Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1015901
NEWLIN REALTY "Your Home in the Ozarks Since 1946" 226 Centennial, Scenic 71 Byway • P.O. Box 318 • West Fork, AR 72774 479-839-2788 • newlinrealty.com PREP RALLY: Class 3A THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018 48 WEST FORK TIGERS 2017 RECORD 0-9, 0-6 4A-4 Conference COACH Justin Smith RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS RB, MLB Brenan Cash (Soph., 5-7, 190), WR/CB Trent Harderson (Jr., 5-10, 163), QB/DB Wayne Boyd (Jr., 5-10, 165), WR/CB Giovanni DiCanillo (Sr., 6-2, 170), DL/OL Jesse Meadors (Sr., 6-1, 215), QB/OLB Pearson Andrews (Sr., 5-10, 155). THE SKINNY After going winless in 2017, the Tigers opted to bring in Justin Smith to lead the program back to winning ways in a lower conference. He previously served as Marion's defensive coordi- nator. … The program is on a 15-game losing streak dating back to Sept. 23, 2016, and the team has scored in double digits five times in the past two seasons. … After dropping down to 3A, the Tigers think they have a better chance at being competitive. … The team will employ a simplistic version of the up-tempo spread offense that's predicated on athletes getting the ball in space. … Two quarterbacks, Wayne Boyd and Pearson Andrews, will be charged with leading the offense, and both will get at least two seasons to try to right West Fork's program. COACH SPEAK "The way that we approach our athletes outside of the game of football is something that separates us. We put a premium on the amount of time we spend in the weight room and conditioning our bodies. We hope that the way we approach the game outside of actual Friday nights gives us an advantage." — Andrew Epperson SCHEDULE Aug. 31 ............................ Berryville Sept. 7 ...................................Elkins Sept. 14 ............... at Green Forest* Sept 21 ......................... Mansfield* Sept. 28 ................... at Booneville* Oct. 5 ..................................Lamar* Oct. 12 ...................... at Cedarville* Oct. 19 .................................. Paris* Oct. 26 .....................at Charleston* Nov. 2 .......................at Greenland* * — Denotes 3A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. PARIS EAGLES 2017 RECORD 4-7, 3-4 3A-4 Conference COACH Tyler Clark RETURNING STARTERS 7 offense, 7 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Blaise Woods (Jr., 5-11, 215), TE Travis Bryant (Sr., 5-10, 185), OL Guy Lovelace (Sr., 6-1, 265), LB Kevin Swafford (Sr., 5-10, 175), DL Luke Trusty (Sr., 6-2, 180), QB George Poole (Sr., 6-0, 230), WR Julius Byrd (Soph., 5-10, 175), OL Trenton Hice (Sr., 6-1, 245). THE SKINNY Clark wasn't hired until mid-June, but managed to take the Eagles to one 7-on-7 event in the summer and they showed good progress on the day, Clark said. … Poole, a senior, played fullback a year ago but will start at quarterback will be able to utilize his strong arm. … The roster of 28 is larger than a year ago, but lacking the speed of last year's team, Clark said. … Hice is the strongest Eagle with a 490-pound squat and 355 on the bench. … The Eagles will try to utilize good size up front to pave the way for a group of running backs that includes Woods, sophomores Eli Fore and Keller Keen. … Poole and Swafford are both returning starters at linebacker and two of only a few experienced players on defense. … Julius Byrd, a sophomore who moved from Rogers and didn't play football a year ago, has shown good speed as a receiver. … Lovelace, who will be a three-year starter, anchors the offensive line. … Clark expects several sophomores to have an impact on defense including Adam Chandler and Jimmy Dikeman. COACH SPEAK "We decided to go with 'I'm gonna throw everything at them' after I got here, and to this point it's gone really good. It's the sense of urgency that I think these kids are understanding that we're about to run out of days. It's now or never." — Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB SCHEDULE Aug. 24 ............................ Perryville Aug. 31 ...........................Clarksville Sept. 7 .......................... at Waldron Sept. 21 ................... at Booneville* Sept. 28 ..........................at Lamar* Oct. 5 ............................ Cedarville* Oct. 12 .....................at Charleston* Oct. 19 ......................at West Fork* Oct. 26 ..........................Greenland* Nov. 2 ....................... at Mansfield* * — Denotes 3A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. MANSFIELD TIGERS 2017 RECORD 2-8, 1-6 3A-4 Conference COACH Craig Bentley KEY PLAYERS QB Ethan Stovall (Jr., 6-2, 215), RB Zach Woolbright (Jr., 5-10, 145), WR Hunter Willsey (Sr., 5-10, 160), WR Jaicy Griffin (Jr., 5-10, 145), CB Layton Howard (Jr., 6-0, 160), Max Lovelace (Sr., 6-0, 170) THE SKINNY Eight two-way start- ers return for Mansfield, which expects much improvement after consecutive 2-8 seasons. … That optimism starts at quarterback, where Ethan Stovall returns after throwing for over 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns in eight starts as a sophomore. … Bentley said he has the potential to be the best quarterback in the league. … Mansfield must learn how to win close games after losing three games by seven or fewer points. … Mansfield will open the season at Hackett on Thursday, Aug. 23. … Mansfield faces a crucial stretch in October with home games against Charleston and Lamar and a road game against Booneville. … Bentley begins his third season as coach at Mansfield. COACH SPEAK "It's crucial for us to get off to a good start," Bentley said. "The Paris game last year, which we lost (19-12), was a big swing game and it kind of went downhill after that for us. We took our lumps last year with a lot of first-time starters, but we feel like we're a lot more competitive now than we have been in the past." — Rick Fires • @NWARick SCHEDULE Aug. 23 ........................... at Hackett Aug. 31 ..............................Waldron Sept. 7 .............................at Lavaca Sept. 21 ......................at West Fork Sept. 28 ........................Greenland* Oct. 5 ...........................Charleston* Oct. 12 ..................... at Booneville* Oct. 19 ................................Lamar* Oct. 26 ...................... at Cedarville* Nov. 2 ................................... Paris* * — Denotes 3A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. LAMAR WARRIORS 2017 RECORD 5-6, 4-3 3A-1 Conference COACH Josh Jones RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Ike Pelts (Jr., 5-10, 160), RB Jacob Parmenter (Jr., 5-10, 175), RB Jonathan Mays (Sr., 5-10, 200), LB Bryr Bruton (Sr., 6-0, 210), OL Dyce Ross (Sr., 5-10, 200), TE Braydon Grace (Sr., 6-5, 275). THE SKINNY The Warriors start- ed a ton of sophomores last season, but closed the regular season with three straight wins before falling to Smackover in the first round of the playoffs. … Ike Pelts took over at quarterback at midseason and engi- neered the strong finish, and former QB Jonathan Mays shifted to fullback where he powered his way to more than 500 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. … Pelts will have a huge target in tight end Braydon Grace. … The Warriors' defense should be much improved with DL Blake Stepp and LB Bryr Bruton leading the charge. COACH SPEAK "Our numbers are up," said Lamar coach Josh Jones. "The talent level should be coming up, too. The last couple of sea- sons we've kind of struggled some, but we feel like we've got some pretty good talent coming through this season. The conference is really tough with Booneville and Charleston. There is no soft spot, so it will be tough, but we feel like we will be really competitive in every game." — Chip Souza • @nwachip SCHEDULE Aug. 31 .......................... at Danville Sept. 7 ...........at Subiaco Academy Sept. 14 ..... Johnson Co. Westside Sept. 21 .................... at Cedarville* Sept. 28 ................................ Paris* Oct. 5 ........................at West Fork* Oct. 12 ..........................Greenland* Oct. 19 ...................... at Mansfield* Oct. 26 ......................... Booneville* Nov. 2 ..........................Charleston* * — Denotes 3A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. "We're still gonna pride ourself with a defense that swarms the foot- ball. That's our identity. Way before I ever got here, and we'll win way after I leave, and that's due to a defense that swarms the football. That goes back to the early '80s here. We won't be as explosive, but at the same time we feel like we have a lot of weapons that ha- ven't been shown yet." Quarterback Brayden Caudle is a key returner for Charleston. He threw for 2,792 yards and 38 touchdowns, but only four interceptions for the Tigers, who went 12-1 a year ago. Both Kendrick and Hyatt agree the rivalry between the schools is intense. "We've played or scrimmaged them every year since I've been here, and it's been a bloodbath," Kendrick said. "It's a physical, physical game. You hope to get out of that scrimmage healthy. "When you heard they were coming down that's all the communities want- ed to talk about. Being a stone's throw away, maybe 10 minutes as the crow flies. It'll be a heated one." Lamar returns eight starters on each side of the ball from a team that fin- ished 5-6. But Jones said his Warriors are one of several teams in the league that are much improved this season. "Mansfield and Cedarville feel like they've got the best teams they've had in several years," Jones said. "I think the entire league will be competitive." Paul Boyd can be reached at pboyd@nwadg. com or on Twitter @NWAPaulb. 3A v Continued from Page 47 B. Bruton I. Pelts D. Ross J. Parmenter J. Jones M. Lovelace L. Howard E. Stovall H. Willsey Z. Woolbright J. Byrd B. Woods G. Poole G. Lovelace J. Meadors B. Cash G. DiCanillo T. Harderson