NWADG Prep Rally Football Preview

PREP RALLY: CLASS 5A | 8.21.2022 24 backing away from the challenge. Three- year starting quarterback Eli Wisdom, who was the NWA Democrat-Gazette Player of the Year in 2021, returns to lead a potent offense. "There are some unknowns, of course," said Saints Coach Jeff Conaway. "We are excited. We do know that it's going to be a challenge. We do know that it's going to be difficult, that there are going to be things that, when you move up in classification, that you have to do differently. But we're looking forward to that." Farmington is the blueprint for the schools making the move up. The Cardinals had some lean years in the early years of the move, but last year the program made big strides under Coach J.R. Eldridge, going 8-3 for just its second winning season since the Cardinals bumped up in 2014. Farmington is poised to make some deep playoff noise with eight defensive starters back and junior quarterback Cameron Vanzant, who was the NWA Democrat-Gazette Newcomer of the Year in 2021. Alma is primed for a breakout season with senior Joe Trusty back to lead the Airedales. Trusty (6-2, 215) passed for 2,000 yards and ran for 500 with 25 total touchdowns in 2021. Airedales Coach Rusty Bush is also looking forward to seeing new faces in the 5A-West this season. "We excited for these new teams, but at the same time you hate to see Greenbrier, Vilonia and Morrilton leave, just because there have been such great games with those guys and Alma," said Bush. "But we're looking forward to seeing Dardanelle, Prairie Grove and of course Shiloh Christian, who comes in off 4A state championship runs year- after-year, and they're going to be a force in the conference. It just brings better competition to an already great conference." Open n Continued from Page 23 FARMINGTON CARDINALS 2021 RECORD 8-3, 5-2 5A-West COACH J.R. Eldridge RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Cameron Vanzant (Jr., 6-0, 180), WR Peyton Funk (Sr., 5-11,175), WR Lawson DeVault (Sr., 5-10, 165), OL Hunter Marshall (Jr., 5-10, 255), SS Sam Wells (Sr., 5-11, 180), DL David Stettmeir (Sr., 6-1, 265), LR Cooper Gardenhire (Sr., 5-10, 210). THE SKINNY For just the second time since moving to Class 5A in 2014, the Cardinals posted a winning record. … Junior quarterback Cameron Vanzant returns after earning All- Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Newcomer of the Year honors last season. Vanzant was 168-of-260 for 2,330 yards and 32 touchdowns, and ran for four more touchdowns. … Defensively the Cardinals will be strong with eight returners, led by defensive tackle David Stettmeir and linebacker Cooper Gardenhire. Three times last season Gardenhire recorded more than 10 tackles in a game. … Senior safety Sam Wells anchors the back of the defense. Last season Wells intercepted five passes and returned two for touchdowns. … Peyton Funk will be a force at wide receiver after catching 40 passes last season for 700 yards. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "We're really excited about our football team. We've got a great group of senior leaders and underclassmen who got some great game experience last year. I feel like we had a great offseason to develop physically, mentally going into spring football. Thankfull in spring football we came out healthy and saw some guys just playing faster. Being in our offensive and defensive systems and in our special teams, our guys just understand what their job is and are able to play at a faster pace. We're really excited about that. Training camp has been awesome. We had a great summer, good team camps, and training camp, the guys have really picked it up and gotten after it so far." — J.R. Eldridge SCHEDULE Aug. 26 ......at Greenbrier Oct. 7 ........ at Dardanelle* Sept. 2 .......Springdale Oct. 14 ........... Clarksville* Sept. 9 .......at Rogers Oct. 21 at Shiloh Christian* Sept. 23 .....at Harrison* Oct. 28 ........... Pea Ridge* Sept. 30 .....Alma* Nov. 4 ....... Prairie Grove* * — Denotes 5A-West Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted Andrew Disheroon Hunter Bentley Cooper Gardenhire CLARKSVILLE PANTHERS 2021 RECORD 2-8, 1-6 5A-West COACH Khris Buckner RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 7 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Arthur Alvarez (Sr., 6-1, 195), WB Darius Gregory (Sr., 5-7, 160), WB Elijah Hardaway (Sr., 5-10, 180), DL E.H. Shee (Sr., 5-9, 220), OL Matt Colvin (Sr., 6-3, 310), RB Juan DeLarosa (Jr., 6-1, 175), WR Kash Walker (Sr., 5-8, 205). THE SKINNY Clarksville struggled with crippling injuries last season and were derailed with a six-game losing skid before winning the season finale at Morrilton. … The Panthers will once again operate out of the old-school single-wing offense. … Offensive lineman Matt Colvin has several college offers and will be a key factor in Clarksville's run game. … The Panthers will need to put the ball in the hands of returning all-conference back Arthur Alvarez. … Senior E.H. Shee will be a factor on both sides of the ball, while linebacker Shar Paw is the team's top tackler. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "I think we have some really nice pieces. Depth is always an issue with us. I think we've gotten a lot stronger and more conditioned this summer, and just really focused on that. We've had a really good summer and I think if things go right, we can put together a nice little run." — Khris Buckner SCHEDULE Aug. 26 ......at Ozark Oct. 7 ........ Prairie Grove* Sept. 2 .......Morrilton Oct. 14 ..... at Farmington* Sept. 9 .......Elkins Oct. 21 ....... at Pea Ridge* Sept. 23 .....at Alma* Oct. 28 ............. Harrison* Sept. 30 .....Shiloh Christian* Nov. 4 ......... at Dardanelle * — Denotes 5A-West Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted Arthur Alvarez Elijah Hardaway Darius Gregory ALMA AIREDALES 2021 RECORD 3-7, 2-5 5A-West COACH Rusty Bush RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Joe Trusty (Sr., 6-2, 215), RB Reagan Birchfield (Sr., 5-11, 195), WR Brady Noyes (Sr., 5-10, 160), OL Zane Hurlburt (Sr., 5-9, 275), DL Dakota Stallings (Sr., 5-8, 220), WR Matthew Schlegel (Sr., 6-0, 170). THE SKINNY The Airedales return six starters on offense, led by senior quarterback Joe Trusty, who passes for 2,162 yards and ran for 554 for a combined 25 touchdowns. … Alma, which ended last season by losing its final four games, has experience on the offensive line, led by three-year starter Zane Hurlburt and Jacob Moore. … Jackson Daily will play a variety of positions for the Airedales including tight end and linebacker. … Brady Noyes is poised to back a breakout season no matter where he plays. Offensively, Noyse could line up in the backfield or at receiver. Defensively, the senior could see time at strong safety. … Reagan Birchfield's return will boost the Airedales after he missed most of the 2021 season. Birchfield likely resumes his spot in the backfield, where he excelled as a sophomore. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "This is a big turnaround season for us. We've got this group of seniors that were sophomores when I came in, and they've been with me and been with this football program for three years. So they are ready to turn the corner with our football program. We have not been as successful as we've wanted to be, but these guys right now, through the spring and summer are playing with a whole lot of confidence. They feel really good about our chances to perform well in nonconference, and then enter into the new 5A-West. They want to do some things, they want to be a part of that group that changes they way it's been the last three or four years." — Rusty Bush SCHEDULE Aug. 23 ......Van Buren Oct. 7 ............. Pea Ridge* Sept. 2 .......at Siloam Springs Oct. 14 ..........at Harrison* Sept. 9 .......Pryor, Okla. Oct. 21 ...... Prairie Grove* Sept. 23 .....Clarksville* Oct. 28 ...... at Dardanelle* Sept. 30 .....at Farmington* Nov. 4 at Shiloh Christian* * — Denotes 5A-West Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted Brady Noyes Reagan Birchfield Joe Trusty EH Shee Matt Colvin Coach Khris Buckner Zane Hurlburt Lawson DeVault We are Cardinal strong - Friday nights are made for football E L E C T R I C A L S E R V I C E S Y O U ' L L B E B U Z Z I N G A B O U T O U R S E R V I C E S 479-267-2899 Residential seRvices Serving all of NWA • Main electrical panels • Sub panels • Smoke detectors • Lighting • Generators • Surge protection • Ceiling fans • Circuits • Wiring

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