptist 42. Lincoln 43. Subiaco Academy 44. Southside Batesville 45. Berryville 46. Brookland 47. Harrisburg 48. Waldron
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK Class 3A No. 2 Charleston vs. No. 11 Shiloh Christian The final game of Hootens.com Kickoff Week, on Tuesday at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, features Class 3A power Charleston and Shiloh Christian. Charleston has won five state titles in the past decade, and the Tigers ride a 29-game win streak. The Tigers return just seven starters this fall, “but they are a great football program and put a great product on the field,” Shiloh Christian coach Jeff Conaway says. Charleston running back/QB Wade Gerlick played well in the summer. Gerlick averaged 6.1 yards per carry last season and caught 55 passes for 672 yards and four scores, and he’s racked up 241 tackles at linebacker the past two seasons. Shiloh Christian hopes to compete for conference and state titles in Conaway’s second-season. “We are more comfortable this year in our terminology and lingo than last year,” Conaway says. The Saints won seven state titles since 1998. The Saints pin hopes of another title on five returning defensive starters. Former Plainview, Okla., coach Chris Berus
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
takes over as defensive coordinator. Senior inside linebacker Lakin Hall (112 tackles in 2014) and senior outside linebacker Jacob Plunkett (95 tackles) anchor the unit this fall. “Our defensive product will be extremely disciplined and tackle well,” the coach says.
Class 3A, Week 1, 2015 1. Smackover 2. Charleston 3. Prescott 4. McGehee 5. Booneville 6. Harding Academy 7. Lamar 8. Fordyce 9. Hoxie 10. Episcopal Collegiate 11. Rivercrest 12. Osceola 13. H. Grove Haskell 14. C. Harmony Grove 15. Danville 16. Fouke 17. Bald Knob 18. West Fork 19. Paris 20. Mayflower 21. Centerpoint 22. Barton 23. Mountain View 24. Glen Rose 25. Greenland 26. Elkins 27. Marianna 28. Melbourne 29. Lavaca 30. Mansfield 31. Green Forest 32. Jessieville 33. Piggott 34. Manila 35. Two Rivers 36. Atkins 37. Corning 38. Perryville 39. Cedarville 40. Bismarck 41. Yellville-Summit 42. Rose Bud 43. Marshall 44. Genoa Central 45. Lake Village 46. Cedar Ridge 47. Horatio
48. Drew Central
HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK No. 1 Smackover vs. Class 4A No. 18 Warren Kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday, August 31 at UAPB’s Golden Lion Stadium during Hootens.com Kickoff Week. Smackover has won 25 games over the past two seasons, reaching the state championship game in 2014 for the first time in the modern era. Eleven seniors graduated in May, including five offensive linemen. The coaching staff evaluated 20 players at those positions this summer. All-state senior linebacker Keiandre Purifoy (100 tackles in 2014) and seven more defensive starters return. Purifoy (808 yards rushing, 10 touchdowns), all-state senior receiver and Razorback commit Jordan Jones (6-4, 200; 4.4 speed), senior running backs Dewayne Jones (839 yards, 14 TDs) and Marques White (4.6 speed)
Sunday, August 30, 2015 — 23A
and junior Michael Edwards (4.6 speed) power the offense. Dewayne Jones returned to practice two weeks ago after knee surgery in January. Defending Class 4A champ Warren (12-3 in 2014) graduated 10 offensive starters this spring. Three freshmen could start on offense. Warren has captured three state titles in the past 14 seasons. All-conference senior end Peyton Hargis (4.5 speed) and senior LB D’Angelo McCoy lead on defense. McCoy is the school’s all-time leading tackler with more than 350 stops. Junior QB Hayden Lassiter, junior RB Dennis Daniels and senior receiver Franklin Gilmore fuel Coach Bo Hembree’s Spread. Warren hasn’t won a season-opener since 2010. 2-3A Atkins at DOVER (35): Dover (8-3 in 2014) beat Atkins a year ago for the first time in three years. Senior TB Luke Price (6-2, 200; 11.92 100-meters) owns a scholarship offer from Air Force. Atkins has 24 players
on its roster, including strong-armed junior QB Seth Haney, explosive receiver Devin Dollar (24.4 yards per catch in 2014) and physical senior RB Brandon Haney (736 yards, 14 TDs). Augusta at MARIANNA (36): Augusta has lost 14 of its past 17 games. Marianna blanked Augusta 38-0 last year. Senior RB/LB Jermarcus Arnold, senior QB/DB Donte Weems, senior RB/WR Tarrike Turner and senior RB/ LB Terrance Martin lead the Trojans. Des Arc at BALD KNOB (6): Bald Knob lost four turnovers but bigplayed Des Arc in last year’s 21-13 win. Des Arc first-year coach Drake Widener inherits 17 returning starters off a 10-win team. Bald Knob allleague junior RB DeShawn Gulledge rushed for 940 yards and 11 TDs in 2014. Marvell at BARTON (45): Marvell hired former Minden (La.) Glenbrook coach Chris Norton in June as its fifth
