Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1476799
FARMINGTON — Farmington stepped out of the 7A West Junior High Football Conference and is now competing against opponents more comparable to the size of Farmington. Varsity head coach J.R. Eldridge signed off on the change and is very optimistic about the future of football at all levels in Farm- ington. "I'm more excited about the growth of our program. I'm more excited about how the kids want to be here, I'm more excited about how all those kids are getting great reps every day in practice," Eldridge said. The rising seventh graders went through training camp just like everybody else. They had two inter-squad scrimmages. as did the eighth and ninth grades. "It's just been really, really good as far as our training camp goes and where we're at right now is way ahead of where we were at last year at this time as far as our violence on the football field, as far as our understanding of what we're trying to do offense, defense, special teams. Those things make a huge difference in how fast our players are able to play within the down. I have been able to see that. I'm not a predictor of wins and losses, but what I love seeing is just the progression of these kids getting better," Eldridge said. OFFENSE Not all the starting positions were set when this interview was done, but the junior Cardinals have more than enough players. It was just a matter of determining who fills what role for junior high head coach Payton Covington. "As far as offense goes I think we're pretty solid," Covington said. Freshman Ayden Lester starts at quarter- back. Eighth grader Slade Norwood shows a lot of promise and will lead the junior high JV squad. "I've got a lot of confidence in both. They're both very capable quarterbacks," Covington said. Jordan Logue, younger brother of Justin Logue who excelled as a receiver last season, transferred to Farmington and will start at runningback. "It was a good move-in. He's an eighth grader, talented, and we're excited about him," Covington said. The junior high rotates backs with Connor Nastasi coming into the backfield. Nastasi will also play defense. At the eighth grade level Brenner Watkins will start with slot Kalin Hendrix in reserve. Max Eldridge is a seventh grader who can play. At the H-back position, a combination of tight end and fullback, that also splits out in a double receiver set, freshman Kambren Miller starts. Wednesday, August 24, 2022 Enterprise-Leader 5C 2 0 2 2 F o o t b a l l P r e v i e w Wedington AnimAl HospitAl 4363 W Wedington Dr. • Fayetteville www.WedingtonAnimalHospital.com 479-444-6600 Hours: 7:30am-10pm •Monday-Friday 9:00am-5pm • Saturday & Sunday Find us on HAVE A GREAT 2022 FOOTBALL SEASON! Taking care of your best friend is just what we do 7 days a week. By Mark Humphrey ENTERPRISE-LEADER FARMINGTON 2022 JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL PREVIEW Junior Cardinals Join New Football League FARMINGTON 2022 JUNIOR HIGH ROSTER No. Player Grade 1 Slade Norwood 8 2 Ayden Lester 9 3 Jordan Logue 9 4 Jacquel Brown 9 5 Caden Brashears 8 6 Dawson Keaton 9 7 Kingston Langdon 9 8 Kambren Miller 9 9 Trevor Harvey 9 10 Brady Richards 9 11 Braxton Hartman 9 12 Akin Johnson 9 13 Michael Shoffit 8 14 Kalin Hendrix 9 15 Brenner Watkins 8 16 Hunter Vanhook 9 17 Noah Scott 8 18 Harley Cunningham 8 19 Bryson Wood 9 21 Connor Nastasi 9 22 Noah Reynolds 9 24 Bryce Thompson 9 25 Luke Chandler 9 26 Lane Smith 8 27 Wesley Cook 8 28 Max Eldridge 7 29 Corbin Smith 9 32 Townes Boger 9 33 Crosby Schmitt 8 34 Ian Shadden 9 35 Rayce Baumgartner 9 36 Sam Reynolds 9 37 Peyton Wells 9 40 Kaiden Lorenz 8 42 Austin Sanchez 9 44 Aiden Suchowski 9 45 Peyton Bailey 9 46 Ben Rusch 8 47 Keaton Baltz 8 50 Aden Israel 9 51 Jadon Davidson 8 52 Jacob Maynard 8 53 Stone Hardin 8 54 Jordan Harrelson 8 55 Koby Hayes 9 56 Reece Hammons 8 58 Isaac Rodriguez 9 59 Makyah Shockley 9 60 Gavin Rachel 8 61 Connor Denham 9 62 Chandler Bunn 8 63 Austin Israel 8 64 Parker King 9 66 Aaron Bale 8 67 Trenton Leatherman 9 68 Grayson Lindsay 9 69 Memphis Boyle 9 70 Truman Capshaw 9 71 Gavin Hammack 8 72 Avery Case 9 73 Dodge Usrey 9 74 Max Turentine 8 75 Tatum Perkins 8 76 Noah Cornstalk 8 77 Layton Mitchell 9 78 Zachary Stilwell 8 79 Sam Davis 9 80 Jet Pierce 8 81 Quinton Napier 8 84 Garrett Stewart 9 99 Jaxen Stewart 9 Head coach: Payton Covington Manager: Joseph Huffmaster SEE JuNiOr CardiNalS PAgE 6C FARMINGTON 2022 FOOTBALL SCHEDULES 2022 Farmington Varsity Date Opponent Time Aug. 19 Van Buren scrimmage 6 p.m. Aug. 26 at Greenbrier 7 p.m. Sept. 2 Springdale 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at Rogers 7 p.m. Sept. 16 Mountain Pine 7 p.m. Sept. 23 Harrison* 7 p.m. Sept. 30 Alma* 7 p.m. Oct. 7 Dardanelle* 7 p.m. Oct. 14 Clarksville* 7 p.m. Oct. 21 at Shiloh Christian* 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at Pea Ridge* 7 p.m. Nov. 4 at Prairie Grove* 7 p.m * — 5A West Conference game 2022 Farmington 7th grade/Junior high Date Opponent Time Sept. 1 at Greenwood 5:30/7 p.m. Sept. 8 Siloam Springs 5:30/7 p.m. Sept. 15 Van Buren Butterfield 5:30/7 p.m. Sept. 22 Harrison 5:30/7 p.m. Sept. 29 Alma 5:30/7 p.m. Oct. 6 Dardanelle 5:30/7 p.m. Oct. 13 at Van Buren Northridge 5:30/7 p.m. Oct. 20 Shiloh Christian 5:30/7 p.m. Oct. 27 at Pea Ridge 5:30/7 p.m. Nov. 3 at Prairie Grove 5:30/7 p.m. 2021 Farmington 8th grade/Junior Varsity Date Opponent Time Status Aug. 29 Greenwood 5:30 p.m. 8th Sept. 6 at Siloam Springs 5:30/7 p.m. 8th-JV Sept. 15 Van Buren 5:30/7 p.m. 8th-JV Butterfield Sept. 19 at Harrison 5:30 p.m. 8th Sept. 26 Alma 5:30/7 p.m. 8th-JV Oct. 3 at Dardanelle 5:30/7 p.m. 8th-JV Oct. 10 Van Buren 5:30 p.m. 8th Northridge Oct. 17 at Shiloh Christian 5:30/7 p.m. 8th-JV Oct. 24 Pea Ridge 5:30 p.m. 8th Oct. 31 Prairie Grove 5:30 p.m. 8th