Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1015901
Go Blackhawks!! From all of your friends at the Pea Ridge Walmart Neighborhood Market. PREP RALLY: Class 4A THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018 43 PEA RIDGE BLACKHAWKS 2017 RECORD 12-2, 6-1 4A-1 Conference COACH Stephen Neal RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 9 defense KEY PLAYERS DL Mikey Mahoney (Sr., 6-1, 265), DB Carson Rhine (Sr., 5-11, 170), QB Tate Busey (Jr., 6-2, 170), OL Dalton Nesbitt (Sr., 6-1, 230), DB Justin Koon (Sr., 5-10, 155), LB Tristin Brewer (Sr., 5-8, 200). THE SKINNY Pea Ridge could be planning ahead by giving its non- conference schedule a boost this season. The Blackhawks — rumored to be moving up to Class 5A status in the near future — will play three 5A opponents. … Pea Ridge will need some new contributors on offense as the only returning skill position player is tight end Brayden Ralph, who averaged 34 yards per catch. … Tate Busey, who saw some snaps at quarterback last fall, will assume the starting role. … The offensive line has experience as Dalton Nesbitt is a three-year starter that alternates between guard and tackle, while Cooper Ferguson and Phillip Brown return at the tackles. … The defense is led by linebacker Tristin Brewer, who recorded 16 tackles in a game three times last season and finished with 157. He also had five quarterback sacks. … Mikey Mahoney anchors the defensive line at noseguard and finished with 86 tackles and three QB sacks. … Carson Rhine had 91 tackles from his strong safety position, but he also had seven interceptions. … Gavin Waldron had 88 total tackles from his inside linebacker spot, and junior Adam Trammell started all but one game at linebacker. COACH SPEAK "The challenge for this team is the things we put on ourselves. We're not challenged by our season; we're not challenged by our opponents. We have a challenge every day. It's not so much a challenge as far as team-wise, but individual-wise. We're blessed to not only have a great group of kids and great group of coaches, but a great community that supports us." — Henry Apple • @NWAHenry SCHEDULE Aug. 24 ......................... at Harrison Aug. 31 ....................... at Maumelle Sept. 14 ........................Farmington Sept. 21 ......................... at Gentry* Sept. 28 ............................ Lincoln* Oct. 5 ...........................at Gravette* Oct. 12 .................at Prairie Grove* Oct. 19 ........................... Berryville* Oct. 26 ................. at Green Forest* Nov. 2 ................. Shiloh Christian* * — Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. OZARK HILLBILLIES 2017 RECORD 9-3, 6-1 4A-4 Conference COACH Jeremie Burns (44-36) RETURNING STARTERS 7 offense, 7 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Dawson Dietz (Sr., 5-11, 185), RB Daniel Wool- sey (Jr., 5-10, 195), TE Bryant Burns (Jr., 6-3, 215), LB Colt Millsap (Sr., 6-2, 205), S Eddie Graham (Sr., 5-11, 170), OL Chad Hollingsworth (Sr., 5-10, 240), OL Andrew Hopper (Sr., 6-2, 230). THE SKINNY With Booneville out of the picture in the 4A-4 Con- ference, Ozark becomes the league favorite. The Hillbillies have a lot of experience and are looking to make a deep postseason run. Ozark played in the 4A state title game in 2012. … QB Dawson Dietz is a dual-threat after passing for 1,800 yards and rushing for 700 with 22 total touchdowns in 2017. … Senior RBs Eddie Graham and Daniel Woolsey are solid run providers, and big junior TE Bryant Burns (6-3, 215) emerged last season as one of Dietz's top targets with 33 catches for 748 yards. … Defensively the Hillbillies will be salty with Eli Munnerlyn heading the charge along with LB Colt Millsap. COACH SPEAK "We've got a lot of speed and a lot of guys back on offense and defense. We're looking forward to the season. We have 13 seniors and four returners on the offensive line. That is always a blessing. We lost Booneville, but this conference will be tough again." — Chip Souza • @nwachip SCHEDULE Aug. 31 ...........................Booneville Sept. 7 ............................ Clarksville Sept. 14 .....................at Charleston Sept. 21 ............................... Mena* Sept. 28 .......at Subiaco Academy* Oct. 5 ...........................Dardanelle* Oct. 12 ....................... at Pottsville* Oct. 19 .................................Dover* Oct. 26 ........................ at Waldron* Nov. 2 ..............................at Elkins* * — Denotes 4A-4 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. LINCOLN WOLVES 2017 RECORD 3-7, 2-5 4A-1 Conference COACH Don Harrison RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Caleb Lloyd (Sr., 5-11, 210), RB Cameron Brown (Sr., 6-2, 200), LB Hunter Phelan (Sr., 5-11, 160), WR Daytin Davis (So., 6-2, 175), WR Sterling Morphis (Sr., 6-4, 165) THE SKINNY Senior Caleb Lloyd returns at quarterback after previously playing running back and receiver for the Wolves. … Senior Cameron Brown moves to tailback after catch- ing 35 passes for 477 yards as a ju- nior … Lincoln averaged 22.4 points and allowed 34.1 points last season. … Lincoln last made the playoffs in 2015. … The Wolves missed the play- offs last year by losing their last three games to Shiloh Christian, Gentry, and Prairie Grove. … Lincoln opens the season Aug. 31 at home against Westville, Okla., in the "State Line Standoff," where a trophy will be awarded to the winning team. … Lincoln has about 40 varsity players for football, but the Wolves are still one of the smallest schools in Class 4A. … Harrison begins his fourth season as coach at Lincoln. COACH SPEAK "The thing we've got to get better at is getting to the football. We don't big dudes who can just go out and make 15 tackles a game. We have a bunch of itty bitty guys who play hard. But we've got to be better as a defensive unit and get more guys to the ball." — Rick Fires • @NWARick SCHEDULE Aug. 31 ...................Westville, Okla. Sept. 7 .......................... Keys, Okla. Sept. 14 .........at Subiaco Academy Sept. 21 ...........................Gravette* Sept. 28 ....................at Pea Ridge* Oct. 5 ............................. Berryville* Oct. 12 ................. at Green Forest* Oct. 19 ................ Shiloh Christian* Oct. 26 ........................... at Gentry* Nov. 2 ......................Prairie Grove* * — Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. GREEN FOREST TIGERS 2017 RECORD 2-8, 1-6 3A-1 Conference COACH Bobby Bishop RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS WR/QB Hayden Bailey (Sr., 5-11, 170), QB Reiley Gordon (So., 5-10, 135), OL Carter Boggs (Sr., 6-3, 215), TE Kevin Lopez (Sr., 5-10, 180), FB/LB Genaro Ochoa (Sr., 5-7, 185), OL/LB Bristol Bishop (Sr., 5-9, 200); THE SKINNY Green Forest moves up to Class 4A status this season after being a member of the 3A-1 Conference for a number of years. The Tigers replace Huntsville in the 4A-1 Conference as the Eagles move up to Class 5A … Green Forest started preseason drills July 30 with just 13 players, but Bishop is confident that number will at least double by the time school starts. … Tailback Jordan Zepeda-Mahaffey had 502 yards rushing and four touchdowns last season. … The Tigers enjoy having a senior-laden offensive line this fall. Carter Boggs is a three-year starter who slides from center to left tackle this fall, while Bristol Bishop will be at a guard spot for the third straight season. … Hayden Bailey, a receiver last year, and sophomore Reiley Gordon are battling for the quarterback position, and both will be "playing every down somewhere." … Bristol Bishop is also a three-year starter at linebacker and will head the team's defense after recording 81 tackles last season. … Genaro Ochoa and Kevin Lopez are back for a second season at linebacker. … Jacob Turner, a transfer from Fayetteville, is expected to provide a helping hand in the receiving corps. COACH SPEAK "The move to Class 4A will be a challenge for us. In the past, we've played a few of the 4A schools, so we know the cali- ber of football they play. We play Berryville every year, and we've played Huntsville in the past, even though they are now 5A and we took its spot. We have our work cut out for us, but we are also looking forward to it." — Henry Apple • @NWAHenry SCHEDULE Aug. 31 .................Yellville-Summit Sept. 7 ............ at Commerce, Okla. Sept. 14 ..........................West Fork Sept. 21 ...............at Prairie Grove* Sept. 28 .............. Shiloh Christian* Oct. 5 ............................. at Gentry* Oct. 12 .............................. Lincoln* Oct. 19 .........................at Gravette* Oct. 26 ..........................Pea Ridge* Nov. 2 ........................at Berryville* * — Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. C. Boggs B. Bishop H. Bailey K. Lopez R. Gordon G. Ochoa C. Lloyd C. Brown D. Davis H. Phelan S. Morphis B. Burns C. Hollingsworth C. Millsap L. Hayden D. Dietz E. Graham J. Burns C. Rhine D. Nesbitt J. Koon M. Mahoney T. Brewer T. Busey PH TO REPRINTS available for purchase online at nwadg.com/photos