NWADG Prep Rally Football Preview

47 PREP RALLY: CLASS 3A | 8.30.2020 415 E MAIN ST | CHARLESTON, AR Good luck to ALL high school teams! 866-605-2851 WWW.HUGGM.COM 2019 RECORD 8-3, 4-1 2A-4 Conference COACH Michael Meador RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Weston Winters (Sr., 6-0, 190), QB Avery Hester (Sr., 5-9, 165), WR Fisher Shipman (Sr., 6-0, 170), LB Peyton Hester (Jr., 5-10, 175), OL Luke Gann (Sr., 6-1, 230), OL Isaiah Carter, 6-1, 270), DL Jesse Esparza (Jr., 6-0, 240). THE SKINNY Michael Meador returns for his second year as head coach at Hackett after leading the Hornets to an 8-3 record in 2019. …. Meador arrived from Rison, where he was an assistant football coach and head basketball coach. He graduated from Charleston in 2010 and played college football at Central Arkansas and Henderson State. … The Hornets scored 330 points and allowed 222 points in 11 games last year. … Hackett won five consecutive before being eliminated in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs by Dierks. … Hackett moves from Class 2A-4 to Class 3A-1 Conference this season because of reclassification. … Avery and Brady Hester, his older brother, both developed into all-state quarterbacks for the Hornets. … Hackett bumps up to Class 3A after playing in Class 2A. The Hornets are picked to finish fifth in a preseason poll of the 3A-1 Conference coaches. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "Moving to 3A is a new challenge, but we've played some of these teams before. Mansfield is our rival and we played Charleston in a scrimmage. We accept the challenge. We've got a lot of players back and we expect to come in and challenge for the conference championship." — Michael Meador, Hackett coach SCHEDULE Sept. 4 ...... at Pocola, Okla. Oct. 9 ................ Cedarville* Sept. 11 .... Panama, Okla. Oct. 16 .........at Charleston* Sept. 18 .... Mountainburg Oct. 23 .......... at West Fork* Sept. 25 .... Lincoln *Oct. 30 ............Greenland* Oct. 2 ........ at Lavaca* Nov. 6 ........... at Mansfield* — * Denotes 3A-1 Conference game All kickoff 7 p.m. unless noted MANSFIELD TIGERS 2019 RECORD 7-4, 4-3 3A-1 Conference COACH Tim Cothran RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS LB Randy Claude (Sr., 6-0, 200), OL Bri Sanderson (Sr., 6-4, 225), OL Jared Schmidt (Sr., 6-3, 220), QB Zayne Dugan (Jr., 6-6, 215), RB FB Cody Fudge (Sr., 5-11, 185), WR Austin Carlton (Jr., 5-8, 160), THE SKINNY Mansfield hopes to rebuild after graduating 14 seniors from a team that went 7-4 overall and finished tied for third in the 3A-1 Conference. … Mansfield scored 399 points and allowed 321 points in 11 games last season. … Senior Randy Caudle is a returning starter who'll play middle linebacker, running back, and slot receiver for the Tigers. … The Tigers must replace their top four receivers from last season, including all-state performer Layton Howard. …. Mansfield is predicted to finish sixth of eight teams in a preseason poll of the league coaches. …. Right tackle Bri Sanderson will start for the third straight season for the Tigers…. Zayne Dugan will take over at quarterback after backing up Ethan Stovall, an all-conference player. …. Coach Cothran is excited about the addition of Codi Chick, a standout basketball player to the team. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "We have to replace 14 seniors, so it's kind of a rebuilding year. We've got six or seven guys back who have played the last two years and we're going to lean on them a lot. They're excellent ballplayers." — Tim Cothran, Mansfield coach SCHEDULE Aug. 28 ..... at Magazine Oct. 9 .............Charleston* Sept. 4 ...... at Waldron Oct. 16 ............ at Lincoln* Sept. 11 .... Elkins Oct. 23 .................Lavaca* Sept. 25 .... West Fork* Oct. 30 ........ at Cedarville* Oct. 2 ........ Greenland* Nov. 6 .................Hackett* — * Denotes 3A-1 Conference game All kickoff 7 p.m. unless noted WEST FORK TIGERS 2019 RECORD 0-10, 0-7 3A-1 COACH Justin Smith RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Eli Howerton (Soph., 6-2, 170), FB Brenan Cash (Sr., 5-10, 218), , RB Ross Ivy (Jr., 5-8, 155), OL/DL Josh Holmes (Sr., 6-2, 250), OL/DL Dylan Byrum (Sr., 6-2, 250), TE Eli Edins (Soph., 6-2,245), OL Conner McAdoo (Sr., 6-0, 210), LB/OL Luke Baldwin (Soph., 5-9, 195). THE SKINNY Coach Justin Smith likes the progress his team has made entering his third season, despite going winless a year ago. He switched from a spread offense to more of a power-based running game to fit different personnel who were coming up the ranks. … The Tigers have higher expectations with some bigger linemen and stronger backs. … Eli Howerton will start at quarterback as a sophomore and his athleticism allows him to be a threat to run or throw the ball effectively. … Brenan Cash, a three-year starter at fullback, rushed for more than 700 yards last season to earn all-conference honors, but also had a team-high 88 tackles from his middle linebacker spot. … Josh Holmes and Dylan Byrum, both seniors, anchor the line as Holmes returns after missing five games last year because of an injury. