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7 A - W E S T C O N F E R E N C E 7 A - C E N T R A L C O N F E R E N C E FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE GRIZZLIES 2018 RECORD 8-5, 3-4 7A Central Conference COACH Mike Falleur RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 7 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Dreyden Norwood (Jr., 6-1, 180), ATH Jackson King (Sr., 5-9, 180), WR/DB J.T. Thorne (Sr., 5-9, 170), TE James Clayton (Sr., 6-2, 230), LB Stetson Van Metre (Sr., 6-1, 200), LB J.J. Mills (Sr., 6-0, 180), DB Mon- tay Parks (Sr., 6-1, 185), OL Jacob Arnold (Sr., 6-1, 215). THE SKINNY The Grizzlies enter the season coming off their first deep playoff run in more than a decade after advancing to the state semifi- nals last season. … Northside graduated a number of outstanding players from last year's team, but coach Mike Falleur believes there is plenty of talent returning to make another deep run. … Junior Dreyden Nor- wood takes over at quarterback. Norwood is more of a run- ner, but his passing has improved, Falleur said. … Northside has plenty of playmakers in Jackson King, J.T. Thorne and Demarion Shepard, and Falleur said they are itching at the chance to show what they can do. … Northside handed Greenwood its only loss last season, and they meet again in the season opener. The Grizzlies open 7A-Central Conference play at home on Sept. 27 against defending state champion Bryant in Mayo-Thompson Stadium. COACH SPEAK "We lost some really good players last year. Six of them are playing college football," Falleur said. "So we've got young guys ready to step in. You never know until you tee it up and play, but we had a good summer and now we've just got to get them in shape and were where we are. We feel good about our quarterback. His skill set is similar to Deuce Wise, but I think Drayden has a little stronger arm. The thing about Deuce is he did everything the right way, and Drayden is still learning that." — Chip Souza • @nwachip SCHEDULE Aug. 30 ............ at Heritage Oct. 11 ..... at LR Catholic* Sept. 6 ........at Greenwood Oct. 18 ...............Conway* Sept. 13 ............Van Buren Oct. 25 .................at NLR* Sept. 27 ................Bryant* Nov. 1 .................... Cabot* Oct. 4 ............. LR Central* Nov. 8 ..........at Southside* * — Denotes 7A-Central Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE MAVERICKS 2018 RECORD 6-6, 3-4 7A-Central Conference COACH Jeff Williams RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Parker Wehunt (Jr., 5-11, 190), RB Johntarrius Washington (Jr., 5-11, 190), OL Marlon Briggs (Jr., 5-11, 320), DE Jeremiah Van Hook (Sr., 6-2, 230), DT Shawn Rogers (Jr., 6-2, 265), FS Elijah Lyles (Jr., 5-7, 140), DB Dakota Wareham (Jr., 5-9, 155), LB Landon Chaffey (Jr., 6-1, 210). THE SKINNY The Mavericks will have a different look in 2019 as they shift from a pass-oriented spread to a hammering ground game. Southside's experience upfront and talented backs, plus eight starters back on defense will be huge pluses, coach Jeff Williams said. … Junior Parker Wehunt will take over at quarterback after Taye Gatewood's graduation. Wehunt was a linebacker last season and brings that physical men- tality to quarterback. … Defense is where the Mavericks will shine, and none shine brighter than junior linebacker Landon Chaffey, who had more than 100 tackles in 2018. … The defensive line is rock-solid, anchored by tackle Shawn Rog- ers, who led the team in tackles-for-loss last season. … Free safety Elijah Lyles leads the back end of the defense after moving from linebacker in the spring. … The Mavericks have the best punter in the 7A-Central in Adam Puckett, who could be a huge weapon in the all-important field position battle. COACH SPEAK "The last two years we were really explo- sive offensively," Williams said. "We were able to throw the football around. This year we are very young, so we are going back to the old days a little bit. We're going to run the football and use play-action and do some things. We're going to have to be good on third down, so we're going to need to throw it some, too. We have nine starters back on defense, so we feel really good there." — Chip Souza • @nwachip SCHEDULE Sept. 6 .................. at West Oct. 11 .....................NLR* Sept. 13 ......at Greenwood Oct. 18 ............. at Bryant* Sept. 20 ............... Heritage Oct. 25 ......... LR Catholic* Sept. 27 ......... at Conway* Nov. 1 ...........at LR Central Oct. 4 ................. at Cabot* Nov. 8 .........FS Northside* * — Denotes 7A-Central Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. SPRINGDALE HAR-BER WILDCATS 2018 RECORD 2-8, 1-6 7A-West Conference COACH Chris Wood RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Blaise Wittschen (Sr., 6-0, 170), WR/ DB Hunter Wood (Sr., 6-1, 180), WR Micah Seawood (Sr., 6-1, 165), TE Errington McRae (Jr., 6-3, 245), OL Jackson Struebing (So., 6-1, 260), LB Jadarrius Brown (Sr., 6-3, 225), DB Jujuan Boyd (Sr., 6-0, 155), RB Max Pena (Sr., 6-0, 185), RB Jay Burns (Sr., 5-10, 180). THE SKINNY There is no other way to describe last season than chaotic for the Wildcats. It started with the January