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Locally Grown. Better Plants. We pride ourselves on growing most of our plants right here in Northwest Arkansas. Our passion is growing healthy, beautiful and unique plants for your garden. FAY E T T E V I L L E • S P R I N G D A L E • R O G E R S W E S T W O O D G A R D E N S . C O M Doug Powell is the epitome of a small- school football coach. He wakes up at 5 a.m. each day and drives a school bus on about a 30-mile route, picking up kids along the way that may one day suit up for his Rattlers. Some days, between teaching health, math and physical education classes, he'll head out to the football field for some upkeep, like spreading fertilizer in hopes grass will fill in the bare areas. Other days, he's handing out equipment for the town's new youth football program that was started by former players Jesse Canada, Cody Shelton and Charlie Moua. Youth football should help Magazine lay a solid foundation for the future of a high school program that Powell, a Booneville native, took over 13 years ago. Despite leaving home before the sun comes up and often not returning until well after dark, Powell's not complaining. "This is what it's all about," Powell said. Powell and Magazine have come a long way. Just two years ago, the team fielded just 13 healthy players for a game against Mountainburg. "We played, but it didn't end well," Powell said. "Mountainburg has had our number for quite a few years, and they're going to be really good again." These days, numbers are steadily im- proving for the Rattlers with 23 players on the roster — finally enough to run 11-on-11 drills in practices. That makes a difference, especially with a crop of underclassmen that has enjoyed success. The junior class went 9-0 in junior high while the soph- omores posted a 5-3 mark the following year. Many are calling Magazine a team to watch in the 2A-4 Conference this season. "Magazine is going to be tough," said Hackett coach Lonnie Hester. "They paid their dues a few years ago when they were so short on kids, and you've got to give coach Powell, his staff and those kids a lot of credit for their perseverance. "They will reap the benefits of those struggles over the next few years." As far as the rest of the conference, Danville has moved on to 3A and Hector takes its place. The Wildcats lost 10 key players off last season's 2A-5 Conference championship team, but the Wildcats have always found ways to rebound with eight or more wins in each of the past five sea- sons. "I don't know that much about Hector other than what I've read," Hester said. "And I think it's the same for the rest of the conference. We all know they will put out a quality team, but there are a lot of unknowns." Because of the unknown, Hester said he picked Mountainburg to win the con- ference title on his ballot for the preseason coaches' poll because the Dragons "are always tough. They are really good on both sides of the ball and have really good size and speed." The Dragons are led by longtime coach Tom Harrell and finished runner-up in the conference behind Danville. They went 9-2 in a season that ended with a 38-26 loss at Conway Christian in the second round of the state playoffs. Back is Mountainburg's two-headed Dragon attack of senior speedsters Austin Taylor and Jesse Quick, who combined for more than 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Hackett is picked to finish third in the league and is similar to Magazine with a senior class and a sophomore class that each went 9-0 to win the junior high dis- trict title as ninth-graders. Hester's son, Brady, highlights the Hornets' offense. The senior earned all- state honors after passing for 1,252 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 562 yards and 13 touchdowns a year ago. Se- nior Cooper Shipman is a playmaker at both running back and linebacker. Tight end Anthony Collins caught 11 passes for 295 yards and six touchdowns. Matthew Carter is a three-year starter at middle linebacker. MIKE CAPSHAW SPECIAL TO NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Teams aim to disrupt predictions PREP RALLY: Class 2A THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018 49 See 2A, Page 50 HACKETT HORNETS 2017 RECORD 6-4, 5-2 2A-4 Conference COACH Lonnie Hester RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 6 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Brady Hester (Sr., 5-10, 155), RB Cooper Ship- man (Sr., 6-1, 165), RB Pacey McBride (Sr., 5-9, 145), WR Anthony Collins (Sr., 5-10, 170) LB Matt Carter (Sr., 5-9, 170), FB Fisher Ship- man (So., 6-0, 150), RB Weston Winters (Sr., 5-7, 120) THE SKINNY Hackett will attempt to regain its status as a top team after falling to 6-4 following consecutive 10-win seasons. … The Hornets are loaded at the skill positions but need help up front after five starting offensive linemen graduated. … Hackett will play nine games after former league member Decatur declared for eight-man football. … Hackett is down about five players from last season, but the Hornets will be helped by a group of players who went 8-0 last season in junior high. COACH SPEAK "Our skill players like Brady, Cooper, Pacey and Anthony Collins have been starting since they were sophomores," Hester said. "So, we've got the skill players. We're two deep. But our line play has got to step up. If we lose anyone there, we're in trouble. We've got to coach these kids up and get them ready to play." — Rick Fires • @NWARick SCHEDULE Aug. 23 ........................... Mansfield Aug. 31 ......................Pocola, Okla. Sept. 14 ...................Panama, Okla. Sept. 21 .....................at Magazine* Sept. 28 .......Western Yell County* Oct. 12 ............................... Hector* Oct. 19 ................... Mountainburg* Oct. 26 ...........................at Lavaca* Nov. 2 .......................JC Westside* * — Denotes 2A-4 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. M. Carter B. Hester L. Hester C. Shipman SHINE ON AUSTIN TAYLOR SCHOOL Mountainburg POSITION Running Back CLASS Senior HEIGHT 5-10 WEIGHT 155 TWITTER HANDLE None THE DIGITS Taylor is the cog of Mountain- burg's offense; the downhill threat he poses causes opponents to key in on him even when he doesn't have the football. As a junior last season, he rushed for 923 yards on 72 carries and scored nine touchdowns. In the Dragons' 55-53 victory over England in the first round of the state playoffs, he ran for 277 yards and three touchdowns. This was his second 200+ yard game. The England game was the only one in which he carried the ball more than 10 times. CRUSHING ON Singer Gwen Stefani. I LISTEN TO Christian band Needtobreathe. I BINGE WATCH The Walking Dead. I DRIVE A GT Mustang. MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW I'm one- sixth Asian. MY HERO IS My father, Brent Taylor. FAVORITE MEAL Cheese-It crackers. WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT FOOT- BALL IS The feeling of representing my tal- ents and feeling all the emotions, even if they are feelings of frustration sometimes. IN 10 YEARS I WILL I want to be a mem- ber of the United States Air Force Pararescue team. AUSTIN TAYLOR 2017 Conference Standings 2A-4 Team Conference Overall Danville ..............................7-0 ........................ 10-2 Mountainburg ................... 6-1 ......................... 9-2 Hackett ............................. 5-2 ......................... 6-4 Magazine .......................... 3-4 ......................... 5-6 Western Yell Co. ............... 2-5 ......................... 3-6 J.C. Westside .....................1-6 .......................... 3-6 Decatur ............................. 0-7 ......................... 0-9 2018 Hooten's Coaches Poll 2A-4 1. Hector 2. Mountainburg 3. Hackett 4. Lavaca 5. Magazine 6. J.C. Westside 7. Western Yell Co.