2015 Yell County Football

2015 Yell & Johnson County Football Preview

Sunday, August 23, 2015 A special supplement to The Courier

RETURN OF THE SAND LIZARDS

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Sunday, August 23, 2015

Publisher David Meadows

Advertising Director Michelle Harris

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover photo Travis Simpson

Player Graphics Travis Simpson

Jim Kelley Judy Manning Meagan Wilson

Production Coordinator

Assistant Sports Editor

The 2015 Yell and Jonhson County Football Preview is published and copyrighted by Russellville Newspapers Inc., 201 E. Second St., Russellville, AR 72801.

Travis Simpson

Stories, Photography Travis Simpson Cameron Tate

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David Weaver

Clarksville Panthers ........................................3-6 Danville Little Johns ........................................ 7-9 Dardanelle Sand LIzards.............................. 10-15 Johnson County Westside Rebels ................. 16-17 Lamar Warriors ........................................... 18-19 Two Rivers Gators ....................................... 20-21 Western Yell County Wolverines ................... 22-23

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2014 RESULTS

Clarksville Panthers Head Coach: Eli Cranor (0-10) Stadium: Metheny Field Key games: Little Rock Christian, Harrison 2014 Record: 0-10, 0-7 Offense: Spread Defense: 4-2 Playoff Record: 9-22 Last Appearance: 2011

Lamar at Ozark Dardanelle Vilonia at Maumelle Farmington at Harrison LR Christian at Greenbrier at Morrilton

42-14 34-14 48-0 36-18 44-7 22-0 63-14 54-7 56-19 42-0

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Panthers stalk winning season

BY TRAVIS SIMPSON sports@couriernews.com

CLARKSVILLE — Eli Cranor believes he spent his first season as Panthers head coach clearing out space for the foundation of the Clarksville football program. This year, Cranor said he wants to begin pouring the concrete.

“Last year we dealt with effort and respect,” Cranor said. “We wanted the kids to be receptive to coaching. This year, we’re past a lot of that, and that opens you up to being able to make a lot of changes.”

Effort and respect are non-negotiable, Cranor said.

“They have to go as hard as they possibly can every single play,” he said. “If players can’t do that, then you have to take a lot of time getting that right before you can start working on football. It’s gotten a lot better.”

The Panthers did not win a game last season and have only won four games since 2012. To correct this, Cranor said, he put his players through what he calls the “Blast Furnace.”

“A blast furnace is where you purify metal,” Cranor said.

“Our blast furnace is where children become men. Throughout the entire offseason, we did four cycles of weight training. At the end of each cycle, we maxed bench, power clean and squat. Our team increased 91 pounds total

on average. We worked extremely hard and we were able to see those results.”

Luc Stumbaugh and Mason Schucker are in competition for the quarterback spot. Cranor said either could do well on Fridays.

“Schucker is an incoming freshCranor man,” Cranor said. “He’s taken the majority of the snaps because Stumbaugh has been injured.

These two really bring two different things to the table.”

Cranor described Stumbaugh as a “super athlete” who can “really sling the football.”

“We hope to have two packages, one to help Mason out and another to help Luc,” he said.

Key players on the offensive line will be Keaton Phillips, Chase Lee and Jose Jimenez. Cranor said Phillips was the acting leader of

the linemen.

“He’s huge,” he said.

“He’s 6’6 and 317 pounds and he’s only 16 years old going into his senior year.”

Cranor listed Josh Shellivan, David Bolanos, Jeffrey Graves and Stumbaugh as being able to contribute at skill positions.

“Hopefully, throwing and catching will be one of our strengths,” Cranor said. “We spent a lot of time with our young quarterback.”

Jason White and Blake Nelson were also listed as contributors.

“White has a chance to be really good this year,” Cranor said. “He’s got a lot of explosive potential, and he’ll be going into his senior year.

Nelson is a defensive end, and he is going to have to help carry the defense.”

Strength: Passing, receiving and experience in system Weakness: Speed

2015 SCHEDULE Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct.9

at Lamar Ozark at Dardanelle at Vilonia* Maumelle* at Farmington*

Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6

Harrison* at LR Christian* Greenrbrier* Morrilton* * Denotes Conference game

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2015 Clarksville Panthers No. 1 3 4 5 6 8 9 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 34 35 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 45 46 47 48 49 50 52 53 56 57 58 60 62 63 65 66

Player Logan Wood Luc Stumbaugh S Max White Zach Dillard Preston Walton Jason White Aaron Cisneros David Bolanos Maverick Fisher Carlos Alvarez Jose Arvizu Casey Barr Edwin Saucedo Mason Schucker Keonnis Graves Kerry Hawkins Houston Hopkins Josh Sullivan Garrett Woodward Nathan Cabello Say Po Austin Shepard Anthony Frias Hunter Lasater Gustavo Almaraz Bryce Yandell Jovany Garcia David Sarten Matt Guess Brandon Holman Ramon Almanza Ben Schuster Reagan Sanford Tre Bryant Rease Howard Fabian Martinez Garrett Mullins Christian Ayers Logan Ralph Skylar Nieto Austin Remick Adolfo Ramirez Zac Loftis Joel Morehead Blake Nelson Chase Lee Chris Zuniga Isaac Esparza ChuyJ imenez Enrique Pena Tyler Whitfield Dwain Stepp Jose Jimenez

Grade 12 12 10 11 12 12 10 12 10 12 11 11 10 10 12 10 10 11 12 10 11 12 12 10 10 12 10 10 10 12 10 12 10 12 11 10 11 11 12 10 10 10 10 12 11 11 12 11 10 12 10 12 11

Height 5’8 5’11 6’1 5’9 5’3 5’7 5’7 5’7 5’6 5’9 5’8 6’1 5’8 6’4 6’4 6’1 5’8 6’3 5’9 5’8 5’6 6’0 5’7 5’10 5’7 5’8 5’8 5’8 5’8 5’7 5’8 5’9 6’0 5’8 5’9 5’8 5’8 5’6 5’8 5’8 5’8 6’1 6’3 5’10 6’0 5’9 5’11 5’8 5’10 6’0 5’10 5’7 6’1

Weight 137 181 203 158 124 173 141 153 118 166 143 180 164 200 175 177 129 178 129 140 137 153 144 138 125 170 146 155 157 230 171 195 168 140 194 148.8 130 138 210 174 160 185 264 230 222 201 259 260 265 280 243 182 280

No. 67 68 69 70 72 73 74 75 76 77 81 83 84 85 87 88 89 44

Player Perry Holman Ryan Lloyd Luis Escamilla Keaton Phillips Brandon Hood Adam Hudgins Ricky Fox Elysai Montes Luke Venson Max Lemaster Slade Middleton Jack Meharg Junior Moore Billy Lindsey Kevin Lujan Eliasar Garcia Hser Nay Than Alex Jeans

Grade 10 10 10 12 10 10 11 10 11 12 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Height 6”0 5’10 5’9 6’5 5’6 5’11 5’9 6’2 6’2 5’6 5’9 5’9 5’8 5’11 5’4 5’8 5’3 5’7

Weight 211 213 231 317 178 279 235 265 288 204 135 138 151 127 118 131 138 152

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CAPTAIN’S LOG “They have to go as hard as they possibly can every single play. If players can’t do that, then you have to take a lot of time getting that right before you can start working on football. It’s gotten a lot better.”