transfer of a number of players to crosstown rival Spring- dale, and concluded with Har-Ber forfeiting three games and missing the playoffs. In between was a stunning 43-42 loss to Springdale, and five times the Wildcats gave up 42 or more points in a game — all losses. … The Wildcats are itching to get the season started and put last season in the rearview mirror. With eight returning starters each way and a number of new faces, the Wildcats should be in the mix for the 7A-West title. … Two-year starter Blaise Wittschen returns after passing for 1,195 yards and 13 touchdowns. Wittschen missed time last season with a concussion and is raring to go. … Seniors Hunter Wood and Micah Seawood are among the best receiving tandems in the state, and tight end Errington McRae gives Wittschen a big target over the middle. … Senior back Jay Burns was electric last season, averaging more than 10 yards per carry. Burns rushed for 867 yards and did not play the position until week six. Twice he rushed for more than 300 yards in a single game. … Senior Max Pena will play a variety of roles for Har-Ber. He will be the Wildcats' tailback in short-yardage situations, and will be a big target in the passing game as an H-back. … Transfer Jujuan Boyd is one of the best defensive backs in Class 7A, capable of locking down his man. … Ty Cofer is a hammer at safety and linebacker Jadarrius Brown has the physical tools to be dominant. COACH SPEAK "We return a lot of veteran players and I think this team will get better as the season goes on," Wood said. "I really like our skill position guys. We've got a lot of top-end guys who can really go get the ball. Our offensive line is a physical group, so I think this group has a chance to be really dynamic on offense. Defensively, I like the speed and aggressiveness there. The PA game is sort of an anomaly because of what you're trying to deal with there, but I think this is a team that can compete for a conference championship. This team reminds me a lot of our 2009 team. They have an edge about them and they are ready to get out there and play some football." — Chip Souza • @nwachip SCHEDULE Aug. 29 ..at Pulaski Academy Oct. 11 ........ Springdale* Sept. 13 ..............Russellville Oct. 18 ............. at West* Sept. 20 ................ Pine Bluff Oct. 25 ....... at Van Buren Sept. 27 ............ Bentonville* Nov. 1 ................ Rogers* Oct. 4 .................at Heritage* Nov. 8 ...... at Fayetteville* * — Denotes 7A-West Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. VAN BUREN POINTERS 2018 RECORD 4-7, 2-5 7A-West Conference COACH Crosby Tuck RETURNING STARTERS 7 offense, 6 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Gary Phillips (Sr., 6-0, 180), WR Jude Bartholomew (Sr., 6-2, 200), ATH Jaiden Henry (Jr., 5-10, 155), LB Devin Swearingen (Sr., 5-11, 180), DB David Evans (Sr., 5-9, 165), NG Cha'Raun Page (Sr., 5-11, 250). DR Giovany Alas (Sr., 5-9, 200), RB Brayden Rivas (Sr., 5-6, 170). THE SKINNY Crosby Tuck takes over as head coach af- ter former coach Casey Dick took the Fayetteville position in the spring. … The Pointers are coming off their first playoff appearance since 2011 and have a lot of return- ing players. … Gary Phillips returns at quarterback after splitting snaps there last season. Phillips is a dual-threat and can make plays with his arm or his legs. … Jude Bar- tholomew was an all-conference selection at wide receiver last season. … Jaiden Henry could have a nice impact in a variety of roles. The junior is the son of new defensive coordinator Moe Henry. As a sophomore at Shiloh Chris- tian last season, Jaiden Henry passed for 1,000 yards, ran for almost 500 and caught 28 passes for 402 yards. He also scored on special teams and as a defensive back. … Linebacker Devin Swearingen is poised to have a breakout season. The senior had almost 100 tackles last season and led the team in tackles-for-loss with 9.5. COACH SPEAK "I think the transition was fairly smooth, knowing all the kids already," Tuck said. "Not changing the offense and things like that, not changing our workout plan. Those kinds of things, keeping those intact I think are big. Big for the players. We've made just a couple of subtle practice changes and changed the defense, but everything else is pretty much the same as it was last year, and that's what these kids need. They need consistency and stability." — Chip Souza • @nwachip SCHEDULE Aug. 30 .. at Siloam Springs Oct. 11 .......... Fayetteville* Sept. 6 ........................Alma Oct. 18 .......... at Heritage* Sept. 13 ..... at FS Northside Oct. 25 ............... Har-Ber* Sept. 27 ................ Rogers* Nov. 1 ......................West* Oct. 4 .......... at Bentonville* Nov. 8 ........ at Springdale* * — Denotes 7A-West Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. Henry Clayton Rogers Phillips Norwood Van Hook Swearingen Thorne Wehunt CRAIN HYUNDAI OF FAYettevIlle 1919 W Foxglove Dr • Fayetteville 479-974-5336 www.crainhyundaioffayetteville.com New 19 elaNtra New 19 soNata New 2019 tucsoN New 2019 saNta fe 0% for 72 mos. 0% for 72 mos. 0% for 72 mos. $18,703 starting at Financing with approved credit. 16 | 8.22.2019 | PREP RALLY: CLASS 7A