NWADG Prep Rally Football Preview

2018 Edition

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What's important to you? Let's talk. Benjie Gentry Financial Advisor 219 W Buchanan Street Prairie Grove, AR 72753 479-846-1718 www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC PREP RALLY: Class 4A THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018 44 WALDRON BULLDOGS 2017 RECORD 5-5, 3-4 4A-4 Conference COACH Jonathan Bates RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Levi Hayden (Sr., 5-10, 150, Rick Hinojosa (Sr., 6-1, 245), RB Dayton Manning (Sr., 5-11, 145), QB Braden Williams (So., 6-1, 155), OT Mason Cox (Sr., 5-11, 250), C Spencer Chapel (Sr., 6-4, 250). THE SKINNY Johnathan Bates returns to Waldron, where he was an assistant coach 10 years ago, to replace Ricky May. Bates arrives from Dierks, where he was the head coach. … The Bulldogs will employ the Wing-T on offense and line up in a multiple front on defense. … Sophomore Braden Williams takes over at quarter- back for his brother, Trey Williams, who guided the Bulldogs to the playoffs as a senior. … Waldron made the playoffs last year for the first time since 2003. … The Bulldogs improved from 0-10 in 2016 to 5-6 last year with a first-round to Pea Ridge in the playoffs. … Waldron was picked to finish fifth in a preseason poll of the 4A-4 Conference coaches. COACH SPEAK "There's a lot of optimism now at Waldron, for sure. Coach May and his staff did a really good job developing these kids. Making the playoffs last year was huge and we've got a good bunch from junior high working its way up. We're looking not for just one year of success, but yearly success moving forward." — Rick Fires • @NWARick SCHEDULE Aug. 31................. at Mansfield Sept. 7 ............................. Paris Sept. 14 ................... at Danville Sept. 21 ........................ Elkins* Sept. 28 ............. at Dardanelle* Oct. 5 ...................... Pottsville* Oct. 12 .......Subiaco Academy* Oct. 19 ......................at Mena* Oct. 26 ......................... Ozark* Nov. 1 ....................... at Dover* * — Denotes 4A-4 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. SUBIACO ACADEMY TROJANS 2017 RECORD 2-8, 1-6 4A-4 COACH Steven Moore RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Luke Hertlein (Sr., 5-10, 160), RB Jordan Rainwater (Sr., 6-1, 160), WR Gage Lee (Sr., 5-11, 145), DB/WR Thomas Bourgeois (Sr. 5-11, 150), OL/DL Haeven Patterson (Sr., 6-1, 185), LB/TE Thomas Myers (Sr., 5-9, 165). THE SKINNY The Trojans started practice with 30 this season, up from 24 a year ago, and could gain a few more once school starts, Moore said. … The entire offensive backfield returns led by Hertlein, a senior, to run the Wing-T. … Hertlein threw for 342 yards and four touchdowns. … The offensive line is an area that will be thin on experience, Moore said. Patterson started six games at center before suffering a broken hand that ended his season. … Lee and Bourgeois return at safeties, as do Rainwater and Hayden Frederick at corner. Bourgeois earned all-conference honors with 102 tackles. … Moore believes this year's team is better, but the nonconference schedule is tougher, which could mean that might not translate into more wins. COACH SPEAK "Even though we only had 24 kids last year, we had 24 kids that played. Even the greenest of the green got some playing time. I think that's important that the kids you got are getting better." — Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB SCHEDULE Aug. 31..................... at Lavaca Sept. 7 ........................... Lamar Sept. 14 ........................Lincoln Sept. 21 .......................... Dover Sept. 28 ........................ Ozark* Oct. 5 ....................... at Elkins* Oct. 12 ................. at Waldron* Oct. 19 .............. at Dardanelle* Oct. 26 ..........................Mena* Nov. 2 .................. at Pottsville* * — Denotes 4A-4 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. SHILOH CHRISTIAN SAINTS 2017 RECORD 7-4, 5-2 4A-1 Conference COACH Jeff Conaway RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 6 defense KEY PLAYERS OL/DL Logan Kallesen (Sr., 6-4, 295), DB/ WR Micah Button (Sr., 5-8, 170), WR/CB Blake Thomson (Sr., 5-11, 185), RB/FS Jaret Russ (Sr., 5-9, 180), OLB/RB Preston Hall (Sr., 6-0, 185), DE/RB Jack Lotspeich (Sr., 5-11, 205). THE SKINNY One of Arkan- sas' historically relevant football programs has been somewhat dor- mant the past few seasons, and a mix of strong senior leadership and a group of talented underclassmen have a conference championship in mind heading into their schedule. … Junior quarterback Eli Reese will be tasked with leading the offense after completing 14 of his 18 passes for a touchdown last season as the backup. … The Saints al- so return their two best receivers in Blake Thomson and Jaret Russ, who combined for 1,219 of the team's 2,476 receiving yards in 2017. … Fans can expect to see the team's high-octane, quick-score of- fense on display once again. … The defense lost several veterans, so underclassmen will fill those gaps, particularly at the linebacker slots. COACH SPEAK "We want to score touchdowns. If that means running the ball, throwing the ball, kicking the ball, whatever it takes to score, we want to do it. Our system may be different from week to week, but that's our mentality." — Andrew Epperson SCHEDULE Aug. 24..............Arkansas High Sept. 7 ....................at Trumann Sept. 14 ................Beggs, Okla. Sept. 21 ...................Berryville* Sept. 28 ......... at Green Forest* Oct. 5 .................. Prairie Grove Oct. 12 ........................ Gentry* Oct. 19 ................... at Lincoln* Oct. 26 ..................... Gravette* Nov. 2 .................at Pea Ridge* * — Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. PRAIRIE GROVE TIGERS 2017 RECORD 11-2, 6-1 4A-1 Conference COACH Danny Abshier RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Garrett Heltemes (Sr., 6-1, 190), QB Ethan Scates (Sr., 5-10, 170), DE Ethan Guenther (Sr., 6-1, 230), WR Sy- moyah Hobbs (Sr., 5-10, 155), Jacob Watson (Sr., 5-10, 145), DL Hayden Black (Jr., 6-2, 260), DE James Millwood (Sr., 6-2, 205). THE SKINNY Prairie Grove has won or shared five of the past six championships in the 4A-1 Conference. … The Tigers had their 24-game conference winning streak snapped in a 26-21 loss at Pea Ridge. … Prairie Grove aver- aged 35 points and allowed 16 points per game last season . … Se- nior Ethan Scates takes over at quarterback after playing mostly at outside linebacker last season. … The Tigers are one of three 4A-1 Conference teams that will face 5A-West Farmington this season. … Former Prairie Grove standout Dylan Soehner is a sophomore tight end at Iowa State. … Prairie Grove coach Danny Abshier is 10 wins shy of reaching 200 career wins. COACH SPEAK "These kids like each other and they have fun playing football together. We've got 44 players but our line is thin. So, we've got to develop some depth and get each man on deck ready to go. Every day there's something else to work on." — Rick Fires • @NWARick SCHEDULE Aug. 31...................Farmington Sept. 7 .....................Dardanelle Sept. 14 ................. at Pottsville Sept. 21 ............. Green Forest* Sept. 28 ................ at Gravette* Oct. 5 ........at Shiloh Christian* Oct. 12 .................. Pea Ridge* Oct. 19 .................... at Gentry* Oct. 26 ....................Berryville* Nov. 2 ..................... at Lincoln* * — Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. J. Bates S. Chapel L. Hayden R. Hinojosa L. Holland D. Manning C. Schluterman G. Lee L. Hertlein J. Rainwater M. Button P. Hall L. Kallesen J. Lotspeich J. Russ B. Thomson J. Conaway E. Scates E. Guenther G. Heltemes S. Hobbs J. Watson

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