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Proud to support high school athletics! ~ State Representative David Whitaker Hoping this season is full of victories on and off the fi eld! PREP RALLY: Class 5A THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018 24 ALMA AIREDALES 2017 RECORD 7-5, 5-2 5A-West COACH Doug Loughridge RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS OL Zac Henson (Sr., 6-4, 280), OL Levi Prestidge (6-3, 250), LB Keegan Rosebeary (Sr., 6-1, 205), S Coltin Bowerman (6-2, 170), OL Eli Aleck (Sr., 6-3, 245), OL Darion Crawford (Sr., 5-11, 210). THE SKINNY The Airedales rolled to the 5A-West title a year ago and return 8 starters on offense, though losing QB Gage Jensen and WR Brayden Johnson are huge holes to fill. … The entire Alma offensive line returns and that will be a huge asset. Zac Henson was an all-state choice at left tackle last season, and guard Eli Aleck was an All-5A-West pick. … RB Keegan Rosebeary will give the Airedales a home-run hitter in the backfield and also stars on defense at linebacker, where he racked up 127 tackles a year ago and is drawing college interest. … Loughridge will use three quarterbacks this season. Tanner Shelton is more familiar with the offense as a senior, Loughridge said. Landon Blair (6-1, 230) is in the mold of recent Alma quarterbacks, big, physical athletes who can run, and Austin Fraley, a starter at safety in 2017, gives Alma a wildcat option. … Grayson Bailey was Alma's No. 2 receiver last season behind Johnson with 18 catches. COACH SPEAK We've got a lot of experience back," Alma coach Doug Loughridge said. "We've got a lot of depth back and we've got a lot of experience up front, which is a good thing," Loughridge said. "I think those guys, the five offensive linemen, will pave the way." — Chip Souza • @nwachip SCHEDULE Aug. 28 ........................Van Buren Sept. 7 .................... at Springdale Sept. 14 ..................... Russellville Sept. 21 ...........................Vilonia* Sept. 28 ...............at Farmington* Oct. 5 ...................... at Morrilton* Oct. 12 ....................... Clarksville* Oct. 19 ..........................Harrison* Oct. 26 .................. at Greenbrier* Nov. 2 .....................at Huntsville* * — Denotes 5A-West Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted E. Aleck C. Bowerman D. Crawford Z. Henson L. Prestidge K. Rosebeary D. Loughridge total touchdowns. Running back Xavier Clemons is a home-run threat and ran for 578 yards and eight scores. There are three starters back on the offensive line, including all-state tackle Hunter DeSalvo (6-2, 265). But before anyone hands the title over to Morrilton, there are a couple of other contenders to consider, like defending co-champion Alma, whose eight returning offensive starters in- clude the entire offensive line. "We've got a lot of experience back," said Airedales coach Doug Loughridge, who has led the program to three league titles. "We've got a lot of ex- perience up front, which is the main thing. I think early on, as we adjust the skill guys and get them ready to go, I think these guys will pave the way. The O-line did a great job last year. They were new, but they exceeded expec- tations." The Airedales will miss quarterback Garrison Jensen and receiver Brayden Johnson, the dynamic passing duo that paced the offense, but that line will allow them to run the ball and chew up the clock. And senior running back Keegan Rosebeary (6-1, 205) is poised for a breakout season. Harrison was in the mix last sea- son and will be again as junior running back Gabe Huskey (5-10, 175) returns after rushing for 1,862 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. Huskey is also a key part of the passing game. As Wells mentioned, Clarksville is the team many expect to make a big jump this season after starting as many as 13 sophomores last year. This junior class is the best the Panthers have put on the field in years, coach Khris Buck- ner said. "We've built from the bottom up," said the third-year coach. "We knew this was going to be a three- to four- year deal, and we're going into year three. I really expect to make a big step forward this year." The Panthers will operate again out of the Wing-T and have added a ton of new wrinkles, Buckner said. Nicho- las Buckner, the coach's son, will be a spinner back along with Jamie White. One throws right-handed, and the oth- er is a lefty, giving the Panthers two passing threats in the same backfield. Nicholas Buckner ran for 1,266 yards and eight touchdowns last season be- fore a collarbone injury in week eight ended his season. Wells sees the conference as being a dogfight to the end, as it was a year ago. "You're going to have to play every Friday night and see how it turns out," Wells said. "It will be very difficult for anybody to run the table in our league." Chip Souza can be reached at csouza@ nwadg.com or on Twitter @NWAChip. 5A v Continued from Page 23 2017 Conference Standings 5A-West TEAM .............................CONF. ...........OVERALL Alma ................................. 5-2 ......................... 7-5 Greenbrier ........................ 5-2 ......................... 7-5 Harrison ............................ 5-2 ......................... 8-4 Morrilton ........................... 5-2 ......................... 8-4 Maumelle .......................... 4-3 ......................... 5-5 Farmington ....................... 3-4 ......................... 4-6 Vilonia ................................1-6 .......................... 1-9 Clarksville ......................... 0-7 ......................... 1-9 2018 Hooten's Coaches Poll 5A-West 1. Morrilton 2. Harrison 3. Greenbrier 4. Alma 5. Farmington 6. Clarksville 7. Vilonia 8. Huntsville NWA Democrat Gazette staff photo Clarksville Coach Khris Buckner said this year's junior class is the best the Panthers have put on the field in years.