Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1282064
42 PREP RALLY: CLASS 4A | 8.30.2020 Tree Trimming done right.... you betcha!!!! • Tree Trimming • Fence Row Clearing • Tree Removal • Stump Grinding • Storm Clean-Up • 479-282-1020 | www.circlebprairiegrovetreeservice.com T R E E S E R V I C E PR A I R I E GR O V E 4 7 9 - 6 0 1 - 5 5 9 1 4 7 9 - 8 4 6 - 43 3 3 T R E E S E R V I C E PR A I R I E GR O V E 4 7 9 - 6 0 1 - 5 5 9 1 4 7 9 - 8 4 6 - 43 3 3 PRAIRIE GROVE TIGERS 2019 RECORD 4-7, 4-3 4A-1 Conference COACH Danny Abshier RETURNING STARTERS 7 offense, 6 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Cade Grant (Sr., 5-11, 200), FB Foster Layman (Sr., 5-10, 190), QB Knox Laird (Sr., 5-11, 180), DL Caden Redfern (Sr., 6-2, 195), DL Gunter Caudle (Sr., 6-3, 230), LB Carter Scates (Sr., 5-8, 180). THE SKINNY Prairie Grove managed four victories last season after combining for 36 wins from 2015-2017. … There is renewed optimism for the Tigers with starters returning at 13 positions and a sophomore class that went 8-2 last season. …. Prairie Grove will have 20 seniors on its roster after having only about eight seniors last season. … Prairie Grove will face two conference newcomers this season, Huntsville and Elkins. … Pea Ridge bumped up to Class 5A while Lincoln dropped down to Class 3A. …. Coach Danny Abshier will begin his 30th season as head coach at Prairie Grove needing just two wins to eclipse the 200-career win mark. … Quarterback Knox Laird is the younger brother of former Prairie Grove quarterback Zeke Laird and the son of Prairie Grove defensive coordinator Craig Laird. …. Prairie Grove is picked second in a preseason poll of the 4A-1 coaches. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "We have a lot of seniors, which makes a difference, and we have a lot of juniors who played last year. So, we've got some experience. Huntsville has been in 5A before and Elkins has almost all of their starters from where they were last year. So, I think the competition in the conference is going to be about the same." — Danny Abshier, Prairie Grove coach SCHEDULE Sept. 4 ...... Farmington Oct. 9 .at Shiloh Christian* Sept. 11 .... Pea Ridge Oct. 16 ............ Huntsville* Sept. 18 .... at Stillwell, Okla. Oct. 23 ............. at Gentry* Sept. 25 .... Green Forest* Oct. 30 .............Berryville* Oct. 2 ........ at Gravette* Nov. 6 ............... at Elkins* — * Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoff 7 p.m. unless noted ELKINS ELKS 2019 RECORD 5-6, 3-4 4A-4 Conference COACH Bryan Hutson RETURNING STARTERS 10 offense, 10 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Kain Johnson (Sr., 5-11, 175), RB Trevor Shumate (Sr., 6-2, 195), WR Cody Drummond (Sr., 5-10, 170), WR Josh Allan (Sr., 5-9, 150), OL Kelynn Daniel (Sr., 6-2, 265), LB Kale Drummond (Sr., 6-0, 180). THE SKINNY The Elks lost just one two-way starter to graduation, so experience is definitely a strength after having just two returning starters a year ago. … Kain Johnson, a dual-threat quarterback is the trigger man for a talented offense. He threw for more than 2,000 yards and ran for a little over 400 more, while accounting for 34 TDs (23 passing/11 rushing). … Daniel anchors both lines and will be a four-year starter. … Elkins coach Bryan Hutson said lower numbers hurt his team last year as it lost the final five games after a 5-1 start, but that should not be an issue this season, Hutson said. The Elks dressed out only 26 for their playoff game against Warren but currently have more than 40 in practice this year. … Trevor Shumate can be a threat running and catching the ball, but he's also a force on defense at linebacker. … Switching back to the 4A-1 conference from the 4A-4 means shorter road trips, but the competition doesn't get any easier, Hutson said. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "You got back and look at the scores of some of those games at halftime, we were either tied, ahead or within a few points. Even Warren we were ahead of them 13-0 at one point. It became a war of attrition where we just wore down in the second half. We have 16 or 17 more this year. It's a big difference to where we think we will have some quality depth, help us on special teams with a talented sophomore class." — Bryan Hutson, Elkins coach SCHEDULE Aug. 28 ..... Lincoln Oct. 9 ...............Berryville* Sept. 4 ...... at Greenland Oct. 16 ....at Green Forest* Sept. 11 .... at Mansfield Oct. 23 ...Shiloh Christian* Sept. 25 .... Gravette* Oct. 30 ............. at Gentry* Oct. 2 ........ at Huntsville* Nov. 6 ........ Prairie Grove* * — Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted SHILOH CHRISTIAN SAINTS 2019 RECORD 14-1, 7-0 4A-1 COACH Jeff Conaway RETURNING STARTERS 2 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Caleb Anderson (Jr., 5-9, 185), RB Cam Wiedemann (Sr., 5-11, 180), WR Ben Baker (Jr., 5-8, 165), WR/DB Drew Dudley (Sr., 6-2, 190), LB Kaden Henley (Jr., 6-2, 225), LB Braden Tutt (Sr., 6-0, 170), DB Cooper Hutchinson (Jr., 5-10, 155). THE SKINNY The Saints graduated a huge senior class that helped lead them to the state title game, but coach Jeff Conaway said many of those backups got valuable experience a year ago. … There's a four-man battle going on for the starting quarterback position among junior Caleb Anderson, senior Kyle Cason and sophomores Eli Wisdom and Bodie Neal. … Junior Kaden Henley is the defensive leader as he finished with a team-best 107 tackles a year ago. … Cam Wiedemann comes off a sterling junior season, rushing for almost 1,300 yards — including 700-plus combined in five playoff games. He also finished with 51 receptions for 581 yards. … Ben Baker, an all-conference pick at receiver, returns as another big-play threat. … Conaway also expects some talented sophomores to also push for playing time. … Senior Sam Widmer is the lone returner on the offensive line, but he'll be a three-year starter. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "Our seniors, although a small senior class, they know that this is what they've been working for. They know the expectation. They know the pressure that can sometimes be associated with that. But the message we're sending them is to trust the process. You've been in our system. We've prepared you. You are developed. It's your turn." — Jeff Conaway, Shiloh Christian coach SCHEDULE Aug. 28 ..... Pea Ridge Oct. 9 ......... Prairie Grove* Sept. 4 ...... at Poteau, Okla. Oct. 16 ................. Gentry* Sept. 11 .... at Sand Springs, Okla. Oct. 23 .............. at Elkins* Sept. 25 .... Berryville* Oct. 30 .............. Gravette* Oct. 2 ........ at Green Forest* Nov. 6 ......... at Hunstville* * — Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted Grant Hall Layman Laird Wilhite Daniel Drummond Allan Wiedemann Dudley Henley Tutt