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BENTONVILLE WEST WOLVERINES 2018 RECORD 7-5, 6-1 7A-West Conference COACH Bryan Pratt, fourth year RETURNING PLAYERS 6 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Dalton McDonald (Jr., 6-0, 165), RB/ LB Jonas Higson (Sr., 6-3, 220), WR Stephen Dyson (Sr., 5-10, 160), OL Ben Gann (Sr., 6-0, 255), OL Trenton Davis (Jr., 5-11, 240), LB Nick Whitlatch (Sr., 6-0, 185), SS Maddux Thornton (Sr., 6-1, 185), CB Brandon Humes (Sr., 5-9, 150), K Trey Travis (Sr., 5-8, 150). THE SKINNY The Wolverines' strength lies in the offen- sive line as all five starters return, led by an all-state performer in Ben Gann at one tackle and an all-con- ference selection in Trenton Davis at the other tackle. That group is bolstered by senior Jadon Muskrat (6-4, 270), who moved in from Choctaw, Okla., and has al- ready verbally committed to Tulsa. … Dalton McDonald now assumes the quarterback position after playing in seven games (five starts) and throwing for more than 1,200 yards and 13 TDs. … Stephen Dyson was the team's second-leading receiver before suffering a leg injury against Bentonville. … Bryan Pratt expects to see more offensive production from players such as Jonas Higson, Nick Whitlatch and Brandon Humes, all of whom played on defense last season. … West adds two transfers from Bentonville — Luke Miller and A.J. Moss — who will provide immediate help in the skill positions. … The defense is led by Whitlatch and Thornton in the secondary as they finished with 125 and 94 tackles, respectively, and by Higson, who had 117 tackles, including 22 in the playoff game against Conway. COACH SPEAK "We have some skill guys we have to replace, and some young kids have to step up," Pratt said. "This has been different. It's more like an estab- lished program, and we're trying to get to the next level. Every year we're trying to get better and better, from the first year of hosting a playoff game to the second year having a bye and third year of playing in the semifinals. The next step is playing for a state championship, and that one's not an easy task. We have an uphill row to hoe, but we'll be fine." — Henry Apple • @nwahenry SCHEDULE Aug. 30 ..... Owasso, Okla. Oct. 11 ....at Rogers High* Sept. 6 ... at FS Southside Oct. 18 .....S'dale Har-Ber* Sept. 13............. at Bryant Oct. 25 .. Rogers Heritage* Sept. 27........ Fayetteville* Nov. 1 ........ at Van Buren* Oct. 4 at Springdale High* Nov. 8 ...Bentonville High* * — 7A-West Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. BENTONVILLE HIGH TIGERS 2018 RECORD 7-4, 7-0 7A-West Conference COACH Jody Grant, fifth year RETURNING PLAYERS 4 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Preston Crawford (Sr., 5-11, 180), OL Jack Burgess (Sr., 6-0, 240), WR Zach Lee (Sr., 6-5, 190), TE Sam Golden (Sr., 6-1, 220), DL Chris Craw- ford (Sr., 5-11, 215), LB Cole Joyce (Jr., 6-0, 215), LB Keegan Stinespring (Jr., 5-11, 195), CB Levi Bennett (Sr., 5-10, 170), QB/FS Ben Pankau (Sr., 6-1, 180). THE SKINNY Ben Pankau is in a battle for the start- ing quarterback spot with Andrew Edwards, and Jody Grant hopes to have a starter named by the season opener. … Preston Crawford, who earned college at- tention in the offseason, seeks to improve on last year's performance, where he ran for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns. … Zach Lee is the Tigers' leading returner at receiver, where he caught 24 passes for 261 yards and three scores, and he will get help from senior Trenton Kolb and sophomore Chas Nimrod. … Jack Burgess returns as the starting center and will be surrounded by four new starters on the offensive line. … All-conference selection Chris Crawford is the leader of the Tigers' defensive line from one of the end positions. … The linebacker corps is led by Cole Joyce, an all-state performer who recorded 80 tackles last fall, and Keegan Stinespring, who was named the conference's defensive newcomer of the year. … If Pankau emerges as the starting quarterback, then the secondary will be led by Levi Bennett, an