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Offensive linemen Junior Ryder Orr (6-2, 260) lines up at left guard and can slide to tackle. "Ryder did well last year, played both sides of the ball, will probably do so again this year," Abshier said. "Hopefully, he's an improved version of last year … we're thinking he'll get better each year." Senior John King (5-7, 155) starts at right guard although Abshier notes "a huge size difference between those two guys." "We need a heavier one on the right also. We got a sophomore trying to learn a couple of spots in Robert Fleming. He's kind of playing guard, he's a little heavier, he's kind of playing tackle a little bit," Abshier said. Senior Jacob London (5-9, 160) also works at both guard and tackle. Junior Chayton Smith (5-10, 260) starts at left tackle. Another guard will come in when Orr spells him. Junior Corbin Bowlin (6-1, 230) gained some poundage, mass and a little more height. He starts at center. Backup center is sophomore Ethan Grohaus (5-10, 235), a capable lineman who may play tackle if he'd accept that assignment a little bit better. Starting right tackle James Moss (5-11, 285) gives the Tigers more flexibility on the line. "We tooled around with him playing some guard. If we could find a good, solid right tackle then he will do that, [we'll] let him play guard," Abshier said. Backup Gavin Graham (5-10, 210) injured his knee at guard, but could play tackle. He had surgery and may not be back for awhile, but Abshier thinks it will happen in a hurry when Graham gets going. DEFENSE Defensive Coordinator Craig Laird fully intends to refine the Tigers despite key losses to graduation. "We are excited about our defense. I've talked to a lot of people. We've got a lot of talent on our defense. We've got a lot of question marks, but we've got a lot of experience on our line," Laird said. "Linebackers might be our biggest ques- tion mark, linebackers and safeties as far as filling shoes. You try to replace a Cade Grant and a Foster Layman." Most of Laird's defensive projections played special teams last year. King was on all the special teams and may have been the leading tackler on special teams. "He can run and tackle and that's what we want on that side of the ball," Laird said. Defensive line The Tigers are big, strong and aggres- sive up front in Laird's scheme. Orr has the most experience at defensive tackle. He played a lot last year. Newcomer Conner Brunson (5-11, 300) moved off for a year, came back, and last year helped with filming. "He's big, going to be extremely hard to move, and we'd love to see him out there a lot especially on run downs," Laird said. Velasco will play both defensive tackle and end depending on the need. Laird is hoping for him to be the guy to kind of replace Gunner Caudle, who was voted the conference's Outstanding Defensive lineman last year earning All-Star status. Bowlin didn't play much defense last year, but has the length, strength and work ethic. King's a little lighter than coaches want for linebacker where he played last year, yet brings good instincts to defensive end. Dalton Frazier is probably the second most experienced guy coming back on the defensive line where he played a lot of defensive end last year. He moves pretty well and he's got a lot of expe- rience there. He made a good play at Gravette last year. Moss, who played very little defense last year, has the tools, worked really hard in the weight room and has been to several camps this summer. The roster includes a few sophomore defensive lineman, who could start work- ing their way up the depth chart. Inside Linebackers Marrell got hurt last year at the begin- ning of the year and so he didn't get any experience last year so he's coming in as a junior without sophomore experi- ence on the playing field. Marrell is one of the Tigers' strongest kids who squats over 400 pounds, loves the weight room, smart and savvy. London is a senior, who came