NWADG Prep Rally Football Preview

2017 Edition

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W W W . H A R P S F O O D . C O M HARPS H O M E T O W N F R E S H 16 PreP rally: Class 7A Thursday, augusT 31, 2017 7 a - W e S T C O N F e r e N C e C a P S u l e S FOrT SMITH SOuTHSIDe MaVerICKS 2016 RECORD 3-7 COACH Jeff Williams RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Taye gatewood (Jr., 5-11, 205), Wr dylan Wyatt (sr., 5-8, 165), hB Cole altus (Jr., 6-4, 215), LB Kham Belcher (sr., 5-9, 190), LB darrin davenport (Jr., 6-2, 225), dB dee dee smith (Jr., 6-2, 160). THE SKINNY Jeff Williams' southside squad missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007 last fall and finished a disappointing 3-7. … The Mavericks' decade-long winning streak over rival Fs Northside also came to an end. But Williams is hopeful players who were thrown into the fire last season will make strides in 2017. … The coach is high on his skill players, highlighted by QB Taye gatewood and receiv - er dylan Wyatt. gatewood played both ways last season and Wyatt started each game. … Junior darrin davenport (64 tackles) returns at linebacker after tearing an aCL in week 5, and dee dee smith (Jr., 6-2, 160) will be a playmaker in the secondary with 4.6 speed. COACH SPEAK "We hadn't been through a year like last year since I've been at southside. We earned what we got. going into this year we're young and a pretty junior-oriented bunch. They've really bought into what we're trying to do, and I think they understand (the 7a-Cen - tral) a little bit better. I think our coaching staff and players are better prepared, and we're excited about getting started," Williams said SCHeDule sept. 1 ........springdale har-Ber Oct. 6 ............... North Little rock* sept. 8 ................at greenwood Oct. 13 ......................... at Bryant* sept. 15 .......... rogers heritage Oct. 20 ..................... Lr Catholic* sept. 22 .................. at Conway* Oct. 27 .................. at Lr Central* sept. 29 ......................at Cabot* Nov. 3 .................... Fs Northside* * — denotes 7a-Central Conference game M. Falleur d. robinson C. altus K. Belcher L. stubblefield E. Tabut d. davenport T. gatewood FOrT SMITH NOrTHSIDe GrIZZlIeS 2016 RECORD 7-3 COACH Mike Falleur RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 3 defense KEY PLAYERS QB/rB derrick Wise (Jr., 5-11, 180), Wr deaaron robinson (sr., 6-0, 185), OL stevie young (Jr., 6-5, 290), LB Locke stubblefield (sr., 6-2, 220), dB Elijah Tabut (Jr., 5-10, 175), dB Tyriq adams (Jr., 5-9, 160). THE SKINNY Northside hung its hat on strong defense a season ago, which led to a playoff berth and 7-3 finish. … defensive back Tre Norwood, now at Oklahoma, and Tanner Cross (dartmouth) were two of seven defensive players to sign with college programs in February. … Nine players will start defensively for the first time this fall, Falleur said. … The grizzlies' offense will revolve around standout junior der - rick Wise, who rushed for 515 yards and four Td in 2016. … stevie young is as talented as any offensive lineman Falleur has coached and feels the offensive line could be a plus. COACH SPEAK "We're young, really young. We're probably as young as we've been since I've been here, but we've got some very talented kids. I think it's really just going to depend on them growing up and being able to handle the pressures of Friday. We're an overall inexpe - rienced football team, but I like what I've seen. They're working hard and getting after it," Falleur said SCHeDule sept. 1 ................at greenwood Oct. 6 ................... at Lr Catholic* sept. 8 ......................Van Buren Oct. 13 ........................... Conway* sept. 15 ................. at Pine Bluff Oct. 20 .......... at North Little rock sept. 22 .........................Bryant* Oct. 27 .............................. Cabot* sept. 29 .................. Lr Central* Nov. 3 ................. at Fs southside * — denotes 7a-Central Conference game 7 a - C e N T r a l C O N F e r e N C e C a P S u l e S VaN BureN POINTerS 2016 RECORD 2-8 COACH greg Werner RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Caleb