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ALMA AIREDALES 2018 RECORD 5-6, 5-2 5A-West Conference COACH Doug Loughridge RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Landon Blair (Sr., 6-1, 250), RB Ben Henley (Sr., 6-0, 200), WR Grayson Bailey (Sr., 6-2, 160), OL Bobby Winfrey (Sr., 6-3, 200), DL Karsten Beneux (Sr., 6-1, 225), LB Gabe Jen- sen (Sr., 6-3, 230), LB Adrian Vardaman (Sr., 5-7, 195), OL Nick Archer (Sr., 6-1, 235). THE SKINNY The Airedales stumbled out of the gate last season, losing all three nonconference games. A four- game win streak in conference play was followed by a late-season swoon that resulted in back-to-back losses that crushed its chance at a high playoff seed. A first-round matchup with Pulaski Academy ended Alma's season. … Quarterback Landon Blair is a sledgehammer but is also an effective passer. He will benefit from the offseason hiring of former Charleston coach Greg Kendrick to be the offensive coordinator. Last season Blair, who split playing time, passed for 1,400 yards and ran for 400 more. … Blair has his favorite target back in Grayson Bailey, who caught 44 passes for 776 yards and 8 touchdowns last season. … Gabe Jenson is poised to have a breakout season after recording 81 tackles as a junior. … Karsten Beneux is a two-way starter, but shines on the defensive line where he recorded 9 sacks last season. … Alma's offensive line is big and talented, led by Nick Archer and Seth Cole. COACH SPEAK "What hurt us last year was our start," Loughridge said. "We started out 0-3, which has never happened since I've been here. Losing to Van Buren ear- ly hurt us mentally because it's always a big one. Then Springdale had its best team in a long time. But then we ran off several in a row. I'll take a 5-2 conference record every year. That's usually a pretty good year. This league is really balanced. Every conference game is tough, there is not a team in the conference who will roll over for any- body." — Chip Souza • @nwachip SCHEDULE Sept. 6 ..........at Van Buren Oct. 11 .............Morrilton* Sept. 13 ........... Springdale Oct. 18 ....... at Clarksville* Sept. 20 ...... at Russellville Oct. 25 ..........at Harrison* Sept. 27 ........... at Vilonia* Nov. 1. ............Greenbrier* Oct. 4 ............Farmington* Nov. 8 ..............Huntsville* * — Denotes 5A-West Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. Blair Vardaman Henley including standout running back Gabe Hus- key and quarterback Ben Johnson, from a team that went 12-1 last year. The schedule could also be in the Gob- lins' favor as the three teams expected to push them for the 5A-West crown — Mor- rilton, Greenbrier and Alma — have to make the trip down West Burls Way. "We still have to play extremely well, and we have to stay healthy," Wells said. "A lot about getting to that next step has to do with what you do in the regular season. If you don't win your conference, then it's going to be harder. It will be a tougher path to get there. We're going to concentrate a lot on those conference games, and we have some good ones at home." It may not get much better than the conference opener as Harrison hosts Mor- rilton, a team that also reached the semifi- nal round last fall. The Devil Dogs return eight offensive starters from last year's 8-5 team, and that includes quarterback Jacolby Criswell, who has verbally committed to North Carolina. Criswell suffered a knee injury in the preseason and missed last year's 21-9 loss to Harrison but returned in October and com- bined for more than 1,400 yards passing and running with 14 touchdowns. He is joined by all-state running back Xavier Clemons, who ran for 1,100 yards and 20 touchdowns. Morrilton, however, will have an un- tested defense that will have to grow up quickly. The Devil Dogs will have tough nonconference games against Searcy and Russellville, then its league play starts with Harrison, Greenbrier and Alma. "If we can keep Jacolby healthy, then I think we have a good chance to win," Mor- rilton coach Cody McNabb said. "Harri- son, though, is a tough place to play. I sure would like to have a few more conference games under our belt by that time, but that's not the case." Greenbrier returns 15 starters, including all-conference tailback Peyton Long and all-state linebacker/receiver Ryan Barnard from a team that went 7-4, while Alma will see to improve on its 5-6 finish with the addition of offensive coordinator Greg Ken- drick, who previously worked with head coach Doug Loughridge at Charleston. McNabb said he thinks Vilonia and Farmington could have a say in the 5A-West playoff picture. Vilonia, which missed the playoffs with an overtime loss to Morrilton, now has a year under its belt under coach Todd Langrell and return seven offensive and six defensive starters, while Farmington will break in a new stadium and has a star receiver/kicker in Drew Sturgeon and an all-conference linebacker in Colton Kilgore. Harrison v Continued from Page 22 NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Farmington receiver Drew Sturgeon (top) pulls down a pass June 15 over Fayetteville's Lamont Bliss during the Alma 7on7 Showcase football tournament at Citizens Bank Field in Alma. Proud to support high school athletics! ~ State Representative David Whitaker Hoping this season is full of victories on and off the field! 24 | 8.22.2019 | PREP RALLY: CLASS 5A