Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1506239
PREP RALLY: CLASS 4A | 8.20.2023 44 CLASS 4A OZARK HILLBILLIES 2022 RECORD 8-4, 6-1 4A-1 COACH Jeremie Burns RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS QB/DB Koby Wilbanks (Jr., 6-0, 170), RB/LB Brayden Miner (Sr., 5-9, 200), RB/DL Gavin Gilbreth (Sr., 5-7, 160), WR/DB M.J. Parker (Sr., 6-0, 175), OL/DL Charles Vandenberg (Sr., 6-4, 290), OL/ DL Britton Powell (Sr., 6-0, 205), OL/DL Logan Hitcher (Jr., 5-10, 185), OL/DL Braydon Sampley (So., 5-6, 230), LB Eli Gilstrap (Jr., 5-9, 165). NOTABLE Ozark continued its tradition of winning ways last year by finishing with eight or more wins for a sixth consecutive year. … The Hillbillies have finished as conference champion or runner-up during the past five seasons. … Ozark made it to the second round of the playoffs last year having its season end on the road at 4A semifinalist Arkadelphia. … The Hillbillies in the playoffs have lost to the state champion or runner-up in 9 of the past 12 seasons. … Production from the graduation of all-state quarterback Landon Wright (2,500 career rushing yards, 2,250 career passing yards), all-state running back Eli Masingale (3,000 career rushing yards) and all-state offensive lineman Hunter Collums will be missed. … … Ozark again kicks off its season with three consecutive rivalry games at Clarksville before hosting Booneville and Charleston. … Koby Wilbanks brings plenty of athleticism and takes over as the signal caller after mostly playing wide receiver last season. He ran for a 22-yard touchdown against Mena in the team's first-round playoff victory. … Brayden Miner and Gavin Gilbreth project to get the majority of Ozark's carries this season as running backs. QUOTABLE "We lost quite a bit of talent, but I believe in this group. I think everyone is going to have to do their job this year. We are going to have guys going both ways. We are going to play some hard-nosed football upfront in terms of controlling the clock. That will be the key for us on offense keeping the ball away from the other team. We want the guys to just come in and do their job to hopefully come out with the victory at the end each night." — Burns. SCHEDULE Aug. 25 ...... at Clarksville Oct. 6 ..................... at Lincoln* Sept. 1 ....... Booneville Oct. 13 .................... at Gentry* Sept. 8 ....... Charleston Oct. 20 ......................... Elkins* Sept. 22 ..... at Berryville* Oct. 27 ..................at Gravette* Sept. 29 ..... Green Forest* Nov. 3 .................... Huntsville* * – Denotes 4A-1 conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted SCHEDULE Aug. 25 ...... Huntsville Oct. 6 .................... Mayflower* Sept. 1 ....... at Waldron Oct. 13 ................ at Pottsville* Sept. 8 ....... Dover Oct. 20 ........... Little Rock Hall* Sept. 15 ..... at Bauxite* Oct. 27 ........................Clinton* Sept. 29 .........Haskell Harmony Grove* Nov. 3 .. Central Arkansas Christian* * – Denotes 4A-4 conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted LAMAR WARRIORS 2022 RECORD 9-3, 6-2 4A-4 COACH Josh Jones RETURNING STARTERS 7 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Caleb Green (Jr., 6-3, 185), RB Jarrett Dalton (Sr., 5-5, 150), WR/DB Lane Miller (Sr., 6-3, 180), OL Joe Hilton (Sr., 6-2, 300), OL/DL Abe James (Sr., 5-10, 240), OL Blake Vick (Sr., 6-0, 170), OL Bazzell Duke (Sr., 6-5, 315), OL Blake Blackard (Sr., 6-2, 300), LB Will Sanders (Sr., 5-7, 175), FB/LB Logan Kendrick (Sr., 5-10, 180), DB Gavyn Edwards (Sr., 5-7, 155). NOTABLE After last year's successful season, Lamar has now won 9 or more games in 4 of the past 5 seasons. … The Warriors closed out the regular season strong by gaining the No. 2 seed from the 4A-4 conference with a big 59-28 victory over Central Arkansas Christian. … Lamar made