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "We knew what we had coming up. We tried to make changes then that would impact us in the long run. We knew there would be some growing pains when we made the transition. But this time last year compared to now. It's night and day difference. It's not even the same ballclub, so we're very pleased with the work they've done." — Justin Smith, West Fork coach Aug. 28 ..... at Green Forest Oct. 9 ...................Lavaca* Sept. 4 ...... Berryville Oct. 16 ........ at Cedarville* Sept. 11 .... Paris Oct. 23 ................Hackett* Sept. 25 .... Mansfield* Oct. 30 ...........Charleston* Oct. 2 ........ at Lincoln* Nov. 6 .........at Greenland* * — Denotes 3A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted SCHEDULE GREENLAND PIRATES 2019 RECORD 7-5, 4-3 3A-1 COACH Lee Larkan RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Gabe Wilson (Sr., 6-2, 210), OL/DL J.J. Hollingsworth (Jr., 6-3, 245), RB Jett Dennis (Sr., 5-10, 170), WR Hunter Gaither (Sr., 5-11, 160),OL Josh Ruth (Sr., 5-10, 240), LB Josiah Elam (Sr., 6-0, 190), WR/DB Ethan Gilbert (Sr., 6-1, 185), DL Trenton Napier (Sr., 5-10, 185), THE SKINNY The Pirates return some talent at the skill positions with quarterback Gabe Wilson and running back Jett Dennis, both all-conference selections. But they also have a stud on the offensive and defensive line in junior J.J. Hollingsworth, who recently verbally committed to Arkansas. … Wilson accounted for more than 2,400 yards of offense a year ago, including 1,912 passing, and 25 touchdowns (15 passing/10 rushing). He will also likely play more safety this season. Dennis rushed for more than 1,300 yards and 14 TDs. … Hollingsworth was dedicated in his conditioning and work in the weight room, particularly during the pandemic when school was shut down, and that paid big dividends to the tune of an additional 15 pounds, Greenland coach Lee Larkan said. He had a good year as a sophomore despite playing much of the season with a broken arm, Larkan said. … The Pirates were picked to finish third in the league by the coaches, but Larkan believes his team can contend for the conference title. A favorable schedule could help as the other three teams picked in the top four all must come to Greenland. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "Our biggest deal with us this year is we don't have the depth we had in the past. We'll probably have six to eight two-way guys. Our skill people are pretty solid though." — Lee Larkan, Greenland coach Sept. 4 ...... Elkins Oct. 9 .................. Lincoln* Sept. 11 .... at Danville Oct. 16 .............at Lavaca* Sept. 18 .... at Booneville Oct. 23 ............ Cedarville* Sept. 25 .... Charleston* Oct. 30 ............ at Hackett* Oct. 2 ........ at Mansfield* Nov. 6 .............West Fork* * — Denotes 3A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted SCHEDULE CEDARVILLE PIRATES 2019 RECORD 6-4, 3-4 3A-1 COACH Max Washausen RETURNING STARTERS 7 offense, 7 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Cody Dickens ((Jr., 6-1, 155), RB Darryl Kattich (Jr., 6-1, 195), OL Taylor Humble (Sr., 5-10, 240), LB Hayden Partain (Jr., 6-0, 210), RB Tommy Metcalf (Sr., 5-11, 160), RB Bruce Turney (Jr., 5-10, 160). THE SKINNY The Pirates got off to a red-hot 6-1 start a year ago but were decimated by injuries late and didn't win another game. That left Cedarville out of the playoffs despite a more than respectable 6-4 record. … Coach Max Washausen said his team's hungry for more success returning 14 starters. … All-state running back Darryl Kattich rushed for 1,511 yards and 18 TDs but quarterback Cody Dickens is also part of a large and talented junior class. … Dickens split time at QB last year and started three games, but he will now give the Pirates a true passing threat, Washausen said. He will have a variety of targets as well including fullback Hayden Partain, along with wingbacks Bruce Turney and Tommy Metcalf or receiver Bradley Perkins, who has 4.6 speed. … Taylor Humble, a three-year starter, anchors the offensive line as the lone returner at that spot. … Partain is also a key on defense from his linebacker spot, finishing with a team-high 90 tackles a year ago. … Washausen also likes how his defense can match up well with some of the top teams in the league that run a spread offense. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "We knew last year we could sneak up on some people. But I told them there's no more sneaking up on people. We're no longer the underdog. It's absolutely a different approach. Now to be picked as league contenders, it's a great feeling to have that." — Max Washausen, Cedarville coach Aug. 28 ..... at Berryville Oct. 9 .............. at Hackett* Sept. 4 ...... at Mountainburg Oct. 16 ............West Fork* Sept. 11 .... Green Forest Oct. 23 ........at Greenland* Sept. 25 .... Lavaca* Oct. 30 ............ Mansfield* Oct. 2 ........ at Charleston* Nov. 6 ................... Lincoln * — Denotes 3A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted SCHEDULE HACKETT HORNETS Claude Duggan McAdoo Wilson Hollingsworth Carlton Dickens Kattich

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