Keaton Phillips Position: LT Class: Senior Phillips said the Panthers have all but forgotten the winless woes of last season. Instead, they’re focused on the upcoming season — and each other.

“As long as we work hard as family, we don’t have to worry about the outcome,” he said.

Phillips

Jose Jimenez Position: OL Class: Junior Jimenez said Clarksville is doing anything in its power to prevent a repeat of last season.

“We’ve been working out tails off,” he said. “Our offseason has been a lot more stretching, lifting and running.”

Luc Stumbaugh Jimenez

Stumbaugh

Position: WR/DB Class: Senior For the seniors, this year belongs to them. It’s about their leadership and setting an example that can be followed for years to come.

“We have to help train up the younger kids because they don’t know how to lead,” Stumbaugh said.

Another goal: a winning season.

“That would be huge,” he said. “It would be the best thing to happen to this program since we made the playoffs in 2011.”

Stumbaugh said he believed the Panthers could make the playoffs again, but added that he thought it would take a lot of hard work.

Eli Cranor Panthers head coach

Blake Nelson

Nelson

Position: DE Class: Junior “Our number one goal is simple,” Nelson said. “We are trying to win football games.”

Even though Clarksville did not win a game last season, Nelson said he has faith in the program and its coaches.

“Coach had to come in and clean house last year,” he said.

“We are just now to the point where we don’t have discipline issues. We can just focus on football.”

Preston Walton Position: WR Class: Senior “We’ve definitely bonded as a team over the years,” Walton said. “When I was in 10th-grade there was a lot of infighting on the team. We don’t have that any more. No one points fingers at anyone when they mess up. Instead, we get behind them so we can go out on the next play and be successful.”

Walton

Howard

Rease Howard Position: LB/RB Class: Junior Howard said he believes the junior class is just as responsible for team leadership as the seniors — although in a slightly different way.

“We show the sophomores the things we see that maybe the seniors can’t see,” Howard said. “We pick up anything the seniors miss, so we can build a better future for the program. At the same time, we watch and we learn from the seniors so that next year, we can take what they did well and build on it.”

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Danville Little Johns

Little Johns gain momentum

Coach: D.J. Crane (73-65) Stadium: Little John Field Key games: Dardanelle, Lamar 2014 Record: 5-6, 4-2

Offense: I Defense: 4-3 Playoff record: 31-33 Last Appearance: 2014

Looking forward to a great football season!

BY TRAVIS SIMPSON sports@couriernews.com

DANVILLE — “I think we’re going to be pretty good,” Danville head coach D.J. Crane said of the Little Johns. “Every one of our players has made every workout this summer, plus every team camp. A lot of them have actually gone above and beyond to extra workouts.

They’re just a hardworking, blue-collar group. They have a lot of experience behind them.”

Danville began gaining momentum near the end of last season.

The Little Johns won four of their last five Crane conference games to qualify for the Class 3A playoffs for the first time in school history. Danville reached the Class 2A playoffs in 2011 but has struggled since jumping into the 3A classification.

Danville won two games in 2013.

“We knew we would struggle to have some success early in the season,” Crane

2014 RESULTS Dardanelle at Mount Ida at Bigelow Charleston at Booneville at Mansfield Lavaca at Lamar at Paris Two Rivers Postseason at Episcopal

68-34 28-14 34-18 50-21 47-0 32-0 35-13 35-34 27-21 42-14

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said. “We wanted to be playing our best football by the end of Week 5. I think we were it.”

Four of Danville’s losses last season were to teams that reached the state semifinals. “It wasn’t easy losing those games,” Crane said. “We were fortunate enough to stay healthy so that by the end of that fifth week, we were playing as Please see MOMENTUM | 9

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CROWD CONTROL Name: Amelia Claire Tatum Parents: Angie and Tom Tatum Age: 17 Class: Senior What is the most difficult thing about cheer?

Personally, the most difficult part will be leaving at the end of this year. Friendships forged in this sport last a lifetime!

What makes the Tatum cheer squad successful?

We’ve created a really open environment this year. Cheer requires a great deal of planning and prepping for events, performances, and most importantly, game days. As representatives of our school and community, we strive to create the image of a team our community can be proud of. This is a team where each and every member offers suggestions during planning, everyone is equally represented and it shows. No orders, no one person is in charge, it’s a free and creative environment and I think that’s a big part of our success.

How does cheerleading help the football team?

Cheerleading links the fans with the team. It all goes hand in hand. We all work together to create an atmosphere our boys of fall can thrive in.

What’s something about cheer that nobody knows or understands?

The first thing that comes to mind is the way cheer is perceived from off the field. It seems so simplistic, but it’s intricate beyond belief.

Name: Samantha Siharath Parents: Davone Savage Age: 16

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Class: Junior What is the most difficult thing about cheer?

The most difficult thing about cheerleading is how much trust we give to one another. We put our lives into each other’s hands in every stunt and routine. Us fliers give our teammates the most trust, we believe in our bases that they will not drop us. The amount of assurance we give is unbelievable.

What makes the cheer squad successful?

One thing that has made the cheer squad so successful lately is us working together. We have come together as not only a team but as a family. We help one another on and off the mat. Our squad has something special that no other team has, it’s the tight bond, big-hearted squad we come together as. Captain is just a label. Every person on our cheer squad has an input to everything we do as a team.

How does cheerleading help the football team?

I think cheerleading helps the football team in many ways. When we finally get the crowd yelling and excited, it really helps the football team get pumped up. It lets them know that we are there for them and always cheering them on no matter what happens.

What’s something about cheer that nobody knows or underSiharath stands?

I think something people don’t understand is how difficult cheerleading is. They do not realize how dangerous it can be. How much time and energy us athletes put into this sport, every practice, game, and event we attend. Also what big role we have for our amazing community. We are leaders for those looking up to us and setting a good example for all of those around us.

