Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1157324
LINCOLN WOLVES 2018 RECORD 8-3, 5-2 4A-1 Conference COACH Don Harrison RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Christian Sellers (Sr., 6-1, 180), QB Tyler Brewer (Jr., 6-4, 195), WR Daytin Davis (Jr., 6-2, 180), MLB/TE Levi Wright ( 6 - 4 , 2 1 5 ) , W R / L B N o e Avellaneda (Jr., 5-8, 190), WR Blake Arnold (Sr., 6-0, 180). THE SKINNY Lincoln will play again in the 4A-1 Con- ference before beginning re- classified as Class 3A and joining the 3A-1 Conference in 2020 and 2021. … The Wolves won eight games last season, their most since 2013 when Lincoln won 11. … Tyler Brewer, a junior left-hander, takes over at quarter- back for Caleb Loyd, an all-state player as a senior for the Wolves. … Lincoln will benefit by the return of wide receiver Daytin Davis, who missed much of the season after he broke his collarbone in preseason. … Former Lincoln football standout Sterling Morphis signed to play basketball at John Brown University. COACH SPEAK "We're not sitting around anymore wait- ing for a good class to come through. We lost some really good players last year, including an all-state quar- terback. But guys are stepping up and filling sports to where we're just rolling along." — Rick Fires • @nwarick SCHEDULE Sept. 6 ...at Westville, Okla. Oct. 11 ............at Berryville* Sept. 13 ........... Keys, Okla. Oct. 18 .......... Green Forest* Sept. 20 .Subiaco Academy Oct. 25 . at Shiloh Christian* Sept. 27 .......... at Gravette* Nov. 1 ..................... Gentry* Oct. 4 ............... Pea Ridge* Nov. 8 .......at Prairie Grove* — Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. PEA RIDGE BLACKHAWKS 2018 RECORD 7-4, 6-1 4A-1 Conference COACH Stephen Neal RETURNING PLAYERS 7 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Tate Busey (Sr., 6-2, 170), RB Sam Beard (Sr., 5-11, 185), WR Hunter Rains (Sr., 5-8, 150), OL Phillip Brown (Sr., 6-1, 275), OL Hagen Schader (Sr., 6-3, 250), RB/LB Carlos Reyes (Sr., 6-1, 210), LB Gavin Warden (Sr., 5-10, 165), LB Adam Trammell (Sr., 6-1, 190). THE SKINNY This is the swan song for Pea Ridge in the 4A-1 as the Blackhawks move up to Class 5A next season. … Tate Busey returns at quarterback after he took over in midseason. He passed for 930 yards and 11 touchdowns and ran for 427 yards and eight more scores. … Sam Beard embraced his role at running back and rushed for 1,025 yards and nine TDs. … Hunter Rains was the Black- hawks' leading receiver with 23 catches for 328 yards and three TDs, while Brayden Ralph had half of his 14 catches go for touchdowns. … Phillip Brown was an all-conference selection at guard and is joined by fellow returning starter Hagen Schader at center. … Gavin Warden was the team's second-leading tackler with 75 and also had 16 tackles for loss, as well as five quarterback sacks. … Carlos Reyes was right behind with 69 tackles from an outside lineback- er slot, while Adam Trammell returns at middle linebacker after recording 65 tackles last fall. … Jake Adams returns at safety, where he picked up 55 tackles last year. COACH SPEAK "You walk around town and school and professional development meetings and people ask how the team is going to be," Neal said. "I tell them that's a loaded question. We think we are going to be pretty good, but at the same time we're not really worried, on the field, how things are. We're worried about how we prepare for our kids and how our kids prepare for competition. That's our main focus. I've said it a lot of times and said it until I'm blue in the face; our focus — as much as we possibly can — is our kids off the field. If can get them to make correct decisions off the field, the correct decisions will be made on the field." — Henry Apple • @nwahenry SCHEDULE Aug. 30 ............... Harrison Oct. 11 ............. Gravette* Sept. 6 .............. Maumelle Oct. 18 ..... Prairie Grove* Sept. 20 ......at Farmington Oct. 25 ....... at Berryville* Sept. 27 ............... Gentry* Nov. 1 .......Green Forest* Oct. 4 .............. at Lincoln* Nov. 8 at Shiloh Christian* * — 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs at 7 p.m. PRAIRIE GROVE TIGERS 2018 RECORD 5-6, 4-3 4A-1 Conference COACH Danny Abshier RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS FB Foster Layman (Jr., 5-9, 190), RB Keiandrae Hobbs (Sr., 5-6, 155), RB Cade Grant (Jr., 5-10, 185), RB Jared Harger (Sr., 5-8, 165), TE Graham Guenther (Sr., 6-2, 205), OT Hayden Black (Sr., 6-2, 275), S Knox Laird (Jr., 5-9, 165). THE SKINNY Prairie