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49 PREP RALLY: CLASS 2A/8-MAN | 8.22.2021 SHINE ON Harrell wraps up long career at Mountainburg PAUL BOYD NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Tom Harrell has spent his entire career at Mountainburg and decided his 32nd season as head football coach will be his last. He believes the Dragons could let him exit on a good note this season, despite last year's 3-6 finish. "We've got some potential, I think," Harrell said. "We started a lot of sophomores last year, maybe nine. A year's experience and another year in the weight room, I think, is gonna make us better. Tailback Noah Johnson leads a talented group of skill position players to go with quarterback Isaac Cowett and fullback Gus Newton. Harrell runs an unorthodox offense he calls a cross between the single-wing and the wing-T. The Dragons struggled with low participation numbers last year, which Harrell attributed at least in part to the pandemic. But he said his time at Mountainburg has been memorable. "I mean, it's been a roller-coaster at times," said Harrell, an Alma graduate who played for legendary coach Frank Vines. "But a lotta good times, a lotta good memories." Fellow 2A-4 conference members Magazine and Johnson County Westside have also dealt with low numbers. The Rattlers had only 20 or 21 at practices, which was more than a year ago despite their 9-3 finish. But coach Ryan Chambers said this year's team will be different. "We've got a lot less experience, and we're not as big up front or in the backfield," Chambers said. "We'll be more finesse than last year." Johnson County Westside will have more experience, returning 17 starters. But the Rebels may have less than 20 on the roster. Coach Joe Morse said that means as many as 10 players could be asked to play both ways. "We have experience, and our first 11 will be able to keep us in games," Morse said. "It really depends on how our conditioning is coming into the third and fourth quarter and staying healthy." 8-man Subiaco Academy came within a whisker of a state championship in its first season competing in 8-man football, which injected some confidence and excitement into a program that's struggled lately. Despite falling 54-48 to Episcopal in that championship game, Trojans Coach Mike Berry said it was just what the doctor ordered for a team that hadn't won more than two games since 2013. "The excitement in the football program was through the roof," Berry said. "The crowds were incredible. The kids had a wonderful time and we went 8-3 and went to a championship game. "That wouldn't mean a lot to a Charleston or a Booneville, a Greenwood or Shiloh, but it meant a heck of a lot to us." Subiaco returns four starters on both sides of the ball, including starting quarterback Wesley Schluterman and top receiver Justin Post. But Berry said this year could be different with a little more size on the roster. "We were more finesse last year, but we've got a little more size on the offensive line," Berry said. "So we'll be different. I think we can line up toe-to- toe, foot-to-foot and knock people off the ball and have a good power running game that's not common in 8-man. "People like to spread you out, use the open space, and we do, too. But we can also have a strong running game." Jake Denzer is hoping to do something similar at Decatur. He was hired over the summer and only managed to get together with a few players for voluntary workouts a week or two before fall practice began. Denzer, who spent the past eight years as an assistant coach in his hometown of Elkins, will get the chance to mold a program that's struggled with low numbers for a while now and finished just 1-4 last season even competing in 8-man. He had only a dozen or so show up for the first week of practice. But he believes the 8-man route might be just the thing to turn it around. "It's awesome, the way the strategy impacts the game," Denzer said."You've got fewer bodies out there, so there's less need for your bigger, heavier linemen. It's more like basketball on turf. "The core group of kids that I have, I can do a lot of good things with them. They've got great attitudes and great desire." WESLEY SCHLUTERMAN SCHOOL Subiaco Academy POSITION Quarterback/Defensive Back CLASS Senior HEIGHT 6-0 WEIGHT 155 TWITTER HANDLE @w_schluterman10 THE DIGITS Threw for 952 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for 514 yards on just 97 carries (5.3 avg.) and nine more TDs to help the Trojans to the large school state title game in 8-man football. … He also excelled on defense, racking up 58 tackles (45 solos), an interception and a fumble recovery. CRUSHING ON My girlfriend, Gracie Koch. I LISTEN TO Country music. I BINGE WATCH I don't watch much TV I DRIVE A 1992 Ford Ranger MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW I like to spend more time with my family than my friends. I have three older brothers. They are all much older and they have kids. I've got five nephews and four nieces. There's a 14-year difference between my closest brother and me. MY HERO IS My dad or my brother. FAVORITE MEAL Steak. WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT FOOTBALL IS It's just a fun sport and competitive. Growing up I would go to see games and I thought it would be fun to play and then when I got to play, I fell in love with it. IN 10 YEARS I WILL Hopefully build some sort of athletic training facility and be a trainer. I want to be a trainer and a coach. Special to NWA Democrat-Gazette/ David Beach FINAL 2020 STANDINGS 2A-4 TEAM CONFERENCE OVERALL Bigelow ....................... 7-0 .................... 12-1 Magazine ..................... 6-1 ...................... 9-3 Quitman ...................... 4-3 ...................... 6-6 Hector ......................... 3-2 ...................... 5-5 Mountainburg ............. 3-4 ...................... 3-6 Yellville-Summit .......... 2-5 ...................... 3-7 Johnson County Westside .. 1-5 ...................... 2-8 Conway Christian ........ 0-6 ...................... 0-9 8-MAN FOOTBALL SCHOOLS North Conference Rector Brinkley Augusta Cedar Ridge Augusta Decatur South Conference Spring Hill Cutter Morning Star Hermitage Marvell Woodlawn Large School Division Subiaco Academy Little Rock Episcopal Marshall Rose Bud Little Rock Hall Jody Gregory Plumbing Call: 479-806-7449 Dependable service, under any circumstances, for all of your essential plumbing needs.