NWADG Prep Rally Football Preview

2017 Edition

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2356 N. College • 479.521.7990 1860 N. Crossover • 479.443.8007 fayetteville, ar www.lahuertafayetteville.com Authentic Mexican Food FREE CHEESE DIP When You Buy An Entree (Only with this coupon at La Huerta) 14 PreP rally: Class 7A Thursday, augusT 31, 2017 BeNTONVIlle HIGH TIGerS 2016 RECORD 10-3 COACH Jody grant RETURNING STARTERS 2 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS Wr Kam'ron Mays-hunt (6-1, 180, sr.); TE Tyler Johnson (6-2, 205, sr.); dL angel guerrero (5-9, 250, sr.), dB Jadyn Loudermilk (6-0, 190, sr.); rB Easton Miller (5-11, 180, sr.), LB Jared richey (5-11, 200, sr.), Wr/dB Collin snieski (5-10, 170, sr.). THE SKINNY Bentonville, despite winning a share of the 7a-West title last season, didn't earn a first-round bye in the playoffs for the first time since the format was expanded to 12 teams in 2008. The Tigers, however, earned victories over Little rock Catholic and Fort smith Northside to reach the semifinals for the seventh consecutive year. … Bentonville caught some attention during the summer when the Tigers won the southwest Elite 7-on-7 tournament with a 27-18 victory over defending champion Bixby, Okla. Those two teams meet again in Bixby next month after Bentonville won the first meeting 44-34 in Tiger stadium last year. … The Tigers' two returning offensive starters, Mays-hunt and Johnson, have committed to play college baseball at arkansas and combined for 98 receptions for 1,648 yards and 14 Tds. … Nathan Lyons, mainly a receiver last season, moves to quarterback and has been impressive with his ability to run the offense, as well as give the Tigers a run-pass threat. … Miller gave Bentonville a preview to this fall when he ran for 92 yards and 2 Tds in a playoff win over Fort smith Northside. … guerrero returns for a third season at noseguard and anchors the Tigers' defensive line and will get help from transfer adam Brazell, who started at his school in Texas last fall. … The sec - ondary features Loudermilk, who had 52 tackles at cornerback last season and earned all-conference honors, and Collin snieski, who had 60 tackles. … Bentonville doesn't have a kicker named Moehring for the first time since 2013, and there's a "healthy competition" for that spot, according to grant. COACH SPEAK "I think this is a team that we like. They practice hard, and they seem to be a close group. We're excited about seeing them compete. at this point, when you're competing against yourself, I still think there are a lot of unknowns about how good you can be. athletically and talent-wise, I think we have a chance to have a pretty special year. right now, our offense is operating really well, and our defense played well in our last scrimmage, which was good to see. The guys we are counting to make plays are making plays, and they're stepping up in areas where we need people to step up," grant said. SCHeDUle sept. 1 . at Kansas City (Mo.) rockhurst Oct. 6 ...springdale har-Ber* sept. 8 ............................. at Bixby, Okla. Oct. 13.......springdale high* sept. 15 ..................................... Conway Oct. 20 ....... at rogers high* sept. 22 ...............................Fayetteville* Oct. 27 ..... rogers heritage* sept. 29 ........................... at Van Buren* Nov. 3 ...at Bentonville West* * — denotes 7a-West Conference game BeNTONVIlle WeST WOlVerINeS 2016 RECORD 3-8 COACH Bryan Pratt RETURNING STARTERS 11 offense, 11 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Will Jarrett (6-0, 160, Jr.), Wr Jadon Jackson (6- 1, 170, Jr.), OL Michael Toney (6-2, 299, sr.), Wr/LB hunter swoboda (6-4, 225, sr.), dB Jason gloeckler (sr., 6-0, 160) THE SKINNY West turned heads last season by not only earning a playoff spot, but hosting a first-round playoff game in its inaugural season. … With no seniors on last year's team, the Wolverines enjoy a rarity this season — all their starters are back. … West has slightly more than 100 players on this year's roster, compared to 70 in its first season. … The defense has been hit with injuries this offseason as linebacker sebastian Caniglia, the team's leading tackler, suffered a knee injury at a Tulsa team camp, and transfer hunter swoboda broke his leg during a combine in Little rock. swoboda, who had 136 tackles and two interceptions as a middle linebacker at Pulaski robinson last year, hopes to be back by the season opener, but Caniglia may not return until the latter part of the season. … Jarrett threw for 1,883 yards and 23 Tds, then ran for 541 yards and two more scores, including a 74-yard run in West's playoff game against Cabot. … swoboda can also play a tight end/receiver spot and adds to a group that includes Jack - son (59 receptions, 916 yards, 9 Tds), who is already received major college offers (including arkansas), senior stefan Banda (36 catches, 658 yards, 5 Tds) and Jackson Prince (37 receptions, 404 yards, 6 Tds). … The extra depth will be beneficial because there will be fewer players forced to play both sides of the ball. That will be beneficial to a defense that allowed 40 points per game last year. … Linebacker Kendall young was voted by 7a-West coaches as the defensive new - comer of the year after recording 69 tackles in seven games before