Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1157324
4 A - 1 C O N F E R E N C E BERRYVILLE BOBCATS 2018 RECORD 4-6, 2-5 4A-1 Conference COACH Doug Shott RETURNING PLAYERS 5 offense, 3 defense KEY PLAYERS QB J.D. Smith (Jr., 6-0, 170), RB/DB Tristan Updegraff (Sr., 6-0, 150), OL Colton Record (Sr., 6-1, 285), FB/NG Brett Parsons (Sr., 5-7, 165), WR Scot Lucas (Sr., 6-3, 180), TE/DL Jarrett Stringer (Jr., 6-1, 230), Anthony "Poncho" McClellan (Jr., 5-9, 205) THE SKINNY Shott said J.D. Smith is the best quarter- back he's had at Berryville, and he's back after taking over the spot at midseason. … Brett Parsons — who Shott calls "the heart and soul of the team" — becomes a three-year starter at fullback, and his background in high school wrestling helps him as an undersized noseguard. … Tristan Updegraff, another three-year starter, com- piled more than 600 yards rushing and also returns as a defensive back. … Colton Record, another top wrestler, returns at one of the offensive tackle spots and will see time on the defensive line, while Anthony McClellan is back at one of the guards and will also see time on the defensive line. … Scot Lucas provides the Bobcats with a tall receiver and saw time at outside linebacker, where he's proven to be a big hitter. … Shott expects big things from sophomore Jaeden Tankersley, who will see time at inside linebacker and either tailback or fullback on offense. COACH SPEAK "We're excited about the new season," Shott said. "I think this team's chemistry is different than the previous two seasons we've had. We're going to be pretty young, and actually where we're not young, we'll be young in the positions. I like the way the kids have worked. We've had some kids that came out that haven't been out in the past two years, and I think our town is excited about the new place. Our kids definitely are. They love playing out on this new field, and it's something they are really proud of." — Henry Apple • @nwahenry SCHEDULE Sept. 6 .............. at Huntsville Oct. 11 ...............Lincoln* Sept. 13 ................West Fork Oct. 18 ......... at Gravette* Sept. 20 .. at Yellville-Summit Oct. 25 .......... Pea Ridge* Sept. 27 .... Shiloh Christian* Nov. 1 .......Prairie Grove* Oct. 4 ................... at Gentry* Nov. 8 ... at Green Forest* * — 4A-1 Conference game GENTRY PIONEERS 2018 RECORD 3-8, 3-4 4A-1 Conference COACH Paul Ernest RETURNING PLAYERS 7 offense, 3 defense KEY PLAYERS QB/DB Brandon Atwood (Sr, 6-0, 185), WR/DB Zac Jarnagan (Jr., 5-10, 155), OL Kerlose Ruzek (Sr., 6-4, 290), WR Beau Tomblin (Sr., 6-1, 185), OL Brett Hester (Sr., 6-1, 195), OL Kyle Dilbeck (Sr., 6-0, 185), RB/ DB Charlie Reams (Sr., 5-9, 150). THE SKINNY Brandon Atwood returns after throwing for 1,517 yards and 12 touchdowns, but he was limited to a dropback passer. Ernest said Atwood will be more of a run- pass option quarterback this year. … Zac Jarnagan gives the Pioneers flexibility because he can line up at a receiver spot or be a running back, and he averaged 26 yards per kick return. He also had 43 tackles as he split time between linebacker and defensive back … Beau Tomblin hauled in 27 passes for 262 yards last year, and he had 49 tackles and a team-high four interceptions as a defensive back. … The offensive line has three returning starters in Kerlose Ruzek, Brett Hester and Kyle Dilbeck, but the other two players are sophomores. … Charlie Reams returns at safety and is the team's top returning tackler with 69 (26 solos, 43 assists). COACH SPEAK "The outlook is I think we can compete for a playoff spot. I think we're still a little way, program-wise, from getting to that upper tier of the Shilohs and the Pea Ridges. We competed better with both those teams last year and competed better against Prairie Grove, so I think we are closing that gap a little bit. We've got pretty good skill kids, so I feel good about what they will be able to do, but without the five guys up front, we'll struggle." — Henry Apple • @nwahenry SCHEDULE Aug. 30 ............ Dardanelle Oct. 11 ... at Green Forest* Sept. 6 .............. Huntsville Oct. 18 .. Shiloh Christian* Sept. 20 ........ at Greenland Oct. 25 ...at Prairie Grove* Sept. 27 ...... at Pea Ridge* Nov. 1 ..............at Lincoln* Oct. 4 ............... Berryville* Nov. 8 ................ Gravette* * — 4A-1 Conference game GRAVETTE LIONS 2018 RECORD 1-9, 1-6 4A-1 Conference COACH Kelby Bohannon RETURNING PLAYERS 5 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Cy Hilger (Sr., 6-1, 155), WR/DB Mason Dagley (Sr., 5-9, 170), RB/LB Isaac Dann (Jr., 5-8, 190), RB/LB Trenton Durham (Jr., 5-10, 180), OL Keegan Addison (Jr., 6-0, 175), OL/DL Darius Ford (Sr., 5-10, 240), OL/DL Dathan Bosley (Sr., 5-10, 230). THE SKINNY Kelby Bohan- non was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach just before the athletic dead period took place. … Gravette will try to bounce back from its worst season since 1998. … An improved offense is a must for the Lions, who averaged under 7 points per game and were shut out three times. … Hilger returns to direct the offense after he started the last four games last season. … Isaac Dann and Trenton Durham return to the offensive backfield but may share time with Chace Austin, who hasn't played since his freshman year but was the leading rusher on that junior high team. … Ian Drake and Mason Dagley will be the leading receivers. … Durham had 80 tackles as an outside linebacker, while Dann will also be a defensive leader at another linebacker position. COACH SPEAK "I think we've done a good job of com- ing together as a team, with those that we have. We're always looking for a few more players to grow our pro- gram. We just need to get the guys competing each and every down and playing for one another. Playing with a lot of energy is what we are trying to do. There's no doubt these kids have been put behind the 8-ball, going into last year some with the transition and maybe some this year. We're looking to advance this program any way we can." — Henry Apple • @nwahenry SCHEDULE Aug. 30 . at Tulsa Cascia Hall Oct. 11* ..at Pea Ridge* Sept. 13 ............ Farmington Oct. 18 ......... Berryville* Sept. 20 ............... Jay, Okla. Oct. 25 at Green Forest* Sept. 27 .................Lincoln* Nov. 1 .Shiloh Christian* Oct. 4* ......at Prairie Grove* Nov. 8 ........... at Gentry* * — 4A-1 Conference game GREEN FOREST TIGERS 2018 RECORD 1-9, 0-7 4A-1 Conference COACH Bobby Bishop RETURNING PLAYERS 9 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS QB/DB Reiley Gordon (Jr., 5-10, 140), TE/ LB Adrian Serna (Jr., 5-9, 185), OL/DE Llefer Vasquez (Jr., 5-10, 215), OL/LB Max Jones (Jr., 5-10, 160), OL Jordan Perez (Jr., 5-10, 260), DL Oscar Madrigal (Sr., 5-5, 245), DL Devon Wethern (Sr., 6-2, 245). THE SKINNY Green Forest's introduction to the 4A-1 Conference was a rough one as the Tigers were held scoreless in all seven league games last season. … Youth will be present as Green Forest will depend on a lot of sophomore players in a number of positions, particularly the offensive backfield. … Reiley Gordon completed 44 of 124 passes for 458 yards and ran for two touchdowns in Green Forest's win over West Fork. He was the Tigers' second-leading tackler with 77, and he also had two inter- ceptions and a fumble recovery. … Adrian Serna caught nine passes for 137 yards, including a 45-yarder, and is the most experienced receiver returning. He also recorded 38 tackles as an inside linebacker … Max Jones, who recorded 13 tackles against Gravette last fall, will make a couple of moves this season — from tight end to offensive line and from cornerback to linebacker. COACH SPEAK "We knew we had our work cut out for us and it would be tough to compete on the 4A level," Bishop said. "We feel like we had some growth and were competitive in a few games. I think we will be more com- petitive this year. We had a really good junior high squad that went 8-2 last year, so a lot of those kids will be playing as sophomores. Our kids learned some lessons, and I've been in the 4A-1 for a long time. I knew what it was going to be like. Once we get everybody in school, I think we will be a little bit ahead of what we were last year with about 30-35 players." — Henry Apple • @nwahenry SCHEDULE Sept. 6 .. at Yellville-Summit Oct. 11 ................ Gentry* Sept. 13 ...Commerce, Okla. Oct. 18 ...........at Lincoln* Sept. 20 .......... at West Fork Oct. 25 ............. Gravette* Sept. 27 ....... Prairie Grove* Nov. 1 ....... at Pea Ridge* Oct. 4 ...at Shiloh Christian* Nov. 8 .............Berryville* * — 4A-1 Conference game Lucas Atwood Dann Gordon Ruzek Updegraff Record Reams Durham Madrigal Tomblin Hilger Perez NOW OPEN IN FAYETTEVILLE Specializing in unique, award-winning, made- to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch creations usingthe freshest ingredients possible. 3251 N COLLEgE | 479.668.0683 | 7Am-2:30Pm DAILY 42 | 8.22.2019 | PREP RALLY: CLASS 4A