NWADG Prep Rally Football Preview

PREP RALLY: CLASS 2A/8-MAN | 8.22.2021 50 MOUNTAINBURG DRAGONS 2020 RECORD 3-6 overall, 3-4 2A-4 Conference. COACH Tom Harrell RETURNING STARTERS 7 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Isaac Cowett (Sr., 5-7, 155), RB Noah Johnson (Sr., 5-11, 170), FB Gus Newton (Sr., 6-2, 215), OL Trenton Harrison (Jr., 6-2, 230), LB/RB Zac Walker (Jr., 5-9, 165), DB/WR Shay Pixley (Soph., 6-2, 165), TE Trey Shaffer (Jr., 6-0, 180), OL Tanner Shaffer (Jr., 6-2, 230). THE SKINNY Harrell will be retiring following his 32nd season as the Dragons' head coach. … The 58-year-old Harrell, an Alma graduate, has spent all 35 years of his career in education at Mountainburg. … The Dragons have around 27 out this season, up slightly from a year ago, but still not where they were over the past 10 years, Harrell said. … Harrell said having several students switch to virtual learning a year ago during the pandemic contributed to the lower numbers. … Mountainburg operates out of a run-oriented offense that Harrell calls a cross between the Single-Wing and Wing-T. … Cowett played some quarterback late in the season a year ago but will start in that spot this season. … All-conference running back Noah Johnson rushed for 732 yards and 11 TDs a year ago and will start for a third straight season at linebacker. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "I think we can be better than we were last year, if we've got everybody here. Quite a bit better, if we stay healthy. We'll have basically the same backfield back and our linemen are a year older and a year stronger. We lost a couple of receivers that's gonna hurt, but I think we'll be OK. It's been a very enjoyable life. I can look back at these pictures and see kids walk in here that graduated 15 years ago. They're just country people and I've loved every minute of it pretty much." — Tom Harrell SCHEDULE Sept. 3 .... at Cedarville Oct. 8 ................. at Bigelow* Sept. 10 .. at Lavaca Oct. 15 ..................... Hector* Sept. 17 .. Hackett Oct. 22 at Conway Christian* Sept. 24 .. J.C. Westside* Oct. 29 .................. Quitman* Oct. 1 ...... Magazine* Nov. 5 ... at Yellville-Summit* * — Denotes 2A-4 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted MAGAZINE RATTLERS 2020 RECORD 9-3 overall, 6-1 2A-4 Conference COACH Ryan Chambers RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS POS QB Haden Littleton (Sr., 5-10, 165), RB Ashton Droemer (Sr., 5-9, 165), OL Terrance Thurman (6-0, 320), LB/ FB James Haugh (5-11, 180), WR Austin Krigbaum (Sr., 5-9, 160), OL/DL Trace Nicholas (Jr., 5-11, 195), WR Isaac Klein (Jr., 6-1, 140). THE SKINNY The Rattlers will base out of the double-wing formation on offense but operate out of the shotgun more with Littleton, who didn't play last year, at quarterback. … Magazine's roster is slightly bigger than a year ago, but still not great with a little more than 20 out for early practices. … Chambers, a Magazine native in his second season as head coach, said inexperience and lack of size on both the line and in the backfield will be an issue. … Droemer, an all-state slotback, rushed for more than 1,100 yards and 11 TDs and will start for his third straight year at safety as well. … Thurman, a three-year starter and all-conference performer, will anchor the offensive line. … Krigbaum came on late in the season as a receiver and snared a pair of touchdown catches during the playoffs. … Klein, who did not play a year ago, could also help at receiver. … Nicholas will shift from defensive tackle to linebacker and should be a playmaker, Chambers said. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "It's tough to replace a 1,600- yard rusher and a three-year starter at quarterback. I could call any play I wanted and if it was wrong, he could change it at the line of scrimmage. We lost so much experience nobody really knows how good we can be. I think it'll be a learning curve with some of these guys getting up to speed. But by the time conference season rolls around we may be able to get it going a little bit." — Ryan Chambers SCHEDULE Aug. 27 ..... at Mansfield Oct. 8 ...................... Hector* Sept. 10 .... at Lamar JV Oct. 15 ............. at Quitman* Sept. 13 .... Waldron JV Oct. 22 ..... Yellville-Summit* Sept. 24 .... Bigelow* Oct. 29 at Conway Christian* Oct. 1 ........ at Mountainburg* Nov. 5 ...... at J.C. Westside* * — Denotes 2A-4 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted JOHNSON COUNTY WESTSIDE REBELS 2020 RECORD 2-8 overall, 1-5 2A-4 Conference COACH Joe Morse RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 9 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Braydon Edwards (Sr., 5-11, 175), RB Dakota Beavers (Sr., 5-7, 155), DL Justice Cato (Sr., 5-10, 220), OL/DL Corey Ard (Sr., 6-2, 240), OL/DL Cody Keech (Sr., 6-3, 205), LB Brady Funk (Sr., 5-10, 195). THE SKINNY Edwards rolled up more than 1,100 total yards and 11 TDs to earn all-conference honors at quarterback, after playing tight end and receiver as a sophomore. … Beavers was also a factor on offense with more than 600 rushing yards and five TDs despite missing the final three games of the season because of covid-19. … The Rebels struggled late in the season without Beavers and three other playmakers out for various reasons to the point they were forced to move an offensive lineman to running back. … Beavers is nearing 1,000 career receiving yards and 500 yards rushing as he enters his senior year. … Low numbers will still be an issue and as many as 10 players might have to go both ways for the Rebels. … The entire offensive line returns with a trio of three-year starters, which means the Rebels will lean on the running game. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "We have experience, and our first 11 will be able to keep us in games. It really depends on how our conditioning is coming into the third and fourth quarter. Our expectations are high as a coaching staff. The talent is there. It all depends on staying healthy and how much work this group of seniors is willing to put in during the season." — Joe Morse SCHEDULE Sept. 3 ...... Paris Oct. 8 . at Conway Christian* Sept. 10 .... at Two Rivers Oct. 15 .................. Bigelow* Sept. 17 .... Lavaca Oct. 22 ................ at Hector* Sept. 24 .... at Mountainburg* Oct. 29 . at Yellville-Summit* Oct. 1 ........ Quitman* Nov. 5 ..................Magazine* * — Denotes 2A-4 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted SUBIACO ACADEMY TROJANS 2020 RECORD 8-3 COACH Mike Berry RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS QB/DB Wesley Schluterman (Sr., 6-0, 155), WR/CB Justin Post (5-10, 150), CB Luke Castro (Jr., 5-11, 138), RB/LB Giovanni Vargas (Jr., 5-7, 143), OL/DL Lukas Rainwater (Jr., 6-0, 250), WR/DE Chris Ramirez (Jr., 6-2, 135). THE SKINNY The Trojans' move to 8-man football has revitalized a football program that hadn't won more than 2 games in a season since 2013. … Schluterman returns as a two-way threat at quarterback and a strong defender as well. … The senior QB threw for just under 1,000 yards and rushed for more than 500, too, accounting for 22 TDs (13 passing/9 rushing). … Schluterman also added 58 tackles. … Subiaco has a bigger, more physical group than the one that lost in the large-school state championship game, Berry said. … But they must replace bellcow Payne Lee, who rushed for a team-high 1,116 yards and added 276 more yards receiving and accounted for nine touchdowns. … Post gives them a big-play threat on the outside and a lockdown corner on defense. … Post racked up more than 900 all-purpose yards and 11 TDs on offense to go with 8 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and 57 tackles (2 for loss). THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "We lost a lot of production — two seniors — one who led the team in tackles and the other led in rushing yards. We'll have to figure out how to get that production out of more than one person. We can do that. I think we have a lot more quality depth than we had last year. We feel real good about it quite honestly." — Mike Berry SCHEDULE Aug. 27 ..... Spring Hill Sept. 24 .......... at Marshall Sept. 3 ...... at Cedar Ridge Oct. 8 ........Little Rock Hall Sept. 10 .... Rose Bud Oct. 15 ..... at LR Episcopal — Denotes 2A-4 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted Schluterman Post 2020 RECORD 1-4 COACH Jake Denzer RETURNING STARTERS n/a KEY PLAYERS ATH Kayden Burr (Soph., 5-10, 150), RB/LB Waylon Harrington (Sr., 6-0, 195), DT Mason Potter (CB/WR, 5-9, 195), Landen Watson (Jr., 5-8, 160). THE SKINNY Denzer, who was hired in the summer, has his first head coaching job after spending eight years as an assistant at Elkins, his hometown. … He only had time for a week or so of volunteer workouts before fall practice began. … The Bulldogs, who moved to 8-man football because of low numbers, had only around a dozen or so players out for the first week of practice. … Denzer hopes to inject some excitement into the program with the 8-man game. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "I'm definitely a small-town guy. I'm excited. It's awesome the way the strategy impacts the game. You've got fewer bodies out there, so there's less need for your bigger, heavier linemen. It's more like basketball on turf." — Jake Denzer DECATUR BULLDOGS 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 https://shop.harpsfood.com HARPS H O M E T O W N F R E S H TM PICKUP & DELIVERY order online at shop.HarpsFood.com or on the instacart app Now Available

• Cover