NWADG Prep Rally Football Preview

PREP RALLY: CLASS 7A | 8.22.2021 14 BENTONVILLE TIGERS 2020 RECORD 10-1 overall, 7-0 COACH Jody Grant RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 3 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Drew Wright (Sr., 6-3, 200); RB Josh Ficklin (Jr., 5-10, 200), WR Chas Nimrod (Sr., 6-3, 185), WR Cooper Smith (Sr., 6-0, 170), TE Luke Wright (Sr., 5-11, 190), OL Avery Styron (Sr., 6-0, 265), OL/DL Trevor Martinez (Jr., 6-3, 315), DL Zander McGage (Sr., 6-1, 210); LB Mason Middleton (Sr., 5-11, 190), DB Jackson Hutchens (Sr., 5-10, 160) THE SKINNY Bentonville opens the season with a 32-game win streak in 7A-West play. … The Tigers' roster has been bolstered by a pair of transfers — LB Kendrick Saulu (Sr., 5-10, 185), who was an all-conference player last season at Clarksville, and OL Joey Su'a (Jr., 6-3, 315), who was a two-year starter at a school in California. … Wright, who saw considerable time in games last year, assumes the quarterback role. … The Tigers are loaded with experienced offensive weapons in Ficklin (143 carries, 1,003 yards, 15 TDs), Smith (47 receptions, 840 yards, 12 TDs) and Nimrod (35 catches, 781 yards, 12 TDs), as well as RBs Sean Anderson (70 carries, 362 yards, 3 TDs) and Chris Collier-Surly (32 carries, 310 yards, 5 TDs). … Grant said Anderson may be used as a slot receiver at times to give him more appearances on the field, and the Tigers may utilize more two-back offensive sets because of him and Collier-Surly. … Styron, an all-conference selection last year, returns at left guard and will be joined by Su'a at left tackle, while Luke Wright returns as an undersized tight end that can run-block well and Raef Stalls is utilized when the Tigers opt for two tight ends. … McGage moved from linebacker to help on the defensive line. … Middleton moves to inside linebacker after being an outside linebacker last year and had 47 tackles and two forced fumbles. … Hutchens, an all-conference selection last year, will be the leader in Bentonville's secondary. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "We don't want to be easy, but our goal is once again to win the conference and position ourselves for a great run in the playoffs. We have to win some football games in the playoffs and find a way to get to Little Rock. Once we get there, we have to find a way to get it done. We've done all that before. We have to find a way to finish the end goal, which is to win a state title. It's not easy to do that. We have to stay healthy, stay smart in what we are doing out there and make plays." — Jody Grant and running back. Rogers, with Chad Harbison now at head coach, has a number of offensive weapons in its arsenal, but the Mounties will be in their third defensive scheme in as many years. Hobbs, Springdale's defensive coordinator the last five years, wants the Bulldogs to get more aggressive as they turn to ball control and time management. The same goes for Rogers Heritage, which finally gets to enjoy a regular offseason under third-year Steve Hoofkin, while Fort Smith Southside strides for improvement in its second- year coach Kim Dameron. "This conference is going to be very deep," Fayetteville coach Casey Dick said. "Especially when you look at the coaches we have. You have Bentonville, West, Har-Ber and Rogers, then you look at what the others did last year with the groups they had. "It's going to be a good year, and deep like it is every year. I'm sure it's going to be entertaining for everybody." 7A-Central Fort Smith Northside, meanwhile, enters the 2021 season with some experience. Coach Mike Falleur said the Grizzlies have 31 seniors on the rosters, one of the biggest groups since he's been there. Falleur hopes that senior leadership will help as Northside tries to position itself better in the 7A-Central standings. The Grizzlies will have weapons like receiver Walker Catsavis, quarterback Jett Frazier and running back Ty Massey to help their team make that move. "We might not have that superstar like we've had in the past," Falleur said. "But we do have a bunch of really good football players and guys that care about each other and put the team first." Northside is projected to finish in the middle of the 7A-Central, which features three-time defending state champion Bryant. The Hornets are expected to be near the top of the league again, with Conway, Cabot and North Little Rock also expected to be in that mix. "They're all talented football teams," Falleur said. "You have to be ready to play every Friday and buckle it up. It's going to be a physical football game." The Central has only one new head coach this year. Longtime North Little Rock assistant Randy Sandefur takes over the top spot after J.R. Eldridge resigned and became the new coach at Farmington. Balanced n Continued from Page 13 Luke Wyatt, shown throwing the ball for Fort Smith Southside last season, will be on the other side of passes this season after he made the switch to receiver and became an all-conference performer with 37 receptions for 576 yards and 7 touchdowns. NWA Democrat-Gazette/Andy Shupe 7A-WEST CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Aug. 27 ..... Liberty (Mo.) North Oct. 8 ......Rogers Heritage* Sept. 3 ...... Conway Oct. 15 ........at Fayetteville* Sept. 10 .... KC Rockhurst Oct. 22 ..............at Rogers* Sept. 24 .... at Har-Ber* Oct. 29 ............ Springdale* Oct. 1 ........ FS Southside* Nov. 5 at Bentonville West* * — Denotes 7A-West Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted Wright Smith FINAL CONFERENCE STANDINGS 7A-WEST TEAM CONFERENCE OVERALL Bentonville .................. 7-0 ......................10-1 Fayetteville .................. 4-1 ........................4-6 Bentonville West ......... 4-2 ........................6-4 Springdale Har-Ber ...... 4-3 ........................5-7 Rogers ........................ 3-2 ........................6-3 Springdale ................... 2-5 ........................3-8 FS Southside ............... 1-5 ........................2-9 Rogers Heritage .......... 0-7 ......................1-10 7A-CENTRAL Bryant ......................... 6-0 ......................13-0 North Little Rock ......... 5-1 ......................11-2 Conway ....................... 4-2 ........................8-4 Cabot .......................... 2-3 ........................8-4 FS Northside ............... 2-3 ........................5-5 LR Catholic ................. 2-5 ........................5-7 LR Central ................... 1-2 ........................3-5 LR Southwest ............. 0-7 ........................0-7 P R O U D T O S U P P O R T O U R L O C A L AT H L E T E S ! 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