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PRAIRIE GROVE — Prairie Grove head junior high head coach John Elder's work was cut out for him while evaluating the talent pool for the 2021 football team. "There's a lot of question marks, not just on the offensive line but a lot of places on offense until we see [how indi- viduals perform]," Elder said. That opportunity arose during an Aug. 19 scrimmage at Clarksville with coaches scrutinizing individual perfor- mance on film to find out in Elder's words, "who can go and who can't." OFFENSE Quarterback Ninth grader Caleb Carte has the most experience which gives him the nod at starting quarterback. "Caleb's got the experience and we're going to let him give it a shot and see what he can do to move the chains for us," Elder said. Eighth graders Isaac Moss and Cole McGarrah are the backups. Halfback Chase Edwards saw spot duty at half- back as an eighth grader last year gain- ing a little bit of experience on the field and the Tigers expect him to nail down the starting job. "Right behind him we're still looking for that next kid to step up. We've got a new kid this year that's moved in, Cale Bray, he's played some halfback before, he may be able to help a little bit too in that area," Elder said. Fullback A pair of freshmen, Tate Cox and Braxton Breshears, will carry the ball some from the fullback position, and Elder sees a promising young athlete in Mark Stucki. "I'm looking at an eighth grader to get him going, Mark Stucki. He can play either fullback or halfback in one of those spots. He can carry the ball and he's probably the fastest kid on the team. As an eighth grader he's pretty good so we've got to get him the ball and figure out where he's going to help us the most," Elder said. Wingback "We got some young ones," Elder said. Luke Bannon, Ethan Richardson and Maddox Ogle compete for the starting job at wingback with Bannon projected to start. "Luke Bannon is the one right now. Luke and Mark are our two fastest kids. Luke and Mark are up there together running neck-and-neck. If we had a race, a 40-yard dash, those two would be the fastest on our team. They both ran track last year and I know what they're like and they've got some good speed," Elder said. It's not an accident that Ogle wears No. 44, one of the distinguished numbers worn by outstanding runningbacks including Robert Newhouse of the Dallas Cowboys and Chuck Foreman of the Minnesota Vikings Split End Alex Abshier, grandson of Prairie Grove head varsity football coach Danny Abshier, leads a quartet of receivers including Cooper Stevens, Jordan Marti- nez and Tyler Tyggert. "He's going to be a good one. He caught a couple of touchdown passes in 7-on-7 this year. He runs good routes. He's smart, He's got a lot of help around him with his dad and his poppa and he'll be alright. All those guys right now they're doing a good job," Elder said. Tight End Baylor Kissinger works at tight end after playing wingback last year. "He's got some experience, he's a big body, he's got some soft hands and so we're kind of moving him to tight end for that big block for us right there and he's adapted pretty well," Elder said. Eighth grader Elijah Sugg serves as the backup. Offensive Line Prairie Grove has no returning start- ers on the offensive line. The Tigers are going to operate with a fresh crew up front. Morgan Cobb will start at center. "He's a good one, working hard and doing what he needs to do," Elder said. Backup center Parker Dougan can also play guard and Elder said he could be a starter depending on how he does coming off a scrimmage against Clarks- ville. Caden Rochier and Caleb Wilson work at guard. Elder sees potential in Wilson. "He's a guy that's got a big body. He works hard, does what you say, we just got to get him a little more reps, be aggressive, he'll the one who'll be out there if he does that. He'll be a good one for us," Elder said. At tackle Trace Board, Dane Piper and Cole Bromley compete for two starting spots. Trace has a little bit more experi- ence than the other two after starting in seventh grade. DEFENSE Defensive Line Pinkley considered several candidates on the defensive front with four kids vying for playing time at defensive end. "We started team camp with Trey Froud and Caleb Rochier will definitely be in there and then Wyatt McNatt, an eighth grader, showing a lot of promise, big tough, fast kid," Pinkley said. Eighth grader Corbin Stearman adds depth at defensive end. "Defensive tackles, we have so many, we're just kind of waiting for some guys to elevate themselves," Pinkley said. Freshman Calvin Crawford is a defen- sive specialist with eighth grader Conner Reed also playing defensive tackle. Both will be in the mix as will freshman Caleb Wilson. Two big bodies, Dane Pifer and It's tIme for the professIonals ... 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 Whether it's a clean-up from a storm or a spruce up from summer growth, turn over your tree trimming chores to Circle B Prairie Grove Tree. After all, they've developed a skill and intertwined a heritage of being the best at what they do. Strong work ethics and living life in rural Northwest Arkansas, owner and operator of Circle B Prairie Grove Tree, Nathan West is simply a cut above the rest. Carrying on a legacy built by his longtime friend, Ray Braly, Nathan West delivers what he promises. Tree Trimming done right.... you betcha!!!! Wednesday, August 25, 2021 Enterprise-Leader 13C 2 0 2 1 F o o t b a l l P r e v i e w Junior Tigers Evaluating Talent Pool PRAIRIE GROVE JUNIOR HIGH PREVIEW By Mark Humphrey ENTERPRISE-LEADER SEE JUNIOR TIGERS PAGE 14C