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CAPTAIN’S LOG Rhett Sullivan

R. Sullivan

Position: DE/LG Class: Senior The Danville Little Johns ended the 2014 season on a high note. Sullivan said he would like to see that continue.

“We still have our momentum,” he said. “And we’ve worked hard this offseason. I think we are going to have a good year.”

Jesse Gibbs Position: NG/LG Class: Senior “We have a good group of seniors,” Gibbs said. “And our defense will probably be a strength. We have the seniors and athletic juniors who should do real good.”

Jordan Sullivan Gibbs

Position: DE Class: Senior Sullivan loves having his brother, Rhett Sullivan, on the other side of the defensive line.

“We do a lot of the same things,” Jordan said. “We sync up really well. I trust him over there.”

Jordan said he was pleased to be part of a Danville team that reached the playoffs, but said he hopes they can go further this year. “Last year we made it,” he said. “This year, I hope we can win a few.”

J. Sullivan

Parker Reece Position: DB Class: Senior “Our secondary knows what they are doing,” Reece said.

“We are on our toes. We know what coverages we need to be in and when to be in them.”

Reece

Juan Gomez Position: FB/LB Class: Senior Gomez said he hopes to clear 1,000 rushing yards this year. Gomez, who started at fullback in 2014, rushed for around 500 yards last season.

“I want to be a bigger role player for this team,” he said.

Gomez

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Position: DE Class: Senior “We have a lot of experience on our line,” Dominguez said.

“We’re really physical.”

Dominguez said the team had a goal of going as far in the playoffs as possible.

“It’s a reasonable goal because we have a lot more experience honestly,” he said. “Last year, it was our first time in the playoffs in a while. It was new to us. Now, we’ve been there before.”

Dominguez

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MOMENTUM

2015 Danville Little Johns

CONTINUED FROM 7

Name Travis Western Chris Thurman Juan Ponce Triston Drywater Dalton Penso Adam Parrish Gerrardo Everastico Parker Reece Jake Madding Jamey Holbrook Pablo Zapotitlan Hector Martinez Amado Patricio Juan Gomez Logan Choumany Kaleb Reece Pong Thao Matthew Lindsey Rey Sierra Ricardo Dominguez Rhett Sullivan Jesse Gibbs Carlos Ramirez Jordan Sullivan Garrett Graves Noah Casillas Simon Alcocer

No. 1 2 4 7 8 9 10 14 15 18 19 21 25 32 36 41 43 49 50 51 52 54 55 56 57 58 64

Grade 12 11 10 10 12 12 10 12 10 12 11 10 11 12 11 12 12 10 10 12 12 12 11 12 10 10 10

Name Jose Barragan Jesus Domingues Derrick Hylton Mitchell Garner Tate Ward Nathanial Gilkey Brandon Coleman

No. 68 74 78 80 85 3 5

Grade 11 11 11 11 10 10 11

Head Coach: D.J. Crane Asst Coaches: Joseph Morse, Austin McKnight, Demoine Tolbert Managers: Kaylie Garner, Kamry George

2015 SCHEDULE Sept. 1 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6

at Dardanelle (Tuesday) Mount Ida Bigelow at Charleston* Booneville* Mansfield* at Lavaca* Lamar* Paris* at Two Rivers* * Denotes Conference game

good as anybody.”

Crane said he is excited about his offensive line. Crane speculated it could be one of the best offensive lines in the conference. “They’re good,” he said.

“They’re really good. All of them have started since they were sophomores.

They have a ton of experience.”

Junior Jake Madding will return at quarterback. Madding was 50-of-100 for 907 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore. Madding also rushed for 776 yards on 125 carries.

Crane expects big things out of him.

“Madding is very capable of throwing the ball down the field,” he said. “We’ve got some weapons. We just have to find ways to use them and make sure we stay healthy up front. If we can do that, then you’re not going to want to look at that game on your schedule against us.”

Crane said depth could be a weakness.

“That just comes from being such a small school,” he said.

“In a lower classification we wouldn’t have depth problems. It has nothing to do with our numbers, but 30 kids is not a great deal of kids in the 3A.” There are 35 ninth-grade Junior Little Johns on the roster, Crane said. His depth issues could be over soon — he just has to get through this season.

“Size is coming,” he said. “But for now, it’s going to be a struggle.”

Strength: Offensive line and quarterback Weakness: Depth

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Sand Lizards move on

BY TRAVIS SIMPSON sports@couriernews.com

DARDANELLE — Sand Lizards head coach Josh Price had to correct the question, “When did you get over Dardanelle’s 17-16 loss to Warren in the semifinals of the Class 4A state playoffs last season.”

“You mean, WHEN will I get over it?” he said. “I’m still not over it.

I still think about it every night. I don’t think you ever get over losing a game like that.”

The Sand Lizards rocked the 4A-4 Conference and the state in 2014.

Many predicted they would win the Class 4A state title. Instead, they ended the season broken-hearted when a missed field goal was nailed on the second try due to a penalty against Dardanelle to put Warren

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up 17-16. On the following drive, graduated T.J. Tucker fumbled the football. Warren recovered and went on to pound Mena 48-14 in the state championship.

Price can’t help but think about the what-ifs, but he said it’s time for the team to move past them.

Dardanelle can’t live on the success Price of last season, nor can it wallow in postseason defeat.

“Last year is over,” Price said. “We can’t live off it, good or bad. We’re aren’t going to beat people just because of last year.”

Dardanelle returns every starter on the defensive line and senior Chris Kershner, who was instrumental to the Sand Lizards’ success last season. Many publications pick them to make amends for last year by winning state this year. Price isn’t so sure — at least, not yet.

“Those people haven’t seen us practice yet,” he said. “We’re not that good yet. We have the potential, but we aren’t that good yet. I’m not buying into preseason No. 1. Right now, we have to focus on getting through two-a-days and summer workouts.”

