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"Super smart kid, does a good job on the line at the center position," Mendoza said. "Also does a good job of being another coach on the field. He can help out any of the linemen that might have a question about their assignment if that arises." Guards feature eighth-graders Brian Brontrager (5-8, 150) and Sam Murphy (6-1, 220) as front-runners early in camp. A pair of eighth-grade twins, Lucas (5-11, 170) and Mason Adkins (6-1, 200), will push for time at both guard and tackle. Eighth-grader Josh Pack (5-7, 140) asserted himself early to claim the left tackle starting job. Right tackle was up in the air. Candidates to fill the spot include: eighth-grader Hunter Oliver (5-9, 150), and ninth-grader Evan Wilson (5-11, 155) has worked a little bit at right tackle. DEFENSE Defensive Line Up fron manning the defensive trenches for the junior Wolves stand the Adkins' twins. Oliver will play there. Ninth-grader Tristan Norton (5-9, 150) is somewhat of a utility guy for the coach- ing staff. Diaz and Murphy will spell defensive linemen. Linebackers Outside linebackers have been look- ing pretty confident since early in camp according to Mendoza. "Those are probably the most set-in- stone positions we have on the team," Mendoza said. "That will be Layne Sell- ers and Devonte Holmes." At middle linebacker, Caleb Matthews solidified his hold on the starting posi- tion. Mendoza likes the group. "All three of those kids, they're what you want in a linebacker," Mendoza said. "They're pretty mobile and they're all three aggressive and not afraid of contact." Secondary Lankford and Brennin Davis have the edge at the cornerback spots. Pena and Morphis compete for the bandit slot. Rotating in could be freshman Slader McClellan (5-6, 125) or Bowen. Mendoza expects to use a four-man rotation to try to keep two-way players as fresh as possi- ble, and to get other kids into the lineup. Tackling Practice Coaches have worked with the new players teaching the basics of tackling. "It's something that we're stressing," Mendoza said. "The old adage is true. With defense, so much of it is desire. If you play hard, get to the ball, wrap up, hold on, keep on your feet when you get there, you can be successful at it. You can be a good defensive player. It's not something you have to be super-talented or athletic enough to do. You have to have a motor though." SPECIAL TEAMS Kicking Game The junior Wolves may not kick extra- points this season, instead opting to go for two. "It's looking like Devonte Holmes is going to kick for us both on kickoff and punt," Mendoza said. "Devonte's our Swiss Army knife for sure. He's going to do a little bit of it all this year. He does a pretty good of kicking. He's going to push it to about the 15 or 20-yard-line, and get a little bit of air under it. Punt- ing, he'll get it 25-30 yards past the line of scrimmage so Devonte will handle those duties." Three players alternate running back kickoffs and punts: Matthews, Holmes, and Pena. "The most recent that hasn't had a break will be who returns," Mendoza said. "They'll be interchangeable, whoev- er's not needing a blow." JUNIOR WOLVES: 'Swiss Army Knife' Holmes To Handle Kickoff, Punting Duties Linebackers Ninth-grader James Wade Smith is an inside linebacker. Bone and Foster also play inside as do eighth-graders Ethan Miller, and Rhett Marrell. Eighth-grader Demetri Hall is first in the pecking order at outside linebacker. The other outside linebacker, also known as the bandit position, features Asher Sam, who