suffering a broken arm. COACH SPEAK "We've worked hard to make sure our team stays focused and make sure they understand how important the offseason was. I think our team is a whole lot more mature and a team that comes out with a purpose instead of just being there like we were last year. I think our philosophy is in place and we've built a good foundation. Now our expectation is going to be bigger, so we're not letting down any. We'll keep fighting to get better because we're in a very good con - ference," Pratt said. SCHeDUle sept. 1 .................... Pryor, Okla. Oct. 6 ............at springdale high* sept. 8 ......... Little rock Central Oct. 8 .......at springdale har-Ber* sept. 15 ..... at Muskogee, Okla. Oct. 15 ............. rogers heritage* sept. 22 .............. at Van Buren* Oct. 22 ............... at rogers high* sept. 29 ..................Fayetteville* Nov. 3 ................Bentonville high* * — denotes 7a-West Conference game 7 a - W e S T C O N F e r e N C e C a P S U l e S guerrero Johnson Jackson Jarrett Mays-hunt Miller swoboda Toney OVERALL RK. TEAM CONF. 2016 RECORD 1. springdale har-Ber ...... 7a-West ..................... 8-3 COMMENT Wildcats aiming for first state title since 2009 2. Bryant ......................... 7a-Central ................... 9-4 COMMENT Buck James has hornets in position to reach War Memorial in december 3. Fayetteville .................... 7a-West ................... 12-1 COMMENT Can new coach Billy dawson lead a third school to a state title? 4. North Little rock ........ 7a-Central ................. 12-1 COMMENT Charging Wildcats attempt to reach sec- ond consecutive state title game 5. greenwood .................. 6a-West ................... 12-1 COMMENT Bulldogs one of state's top programs over past 13 seasons with rick Jones 6. Pulaski academy ....... 5a-Central ................. 13-1 COMMENT Bruins 40-2 since 2014 ...... looking for fourth consecutive title 7. Bentonville .................... 7a-West ................... 10-3 COMMENT Tigers expect to be in Class 7a mix again 8. El dorado ..................... 6a-West ..................... 6-6 COMMENT Expectations always high at south ar- kansas school 9. Bentonville West .......... 7a-West ..................... 3-8 COMMENT Wolverines made 7a playoffs in first season, but expect more in 2017 10. Jonesboro ...................6a-East ..................... 9-3 COMMENT hurricane coming off 6a-East title in 2016 CLASS 7A SUPER SIX RK. TEAM CONF. REC. 1. springdale har-Ber ...... 7a-West ..................... 8-3 2. Bryant ......................... 7a-Central ................... 9-4 3. Fayetteville .................... 7a-West ................... 12-1 4. North Little rock ........ 7a-Central ................. 12-1 5. Bentonville .................... 7a-West ................... 10-3 6. Bentonville West .......... 7a-West ..................... 3-8 CLASS 6A SUPER SIX RK. TEAM CONF. REC. 1. greenwood ................... 6a-West ................... 12-1 2. El dorado ..................... 6a-West ..................... 6-6 3. Jonesboro .....................6a-East ..................... 9-3 4. Pine Bluff .......................6a-East ..................... 8-3 5. Benton .......................... 6a-West ..................... 8-5 6. West Memphis ..............6a-East ......................7-5 CLASS 5A SUPER SIX RK. TEAM CONF. REC. 1. Pulaski academy ........ 5a-Central ................. 13-1 2. Wynne ...........................5a-East ................... 13-1 3. alma ............................. 5a-West ..................... 8-4 4. Batesville .......................5a-East ..................... 9-4 5. Lr Christian ............... 5a-Central ................... 5-7 6. Watson Chapel ........... 5a-south .................... 8-5 CLASS 4A SUPER SIX RK. TEAM ..........................CONF. ...................REC. 1. Warren ............................. 4a-8 ...................... 15-0 2. Pea ridge ....................... 4a-1 ...................... 13-2 3. Nashville.......................... 4a-7 ....................... 11-1 4. Joe T. robinson .............. 4a-7 ....................... 11-2 5. stuttgart ........................... 4a-2 ........................ 8-4 6. Prairie grove ................... 4a-1 ...................... 12-1 CLASS 3A SUPER SIX RK. TEAM CONF. REC. 1. Prescott ............................ 3a-5 ...................... 15-0 2. Charleston ....................... 3a-4 ...................... 13-1 3. Junction City ................... 3a-6 ........................ 8-4 4. rivercrest ........................ 3a-3 ........................ 9-4 5. harding academy ........... 3a-2 ........................ 8-4 6. glen rose ....................... 3a-5 ...................... 12-2 CLASS 2A SUPER SIX RK. TEAM CONF. REC. 1. Mount Ida ........................ 2a-7 ...................... 14-1 2. Camden harmony grove 2a-8 ........................ 8-5 3. danville ............................ 2a-4 ...................... 10-1 4. des arc ........................... 2a-6 ...................... 10-2 5. rison ............................... 2a-8 ........................ 6-4 6. Bearden........................... 2a-8 ........................ 5-5 arkansas Democrat-Gazette preseason high school rankings By Jeremy Muck

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