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The number of teams in the 2A-4 Conference may be dwindling, but the strength of the teams remaining certainly isn't. With first Decatur and now Western Yell County this season dropping down to the club-level 8-man ranks, there are just six remaining teams in the 2A-4. Those moves had created some schedul- ing issues — like Lavaca playing just three home games this season — but a couple of teams have legitimate chances to make good playoff runs this season. Mountainburg shared the league title last season and posted an 8-3 record that included a playoff win against Parkers Chapel. The Dragons return stellar quar- terback Ethan Gregory, who compiled more than 2,000 yards of offense a year ago, along with running back Malachi West. "Lineman-wise I think we're gonna be pretty good," said Mountainburg veteran coach Tom Harrell, who has a 161-135-3 record over 33 seasons including 30 at Mountainburg. "Our quarterback's back, and he had a great year. The big back, Malachi West, he's back, too. Hopefully, we can find pieces to fit the rest of it." Harrell has high hopes for Ethan Jones, who backed up star running back Austin Taylor last season. "He has been sitting there," Harrell said of Jones. "He's played corner the past two years, but he was behind the Taylor kid at tailback. Now it's his turn, so we'll see. We've got a couple of kids who have kinda waited their turn." The Dragons finally have a little depth as Harrell welcomed about 30 players out for summer workouts. Having good num- bers limits the players having to go both ways, which is a huge factor toward the end of the season. "Last year nobody went both ways un- til about week seven," Harrell said. "We played lineman both ways some at the end of the season. I know it's helped us in September and early October games." The Dragons run a unique single-wing hybrid offense that can be difficult for teams to prepare for week-to-week. "We don't line up in single-wing actu- ally; we line up empty and bring jet guy through," he explained. "We've done it the past two years. It's been pretty good to us. When we first started, I think they thought I was crazy." The conference will also welcome back a familiar face this season as Mark Headley returns to the sideline at Lavaca after coaching girls sports the past few years. "I enjoyed coaching the girls, but I really started to miss Friday nights and coaching football," Headley said. "When the opportunity to get back into coaching football again came along, I wanted that chance." The Golden Arrows were 4-6 a year ago, losing their final three games by a combined 79-12, but Headley is excited about the young players returning includ- ing senior Kaw-Liga Brewer who played a big role for the Lavaca boys basketball team last season. "We are really young returning just three starters," Headley said. "But I real- ly like my sophomore group. They have been committed. We are going to have to really lean on some sophomores when you normally would like to have upper- classmen. The sophomore class will be indoctrinated early." Magazine was 6-5 last season and won its first-round playoff game. The Rattlers return seven starters on each side of the ball and will challenge Hector and Moun- tainburg for the conference title. Quarterback Tatum Scott is back after taking over the position late last season. "We ended up with Tatum at quarter- back for us after he took over in Week 7," Rattlers coach Doug Powell said. "He did a really good job for us and got better throughout as a sophomore. He broke his collarbone last summer. We worked him back slowly. He picked up where he left off this summer. We are looking for him to have another good season for us." Powell said Xeng Yang will also see time at quarterback in some offensive packages. Running back Caleb Hyatt re- turns as the bell cow on offense after a big season in 2018. "We liked to run the ball a lot last year," Powell said. "Caleb had about 1,300 yards on the ground, and most of the time the opposing team knew he was going to get it. He got better as the season went, so we are looking for big things from him. We have a lot of options in the backfield though. We are looking to be more diver- sified this year. If we can do that, I think we will be doing well." Conference shrinks as teams join eight-man ranks Ethan Gregory SCHOOL Mountainburg POSITION Quarterback CLASS Junior HEIGHT 6-0 WEIGHT 160 TWITTER HANDLE Not on Twitter. THE DIGITS Threw for 892 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 662 yards on 127 carries (5.2 avg.) and 16 touchdowns. … Intercepted three passes and also returned kicks. CRUSHING ON Zendaya I LISTEN TO Country and Rap I BINGE WATCH Last Chance U I DRIVE A Chevy Silverado MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW I live on a farm. I get up every morning and feed the pigs and the cows. MY HERO IS My dad and my grandpa. FAVORITE MEAL Pizza WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT FOOTBALL IS I like getting hit and throwing the ball. IN 10 YEARS I WILL Hope I've got a job. I don't have a plan yet, but it's coming. CHIP SOUZA NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE S H I N E O N Special to NWA Democrat-Gazette/TAMMY HOBSON Mountainburg quarterback Ethan Gregory hopes to lead a potent Dragons' offense back to the playoffs this season. 2018 Conference Standings 2A-4 Conference Team Conf. Overall Hector .......................... 5-1 ............................... 7-4 Mountainburg .............. 5-1 .............................. 8-3 Magazine ..................... 4-2 .............................. 6-5 Hackett ........................ 3-3 .............................. 4-5 Lavaca ......................... 3-3 .............................. 4-5 JC Westside ................ 1-5 .............................. 2-8 Western Yell Co. .......... 0-6 .............................. 2-6 Note: Western Yell County has dropped to 8-man football for the 2019 season. 2019 Hooten's Coaches Poll 1. Hector 2. Mountainburg 3. Magazine 4. Lavaca 5. J.C. Westside 6. Hackett "Lineman-wise I think we're gonna be pretty good. Our quarterback's back, and he had a great year. The big back, Malachi West, he's back, too. Hopefully, we can find pieces to fit the rest of it." — Mountainburg head football coach Tom Harrell Tree Trimming done right.... you betcha!!!! 4 7 9 - 84 6 - 4 3 3 3 T R E E S E R V I C E PR A I R I E GR O V E 4 7 9 - 6 0 1 - 5 5 9 1 4 7 9 - 8 4 6 - 43 3 3 Best of luck this season! • Tree Trimming • Fence Row Clearing • Tree Removal • Stump Grinding • Storm Clean-Up • 479-282-1020 | www.circlebprairiegrovetreeservice.com PREP RALLY: CLASS 2A | 8.22.2019 | 49