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GENTRY — For a Class 4A school, Gentry head football coach Paul Er- nest believes that a roster in the mid- to upper-30s is a little lower than he'd normally like. But when it comes to the 2017 Pioneers football team, it's not the quantity of players that matters as much as it is the quality. "We've got a lot of kids that can play," said Ernest. "We think they're the right 39 kids." The Pioneers, 2-8 in 2016, return seven starters on offense and seven more on defense from a team that was close to being a .500 ballclub a year ago. Gentry lost 20-16 in its season-opener at Lavaca and had a pair of eight-point set - backs, 52-44 at Ber- ryville and 42-34 at home against Lincoln in 4A-1 Conference games. Different re- sults in those games would have put another outlook on how the Pioneers' season turned out. "We lost some close games," Ernest said. "We competed better last year. We were in some close games. We seemed to still make that key mistake on offense. We would put the ball on the ground on third-and-one or give up a long touchdown. Berryville, Huntsville (a 28-14 loss), Lincoln — all three games we were in winnable situations and couldn't close the games." Ernest, now in his third season at Gentry, believes this group of Pio - neers can turn the corner in 2017. "I think that this group can be as good as they want to be," said Ernest, who is 5-15 in two years. "There's a lot more than the on-the-field preparation. We need to have some success early and believe that we can compete with some teams that have been using us as their whipping boy. Shiloh Christian, Prairie Grove and Pea Ridge, all three were in the semifinals last year. Our kids hold them up on a pedestal." Ernest said he's see - ing more energy and excitement through the program in his third season. "We've got good kids," he said. "They're willing to work and put the time in during the summer. We've had a good summer turnout. You can kind of see sort of a culture change in our kids in how they're behaving and working through practice." The Pioneers will once again turn to quarterback Jon Faulkenberry to help guide an offense that's returning to a two-back scheme from the flex - bone of last year. "We're going back to what I know," said Ernest. Faulkenberry, a senior, was an all-conference selection in 2016 after rushing for more than 1,700 yards and 25 touchdowns and passing for nearly 750 yards and five more scores. "Faulkenberry is a run-pass threat and a hard-working kid that leads by example," Ernest said. "He shows up to work every day and looks for improve - ment. We like the ball in his hands and he's going to control what we do on the offensive side." Faulkenberry gets most of his attention from being able to run the ball, but Ernest said he's a good passer as well. "He throws it real well," Ernest said. "He had a good 7-on-7 summer. He learned a lot and defi - nitely improved. We've seen a lot out of him so far in the fall." The Pioneers are also high on soph- omore quarterback Brandon Atwood, who led Gentry's junior high team to a 7-3 season in 2016. "(Atwood) pushes Jon every day," Ernest said. "He's a good hand. He rushed more than 20 touchdowns and 1,500 yards in junior high. He al - ready threw it well and he's throwing it better every day." Gentry had six running backs that saw action last year and several re- turn this season. Ernest said work in a two-back set will be by committee and that the Pioneers will feature various backs by position not on who is carrying the ball. Senior Myles McFerron leads the group after rushing for more than 550 yards and four touchdowns last year. "We would like to use Myles as our pounder and grinder," Ernest said. Junior Devin Ellis gives the Pioneers a speed option, and Ernest said both Mc - Ferron and Ellis catch the ball well out of the back field and "block about the way a running back should block." Senior Tanner Christie, sophomore Jose Barrios, Hunter Butler, Dylan Kilgore and Charlie Rheams will also see some carries out of the backfield. The Pioneers switched to the flex - bone offense last season because they felt like they lacked experience at wide receiver, but that's not the case in 2017. Now Gentry has a surplus of play- makers at wideout. "We feel pretty good about that group," Ernest said. Junior Peyton Wright returns at a slot receiver position, while senior Garrett Matthews can play inside and outside receiver spots after playing running back last year. "We've got to find a way to get the ball in his hands," Ernest said of Matthews. 2017 Football Preview Wednesday, August 23, 2017 n 13 The Herald-Leader/Westside Eagle Observer Ernest Faulkenberry Matthews McFerron Gentry looks to turn corner in 2017 n Close losses in 2016 led to 2-8 season for Pioneers. By Graham Thomas Staff Writer n gthomas@nwadg.com Graham Thomas/Herald-Leader The Gentry Pioneers open the season Sept. 1 at home against Lavaca. See GENTRY on Page 14