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49 PREP RALLY: CLASS 2A/8-MAN | 8.21.2022 SHINE ON New coaches, new teams in 2A-1 for 2022 ETHAN WESTERMAN SPECIAL TO THE NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Being a first-time head coach always poses challenges. Mountainburg Coach Zach Dean knows taking his team to new heights in Class 2A football will come alongside a unique one. Dean is taking over a program that hasn't seen a new coach in over three decades, replacing legendary coach Tom Harrell, who stepped down in December after 32 years leading the Dragons. He was the longest-tenured active head coach at a single school in Arkansas before announcing 2021 was his final year. Dean is confident he has what it takes to lead Mountainburg to success. "Stepping into his shoes hasn't been too difficult, the transition's been pretty smooth since I've been there for nearly 10 years," Dean said. "But I'm definitely not Tom Harrell. I don't want people coming in thinking I'm going to run things the exact same way he did. There's going to be a lot of similarities between Tom and I, but there's going to be some differences as well." The Dragons finished 4-6 a season ago, a fourth-place finish in the 2A-4. They bring back an experienced offensive line. "We're going to load up and run behind our offensive line," Dean said. "I'm a spread guy, so I'd love to bring a spread aspect to our offense, but I'm also a guy who plays to our strengths. One thing Tom has taught me in my eight or nine years I've been with him, the main thing I learned is you have to play to your personnel. "That's the thing with 2A football, you've got to be able to adjust quickly. You can't just bench someone for another athlete sitting behind them, because sometimes you don't have that option." Mountainburg is accompanied by other local teams Decatur, Johnson County Westside and Magazine making the move to the revamped 2A-1 in 2022. The transition for Decatur also includes a leap from the 8-man ranks back to 11-man. Bulldogs Coach Jake Denzer cited the area's growth along with school improvements for making the change. "Decatur is a growing place," Denzer said. "As Centerton continues to move west, Decatur continues to grow. We're bumping back up to 11-man because of it—we've played 8-man for the last four years—so we're excited about that. It means shorter bus rides and hopefully a chance to be competitive against some different competition." It will likely be an uphill battle for the Bulldogs, who finished 0-8 in 8-man play in 2021. Decatur will open conference play against the Magazine Rattlers, led by third-year head coach Ryan Chambers, who is a Magazine alumnus and won a state title in 2010 as a player. His team finished 2-7 in 2021, and is hoping returning seven starts on offense and six on defense will lead to a playoff appearance. "When I played, we won a state championship, but then dropped off a little bit," Chambers said. "When I came in as an assistant (seven years ago), we kind of got back up there and won a conference championship, but now our numbers are low — which is a problem everywhere. I'm just trying to get numbers back in the program, which has been one of the main problems. If we can get the right guys playing, the wins will come." 8-Man When a talented group of seniors graduated from Subiaco Academy earlier this year, the rising class used one word to describe what they wanted the 2022 class to be marked by. Heart. "We lost a lot of great players from last year, a lot of seniors, but this year a lot of have grown not only in size, but in heart," Senior quarterback Nick Gehrig said. "We're going to be a strong team this year with a lot of experience, and we've got a great shot at a run for a championship this year." Gehrig was the backup for star quarterback Wesley Schluterman a season ago, who threw for 1,435 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior. Subiaco Academy Coach Adam Creek, who enters his first year as head coach after spending the three previous as an assistant, said Gehrig is prepared. "He's what you look for in a quarterback," Creek said. "He's got the right temperament, the right attitude and the right brain. He's very smart. Not to mention he's very athletic too. He can really run — 8-man quarterbacks need to be able to do that too. He's just kind of the whole package. GIOVANNI VARGAS SCHOOL Subiaco Academy POSITION RB/FS CLASS Senior HEIGHT 5-6 WEIGHT 155 TWITTER HANDLE @gioxvargas THE DIGITS 76 carries; 369 yards; 4.9 YPC; 5 TD; 25 catches; 349 yards; 14 YPC; 2 TD; 1 Kickoff Return TD FAVORITE CLASS Ethics FAVORITE PREGAME MEAL Chicken and Rice I LISTEN TO Rap and R&B. I BINGE WATCH Better Call Saul/Dragon Ball Super I'M TERRIFIED OF Bare-knuckle boxers I WOULD NEVER, EVER Be scared to try something new I DRIVE 2022 Hyundai Elantra MY HERO IS My mom WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT FOOTBALL IS The adrenaline rush IN 10 YEARS I WILL Own my own house and start a family FaveRates.com *Farm Bureau® Mutual Insurance Co. of Arkansas, Inc. *Southern Farm Bureau® Casualty Insurance Co. *Southern Farm Bureau® Life Insurance Co., Jackson, MS ARAUNP42454 1601 SW A Street • Bentonville, AR 72712 479.273.7786 2125 E Main St, Ste 13 • Siloam Springs, AR 72761 479.524.8400 New auto rates. same great service. "Decatur is a growing place... we're bumping back up to 11-man because of it—we've played 8-man for the last four years—so we're excited about that. It means shorter bus rides and hopefully a chance to be competitive against some different competition." – Bulldogs coach Jake Denzer