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FAYETTEVILLE — Teams facing Fayetteville will spend much of the week game-plan- ning on how to contain Connor Flannigan, who led the state in receiving last season. But that's not their only problem. Beau Stuckey is back, too. The two seniors are expect- ed to frustrate defenders again after combining last season for 165 catches, 33 touchdowns and more than 2,500 yards in receiving. Flannigan had over 100 yards receiving in 10 games while Stuckey had at least 150 yards receiving in four games. Their return should make for an exciting year for the Bulldogs and Casey Dick, who takes over as head coach fol- lowing the resignation of Billy Dawson last spring. Fayette- ville finished 9-3 last season after losing to eventual Class 7A state champion Bryant 28- 25 in the second round of the playoffs. "They're both dynamic and coachable kids," said Dick, the former University of Arkansas quarterback who coached last season at Van Buren. "They have some God-given talent, and both really understand how to run a route based on the coverage." CONNOR FLANNIGAN Flannigan (5-foot-11 , 170 pounds) is the son of a coach, which has some advantages but one huge disadvantage for the player. It's something that even a standout player like Flannigan has experienced. "I've heard, 'Oh, you're on- ly playing because you're a coach's kid,'" said Flannigan, whose father, Shawn Flannigan, is his position coach at Fayette- ville. "I heard that going into my sophomore year, so I came in with a chip on my shoulder, knowing I had to prove my- self. I want people to say, 'He's a good player no matter who his dad is.'" The proof is in the numbers, where Flannigan set six Fay- etteville school records and led the state in receiving with 102 catches for 1,695 yards and 20 touchdowns. As a sophomore, Flannigan started nine games and caught 24 passes for 392 yards and five touchdowns. Fayetteville's dynamic duo ready to torch, scorch opponents in 2019 RICK FIRES NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Beau Deuce and NWA Democrat-Gazette/ BEN GOFF Fayetteville wide re- ceivers Connor Flan- nigan (left) and Beau Stuckey are expected to wreak havoc on opposing 7A-West defenses this season. "They're both dynamic and coachable kids. They have some God-given talent, and both really understand how to run a route based on the coverage." — Casey Dick, Fayetteville head football coach v Continued on next page P r o u d t o S u P P o r t o u r L o c a L at h L e t e S ! h av e a G r e at S e a S o n ! S e r v i n g A r k A n S A S S i n c e 1 9 2 2 2209 N HeNbest Dr • Fayetteville • 479-442-2612 • wasHiNgtoNiNs.Net 6 | 8.22.2019 | PREP RALLY