Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1157324
7 A - W E S T C O N F E R E N C E FAYETTEVILLE BULLDOGS 2018 RECORD 9-3, 5-2 7A-West Conference COACH Casey Dick RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 6 defense KEY PLAYERS WR Connor Flannigan (Sr., 5-11, 170), WR Beau Stuckey (Sr., 6-0, 180), LB Quade Mosier (Sr., 6-2, 220), LB Tyler Barnes (Sr., 6-1, 215), QB Hank Gibbs (Sr., 6-4, 215), QB Quinn McClain (Sr., 6-1, 215), DB Brooks Flannigan (Sr., 5-11, 190), OL Melvin Kumwenda (Sr., 6-2, 260). THE SKINNY Casey Dick is the fourth coach in five years for the Bulldogs, who finished 9-3 last season under Billy Dawson. … Dick was 4-7 in his only season at Van Buren. …. Connor Flannigan led the state in receiving last season with 102 catches for 1,695 yards and 20 touchdowns. … Linebacker Quade Mosier is an all-state linebacker who has received a handful of scholarship offers from Division I schools. … Brooks Flannigan, who starts in the defensive secondary for Fayetteville, is Connor's twin brother. Their dad, Shawn, is a wide receiver coach for the Bulldogs. …. Quarterback Quinn McClain is a transfer from Elkins, where he passed for over 2,500 yards as a junior. COACH SPEAK "There's a lot more kids, which means a lot more depth," Dick said of making the move from Van Buren to Fayetteville. "We've got 150 kids playing football right now. We've got a lot of decisions to make, but that's a good problem to have with that many." — Rick Fires • @nwarick SCHEDULE Aug. 30..St. Louis (Mo.) Vianney Oct. 11 ..... at Van Buren* Sept. 6 ...........at Owasso, Okla. Oct. 18 ...... Bentonville* Sept. 20 ......................... Bryant Oct. 25 .... at Springdale Sept. 27 ...at Bentonville West* Nov. 1 at Rogers Herit.* Oct. 4 .......................... Rogers* Nov. 8 ...S'dale Har-Ber* — Denotes 7A-West Conference games All kickoffs at 7 p.m. ROGERS HIGH MOUNTIES 2018 RECORD 3-7, 2-5 7A-West Conference COACH Mike Loyd RETURNING PLAYERS 9 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Hunter Loyd (Sr., 6-4, 200), OL R.J. Long (Sr., 6-3, 290), RB Sammy Zamarron (Sr., 5-7, 172), WR Mason Ross (Sr., 5-9, 174), OL Carter Cox (Jr., 6-3, 290), OL Aaron Salinas (Sr., 6-3 280), WR/ DB Chris Francisco (Jr., 5-7, 140), OL Jack Gilbreath (Sr., 6-3 285), DL Brian Wade (Jr., 6-0 220). THE SKINNY The Mount- ies have several offensive weapons returning to try to compete in the top half of the 7A-West Conference, beginning with quarterback Hunter Loyd, who already has multiple D-1 scholarship offers, . … The senior suffered an illness of unknown origin over the summer, losing more than 20 pounds. He's well now, but gaining weight slowly. …Receiver Mason Ross and offensive linemen R.J. Long and Jack Gilbreath also have scholarship offers in hand. … Line- man Aaron Salinas and running back Sammy Zamarron are also drawing college attention. … Ross caught 58 passes for 858 yards and 7 touchdowns and will again be a top target for Loyd. Zamarron rushed for 700 yards a year ago, but the position is a bit thin on depth as one moved away and another was an academic casualty. … Senior Cedric Brown (5-10, 175) is a solid linebacker, but could also factor in the backfield and Long, who has committed to the U.S. Air Force Academy, could also get the ball in his hands some at tight end or fullback. … Gavin Pitts and Chris Francisco should play in the secondary but could also see time at receiver. COACH SPEAK "For us, this is probably the fastest crew we've had," Loyd said. "First time since I've been here we've got some size who can match up with anybody in our league. This is a group, they expect to win. They aren't intimidated by anyone on our schedule. There are three parts of this. They gotta believe in the staff. They gotta believe in what you're installing. The final part is they have to believe they can win. There's been doubt and skepticism before. These kids think they can play with anybody and they can." — Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB SCHEDULE Sept. 6 .. Pulaski Robinson Oct. 11 .....Bentonville West* Sept. 13 ........... LR Central Oct. 18 ..at Springdale High* Sept. 20 .... at LR Parkview Oct. 25 .............. Bentonville* Sept. 27 ......at Van Buren* Nov. 1 ......at S'dale Har-Ber* Oct. 4 .........at Fayetteville* Nov. 8 .......Rogers Heritage* * — denotes 7A-West Conference game All kickoffs at 7 p.m. ROGERS HERITAGE WAR EAGLES 2018 RECORD 0-10, 0-7 7A-West Conference COACH Steve Hookfin RETURNING PLAYERS 3 offense, 6 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Jeb Brown (Jr., 5-10, 165), QB/S Dreagon Blackwell (Jr., 5-8, 160), RB/DB Isaiah