NWADG Prep Rally Football Preview

PREP RALLY: CLASS 3A | 8.22.2021 48 LAVACA GOLDEN ARROWS 2020 RECORD 1-7 overall, 1-5 3A-1 Conference COACH Mark Headley KEY PLAYERS QB Maddox Noel (Jr., 5-10, 160), OL Cade Adams (Sr., 6-3, 285), WR Jackson Floyd (Sr., 5-10, 150), RB Cazen Winters (Sr., 5-10, 165), DB Spencer Giles (Jr., 5-10, 140). THE SKINNY Lavaca is anticipating more success after managing one win in each of the past two seasons. ….. Lavaca won 20-12 at Mansfield for its only win in 2020. … Eight returning starters are back on offense and defense including quarterback Maddox Noel, who passed for over 1,000 yards as a sophomore. … Noel's return should lead to an improved offense that managed only 113 points in eight games last season. … Senior Ben Rodriguez led the defense with 72 tackles last year from his inside linebacker position. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "At times, I had seven sophomores starting on both sides of the ball. When you have that many sophomores, I don't care how good you are, you're going to take your lumps sometimes. We've got eight starters coming back but, with that said, these guys have got to learn how to win." — Mark Headley Aug. 27 ..... Elkins Oct. 8 ............ West Fork* Sept. 3 ...... at Westville, Okla Oct. 15 ...... at Greenland* Sept. 10 .... at Huntsville Oct. 22 .......... Mansfield* Sept. 24 .... Cedarville* Oct. 29 .......... at Lincoln* Oct. 1 ........ at Hackett* Nov. 5 ...... at Charleston* * — Denotes 3A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted SCHEDULE MANSFIELD TIGERS 2020 RECORD 1-9 overall, 0-7 3A-1 Conference COACH Tim Cothran KEY PLAYERS QB Zayne Dugan (Sr., 6-6, 225), WR Fisher Willsey (Jr., 6-0, 190), WR Austin Carlton (Sr., 5-6, 145), OL Christian Cass (Sr., 6-2, 225), WR Drew Elmore (Jr., 6-5, 185). THE SKINNY Mansfield had a huge drop-off after graduating most of the players who posted 15 combined wins in 2019 and 2018. …. The Tigers finished 1-9 were outscored 430-168 after opening the season with a 41-0 win over Magazine. A 41-0 loss at Waldron two weeks later began a nine-game losing streak. …. Mansfield returns five starters on offense, including quarterback Zayne Dugan, who threw for over 1,300 yards and scored 13 touchdowns as a junior. …. Mansfield will rely heavily on junior Fisher Willsey, a versatile athlete who can play quarterback, fullback, receiver, and linebacker for the Tigers. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "Our numbers are low. We've got 23, 24 kids out for football when we usually have 30. We've got six seniors and the good news is that those guys have experience from last year. The kids we have back are doing a lot of things right." — Tim Cothran Aug. 27 ..... Magazine Oct. 8 ........ at Charleston* Sept. 3 ...... Waldron Oct. 15 ............... Lincoln* Sept. 10 .... at Elkins Oct. 22 ............ at Lavaca* Sept. 24 .... West Fork* Oct. 29: Cedarville* Oct. 1 ........ at Greenland* Nov. 5 ............ at Hackett* * — Denotes 3A-4 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted SCHEDULE WEST FORK TIGERS 2020 RECORD 5-6 overall, 3-4 3A-1 Conference COACH Justin Smith KEY PLAYERS QB Eli Howerton (Jr., 6-3, 190), RB Ross Ivy (Sr., 5-8, 165), WR Ethan Howerton (Sr., 6-0, 185), OL Eli Edens (6-3, 260), OL Ethan Island (Sr., 5-10, 210), DL Daden Huckabee (Jr., 5-9, 250). THE SKINNY West Fork made tremendous progress last year with five wins after totaling four wins the previous four seasons. … Five starters return on offense, including junior quarterback Eli Howerton, who accounted for over 600 yards and 10 touchdowns. … Howerton is an all-around athlete who plays football, basketball, baseball, and has participated in track and field. …. Howerton's brother, senior Ethan Howerton, starts at free safety and wide receiver for the Tigers. …. Junior Eli Edens is a force at offensive guard and nose guard for the Tigers. …. Coach Smith begins his fourth season at West Fork. He previously served as an assistant coach at Marion and Stuttgart. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "Our offense (Flexbone) is meticulously geared toward the little things. Our guys have made tremendous strides in learning the offense we've put in and I think we'll be a little more flexible in what we can do this year." — Justin Smith Aug. 27 ..... Green Forest Oct. 8 .............. at Lavaca* Sept. 3 ...... at Berryville Oct. 15 ........... Cedarville* Sept. 10 .... at Paris Oct. 22 ........... at Hackett* Sept. 24 .... at Mansfield* Oct. 29 .......... Charleston* Oct. 1 ........ Lincoln* Nov. 5 ............ Greenland* * — Denotes 3A-4 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted SCHEDULE Winters Noel Giles Floyd BOONEVILLE BEARCATS 2020 RECORD 10-3 overall, 5-0 3A-4 Conference COACH Doc Crowley KEY PLAYERS QB Randon Ray (Sr., 5-8, 160), DL Rocky Ross (Sr., 5-8, 145), OL Brett Welling (Jr., 5-9, 220), RB Dax Goff (So., 6-1, 190), TE Matt Goers (Sr., 6-0, 170), WR Rayce Blansett (Sr., 6-0, 165). THE SKINNY Former offensive coordinator Doc Crowley took over as head coach after Scott Hyatt retired and led Booneville to fourth consecutive conference championship. …. Bearcats finished 10-3 overall after being eliminated in the quarterfinals by Harding Academy, the eventual state champions in Class 3A. …. Randon Ray returns at quarterback after rushing for over 1,700 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior. Ray scored three touchdowns and rushed for nearly 150 yards in a 20-19 win at Ozark. …. Bearcats expect sophomore Dax Goff (6-1, 190) to emerge as a top playmaker at running back. …. Senior Rocky Ross is a force along the defensive line for Booneville. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "We've got a quarterback who rushed for over 1,000 yards and our front five on the offensive line is as quick and strong as we've ever had. The chemistry on this team is really good." — Doc Crowley Aug. 27 ..... Green Forest Oct. 8 .............. at Lavaca* Sept. 3 ...... at Berryville Oct. 15 ........... Cedarville* Sept. 10 .... at Paris Oct. 22 ........... at Hackett* Sept. 24 .... at Mansfield* Oct. 29 .......... Charleston* Oct. 1 ........ Lincoln* Nov. 5 ............ Greenland* * — Denotes 3A-4 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted SCHEDULE Welling Ross Ray 2020 RECORD 11-2 overall, 5-1 3A-4 Conference COACH Jeff Weaver KEY PLAYERS QB Chase Watts (Sr., 5-10, 165), WR Blake Martines (Sr., 5-7, 130), RB Duke Walker (Sr., 6-0, 175), LB Nate Henderson (Sr., 5-10, 165), WR Cooper Haley (Sr., 6-3, 160), OL Ryan Post (6-3, 295). THE SKINNY Former Russellville head coach and longtime Greenwood assistant Jeff Weaver takes over at Paris for Tyler Clark, who left to become Russellville's offensive coordinator ….. Paris advanced to the third round of the playoffs after finishing second in the 3A-4 Conference to Booneville. ….. The Eagles led the league in scoring with 583 points in 13 games for the season. …. Paris returns seven starters on offense including quarterback Chase Watts, who totaled 2,000 yards and 40 touchdowns as a junior. … Duke Walker is back after rushing for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "We have a really good core returning and I feel like, offensively, we have the potential to put up a lot of points. Defensively, those guys created a lot of turnovers last year and most of those guys are back as well." — Jeff Weaver PARIS EAGLES Aug. 27 ..... at Lavaca Oct. 8 ........ Baptist Prep* Sept. 3 ...... at JC Westside Oct. 15 ................ Atkins* Sept. 10 .... West Fork Oct. 22 ........... Perryville* Sept. 24 .... at Mayflower* Oct. 29 ..... at Booneville* Oct. 1 ........ at Two Rivers Nov. 5 .............. Danville* * — Denotes 3A-4 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted SCHEDULE Fun For All Ages! Full Service Pro Shop Full Service Cafe 2300 N. College Ave. • Fayetteville, AR www.ozarkbowlinglanes.com 479-442-4275

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