Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1403573
PREP RALLY: CLASS 4A | 8.22.2021 42 BERRYVILLE BOBCATS 2020 RECORD 0-7, 0-7 4A-1 Conference COACH Bryan Hutson RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Jaeden Tanksley (Sr., 5-10, 215), OL Ross Nance (Sr., 6-0, 240), OL Damian Helmlinger (Sr., 6-1, 220), WR/DB Brayden Hill (Sr., 6-0, 160), WR Kennon Helmlinger (Sr., 6-1, 160), OL William Redd (Sr., 5-10, 240). THE SKINNY Tanksley is hoping to make it through his senior season injury-free after missing most of the past two seasons. … Hutson said the offensive line would be a team strength with center Ross Nance and guard Damian Helmlinger leading the way. … The Bobcats will run a spread offense under Hutson. … Numbers are an issue for the Bobcats, but Hutson expects to field a roster of about 35 players this season. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "I'm counting on the leadership of our seniors. This is a 180 from the offense they have run in the past. So it's a slow process. But the seniors have really taken over the leadership of the team. It's not just one, it's all of them. This is definitely a team with no standout superstars on it. It's just a team. And they have bought in to what we're trying to do. But it's still part of a pretty big learning curve right now." — Bryan Hutson SCHEDULE Aug. 27 ..... at Cedarville Oct. 8 .................... Elkins* Sept. 3 ...... West Fork Oct. 15 ............atGravette* Sept. 10 .... at Greenland Oct. 22 ............ Huntsville* Sept. 24 .... Shiloh Christian* Oct. 29 ....... Prairie Grove* Oct. 1 ........ at Gentry* Nov. 5 .....at Green Forest* — * Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoff 7 p.m. unless noted ELKINS ELKS 2020 RECORD 8-3, 4-2 4A-1 Conference COACH Zach Watson RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS OL Cole Blankenship (Sr., 6-1, 250), RB De'Shawn Chairs (So., 5-8, 165), QB Kayson Drummond (Jr., 5-8, 170), WR Aiden Williams (Jr., 5-10, 160), WR Slate Warren (Sr., 6-1, 190). THE SKINNY Zach Watson takes over at Elkins after serving as the offensive coordinator at Class 6A state champion Greenwood last season. Watson replaces former coach Bryan Hutson, who took a similar position at Berryville. … Elkins graduated a number of key skill position players from last year's team, but will have a solid nucleus of young players for Watson to build the program. … Cole Blankenship is a three-year starter on the offensive line. … Sophomore De'Shawn Chairs will provide the Elks with big-play capability at running back. … Junior WR Aiden Williams and Slate Warren will provide capable targets in the passing game. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "It's been a dream of mine for a long time to become a head coach and it's going great. The kids have been working really hard," said Zach Watson. "This group is a little bit young, but they've come to work every day this summer and have gotten better through 7-on-7 and team camps. I've been blessed to be around great head coaches. The pedigree is there and obviously, those coaches have taught me a lot. I've picked up little things at different places and I've taken everything that I've learned from those guys and tried to implement it into our program." — Zach Watson SCHEDULE Aug. 27 ..... at Lincoln Oct. 8 ................ at Berryville* Sept. 3 ...... Greenland Oct. 15 ............ Green Forest* Sept. 10 .... Mansfield Oct. 22 ....at Shiloh Christian* Sept. 24 .... at Gravette* Oct. 29 ...................... Gentry* Oct. 1 ........ Huntsville* Nov. 5 ......... at Prairie Grove* * — Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted GENTRY PIONEERS 2020 RECORD 4-7, 3-4 4A-1 Conference COACH Justin Bigham RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 9 defense KEY PLAYERS TE Garrison Jackson (Sr., 6-4, 245), OL Lucas Guinn (Sr., 5-11, 245), QB Ty Hays (Jr., 5-5, 150), RB Will Pyburn (Sr., 5-5, 165), OL Isaiah Freeman (Sr., 5-7, 245), WR Dillon Jarnagan (Jr., 5-7, 140). THE SKINNY The Pioneers are primed to finish among the top teams in the 4A-1 with a whopping 17 returning starters. … Big tight end Garrison Jackson was an all-conference selection last season with 28 catches for 354 yards. Jackson is drawing interest from several college programs, including offers from Ouachita Baptist and Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. … Gentry has 14 seniors on this year's team — triple the number from 2020. … Ty Hays takes over at quarterback. Hays is small in stature (5-5, 150) but huge in explosive plays. … Top WR Dillon Jarnigan caught 55 passes for 468 yards last season. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "We're pretty fortunate. We only graduated four seniors last year. In our last game last year against Monticello (first-round of 4A playoffs), we had 18 kids out for covid. We're excited to have all of the kids back. We averaged about 75 percent attendance throughout the whole offseason. Our kids have been working hard and we're really looking forward to the season." — Justin Bigham SCHEDULE Aug. 27 ..... Waldron Oct. 8 ......at Green Forest* Sept. 3 ...... at Lamar Oct. 15 ...Shiloh Christian* Sept. 10 .... Stilwell, Okla. Oct. 22 ... at Prairie Grove* Sept. 24 .... at Huntsville* Oct. 29 .............. at Elkins* Oct. 1 ........ Berryville* Nov. 5 ............... Gravette* * — Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted Guinn Heath Pyburn Jackson Boaz Nance Coach Hudson Helmlinger We match competitor's prices! SupplementS • FitneSS equipment • AcceSSorieS AppArel • reSidentiAl & commerciAl FAyetteville | 479-521-3481 rogerS | 479-633-9837 little rock | 501-954-9837 www.ytfs.com Holl Tanksley Blankenship Drummond Warren Graham Gunneman