NWADG Prep Rally Football Playoff

PREP RALLY PLAYOFF: 29 4 7 9 - 84 6 - 4 3 3 3 HAROLD MCILVAIN II Special to the Democrat-Gazette HACKETT — e transition back to quarterback has worked out well this season for junior Brady Hester and the Hackett Hornets. Aer guiding his ninth grade team to an undefeated season as quarterback, Hester switched to wide receiver to make an impact for the team last season. Hester did just that, finishing with 723 yards on 30 catches with seven touchdowns during his sophomore year. "I had experience playing quarterback," Hester said. "But we had a senior quarterback last year and he was really good. So my only option to make an impact was to play receiver. I love playing for my team and wanted to help." While coming back to the quarterback position, Hester hasn't missed a beat this year. He has helped guide the Hornets (6- 3) back to the playoffs using his duel-threat skill set leading the team in passing and rushing yards. Hester has completed 58 of 96 passes for 1,204 yards with 15 touchdowns this season. He also has 90 carries for 520 yards with 13 touchdowns on the ground. "He is a true duel-threat quarterback," Hackett coach Lonnie Hester said of his son Brady. "We don't have to just sit back in the pocket or just send him around the edge. If he doesn't like what he sees, he can take off and get some yards for us." Brady Hester (5-foot-10, 150 pounds) has made big plays throughout the year for the Hornets, as he has accounted for 28 of the team's 37 offensive touchdowns this season. "He takes advantage of situations," Lonnie Hester said. "e other night he lined up for a two-point conversion and he read the defense perfectly with a fake and went right to the edge. He just knows football." It didn't take long for Hackett to find success putting the ball in the end zone this season. e Hornets got their offense going quickly to start the year in a 40-0 victory against Pocola, Okla. Brady Hester showed no signs of rust switching back to quarterback in that game either. He completed 10 of 12 passes for 248 yards with 3 touchdowns. He also rushed 7 times for 46 yards with 2 touchdowns. "Even though he played quarterback his ninth grade year, it was great for him to have success right away," Lonnie Hester said. "It's different when you get into high school. Kids are a lot quicker and pass defenses are a lot better." Brady Hester stepped up for the Hornets when it mattered most against Lavaca to help secure the third-seed from the conference heading into the playoffs. He finished 8 of 10 passing for 191 yards with a touchdown while adding 57 rushing yards with another touchdown rushing in the 38-14 victory. "Big-time players step up in big-time games," Lonnie Hester said. "Coming in we knew we needed that game. Lavaca has some great athletes. When it's on the line and we need to produce, Brady has come through and is a clutch player." Junior running back Cooper Shipman, who finished with a 1,000 yards rushing last year with seven touchdowns, stepped up against Lavaca as well. Shipman, who dealt with injuries early in the season, has helped add another dimension down the stretch run as he has gotten healthy. Shipman finished with a season-high 106 yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns against the Golden Arrows. "ey complement each other so well," Lonnie Hester said. "at's the thing about us is we spread it out. Cooper started slow with some injuries but has really come on lately. He has looked really good the last two weeks." Shipman is second on the team with 78 carries for 397 yards with six touchdowns. "ey got to watch both us," Shipman said. "Even when Brady is looking to throw the ball, they have to watch him because he is quick. He is very shiy." Brady Hester has spread the ball around the receiving core when he has looked down field to throw the ball. Malachi Crone has 21 catches for 484 yards with 5 touchdowns to lead the team in receiving. Anthony Collins has added 9 catches for 269 yards with 3 touchdowns, while Pacey McBride has hauled in 15 catches for 236 yards with 4 touchdowns. "e numbers might look a little lopsided with Brady making a lot of plays," Lonnie Hester said. "But we've got some pretty good athletes out here. We've had a lot of guys make big plays for us this season. I'm proud of everybody this year." e dynamic of a father-son head coach and starting quarterback living under the same roof has been unique for Brady Hester, but he wouldn't have it any other way. "It's different," Brady Hester said with a laugh. "It's like having a coach on and off the field with me at all times. I go home and listen to the coach when no one else does. Any time I need any help though, I can go right to him to get things figured out." Hester does whatever Hornets need him to COURTESY PHOTO Brady Hester, right, has led the Hackett Hornets to a playoff berth in the 2A-4 Conference. Hester, a junior quarterback, powered the Hornets to a No. 3 playoff seed in the conference. AT A GLANCE BRADY HESTER SCHOOL Hackett CLASS Junior HEIGHT 5-10 WEIGHT 150 POSTION Quarterback NOTABLE Leads the team in passing yards with 1,204 with 15 touchdowns and rushing yards with 520 with 13 touchdowns on the ground. … Caught 30 passes for 723 yards with seven touchdowns as a sophomore. … Accounted for 28 of the team's 37 offensive touchdowns this season. … Helped guide his ninth grade team as a quarterback to an undefeated season. Hackett Hornets (6-3) DATE OPPONENT RESULT Sept. 1 ..............Pocola (Okla.) ...................... W 40-0 Sept. 9 ..............at Mountainburg* ............. L 33-30 Sept. 22 ...........Magazine* ............................ W 44-5 Sept. 29 ...........at Western Yell County* ... W 32-0 Oct. 6 ................Decatur* ................................ W 40-0 Oct. 13 .............at Danville* .......................... L 28-6 Oct. 20 .............Mountainburg .................... L 47-18 Oct. 27 .............Lavaca* .................................. W 38-8 Nov. 2 ...............J.C. Westside* ...................... W 44-16 * — Denotes 2A-4 Conference game CLASS 2A THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017 Go Hornets! Good Luck in the Playoffs! -The Slavens Family- 710 Willow Ln Fort Smith, AR (479) 420-4426 CORRUGATED TECHNOLOGY INC.

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