A big concern, Price said, is at the wide receiver position. Dardanelle Please see MOVE | 14

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2015 Dardanelle Sand LIzards No. 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 23 24 25 28 29 30 31 34 37 38 40 42 51 52 55 56 57 61 62 63 64 65 68 70 71 72 73 75 76 79 81 84 89

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Name Chris Kershner Jon Sigle Elyas Carter Dakota Rowland Phillip Ellison Carter Chandler Temo Martiniz Daniel Craig Jared Dawson Ryan Grayham Yair Navarette Turner Partin Carlos Morales Marvin Hernandez Eliso Montes Dakota Martin Jon Brown Jose Perez Caleb Keeling David Fraley Jose Parra Eddie Perfecto Curtis McIntyre Derrick King Kyle Holland Travis Hale Javier Lopez Cody Kayavongsa Jose Ruiz Josh Holmes TJ Gentry Jackie Collins Chase Hickey Dalton Kneeland Caleb Tucker Caden Brown Grey Waniewski Isaias Ferrufino Bailey Sadler Anthony Spagnola Eddie Herrera Caleb Hicks McCabe Foster Bailey Meyers Roberto Guerva Derrick Davis Nirvan Martinez Nick Calavitta Jared Sykes

Position QB/DB TE/LB QB/DB RB/LB WR/DB RB/LB K TE/LB WR/OLB TE/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/LB OL/DL WR/DB TE/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/LB RB/LB WR/DB RB/LB WR/LB TE/DL FB/DL WR/DB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL DL/K WR/DB TE/DL

Grade 12 12 10 11 12 10 10 12 12 10 12 12 12 11 12 12 11 10 12 10 11 11 11 10 11 12 11 10 12 12 12 10 10 10 10 11 10 11 11 10 12 12 12 12 12 12 11 12 10

Height 5’10 5’9 5’8 5’11 5’9 5’9 5’9 5’9 6’2 5’9 5’6 5’8 5’5 5’7 5’9 6’1 5’8 5’8 5’7 5’7 5’9 5’5 5’4 5’6 5’8 6’0 6’0 5’5 5’7 5’11 6’4 5’10 5’10 6’2 6’0 6’1 5’6 6’0 6’0 6’0 5’7 6’2 5’8 6’1 5’9 5’9 5’9 6’2 5’5

Weight 170 185 145 170 145 140 145 200 170 140 170 160 135 170 195 150 165 135 140 120 145 150 135 145 145 205 255 150 220 200 235 230 205 305 255 280 175 270 275 205 280 245 265 250 235 230 175 165 170

Head Coach: Josh Price Offensive Coordinator: Bryan Hardaway Defensive Coordinator: Phil Vega Assistant Coaches: Shawn Walter, Brent Taylor, Don Earnest, Josh Harrison Water girls:Cheyenne Standridge, Brooke Kuras, taylor Lawrence, Paige Chandler

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Dardanelle Sand Lizards

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FROM THEIR RIVALS

Smith

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dardanelle has everything under one roof. They have everything you need to be successful. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in that community. The football fever has caught on.

Their community was out and it was exciting to see.

I think the whole River Valley was at their playoff games. That speaks high of our conference, and Dardanelle was a great representative of us. One of the hardest things Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned from coaching is that very few teams get to win the last one.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Greg Smith, Dover Pirates head coach

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CAPTAIN’S LOG Josh Holmes Position: RG/DT Class: Senior Holmes said he isn’t worried about whether the Sand Lizards can live up to last season. He knows they can.

“We have a lot of talent returning,” he said. “We’re really excited. We think we might be able to go a long way in the playoffs.”

Daniel Craig

Holmes

Position: MLB/RB Class: Senior Last year’s success resulted in a group of hardened, experienced returners. Craig said the team would be able to build off last year’s success via that experience.

“We have more seniors,” he said. “More leadership.

We use that leadership to push everybody to do their best.”

Chris Kershner Position: QB Class: Senior Kershner spent his offensive snaps hauling in passes from graduated quarterback Kristian Thompson in 2014. This year, Kershner will spend time under center — but this isn’t his first rodeo.

Kershner played quarterback as a sophomore, where he said that experience should come in handy.

“I feel a lot more confident at quarterback,” he said.

“And coach [Josh] Price has been so helpful to me.

He’s the best coach I’ve ever played under. He played quarterback in high school and college. He’s able to pass those experiences down to us.”

MOVE Craig

Kershner

Caleb Hicks Position: RT/NG Class: Senior Hicks said senior leadership was important to him.

“I feel like that’s what separates us from other teams,” he said. “We push our sophomores, but we don’t separate ourselves from them. We try to bring the best out of them so that the coaches can get the best out of them after we [seniors] are gone.”

CONTINUED FROM 11

graduated Parker Witt and Gerardo Hernandez, but have also moved former wide receiver Kershner to the quarterback spot.

“Those were three kids with plenty of ability,” Price said. “Turner Partin, Phillip Ellison and Jared Dawson will step in at wide receiver. Those are all seniors and they all start on defense. Caleb Keeling and Carter Chandler will also have to step in to give them some breaks.”

Kershner, who played quarterback as a sophomore after Kristian Thompson broke his wrist in a scurry to the goal line, has needed experience under center.

“He’s such a smooth operator,” Price said. “He never panics. He can get us out of bad plays. If we run a back pass and they cover everyone, well, that might be the best thing because he can take off

Hicks

running. I expect big, big things out of him.”

Price said Dardanelle would run more zone options and speed options to take advantage of Kershner’s speedy legs, but Kershner’s QB role comes at a cost.

“We won’t be throwing as many deep balls just because last year those deep passes were being thrown to him,” Price said. “I get bored just lining up and running the football. We’ll throw it out in the flat, run the slant and mix it up. We’ll make those big kids have to cover the whole field.”

Elias Carter will also receive snaps at quarterback — and not just vanity snaps late in the fourth quarter.

“He’ll be in there when it matters,” Price said.

Strengths: Experienced line, playmaker at quarterback Weakness: Unproven linebackers

Serving Arkansas since 1976 Bill & Doris Lawrence, Owners

Travis Hale Position: TE/DE/FB/RB/OSLB Hale described the offseason as even tougher than 2014.

“It’s because we and the coaches expect us to do as well, if not better than last season,” he said. “It’s been a little tougher than I remember, but it will pay off.”

Eliminating the things that bug you.

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16

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Rebels struggle with depth

2015 Johnson County Westside Rebels No. 4 5 7 10 12 15 16 21 23 30 32 40 55 62 66 71 72 77 85 88

Player Seth Stewart Chazz Estey Garrett Reynolds Lane Houston Ross Scott Shawn Jones Payton Pitts Charlie Yates Nate Mayfield Xavier Bittle Colin Hayes Chris Xiong Jacob Campbell Taylor Tollison Jordan Hilton Joshua Moser Sam Willams Jason Garfield Justin Tedford Alan Rice

The Courier

www.couriernews.com

BY TRAVIS SIMPSON sports@couriernews.com

2015 SCHEDULE Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 5 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 5

Greenland WYC* at Union Christian* at Mountainburg* Decatur* at Dardanelle JV (Monday) OPEN Magazine* at Hackett* Hector* (Thursday) * Denotes Conference game

COAL HILL — The Johnson County Westside Rebels continue to struggle low numbers. It could be a problem, Rebels head coach Jeff Stewart said, if the team doesn’t stay healthy and in good shape.

