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going in fall camp between sophomore Treygan Rodriguez (5-6) and junior Ty Lewis (6-1), who transferred from Siloam Springs. Dushane said with either quarter - back, the coaches want to take the pressure off as much as possible. "We're going to try and get the ball to our playmakers," Dushane said. Trenton Fields (5-7, 140) will play a receiver position while Caleb Reding (5-10, 190) will be more of a tight end/ full back. On the offensive line, the Comets return three senior starters in Lonnie Berridge (5-11, 265), Dayton Down (6- 3, 270) and Connor Hesterly (6-4, 290). Berridge and Down are two-year starters on the offensive line, while Hesterly has been a defensive starter and will be asked to play some offense. Sophomore Kasen Rodriguez (6-0, 200) had to start some as a freshman and returns as well, leaving the Comets having to fill one spot on the offensive line. "All of our depth is really young," Dushane said. "We're going to have 17 linemen. A lot of those kids are sopho - mores and freshmen." Defensively, the Comets will play multiple fronts. Berridge and Hesterly play up front along with junior Hunter Pair (5-11, 275), who will play nose guard. Kasen Rodriguez and Bryant Shaver (6-1, 155) man defensive end spots along with Berridge, who had 46 tack- les last year. Hesterly will play a defen- sive tackle. Reding mans an outside linebacker position along with Jeremiah Harmon playing a middle linebacker. Lewis could be an option at the other outside backer spot, Dushane said. Javyne Whaler (5-8, 135) a junior, and Fields will man cornerback positions while Wiggins and Hall will be the safe- ties. Whaler had 38 tackles last year. Wiggins led the team with 88 total tackles and one interception. "He would come up and fill a hole and do whatever he would need to do," Dushane said. Fields had four interceptions, while Hall had two picks. Senior Shelton Mitchell (5-6, 140) will contribute on offense and defense, Dushane said. He also praised senior Kaleb Ro - brahn (5-7, 150), who will be a captain on special teams. "He works hard and does things the right way for us," Dushane said. The Comets have moved into Dis- trict 2A-8, but will play some of the same teams like Adair, Salina and Nowata from their previous confer- ence. New conference foes will be Cla- remore Sequoyah, Rejoice Christian, Dewey and Sperry, who handed the Comets a 59-2 loss in the first round of the playoffs. Dushane said the Comets need to be concerned about getting better as a team first and foremost. "We need to worry about us," he said. "We can't worry about anything else other than us. We have to try to get our offensive and defensive stuff in, then we have to worry about us getting better." Regarding the covid-19 pandemic, Dushane said the coaches have worked hard to keep things as close to normal. "It's been more work for us as coaches," he said. "We make sure we wipe things down and the kids social distance. We have them wear masks in the locker room. We take the precau - tions we're supposed to take. "You just have to go with the mindset you're going to play." P.O. Box 100 1401 E. Main St., Siloam Springs (479) 524-3121 P.O. Box 6294 2230 N. ompson, Springdale 479-756-2010 backstrom-pyeatte.com Serving NWA For 100+ Years • Plan Ahead • Talk of a Lifetime • Support • Services Good Luck Teams! Don't let them bury you! 1702 US Hwy 412W & Inside Walmart in Siloam Springs 467 S Gentry Blvd in Gentry It's not whether you wIn or lose... It's where you eat after the game! 2020 Football Preview Wednesday, August 26, 2020 n 17C Herald-Leader/Westside Eagle Observer KANSAS Continued from Page 16C I t's been more work for us as coaches. We make sure we wipe things down and the kids social distance. We have them wear masks in the locker room. We take the precautions we're supposed to take. You just have to go with the mindset you're going to play." Jimmy Dushane Coach