could probably move to inside linebacker with the flexibility he's shown. May is another ninth-grader expected to get a lot of time. Secondary Davis Stephens knows what Pinkley wants at cornerback. Bone also realizes what is expected. A new guy, Cameron Gosnell, is some- one Pinkley intends to train within the system, saying Gosnell is super-ath- letic. Pinkley endeavors to connect with Gosnell so he is on the same page with the coaches and other corners. Eighth-graders Benoit and James Carter contribute at cornerback. Higgins plays free safety, but coaches want to spell him often because of his responsiblities on offense. One option is Connor Whetsell, who moved over from Lincoln. Semrad plays the rover spot, a hybrid of outside line- backer and safety. The backups in train- ing are Camden Patterson and Gavin Butler, who hadn't practiced with the team most of the year. Still coaches like his athleticism. SPECIAL TEAMS Higgins made a handful of field goals while kicking last year as an eighth- grader. His leg gives the junior Tigers an offensive weapon not all teams have. Higgins kicks off well and also punts. Speedy Ethan Miller is a return threat. Gosnell is another candidate. PROUDLY SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL TEAMS! WEST WASHINGTON COUNTY CLINIC Your family medical home. Located on the square in Lincoln 479-824-3196 PO Box 800 (106 Park St.) • Lincoln, AR USA 72744 • 479-267-2120 • Fax 479-267-4397 Susan Portis Ferguson, MD • Ben Hall, MD • Jennifer Cheatham, MD • Tera Thompson, APRN Board Certifi ed Family Medicine Wednesday, aug. 29, 2018 enterprise-Leader | 11 2018 Football Preview CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 JUNIOR TIGERS: Newcomer Gosnell Brings Athletic Element To Secondary No. Player 2 Brian Ward 3 Kameron Gosnell 4 Weston Lowe 5 Hunter Murray 6 Cooper Singleton 7 Jacob Bone 8 Thomas Bryan 10 Gavin Butler 11 Paytin Higgins 12 Landon Semrad 14 James Carter 15 Tate Benoit 16 Ethan Miller 20 Marshall Prince 21 Zeke McDonald 24 Rhett Marrell 32 Colin Faulk 33 Davis Stephens 35 Asher Sam 41 Trevor May 42 Claude Hill 44 Erick Bartholomew 45 Matthew Velasco 48 Camden Patterson 53 Hagen Ledbetter 54 Linden Hall 55 Ryder Orr 57 Tyler Dickerson 58 James Smith No. Player 60 Micah Norton 61 John King 63 Taevon Horton 64 Demetri Hall 65 Chayton Smith 67 Conner Lantz 68 Dustin Tuck 71 Jacob Lofton 72 Kevin Herrera 73 Matthew Delouth 74 Gavin Graham 75 James Moss 76 Luke Stucki 77 Jaymon Rowe 78 Conner Brunson 80 Taren Hodges 81 Landyn Washausen 83 Jeremiah Weber 84 Paul Tajchman 87 Evan Foster 88 Nolan Morrell 89 Michael Uher — Kohner Fenner — Patrick Franklin Head coach: John Elder Assistants: Danny Abshier, Craig Laird, Mason Pinkley, Nic Paroubek, Jacob Storlie Prairie Grove 2018 Junior HiGH roster No. Player Year 1 Chance Walker 8 2 Layne Sellers 8 3 Devonte Holmes 9 4 Hunter Murray 8 9 Kiser Mellard 8 12 Brodey Bowen 9 13 Slader McClellan 9 15 Eugene Hill 8 16 Ashtin Lankford 9 17 Tristan Norton 9 21 Rafael Pena 9 22 Tristan Gilbreath 9 24 Parish Raborn 8 28 Sebastian Langley 8 33 Jody Bliss 9 40 Caleb Matthews 9 50 Hunter Moseley 8 54 Lucas Adkins 8 55 Joshua Pack 8 No. Player Year 56 Kevin Lee 8 57 Victor Lewis 9 58 Evan Wilson 9 60 Dakota Christians 9 61 Dakota Evans 8 63 Brian Bontrager 8 70 Mason Adkins 8 75 Hunter Oliver 8 76 Sam Murphy 8 77 Val Diaz 8 80 Brennin Davis 9 84 Lincoln Morphis 9 85 Dennis Johnson 9 Head coach: Reed Mendoza Assistants: Don Harrison, Beau Collins, Austin Lewis, Perry Philpot, Erwin Starts LincoLn 2018 Junior HiGH roster