all-state cornerback. COACH SPEAK "We're excited about this group and what they achieve," Grant said. "This is a group that is a very unselfish, hard-working group who do what they can to make the tempo of our practices where we want them to be. The effort is great, and these players are very coachable. "Last year was the first time in nine years we didn't make the semifinals or beyond, and that was new ter- ritory for us. It definitely motivated our coaches and our players because we know the tradition of this program and the value and importance of going the distance and doing things when you get there." — Henry Apple • @nwahenry SCHEDULE Aug. 31 Midwest City, Okla. Oct. 11 Rogers Heritage* Sept. 6 .................. Conway Oct. 18 .... at Fayetteville* Sept. 13 at Tulsa B.T. Wash. Oct. 25 ..at Rogers High* Sept. 27 at S'dale Har-Ber* Nov. 1 . Springdale High* Oct. 4 .............. Van Buren* Nov. 8 .... at B'ville West* * — 7A-West Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. 7 A - W E S T C O N F E R E N C E C. Crawford Davis "Coach Dick is young, but he knows what he's talking about, and he brings a lot of energy to the team," said Connor Flannigan, who led the state in receiving last season. "We're fired up to have him, and we're buying into the changes, for sure." No team has more to prove than Springdale Har-Ber, which missed the playoffs for the first time since 2006. But there is renewed optimism at Har-Ber, which returns a combined 16 starters on offense and defense. The Wildcats enter the year with some momentum after win- ning the Southwest Elite 7on7 Showcase at Shiloh Christian. Bentonville West hopes for better luck after losing its quarterback in the sea- son-opener, and Rogers Heritage is start- ing over with a new coach after the War Eagles failed to win a game for the second time four years. There is no instability at Bentonville, which has won 11 of the past 12 conference championships in the 7A-West. Preston Crawford is an all-state running back, and his brother, Chris Crawford, is a returning all-conference player for a defense that is traditionally among the best. "There's quality opponents in both conferences," Bentonville coach Jody Grant said. "In our conference alone, there are no easy weeks. For us, we get ev- erybody's best shot each and every time. Our kids have embraced that." Springdale appears relevant again un- der Zak Clark, who took over as coach of the Bulldogs after an 0-10 finish in 2014. Springdale went 7-4 last season despite losing starting quarterback Grant Allen to a broken leg. Rogers High will attempt to muster enough support for Hunter Loyd, a three- year starter at quarterback for the Mount- ies. Crosby Tuck takes over at Van Buren, which will drop to Class 6A beginning in 2020. Tuck was the defensive coordinator last season when the Pointers finished 4-7. Fort Smith Northside hopes to avoid another league slide after the Grizzlies won five of their first six games last sea- son. Northside will rely heavily on senior running back Jackson King and a defense with seven returning starters, including Khaden Washington, an all-conference player at end. Change is coming at Fort Smith South- side, which will rejoin the 7A-West Con- ference for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Southside expects to be improved with the return of eight players who started on defense last year for the Mavericks, who finished 6-6. Class 7A v Continued from Page 13 NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Bentonville West defender Ariel Bradic (right) intercepts a pass against Fort Smith Northside on June 15 during the Alma 7on7 Showcase football tournament at Citizens Bank Field in Alma. 1165 N. Meadowlands Fayetteville, aR 479-442-4266 670 White Rd, Ste B SpRingdale, aR 479-750-2062 www.arfb.com WoRking FoR Family FaRmeRS The farming industry, and the Arkansas families who work to expand this industry, are vital to the economic future of our state. Arkansas Farm Bureau works everyday to protect that future. Auto · Home · Life 14 | 8.22.2019 | PREP RALLY: CLASS 7A