it to the second round of the Class 4A playoffs having its season end to eventual state champion Malvern. … The Warriors had three different rushers finish with more than 1,000 yards last year but return just one of those in Jarrett Dalton. … Caleb Green is expected to take a big jump in production this year running the offense at quarterback in his second year starting. His ability to throw the ball could open up the offense this year. … Green flashed his potential last year running the ball, as he had a 94-yard touchdown rush against CAC. … Green's main target in the air projects to be 6-3 wide receiver Lane Miller. … The offensive line led by Joe Hilton, Abe James, Blake Vick, Bazzell Duke and Blake Blackard brings plenty of experience and has the potential to be better than last year's unit, which paved the way for more than 3,000 rushing yards. … QUOTABLE "We feel like we've had a really good run the past few years. Our junior high programs have been doing well, too. I think the stability with my assistant coaches has been key. I think the newest hire has been here for seven years. Everybody has been staying. I guess I'm easy to work with. The talent with the kids has been there as well. We've had some special groups." — Jones. WALDRON BULLDOGS 2022 RECORD 2-7, 0-5 4A-7 COACH Cain White RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 6 defense KEY PLAYERS QB/WR Keegan Lynch (Jr., 5-8, 140), QB/WR Noah Patrick (Sr., 5-11, 160), RB Kason Davis (Sr., 6-1, 190), RB Joseph Rogers (Sr., 5-10, 160), RB/LB Cole Bailey (Jr., 5-10, 170), RB Levi Brown (Jr., 5-10, 170), OL Nathan Canada (Jr., 5-10, 230), Hunter Copeland (Jr., 6-2, 245), OL Dakota Taff (So., 5-9, 240), OL William Atchley (Sr., 5-10, 230), OL Zaydin Jones (Sr., 5-11, 270), OL Aden Allen (Jr., 6-5, 275), DB Sam Ehler (Jr., 5-10, 160). NOTABLE Waldron first-year coach Cain White takes over after finishing with a 12-11 record at Manila and guiding that program to its first playoff victory in 2021. … The Bulldogs just need to win a single 4A-7 conference game to make the playoffs. … Waldron has reached the playoffs 3 times in the past 19 seasons, making it in 2003, 2017 and 2020. … The Bulldogs are making the switch from a spread offense to a flexbone attack. … Keegan Lynch and Noah Patrick both took reps at quarterback this summer. It is expected the team will continue to split time at that position into non-conference games. … Kason Davis, Joseph Rogers, Cole Bailey and Levi Brown all look to get carries this season. … An experienced offensive line is led by Nathan Canada, Hunter Copeland, Dakota Taff, William Atchley, Zaydin Jones and Aden Allen. QUOTABLE "I'd rather go 1-9 and make the playoffs than go 5-5 and miss the playoffs. Whatever we have to do to win that conference game, we want to get there. That's our vision. It's been a while since this town has been in the playoffs. Getting that 11th game is special in any conference or classification. Waldron is a sports crazy town. That really drew my interest to come. The facilities are nice, and the drive to win is special. The tradition is rich despite the wins not being there recently. The community support is unreal. You have a lot of people backing you. I'm excited to see how loud they can get on Friday nights." — Cain White SCHEDULE Aug. 25 ...... at Paris Sept. 29 ................ at Malvern* Sept. 1 ....... Lamar Oct. 6 ............. Little Rock Hall* Sept. 8 ....... at Fouke Oct. 13 ................ Arkadelphia* Sept. 15 ..... Mansfield Oct. 20 .................at Nashville* Sept. 22 ..... Ashdown* Nov. 3 ....................... at Mena* * — Denotes 4A-7 conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted Britton Powell Brayden Miner Joseph Rogers Cole Bailey Gavyn Edwards Abe James PREP RALLY 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2023