in quite a bit last year to air 2020 seniors Jack- son Sorters and Knox Laird as did King. London worked really hard in the weight room and will be counted on to assume a leadership role. Sims, the strongest sophomore, impressed coaches in practice during a 1-on-1 drill by taking on Brunson, the 300-hundred pounder, and holding his own. A couple of sophomores could fight their way into the mix. David Stevens looked really good at linebacker in 1-on-1 drills and might be a guy who gets a look at defensive end. Outside Linebackers Whetsell backed up Carter Scates and Cade Walker so he didn't play a ton of defense last season, but he can run, is extremely strong, talented, and very physical. Funeral Home 115 N. Neal • Prairie Grove, ar 479-846-2141 The Luginbuel Family has been in the funeral service business for more than 100 years! We support TiGer FooTball! 12C Enterprise-Leader Wednesday, August 25, 2021 2 0 2 1 F o o t b a l l P r e v i e w PRAIRIE GROVE 2021 SCHEDULES 2021 PRAIRIE GROVE VARSITY Date Opponent Time Sept. 3 at Farmington 7 p.m. Sept. 10 at Pea Ridge 7 p.m. Sept. 17 Stilwell, Okla. 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at Green Forest* 7 p.m. Oct. 1 Gravette* 7 p.m. Oct. 8 Shiloh Christian* 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Huntsville* 7 p.m. Oct. 22 Gentry* 7 p.m. Oct. 29 at Berryville* 7 p.m. Nov. 5 Elkins* 7 p.m. * — 4A-1 Conference game 2021 PRAIRIE GROVE 7TH GRADE/JUNIOR HIGH Date Opponent Time Aug. 26 Pea Ridge 6 p.m. Sept. 2 Farmington 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9 Bye Sept. 16 at Stilwell, Okla. 6 p.m. Sept. 23 Green Forest* 6 p.m. Sept. 30 at Gravette* 6 p.m. Oct. 7 at Shiloh Christian* 6 p.m. Oct. 14 Huntsville* 6 p.m. Oct. 21 at Gentry* 6 p.m. Oct. 28 Berryville* 6 p.m. Nov. 4 at Elkins* 6 p.m. * — 4A-1 Conference game 2021 PRAIRIE GROVE 8TH GRADE/JUNIOR VARSITY Date Opponent Time Sept. 20 at Lincoln 5:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at Stilwell, Okla. 5:30 p.m. Oct. 4 Huntsville* 5:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Gravette* 5:30 p.m. Oct. 18 Pea Ridge* 5:30 p.m. * — 4A-1 Conference game Prairie Grove 2021 varsity Football roster No. Player Grade Hgt. Wgt. Pos. 1 Luke Vance 10 5-9 145 QB/DB 3 Kade Patton 10 — — — 4 Coner Whetsell 11 5-8 170 FB/LB 6 Cooper Singleton 12 5-8 180 RB/DE 7 Camden Patterson 11 5-10 145 QB/DB 8 Caleb Bankston 10 6-1 160 RB/CB 10 Conner Hubbs 10 5-10 155 RB/DB 11 Paytin Higgins 11 5-10 145 QB/S 12 Landon Semrad 12 6-4 190 WR/DB 16 Ethan Miller 11 5-10 175 RB/LB 18 Alex Helms 12 6-0 160 QB/DB 20 Colin Faulk 12 6-0 170 RB/DB 21 Rhett Marrell 11 5-8 155 RB/MLB 24 Kobe Frazier 12 5-10 185 DB/TE 32 Joseph Sims 10 6-1 200 FB/LB 33 Asher Linn 10 — — — 34 David Stephens 10 — — TE/DE 44 Dalton Frazier 12 5-10 180 DE, WB 45 Matthew Velasco 11 6-0 225 TE, DE 50 Conner Lantz 11 5-8 160 OL/DL 51 Josh Ritchey 10 5-11 195 DL/OL 52 Justin Bryars 10 — — OL/DL 53 Josh Kinghorn 10 — — OL/DL 54 Bryan Ward 11 — — OL/DL 55 Coby Hickman 10 — — OL/DL 56 Ethan Grothaus 10 5-10 235 OL/DL 57 Tyler Dickerson 11 5-7 150 LB/OL 58 Brian Phipps 10 — — OL/DL 59 Chayton Smith 11 5-10 260 OL/DL 60 Dylan Meyers 11 — — OL/DL 61 John King 12 5-7 155 G/DE 63 Jaymon Rowe 11 — — OL/DL 64 Nick Coffee 11 6-0 165 OL/DL 65 Corbin Bowlin 11 6-1 230 DT/T 66 Jymmy Navarrete 10 — — OL/DL 67 Spencer Allen 10 5-5 130 OL/LB 71 Jacob London 12 5-9 160 MLB/G 72 Robert Fleming 11 — — OL/DL 74 Gavin Graham 11 5-10 210 G/DE 75 James Moss 11 5-11 285 OL/DL 76 Garrett Bishop 11 — — OL/DL 77 Ryder Orr 11 6-2 260 T/DT 78 Conner Brunson 12 5-11 300 DL/OL 81 Landyn Washausen 12 5-11 145 WR/CB 86 Michael Uher 11 5-7 130 WR/S 87 Cole Ashley 10 — — WR/DB Head coach: Danny Abshier Defensive Coordinator: Craig Laird Assistants: John Elder, Mason Pinkley, Nic Paroubek CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11C TIGERS: Defensive Coordinator Says He's Excited About Team's Talent On Defense SEE PRAIRIE GROVE PAGE 15C