Tibbs (Sr., 6-1, 195), RB J.J. Webb (Sr., 5-6, 175), WR Eli Craig (Soph., 5-10, 170), OL Tristan Ketter (Jr., 6-4, 275), LB Griffin Brown (Sr., 5-11, 185),TE Noah Fricke (Jr., 6-3 230), DL Nicholas Martin (Sr., 6-2 230), WR Ricky Perez (Sr., 6-3 175). THE SKINNY Hookfin returns to the state where he grew up to try to get the War Eagles going back in the right direction. … Heritage has lost 38 of its last 40 games, but Hookfin has had success at two different schools in Tennessee. … Dreagon Blackwell and Jeb Brown are battling for the starting quarterback spot. Brown took some snaps last season, but Blackwell moved from the secondary to the backfield in the spring and showed off some athleticism and leadership skills. … J.J. Webb, Isaiah Tibbs and Eli Craig are just a few who should see time at running back, while Ricky Perez and Nick Winter have stood out at receiver. … Noah Fricke is another who player who will play on the defensive line, but he will also see time at tight end. … Griffin Brown returns at linebacker, while Tibbs and Perez could get a look at safety, too. COACH SPEAK "Everything's starting to settle down a little bit," Hookfin said. "Things are slowing down for them now, which slowing down for them mental- ly allows them to play faster physically. We're at that stage now. The kids are doing an amazing job. We've got a new group of guys, new group of coaches, new schemes. I think it's just a fresh start for what we're doing. I can see us heading in the right direction. The thing that impresses me is how they're working." — Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB SCHEDULE Aug. 30 ........ FS Northside Oct. 11 .......... at Bentonville* Sept. 6 ......... at LR Central Oct. 18 ........... at Van Buren* Sept. 20 ... at FS Southside Oct. 25 .....Bentonville West* Sept. 27 ........ S'dale High* Nov. 1 ............... Fayetteville* Oct. 4 ....... S'dale Har-Ber* Nov. 8 ........ at Rogers High* * — denotes 7A-West Conference game All kickoffs at 7 p.m. SPRINGDALE HIGH BULLDOGS 2018 RECORD 7-4, 4-3 7A-West Conference COACH Zak Clark RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Conner Hutchins (Sr., 5-11, 150), RB Darrell Parchman (Sr., 5-9, 180), WR Ladarius Wons- ley (Jr., 6-0, 155), Jesus Almaraz (Sr., 6-4, 315), DL Luis Herrera (Jr., 5-11, 270), DB Bryndell Cook (Sr., 5-10, 180), LB Andre Sparks (Jr., 5-11, 190). THE SKINNY The Red'Dogs enter the season coming off their best record in 14 years, going 7-4 a year ago. A leg injury to quarterback Grant Allen in week eight likely cost the Bulldogs a couple more wins. The highlight of the sea- son was undoubtedly the 43-42 home win against cross- town rival Har-Ber. … Springdale graduated a number of players from last year's team, so this season would be best described as a rebuild. … Running back Darrell Parchman saw significant playing time last season and plays with a lot of enthusiasm. He will be the focal point of the offense. … The Bulldogs will be solid on the offensive line with Jesus Almaraz and Rafiee Gonzalez returning. … Defensively, Bryndell Cook is a lock-down corner who doesn't mind coming up to make a tackle. … Brandon Henry is a player that could have an impact after not playing last season. Henry is a key player on the Springdale basketball team. … Andre Sparks will line up in a variety of spots on defense to give the Bulldogs a pass-rushing specialist. COACH SPEAK "We are so inexperienced," Clark said. "We have juniors and seniors, but early on I expect them to play like sophomores. They just haven't had a lot of varsity experi- ence. So we will need a guy like Darrell Parchman to carry the load early. We feel comfortable with Conner Hutchins. He has a good handle on the offense, but we need to get him some confidence early. He can make any throw, runs well enough. He's just always been savvy and gotten the job done." — Chip Souza • @nwachip SCHEDULE Aug. 30 . at Joe T. Robinson Oct. 11 ........... at Har-Ber* Sept. 6 ........ at LR Parkview Oct. 18 ................ Rogers* Sept. 13 .................. at Alma Oct. 25 .......... Fayetteville* Sept. 27 ........... at Heritage* Nov. 1 ........ at Bentonville* Oct. 4 .................... at West* Nov. 8 ............. Van Buren* * — Denotes 7A-West Conference game All kickoffs at 7 p.m. Loyd G. Brown Fricke Barnes Cook McClain Gibbs Hutchins Mosier Wonsley (888) 982-1400 | UnitedFCU.com Insured by NCUA. Equal Opportunity Lender. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS 471962 R og e R s | s p R i n g da l e | F o R t s m i t h | Va n B U R e n | a l m a we're different we get U PREP RALLY: CLASS 7A | 8.22.2019 | 15