“Our numbers are in the low 20s,” Stewart said.

“It’s paramount that we stay healthy.”

But it isn’t all bad. Stewart said the other side of the coin was that this group of seniors is likely the most experienced team to come through JC Westside in a long time.

“A lot of our kids have been starting since seventh grade,” Stewart said.

“They played together through junior high.”

Stewart said he continues to work on the players’ attitudes in the preseason.

“Our seniors sometimes don’t know the difference in being a leader and being critical,” he said. “We want them to learn how to lead and leave the coaching to us.”

Offensively, the Rebels have a question mark at quarterback. Stewart’s son, Seth Stewart, is slated to take the role, but injured his elbow during summer workouts.

“He’s been day to day for us,” Jeff said. “He threw the ball in practice today, and he was spot on.”

“We want them to learn how to tackle without getting hurt."

Jeff Stewart Rebels head coach

If not Seth, Chazz Estep will play quarterback.

“He’s a point guard on the basketball team, so he already knows how to lead a team,” Stewart said. “He’s not as tall as Seth.

They’re about the same speed. Chazz is real good at cutting, but Seth has the better arm, more experience and is taller.”

Stewart said Estep Stewart also has the best hands on the team.

In an ideal world, Estep would be playing wide receiver.

“That’s where you want him,” Stewart said. “He has a knack for catching the football.”

With low numbers, Stewart wants to avoid injuries as much as possible. He and the team revisited tackling fundamentals.

“We want them to learn how to tackle without getting hurt,” Stewart said.

“We’re trying to be smarter about it.

We don’t have enough people to scrimmage, so we just do tackling drills.”

Stewart said that didn’t mean Westside had adopted a “softer” defensive attitude.

“We want them to get to the ball with a bad attitude,” Stewart said.

e

The Courier

Sunday, August 23, 2015

www.couriernews.com

17

Johnson County Westside Rebels JC Westside Rebels Head Coach: Jeff Stewart (18-31) Stadium: Wayne Miller Field Key Games: Hector, Magazine 2014 Record: 1-8 Offense: Wing T Defense: 3-5 Playoff Record: 2-8 Last Appearance: 2012

CAPTAIN’S LOG

2014 RESULTS at Greenland at WYC Union Christian Mountainburg at Decatur Hartford OPEN at Magazine Hackett at Hector

Justin Tedford

Charlie Yates

Class: Senior Position: TE The Johnson County Westide Rebels won one game in 2014 — a 44-7 romp of Hartford. It wasn’t the season the Rebels had hoped for, but Tedford said he and his team were doing what they could to battle back for the 2015 campaign.

“We’ve been working out a lot more than we have in the past,” Tedford said. “A lot of us have played together for a long time, so we build each other up. We push each other more. We’re faster, more athletic and all-around more dedicated football players this year.”

Tedford earned All-Conference honors as a junior.

Class: Senior Position: WR “We’re a very compatible team,” Yates said. “As far as how we work together.”

Yates said he was most looking forward to beating Magazine this year. Westside fell to the Rattlers 26-20 in 2014.

“They’re kind of a rival,” he said. “But I think we’re more competitive than in the past. I believe we’ve come a long way. And so has our quarterback. He’s been my quarterback since seventh-grade. We know each other well.”

Tedford

L L L L L W

26-20 52-14 55-12

L L L

Yates

Chazz Estep

Payton Pitts Class: Senior Position: WR “Offseason has been much harder than in the past,” Pitts agreed. “We have a lot more team motivation. But we’re still working on it.”

Pitts said the team was much faster, but they didn’t have much by way of strength. “But we are still working out every day to correct that,” he said.

39-0 26-14 29-8 50-28 28-20 44-7

Pitts

Class: Senior Position: WR “Seth, the quarterback, is my best friend,” Estep said. “I want to say I’m his favorite target, but I’m not sure. We do have that connection. We know what each other are going to do.”

Estep had two games circled on his schedule.

“I want to beat Western Yell County on homecoming and Hector on Senior Night,” he said.

Estep admitted that defeating Hector was the more daunting of the two. “They are really, really tough,” he said.

Estep

Ross Scott Seth Stewart Class: Senior Position: QB Seth said he will return for his third season at quarterback.

Stewart is the son of Rebels head coach Jeff Stewart. Seth believes a team strength is depth at the skill positions.

“We have two or three backups in every skill spot. We have depth. We are working harder than we’ve ever worked.

We’ve never had an offseason like this. This year, we have been relentless.”

Stewart

Class: Senior Position: TE/MLB Scott described the Rebels as a rugged, tough-neck team.

“We’re very fast, too,” he added. “We have to be tough though because we lack size. Coordination will make up for size.”

Scott said senior leadership would be important this season. “It’s up to us seniors,” he said. “We have to try and keep everyone from getting sidetracked. I want to see my senior year as my best year.”

Scott

18

Sunday, August 23, 2015

The Courier

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Warriors poised for success

them bad.”

Many of the seniors have played toLAMAR — Josh Jones knows the War- gether since peewee football.

The Warriors are picked to win the riors can compete against any team in 3A-4 in the coaches’ poll. Jones said Class 3A — he also knows exactly where not only was it a reasonable goal — it’s it could all come apart. always the goal.

“It all depends,” he “Winning conference is always the said. “If everything goal, but it all comes down to health,” goes really well, if we don’t have any injuries, he said. “If we stay healthy, we are going we can be pretty good. to be pretty good. If I’ve got four or five But if we have a bunch kids nursing injuries, we aren’t deep enough to contain that.” of injuries, we aren’t Lamar graduated All-State quartervery deep. Right now, back Braxton Sampley in the spring, as I’m looking for guys well as a corps of talented wide receivwho can step up.”

Still, Lamar’s seniors ers. Sampley threw for over 4,900 yards Jones across two seasons and led the Warriors have had success.

When they were fresh- to 18 wins.

Senior Hunter Davenport, who spent men, they won the 3A-4 in a Conferthe majority of his time on defense in ence that, at that time, did not include 2014, will take over at quarterback. DavBooneville. enport rushed for 351 yards on 51 carries “This group is one of the few teams last season. we’ve had that has been able to beat The result?