HOOTEN’S < 24A
24A — Sunday, August 30, 2015
HOOTEN’S from 23A head coach in seven years. Norton coached at West Memphis Christian in 2012-13. Barton blasted Marvell 42-0 a year ago. Senior slotback Cameron Anderson (3,014 career yards, 32 TDs) and senior receiver Kedarius Davis are the only returning starters. The Bears will start three freshmen, including one of them at QB. BIGELOW (16) at Perryville: Bigelow has beaten Perryville two of the past three seasons, including 34-6 a year ago. Perryville still searching for answers on its offensive line after losing senior tackle Robert Halpaine (car accident) and senior guard Jacob Hill (shoulder surgery) for the season. MAYFLOWER (1) at Dumas: Mayflower has defeated Dumas three years in a row, including 46-41 in 2014. Secondyear coach Todd Langrell worked 40 players in fall camp, including senior RB Marcus Harper (11.36 100-meters), who did not play last year. Dumas has lost 25 of its past 31 games. Highland at HARDING ACADEMY (6):
Highland promoted defensive coordinator Adam Carter to head coach this spring. The Rebels claimed a share of the 3-4A title in 2014. Harding Academy lost to eventual 3-4A tri-champ Gosnell 40-15 in last year’s opener. The Wildcats will dress 32 players, including a talented receiving corps led by junior Ryan Turley (78 catches, 1,027 yards, 12 TDs in 2014). Seniors Alex Francis (2,996 yards, 31 TDs), Ty Mote (two-time all-league center) and Miles Clements (55 tackles, 18 TFL at end) also return. Rose Bud at QUITMAN (1): Rose Bud won two games in 2014 by a combined nine points, including a 30-25 victory over Quitman. Senior end Kaleb Herring and senior safety Ky Graham stood out in fall camp. Can the Ramblers stop Quitman junior dual-threat QB Trey McGhee (6-0, 195; 4.6 speed)? McGhee generated 1,443 yards and 16 TDs a year ago.
Class 2A, Week 1, 2015 1. Junction City
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
2. Rison 3. Hazen 4. McCrory 5. Gurdon 6. Mount Ida 7. Hector 8. Cross County 9. Bearden 10. Lafayette County 11. E. Poinsett County 12. Earle 13. Brinkley 14. Magnet Cove 15. Murfreesboro 16. Conway Christian 17. Des Arc 18. England 19. Dierks 20. Walnut Ridge 21. Bigelow 22. Hermitage 23. Hackett 24. Marked Tree 25. Parkers Chapel 26. Poyen 27. Carlisle 28. Mineral Springs
29. Woodlawn 30. Mountainburg 31. Salem 32. Cutter M. Star 33. Quitman 34. Strong 35. Palestine-Wheatley 36. Foreman 37. Union Christian 38. Spring Hill 39. J.C. Westside 40. Clarendon 41. Magazine 42. Augusta 43. Midland 44. W. Yell County 45. Decatur 46. Marvell 47. Rector 48. Mountain Pine
LAST YEAR Hootens.com picked 254 of 305 games (83 percent) involving Class 2A teams. WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS (favored teams in ALL CAPS)
To subscribe call (501) 329-2927 • Log Cabin Democrat 5-2A Conway Christian at EPISCOPAL (22): Class 3A No. 10 Episcopal has beaten Conway Christian the past two seasons, including 41-0 a year ago. All-state senior playmaker Allie Freeman has 226 career receptions for 4,182 yards and 43 TDs. League coaches picked Conway Christian to finish third in the 5-2A , but if its O line solidifies and stays healthy, the Eagles can repeat as conference champs. BIGELOW (16) at Perryville: Bigelow has beaten Perryville two of the past three seasons, including 34-6 a year ago. H. GROVE HASKELL (8) at Poyen: 5-3A member Harmony Grove all-state senior RB Jon Johnson rushed for 1,916 yards and 20 TDs last fall, including 148 yards and two scores in a 21-7 win over Poyen. Poyen’s projected starter at QB is focusing on baseball and basketball. CUTTER M. STAR (12) at Horatio: Horatio has dropped 16 of its past 17 games, including a 54-26 loss last
year to Cutter Morning Star. Rose Bud at QUITMAN (1): Rose Bud won two games in 2014 by a combined nine points, including a 30-25 victory over Quitman. JESSIEVILLE (20) at Mountain Pine: Jessieville rushed for 318 yards in last year’s 37-14 win over Mountain Pine. Mountain Pine (30-game losing streak) hired former Dollarway and Bryant head coach David Jordan in April to succeed Jody Frazier (65-99 in 16 years). Parkers Chapel at MAGNET COVE (13): No. 14 Magnet Cove will start four new O linemen, and the health of its two starting running backs is in unknown. Senior RB/LB Josh Smeltzer (knee) and junior RB Jamil Tyner (overheated in team camp) are questionable. Junior Shaun Holland (6-0, 170) dropped more than 100 pounds over the summer and likely starts at defensive end. Carlisle at ENGLAND (12): England bigplayed its old 6-2A rival Carlisle 54-22 a year ago, and the Lions still own a decisive speed advantage.