Grove hopes to recover after a rare losing season under coach Danny Abshier. … The Tigers finished 5-6 after losing quarterback Ethan Scates early in the season. … Junior Knox Laird is expected to take over at quarterback. Knox is the younger brother of Zeke Laird, who guided Prairie Grove to a 12-1 record in 2016. … Craig Laird, the boys' father, is defensive coordinator for the Tigers. …. Cade Grant returns after having surgery on his wrist. Grant rushed for over 500 yards as a sophomore. … Defense will be a priority this season after the Tigers allowed 26 points per game last year, punctuated by a 59-48 loss to Lincoln. … The defeat was the first for Prairie Grove in nearly 25 years against the Wolves. … Prairie Grove will open the season Sept. 6 at Farmington's new sports complex and football stadium. COACH SPEAK "We missed last year and didn't do as well. It's my responsibility to recognize what character- istics we have as a team and utilize our strengths and weaknesses. We need to pin those things down and improve on that." — Rick Fires • @nwarick SCHEDULE Sept. 6 ........at Farmington Oct. 11 .. Shiloh Christian* Sept. 13 ....... at Dardanelle Oct. 18 ....... at Pea Ridge* Sept. 20 ..............Pottsville Oct. 25 ................. Gentry* Sept. 27 ..at Green Forest* Nov. 1 ...........at Berryville* Oct. 4 .................Gravette* Nov. 8 ..................Lincoln* — Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs at 7 p.m. SHILOH CHRISTIAN SAINTS 2018 RECORD 12-2, 7-0 4A-1 Conference COACH Jeff Conaway RETURNING PLAYERS 7 offense/6 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Eli Reece (Sr., 5-9 170), RB Logan Raben (Sr., 6-2 220), RB Ben Walton (Sr., 5-8 145), WR Truitt Tollett (Sr., 6-1 175), WR Keaton Carter (Sr., 5-11 170), OL Sawyer Duddleston (Sr., 6-0 225), NG Russell Norsworthy (Sr., 5-11 265), LB Hunter Mason (Sr., 5-11 210). LB Kaden Henley (Soph., 6-1 210). THE SKINNY The Saints return 13 starters from a team that advanced all the way to the state semifinals before falling to eventual champion Arkadelphia, but 23 se- niors give them a chance to make another deep playoff run this season. … Shiloh Christian mercy-ruled every conference opponent, which puts a target on its back, coach Jeff Conaway said. But his senior-laden group understands the challenge ahead. … Quarterback Eli Reece and receiver Truitt Tollett spearhead a dynamic of- fense. … Reece threw for 2,600 yards and 32 TDs, while Tollett finished with 77 receptions for 1,183 yards and 13 TDs. … Senior Russell Norsworthy (5-11, 265) wreaks havoc for opponents and anchors the defensive line. … Sophomore Kaden Henley could help at linebacker, after moving to Northwest Arkansas in the spring when his father, Ashley, was hired as an assistant coach. Henley started as a freshman at Lawton (Okla.) High School last season and should play linebacker and even some fullback. … Running back Ben Walton and Logan Raben saw action a year ago, but junior Cam Wiedemann has made big strides over the summer. COACH SPEAK "What I like about this group is we've got 23 seniors," Conaway said. "That's the most we've ever had. I really believe all of those seniors, maybe they didn't start but they've played a lot of football. Last year's team was really close, but I think this year's team is even closer. So many of these 23 seniors have been together their entire career here. They get along really well and know each other really well and they love hanging out. When you can create that kind of unity and love for your teammates. You've got an opportunity to have a special season." — Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB SCHEDULE Aug. 30 .. Moore Haven, Fla. Oct. 11 ...at Prairie Grove* Sept. 13 ............ Smackover Oct. 18 .............at Gentry* Sept. 20 ...... at Beggs, Okla. Oct. 25 ................Lincoln* Sept. 27 ......... at Berryville* Nov. 1 ............ at Gravette* Oct. 4 ............Green Forest* Nov. 8 ............. Pea Ridge* * — denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs at 7 p.m. 4 A - 1 C O N F E R E N C E Avellaneda Black Norsworthy Busey Davis Hobbs Wright Brewer Guenther Raben Reyes Sellers Layman FaveRates.com *Farm Bureau® Mutual Insurance Co. of Arkansas, Inc. *Southern Farm Bureau® Casualty Insurance Co. *Southern Farm Bureau® Life Insurance Co., Jackson, MS ARAUNP42454 1601 SW A Street • Bentonville, AR 72712 479.273.7786 2125 E Main St, Ste 13 • Siloam Springs, AR 72761 479.524.8400 New auto rates. same great service. PREP RALLY: CLASS 4A | 8.22.2019 | 43