Charleston,” Jones said. “And we beat

BY TRAVIS SIMPSON sports@couriernews.com

The brute under center

2014 RESULTS at Clarksville at Subiaco Academy Perryville at Lavaca Mansfield Booneville at Charleston Danville at Two Rivers Paris Postseason Bald Knob at Smackover

42-14 39-20 54-0 39-0 55-22 36-12 49-28 35-34 53-25 37-14

W W W W W L L W W W

44-18 44-8

W L

2015 SCHEDULE Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 at Oct. 9 at Oct.16 OCt. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6

Lamar’s spread offense will be a run-heavy ground attack. Jones said he believes it suits the team better until it can solidify the passing game.

With over 1,000 pounds on the offensive and defensive line, the Warriors don’t lack for size.

Davenport and Dusty Wilkins return to their spots at linebacker. Davenport led Lamar in 2014 with 105 tackles.

Wilkins finished with 94 tackles and 14 sacks.

“We’re really pleased with our line-

backers,” Jones said. “Those guys are fast and aggressive. Wilkins had a game as a sophomore with 20 tackles.

Davenport led the team in tackles last year. Both those guys have been really good for us in the past.”

An unproven secondary could be a hindrance. Jones said 3⁄4 of their defensive backs graduated in the spring.

“We have to keep them all focused all year and work hard,” Jones said.

“So Hopefully good things will happen to us.”

Other key contributors: Bennan Gilber, Blake Kern, Austin Hency, Victor Coronado, Dillon Lovell, Blake Dybala, Jamico Chenault, Bailey Pledger, Corey Ahrens.

Jones said several underclassmen would have to step in and fill holes.

“We’re looking for them to really step up this year,” he said.

Strength: Offensive, defensive line Weakness: Secondary, unproven quarterback and receiver corps.

Clarksville Subiaco Academy at Perryville Lavaca* Mansfield* Booneville* Charleston* at Danville* Two Rivers* at Paris* * Denotes Conference game

BY TRAVIS SIMPSON sports@couriernews.com

LAMAR — Warriors junior quarterback Hunter Davenport doesn’t look like a typical quarterback. He looks more like a linebacker, which is exactly what he playes when he is on the defensive side of the ball.

At 6’0, 243 pounds, Davenport benches 290 pounds, squats 500 and power cleans 290.

In short — he’s huge, he’s powerful and this year, Lamar head coach Josh Jones is going to cram him straight up the gut of opposing defenses.

“I’ll be running 15-20 times a game,” Davenport said.

“And there’s no juking about it. Honestly, I like to

run people over. Our offense is way different than last year. We threw it around a lot last year. We had a quarterback that could really do that.”

Davenport led the Warriors in tackles in 2015 with 125. He had 21 tackles for loss and eight sacks. On offense, he average 6.9 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns.

He began training at quarterback at the beginning of last year.

“I had it in my mind to be a quarterback then,” he said.

“And last year’s quarterback, Braxton Sampley, taught me a lot. He was a great leader.”

Davenport said Sampley taught him how to make the correct reads and helped him to become more comfortable with his role under center.

Davenport has been invited to a host of combines and summer football programs, where he said he has learned a lot about football.

“It’s been a good experience,” he said.

“I’ve been learning new things from new coaches and new athletes.”

The Courier

Sunday, August 23, 2015

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Lamar Warriors Coach: Josh Jones (26-9) Stadium: Warrior Field Key games: Charleston, Booneville

2014 Record: 9-3 Offense: Spread Defense: Multiple Playoff Record: 6-9 Last Appearance: 2014

Cody Wyatt

2015 Lamar Warriors No. Player 3 Dusty Wilkins 4 Brennon Gilbert 5 Austin Hency 6 Darwin Harris 7 Hunter Daniel 8 Dusty Clubb 9 Blake Kern 15 Hunter Davenport 19 Logan Hinkle 20 Cody Wyatt 21 Cade Track 22 Bryce Sanderson 23 Bryer Bowles 24 Joe Mueller 25 Eddie Gonzalez 32 Frankie Thompson 33 Austin Ware 44 Joe Mueller 50 Kaleb LaRue 52 Jordan Hawkins 53 David Shabell 54 Chase Holland 55 Austin Henderson 57 Jacob Combs 63 Isaac Felkins 65 Cory Aherns 69 Zane Lemon 71 Josh Copeland 72 Blake Dybala 74 Jamico Chenault 75 Bailey Pledger 79 Dillon Lovell 84 Victor Coronado 88 Devin Thompson

Grade 12 11 12 11 10 11 12 11 11 12 10 11 10 10 10 11 11 10 10 11 10 11 11 10 11 12 12 10 12 12 12 12 11 10

Managers: Tori Nichols, Brandon Fox, Gracie Wilkins, Taylor English, Hannah Warren and Raylynn Judah.

Coaches: Josh Jones, Cliff Jones, Larry Debusk and Mitchell Barton

CAPTAIN’S LOG Dusty Wilkins Position: RB/LB Class: Senior The Lamar Warriors sit atop the 2015 preseason coaches’ poll, but Wilkins said he and the team aren’t keeping score.

“We don’t pay attention to any of that,” he said. “We just focus on what we need to do and try not to worry about everyone else. We feel like we have better leadership this year, coupled with good team chemistry.”

Wilkins

Position: OL/DL Class: Senior Dybala towers over his classmates. The senior is 6’6 and 315 pounds. His goals as an offensive lineman are direct.

“Get as many yards as possible on every play,” he said. “I want to stop defenses from getting past us, and to never let any player make a tackle on my side.”

Dybala

Austin Hency Chenault

Bailey Pledger Position: G/NG Class: Senior Pledger described the offensive and defensive line as “solid.”

“That’s probably an understatement,” he said. “We’re probably the biggest line in our conference.”

That size comes with a price, Pledger said.

“We’re not very fast. We don’t have much speed, but we sure are big.”

Wyatt

Blake Dybala

Jamico Chenault Position: OL/DL Class: Senior “Our team strength is definitely our defense,” Chenault said. “We have a bunch of three-year starters returning.

These are guys who have been playing together since junior high and even peewee. It creates great team chemistry, and everyone gets along.”

Position: RB/DB Class: Senior “Our goal is always to win every game,” Wyatt said. “We want to line up and run it right at the other team.”

But as far as personal goals, Wyatt said he just hoped that he left a good legacy after he graduated. “I want to be remembered as a good leader, both on the team and on the football field,” he said. “I want to leave a legacy for the little kids — for all the younger children — to look up to.”

Position: HB/DB Class: Senior Hency expects big things from the underclassmen, but not without the leadership of the juniors and seniors.

“We have a lot of talent moving up,” he said. “They are eager to learn and to play football. I just want to help so they can achieve their best.”

Hency

Zane Lemon Pledger

Position: LG Class: Senior Lemon said the Warriors would be running the ball more than in the past.