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FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Sunday, August 30, 2015 — 25A
26A — Sunday, August 30, 2015
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
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5-2A PICKS 1. MAGNET COVE: Eight returning starters on offense and defense 2. ENGLAND: Plenty of experience and Conway Christian and Magnet Cove at home 3. CONWAY CHRISTIAN: Going for another title with plenty of weapons 4. BIGELOW: Always a dangerous team 5. QUITMAN: Quarterback Trey McGhee gives Lions energy 6. CUTTER MORNING STAR: Linemen give Eagles a chance 7. POYEN: Enough seniors to challenge leaders 8. MOUNTAIN PINE: A winless team from last year should be better under new veteran coach David Jordan
5A WEST PICKS 1. LR CHRISTIAN: Kyron Sanders, a transfer quarterback from Magnolia, gives Warriors decisive edge. 2. MAUMELLE: Eight returning starters on offense plus Conway transfer wide receiver DJ Johnson makes defending champs dangerous again. 3. GREENBRIER: The Panthers will pass more with a better defense. 4. MORRILTON: Senior quarterback Jalen Wright and 12 returning starters make Devil Dogs dangerous. 5. VILONIA: New coach, new offense but some of the best talent in last several years. 6. HARRISON: Still some rebuilding to do for Goblins. 7. FARMINGTON: Still strong at skill positions. Speed will be an issue. 8. CLARKSVILLE: Winless three times and 1-9 twice in last 14 seasons.
7A/6A CENTRAL PICKS tle
1. CONWAY: Breylin Smith capably at the throt-
2. BRYANT: Could again come down to Conway game at end of season 3. GREENWOOD: Hard to count out 4.LR CATHOLIC: A playoff team third time in four years 5. RUSSELLVILLE: New coach Billy Dawson has revival plans 6. ALMA: A pretty good 6A team 7. VAN BUREN: New flexbone scheme might cause problems 8. SILOAM SPRINGS: Tough challenge to move up
Sunday, August 30, 2015 — 27A
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
LOG CABIN PREVIEW SEASON PICKS SOUTHLAND PICKS
but no pushover. 1. SAM HOUSTON 11. HOUSTON BAPSTATE: A serious nation- TIST: Growing pains conal title contender as usu- tinue. al. 2. UCA: Bears are hungry and underrated in preseason. 3. MCNEESE STATE: If they can avoid the injury bug from last year, Cowboys can gallop. 4. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN: Clint Conque, with Zach Conque at the helm, seem ready to wield a big axe. 5. NORTHWESTERN STATE: Coach Jay Thomas may have a team ready to Demonize league race. 6. SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA: Reloading and a dangerous placement here. 7. ABILENE CHRISTIAN: Could move much higher with a few breaks 8. LAMAR: See Abilene Christian notation. 9. NICHOLLS: Nowhere to go but up for Colonels. 10. INCARNATE WORD: Hard to move up
2-3A PICKS 1, HARDING ACADEMY: Pretty much a tradition. 2. BALD KNOB: Bulldogs have work to do replacing an all-conference quarterback. 3. MAYFLOWER: New faces everywhere. 4. MARIANNA: Senior quarterback Donte Weems one of best in the league. 5. BARTON: One returning starter on defense. 6. ATKINS: Seven returning starters on offense; defense must improve. 7. PERRYVILLE: 16 returning starters give hope. 8. ROSE BUD: Ramblers enter season with 16game losing streak.
SOUTHERN ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION PICKS 1. CENTRE: Coming off 10-1 season 2. HENDRIX: Powerful at skill positions and finally experienced 3. CHICAGO: Newcomer to league makes impact 4. MILLSAPS: Could easily go higher 5. RHODES: Always tough 6. Wash U: Definitely a sleeper 7. BIRMINGHAM-SOUTHERN: Rebuilding in a hurry 8. BERRY: Vikings may have trouble moving up. 9. SEWANEE: No gimme in this position