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ADAMS TRUSS, INC. 12425 Collins Rd. (Hwy. 59) Gentry, AR 72734 (479) 736-8581 (800) 228-9221 www.adamstruss.com Quality at a Competitive Price FREE Customized Materials Bid 24' - 60' Spans in Stock Complete Technical Support from Adams Truss "Your Hometown Drug Store" 479-736-2241 Hwy 12 East • Open M-F 9-6 p.m. & Sat 9-1 • Since 1980 479-736-2695 • Free Delivery in Gentry • Drive Thru One of a Kind Locally Made Gift Items 141 E. Roller Ave. • Decatur, AR • 479-752-3776 HANDY MART Give trust, and you'll get it double in return WE ARE OPEN 24 HOURS! Money Orders • Bill Payments Payroll Check Cashing • Phone Cards Hunt Brothers Pizza • Hot Food Fishing & Hunting License, Fishing Gear Cold Beer • Wine NOW SERVING SMOOTHIES, SCOOP ICE CREAM & MILK SHAKES 2019 Football Preview 12C n Wednesday, August 28, 2019 Herald-Leader/Westside Eagle Observer 12 • Charlie Reams Pioneers hope to build on productive summer n Gentry returns several starters on both sides of the field. GENTRY — The Gentry Pioneers are hoping a productive summer turns into a successful season in 2019. The Pioneers — who went 3-8 in 2018 and 3-4 in 4A-1 Conference play and advanced to the playoffs — had a busy June and July, full of team camps, 7-on-7 events and other com- petitions and overall the coaches were pleased. "We got to look at kids in primary spots and other spots," said fifth-year head coach Paul Ernest. "We did well in 7-on-7. We like how our young re- ceivers are progressing, but it's hard to tell without the offensive line how good the passing game will be." The Pioneers, who run a two-back spread on offense, know what they can expect from senior quarterback Brandon Atwood, who passed for 1,517 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2018. "We're looking forward to seeing what he can do," Ernest said. "He's a threat running and passing. He's a great kid that wants to go into the Marine Corps. He's got a strong grasp 53 • Jose Barrios 88 • Azariah Wood 5 • Beau Tomblin 4 • Brandon Atwood 74 • Kerlose Ruzek 23 • Ross Wilmoth 10 • Zach Jarnagan By Graham Thomas Staff Writer n gthomas@nwadg.com and understanding of our offensive structure and how it works. Last year I handcuffed him — I didn't run him very often, which is his strongest skill." Junior Zach Jarnagan will be the Pioneers' backup quarterback and pri- mary weapon in the receiving corps at a slot receiver position. He caught 31 passes for 444 yards last year. "He's our guy we can move around," Ernest said of Jarnagan. "We can put him in the backfield or at the No. 1, 2, or 3 receiver. We'll try to get him the ball with as much creativity as the rules of the game allow us to." Senior Beau Tomblin will be anoth- er go-to target at the wide receiver position, while Seiren Reding, Mateo Cain, Blake Wilkinson, Isaiah Lopez, Dawson Rayburn, Jonah Summers and Caleb Vaughn are all getting looks at wideout. "All of those guys are competing for two outside receiver spots," Ernest said. The key to the Pioneers' offensive system is the "super back" or "S" posi- tion according to Ernest. "Sometimes he's a tight end, some- times a wide receiver, sometimes a running back," he said. "That's a big role for a lot of these kids." Sophomore Garrison Jackson fits that role for the Pioneers. "He can do everything," Ernest said. "He's probably a tight end body, but he's played of- fensive tackle his whole career. He has great hands, a huge wingspan. He can play receiver or block at fullback." When the Pio- neers go to four- wide receivers, Cain will likely man the "S" position. Ross Wilmoth also plays the "S" and he "can really catch it," according to his coach. "We put him there to prove he couldn't play there and he proved us wrong," Ernest said. Bryson Walker and Cody Casey also could be options at the "S." Gentry is working three guys at tail- back in senior Charlie Reams, junior Brennan Crosby and sophomore Wil- liam Pyburn. Reams is more of a scatback who's elusive and can catch the ball well. Brennan doesn't fit the mold of a scatback or power back but falls in between the two. Pyburn gives the Pioneers a physical presence in the run game, Ernest said. "He's a tremendous run blocker and has worked his butt off to improve his catching game," Ernest said of Pyburn. Coach Paul Ernest See Gentry on Page 13C