“We have a strong front line,” he said.

“We have some passing game, but we are still working on it.”

Lemon

19

20

Sunday, August 23, 2015

The Courier

www.couriernews.com

Two Rivers Gators CAPTAIN’S LOG Briar Brothers Head coach: Richard Havner (0-0) Stadium: The Swamp 2014 Record: 2-8 Offense: Multiple Wing Defense: 4-2 Playoff Record: 2-8 Last Appearance: 2013 2014 RESULTS at Hackett at Perryville Atkins at Booneville Lavaca Charleston at Mansfield Paris Lamar at Danville

21-18 50-27 71-69 49-12 20-8 62-20 41-12 35-15 53-26 42-14

L W W L L L L L L L

2015 SCHEDULE Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6

Hackett Perryville at Atkins Booneville* at Lavaca* at Charleston* Mansfield* at Paris* at Lamar Danville

* Denotes Conference game

Position: LT Class: Senior “I feel like we are playing together now in a way we never have before,” Brothers said. Across the field, the Gators gathered together to call it up. Brothers said they come together like that several times in practice in an effort to team build.

“Coach Havner said from day one that ‘We is stronger than me,’” Brothers said. “That’s one of the main things that changed when he took over. Everyone is playing like a team.”

and togetherness during the offseason.

Via said it should pay off when game time rolls around.

“We’re going to surprise a lot of people,” he said. “We’re picked last in our conference, so there’s going to be a bunch of people who are upset by us.”

Colby Whitlow Brothers

Skyler Cano Position: OT/DT Class: Senior Cano said he was excited about the upcoming season.

“I feel really good,” he said. “And I mean really good. Coach is working us real hard.

It’s fun, but it’s hard. That’s how football is supposed to be.”

Cano

Whitlow

Morgan Yates

Logan Via Position: WR/RB Class: Senior “Workouts have been amazing,” Via said.

“Our new coach is very hard working. He really puts us through it.”

Via said first-year head coach Richard Havner has put an emphasis on hard work

Position: WR Class: Senior Whitlow and the other seniors have had a different head coach every year of their high school careers. Whitlow said it was a challenge, but he was excited about the latest iteration of the Gators.

“Football, it’s challenging to change coaches,” he said. “But this coach really has something special going for us. He figured out what our strengths are. I’m really looking forward to this season because of him.”

Via

Position: RB Class: Senior Yates agreed with Whitlow.

“We are very confident about the things we are doing,” Yates said. “And we’re doing some things a lot different.”

Yates said the Gators would run the ball more, which he believed plays more to their strengths.

Yates

The Courier

Sunday, August 23, 2015

www.couriernews.com

Gators bite in new direction

BY TRAVIS SIMPSON sports@couriernews.com

OLA — The Two Rivers Gators have had three head coaches in three years — a tradition that firstyear head coach Richard Havner would like to end with himself.

“I’m in this to build a program,” Havner said.

“The kids have handled all this transition really well. They’re used to it by now, it seems like. But I don’t

"We set our goal to go undefeated in conference and to win state. If we don’t have that goal, then we are failing ourselves."

Richard Havner Two Rivers Gators head coach

think it’s going to happen very often from here on.”

Havner said he believed the Gators would struggle from some familiar problems.

“I think team numbers might still be an issue,” he said. “But it is getting better. We are in this to win it. That’s what we preach to the kids. We set our goal to go undefeated in conferHavner ence and to win state.

If we don’t have that goal, then we are failing ourselves. We have to work tirelessly toward it.”

The Gators met during the offseason in a field behind the high school, or a short drive to the old Ola High School, where their weight room is located.

Part of building a tradition, Havner said, is developing a closer unit. Alongside getting stronger and faster, that’s been a primary goal of the offeseaon.

Two Rivers does return some talent from 2015. Havner named offensive linemen Briar Brothers and Justin Jackson as key contributors, as well as skill players Morgan Yates, Colby Whitlow, Logan Via and Skyler Cano.

“We’re going to surprise some people,” Havner said. “But it might not be that big of a surprise. We’ve been at 7-on-7. They know some of us from basketball last year. They know we have athletes.”

Havner installed a run-heavy multiple wing offense, which he believes better suits the blue-collar players produced at Two Rivers.

Defensively, Hanver said Brice Whitlow and Andrew Garcia had a chance to excelt.

“Those guys want to come hit you,” he said.

Strength: Skill position, some size on line Weakness: low numbers, depth

2015 Two Rivers Gators No. 1 5 7 10 11 14 15 20 22 25 32 33 35 42 44 50 52 55 59 60 61 62 70 72 77 79 80 85 88

Player Cody Davenport Chase Mullins Logan Via Morgan Yates Zach Furr Anthony Dominguez Paul Little Antonio Morales Colby Whitlow Shawn Alexander Trey May Lancey Crawford Bryce Whitlow Nick Swanson Dawson Heflin Blayne Prater Case Keim Andrew Garcia Hunter Webb John Collins Steven Orell Tanner Keys Skylar Cano Gilbert Burns Justin Jackson Briar Brothers John Hunter Thomas Trent Baker Luis Grimaldo

Grade 11 12 12 12 12 11 12 12 12 12 10 10 10 12 10 12 10 10 10 10 12 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

Position QB/DB FB/DB RB/LB RB/DB WR/DB QB/DB WR/DB RB/LB WR/DB WR/DB FB/LB WR/DB TE/LB FB/LB WR/DB OG/DE OG/DE OG/LB OT/DL OT/DL OG/DE OT/DL OT/DL OT/DL C/DL OT/DL TE/DE TE/LB WR/DB

21

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Sunday, August 23, 2015

www.couriernews.com

The Courier

Western Yell County Wolverines Coach: Mark Lewis (7-24) Stadium: Wolverine Field Key games: Johnson County Westside, Hector 2014 Record: 4-7

Offense: Double Slot Defense: 3-4 Playoff Record: 0-2 Last Appearance: 2014

Big plans, small team

BY CAMERON TATE newsclerk@couriernews.com

HAVANA — Despite low numbers, the Western Yell County (WYC) Wolverines have big plans for the upcoming season.

“We feel good that we can control the ball and manage the clock,” Wolverines head coach Mark Lewis said. “If we can do those things well, we can be competitive this year.”

The Wolverines graduated 10 starting seniors in the spring, so they’re having to bring in a lot of new players.

The team has gone from an average of 28 players, down to 17.

Lewis “This is the smallest team I’ve had since I’ve been here,” Lewis said. “It’s going to be tough, not only in numbers but we’ve lost a lot of starters.”

WYC will have to work around a small roster and a shortage of experience with this year’s starters.