salisbury (sr., 6-3, 200), rB Walter green (sr., 5-8, 180), Wr/TE Logan humphreys (Jr., 6-4, 190), OL Nathan Westbrook (sr., 6-1, 310), dL Jayden Mendez (sr., 6-1, 260), ss Landry Wilkerson (Jr., 5-10, 170. THE SKINNY The Pointers finished 2-8 overall and 1-6 in their first season in the 7a-West last season, but coach greg Werner has reason to feel more confident this fall. … Walter green, the league's leading rusher in 2016, is back for his senior season, as is quarterback Caleb salisbury. … Texas move-in Nathan Westbrook, who started two sea - sons at guard for powerhouse allen, has been a welcome addition on the offensive line. … Jayden Mendez returns for his third season on the defensive line following a 64-tackle junior season. … Van Bu- ren hopes to make a playoff push after missing out by a game last fall. COACH SPEAK "We're moving along really well and no doubt we're more talented than we've been, so we're excited about that. But as always there's a long, long ways to go. But to this point we feel pretty good so far. … (Walter green) is an exciting back, and he's a lot stron - ger and faster than he was last year. I'm excited to see what he'll do this year," Werner said. SCHeDule aug. 29 ............................. alma Oct. 6 ........... at rogers heritage* sept. 8 ............. at Fs Northside Oct. 13 ............................ rogers* sept. 15 ........at siloam springs Oct. 20 .................. at springdale* sept. 22 ........ Bentonville West* Oct. 27 .....at springdale har-Ber* sept. 29 ..................Bentonville* Nov. 3 ........................ Fayetteville* * — denotes 7a-West Conference game L. hutchins M. hutchins W. green J. Mendez I. Nichols K. robinson C. salisbury g. Werner SPrINGDale HIGH BullDOGS 2016 RECORD 4-7 COACH Zak Clark RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 6 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Layne hutchins (sr., 6-0, 180), rB garrett Vaughan (Jr., 5-9, 160), Wr alex Thompson (sr., 5-10, 175), Wr Ka- mond robinson (sr., 5-10, 165), dL Isaiah Nichols (sr., 6-3, 265), LB Mason hutchins (sr., 6-0, 220), dB Kapone Wise (sr., 5-9, 160). THE SKINNY after winning only two games in coach Zak Clark's first season at springdale, the Bulldogs doubled that total in 2016 as they battled through a heart-wrenching year after the mid-season death of star Wr Kyler Williams in an automobile accident. … arkansas commit Isaiah Nichols (54 tackles, 12.5 for loss) is the team headliner and leader at defensive tackle. … LB Mason hutchins (80 tackles) returns and LB dylan sisemore is hopeful to return to action after knee three surgeries since Nov. 2015. … Clark likes the experience springdale carries into 2017 and hopes it will result in a third consec - utive playoff appearance. … senior QB Layne hutchins completed 59 percent of his passes for 2,223 yards in 2016 and will look to Wrs Kamond robinson (164 rec. yards, Td vs. Bryant), alex Thompson (743 yards, 5 Td) and others for explosive plays. … With Erick Mendez grad- uated, rBs garrett Vaughan and Jonathan Lopez will see a majority of the snaps in the backfield. The shifty darrell Parchman has a chance to shine early as well. COACH SPEAK "We're so much further along than we have been the last two years just from an experience standpoint. We get through just the little things, like the practice script, so much quicker. That tells me the pace, the kids' familiarity and what we can do. We're so much further along. If we can clean some things up I really like where we're at, but until then we've got to keep plugging away," Clark said. SCHeDule sept. 1 ..........................Conway Oct. 6 ............... Bentonville West* sept. 8 .............................. alma Oct. 13 .................. at Bentonville* sept. 15 ...............at russellville Oct. 20 ....................... Van Buren* sept. 22 .....at rogers heritage* Oct. 27 .................. at Fayetteville* sept. 29 .... springdale har-Ber* Nov. 3 .............................. rogers* * — denotes 7a-West Conference game a. Thompson N. Westbrook L. Wilkerson d. Wise s. young d. smith J. Williams

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