The Wolverines will not only bring in a lot of new faces but will also run a different offense. With the dramatic roster changes the Wolverines will be changing from last year’s passing strategy to running options and blast plays.

The seniors will have a few returners, but they were mostly on special teams last season, Lewis said. Senior Tristan Bot-

toms takes over for All-Stater, Trent Cobb at quarterback. Lewis said that Bottoms is very athletic and coachable.

“He’s done very good for us,” he said.

Lucas Avila will play fullback, after he started on defense last year. Lewis said that Avila is a hard runner and a physical player.

Junior, Cliffton Claunts, a junior, will start at running back. Claunt started at offensive tackle last year and hasn’t played running back since junior high.

Bubba Greenbush and Tyler Catlett will play running back. Greenbush missed three games last year after breaking his ankle.

“He came back, and he’s worked hard rehabbing,” Lewis said. “He’s just as fast as he was last year.”

Catlett played running back in junior high. Lewis said he got a few snaps last season but was mainly a special teams player.

Junior Nic Aleman will start at center.

Lewis said Aleman is not the biggest lineman, but he’s got a big heart and is going to get his man blocked.

The Wolverines expect to see big things from Tyler Rasavong at right guard.

“Rasavong is a big kid,” Lewis said.

“We’ve got to get him conditioned, and we could just run behind him.”

Braydon Goodwin will start at right tackle. Goodwin is said to have a lot of experience and athleticism.

Left tackle is Seth Lane. Lewis said that Lane is a smart player and “pretty athletic.”

Travis Essman will start at left guard.

Lewis said that Essman is a big strong player and worked in on the offensive line a little last year.

“The offensive line is probably going to be our strength,” he said. “We’ve got some big kids.”

“We’re going to be playing iron man football for the most part,” Lewis said, when asked how the team’s depth will affect the offense/defense transition. “Most guys will have to play both ways. We’re going to have to be highly conditioned and hopefully, nobody gets hurt.”

Starting on the defensive side will be Tyler Rasavong at nose guard. Lewis said that it will probably take two to three players to block him.

Goodwin and Lane will start at defensive tackle, with Essman rotating in.

Nolan Gates, a junior who hasn’t played

in two years, is outside linebacker. Lewis said even though he hasn’t played in years, Gates has done a really good job.

Cliffton Claunt will be the other outside linebacker.

Inside linebacker will be Lucas Avila.

Lewis said that Lucas Avila, who will play at inside linebacker, is probably the most experienced player on the team and led the team in tackles last year.

Tyler Catlett will start as the other inside linebacker. Catlett, who is not a very big player, is quick, Lewis said.

Greenbush, Casarubias, Bottoms and James McHam make up the secondary.

“Experience is what will limit us in the secondary,” Lewis said. “Bubba is the only one on secondary with that much experience.”

With such a small team, this year will likely be a rebuilding year for the Wolverines.

“We should be bouncing back in numbers next year,” he said. “We have a big junior high group coming up.

We’re fighting low numbers this year and a lack of experience in certain spots, so we just want everybody to come through healthy and without getting hurt.”

The Courier

Sunday, August 23, 2015

www.couriernews.com

CAPTAIN’S LOG Player Bubba Greenbush Tyler Catlett Cliffton Claunts Lucas Avila Tristan Bottoms Nic Aleman Nick Flowers Braydon Goodwin Tyler Rasavong Daniel Casarrubias Tim Hall Tommy McHam James McHam Seth Lane Travis Essman Dominic Miller Nolan Gates

Grade 12 11 11 12 12 11 12 12 11 10 10 10 11 12 12 12 11

Head Coach: Mark Lewis Assistant coaches: Zack Taylor and Jared Vire

2015 Western Yell County Wolverines 2015 SCHEDULE Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6

Brinkley at JC Westside* at Subiaco Academy Hector* at Hackett* at Magazine* Decatur* Mountainburg* OPEN Union Christian* * Denotes Conference game

Tristan Bottoms Class: Senior Position: QB/RB/DB The Wolverines graduated all but one starter over the spring, which Bottoms said was going to be a “big problem.”

“There is a lack of experience across our whole team,” he said.

“We have six seniors, and three of them play one position.”

That doesn’t stop Bottoms from remaining hopeful.

“We did a lot of conditioning and practice over the summer to counteract our experience problem,” he said. “We’ve just been trying to get everything refined and memorized.”

Bottoms

Tyler Catlett Class: Junior Position: RB Western Yell County made the playoffs for the first time in just under a decade last season. It’s something the team hopes to repeat.

“But we lost almost the whole team,” Catlett said. “We do have a few people that got good experience last year, so that should help.

It makes us work harder. I see us winning some games. It would be great to be able to get to the playoffs again and shock some people.”

Catlett

Bubba Greenbush Class: Senior Position: RB/QB/DB Greenbush and Bottoms are dividing time at QB right now. Greenbush said the team was still working through who was the right fit to replace All-State quarterback Trent Cobb, who threw for over 5,000 yards across three seasons.

“We have less players so we want to get as many people into rotation as possible,” Greenbush said. “We’re trying to find out which one of us is going to be the better fit at quarterback. Once the season starts, I imagine it will be just one of us taking snaps.”

Greenbush said that the Wolverines small numbers were not indicative of the amount of heart they have.

Greenbush

Lucas Avila

FROM THEIR RIVALS “They’re going to be really young, but they have good hard-nose kids.

Mark’s done a good job keeping that program going over the years.”

Taylor — Mark Taylor, Hector head coach

2014 RESULTS at Brinkley J.C. Westside Subiaco Academy at Hector Hackett Magazine at Decatur at Mountainburg Hartford at Union Christian Postseason at Hazen

22-7 26-14 20-18 43-7 45-0 20-2 18-16 32-22 55-12 39-13

L W L L L W W L W L

42-0

L

Class: Senior Position: RB/LB Avilla said he has very simple goals this season.

“We just want to go hard every week,” he said. “We want to do what we can to win as many games as possible. We have small numbers, but we work hard. I have a really good feeling going into this season.”

Avila

Cliffton Claunts Class: Junior Position: FB/LG Claunts said he wasn’t sure where he’d play on the offense — either running back or left guard. Either way he’d be blocking.

“I guess you could say that I like to hit people,” he said.

Claunts said the team has been working hard in the weight room to make up for their low numbers.

“We’re getting bulked up,” he said. “We need to if we’re going to make the playoffs again. We’re really hoping we can do that. It was a real honor to be able to last year.”

Claunts

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Sunday, August 23, 2015

The Courier

www.couriernews.com

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