Arkansas Sports 360.com - July 2008 - (Page 56) HigHscHool Gamebreakers Dyer Leads A Talented Group on Friday Night by Philip seaton VILonIa CoaCh JIm stanLey was a little prophetic, and he hadn’t even seen the talented freshman running back yet. Little Rock Christian’s michael Dyer was suiting up for coach Johnny Watson’s squad as a ninth-grader at the west Little Rock school in its first season in the rugged 5a-West conference in 2006. stanley said before that contest that Dyer had a chance to be a special player. Dyer showed signs in that game that he was going to be one of the state’s top gamebreakers and he finished that game with more than a 100 yards, but stanley and his eagles saw more of the talented 5-foot-9, 190-pounder his sophomore season. Dyer rushed 19 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns, including a 10-yarder with 25 seconds left in the contest to give the Warriors a 38-31. stanley saw enough of Dyer in week six, but it was just a taste of what Dyer had in store for the eagles in semifinals of the 5a playoffs. the electronic arts national sophomore of the year torched Vilonia for 382 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-28 victory. Dyer carried 36 times and scored on runs of 67, 49, and 60 yards. Vilonia wasn’t the only team that was able to contain the gamebreaker. Dyer had 262 yards on the ground against Central arkansas Christian in week three and 202 yards against monticello in the quarterfinals of the 5a playoffs. Dyer, who has 4.4 speed and who has already started receiving scholarship offers, finished with a state sophomore record of 2,725 yards and 28 touchdowns. he averaged 9.7 yards per carry and even caught 21 passes with three touchdowns. While the Little Rock Christian product sets the standard for gamebreakers in the state, there are others that can change the scoreboard in a hurry. O’Bryan Bell Running Back – Gurdon the 5-foot-10 senior runs a 4.6 40-yard dash and puts the “Go” in Go-Devils. the 185-pounder finished with 1,106 yards and 16 touchdowns last year. Greg Bowie Wide Receiver – Arkansas Baptist the senior had 12 receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown against harding academy. the 6-foot-2 receiver caught 13 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns against Pulaski oak Grove on his way to finishing the season with 69 receptions for 1,069 yards and 11 touchdowns. 56 ArkansasSports360.com mr. touchdown: Michael Dyer of Little rock christian fights for extra yards in 7-on-7 play this summer. Dyer, a junior running back, is one of the top gamebreakers in the state. Derek Brinker Running Back – Springdale Har-Ber the 6-foot, 205-pounder helped lead the Wildcats to the 7a state title game in 2007. he showed off his 4.7 speed with a four-touchdown performance in a regular season overtime victory over Fayetteville. he had a 176-yard performance on 14 carries with two touchdowns against Columbia (mo.) Rock Ridge in week two. Semaj Edwards Running Back – Fort Smith Northside edwards runs a 4.7 40-yard dash. the 5-10 senior finished the season with 1,142 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground before injuring his knee in the final week of the regular season. he had some monster nights rushing for 192 yards and two scores against Pine Bluff, and 170 yards against tulsa (okla.) mcClain and 172 yards against Van Buren. Steffan Espinoza Running Back – Lavaca the senior topped the 2,000-yard mark last season using his 4.6 40-yard dash speed. the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder had some big games last fall with 333 yards and four touchdowns against Centerpoint, 240 yards [on 16 carries] and four scores against Prairie Grove and 215 yards [on 11 attempts] and three touchdowns in a 48-13 win over Waldron. Demetrius Ford Running Back – Strong Ford is no lemon after rushing for more than 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns on his way to an all-state selection. the 5-foot-10 senior runs a 4.6 40 and had 198 yards rushing against Dermott and 225 yards on the ground [on 15 attempts] against Rison. Tim Hughes Running Back – Batesville the senior had an all-state season last year with more than 1,600 yards on the ground. the 5-foot-11, 190 pounder had 152 yards on the ground against eventual 7a state champion Fayetteville. he also finished with good games against Wynne [231 yards], Beebe [196 yards and two touchdowns] and north Pulaski [197 yards and two scores]. Michael James Running Back – Cabot the 5-foot-11 junior rushed for 1,709 yards last season for mike malham’s Panthers. James scored 23 touchdowns. the 190-pounder, who owns 4.7 speed, rushed for 228 yards and three touchdowns against north Little Rock and also had 141 yards and two touchdowns against searcy. Cody Kelley Running Back – Marshall the all-stater had a banner season a year ago rushing for 2,081 yards and 23 touchdowns for marshall. the senior has 4.7 speed and used for 222 yards and two touchdowns against mayflower, 234 yards on 17 carries verses mountain View, 172 yards against harding academy and 208 yards and three touchdowns in win over yellville-summit. Aaron Oade Running Back – Vilonia the senior finished with 2,138 allpurpose yards last year. the 5-foot-10, 200 pounder transferred to Vilonia from Florida before his sophomore campaign and has turned into a workhorse for Jim stanley’s squad. he used 4.6 40-yard dash speed to score four touchdowns against hot springs Lakeside last season and 165 yards on the ground against Little Rock Christian in the regular season. Kamrawn Russell Running Back – Carlisle Russell churned out 1,246 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2007. the 5-foot-10, 175-pounder earned all-state honors a season ago after scoring four touchdowns against Des arc and rushing for 172 yards against Little Rock episcopal and 192 yards [which included a 99-yard touchdown run] on 12 attempts against hazen. Deappolis Smith Running Back – Marion the 2007 all-state pick rushed for 219 yards and four touchdowns in week seven against mountain home. the 5-foot-8, 155-pound senior also had 171 yards against sylvan hills, 154 yards against searcy and 151 yards in a win over Little Rock mills. Zach Turpin Wide Receiver – Greenwood the defending 5a state champions will be breaking in a new quarterback this season, and it doesn’t hurt to have 6-foot-2, 175-pound senior returning who averaged 18 yards per catch. the senior all-state selection had 59 receptions for 1,155 yards and 18 touchdowns. he had four touchdown receptions against Pulaski academy and three against shiloh Christian. J.R. Williams Running Back – Forrest City the 6-foot, 175-pound senior rushed for 175 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns in a 35-14 victory over Wynne. he had two touchdowns against Jonesboro and 133 yards against searcy and 150 yards and pair of touchdowns. Michael Willingham Running Back – Pine Bluff Dollarway an all-stater last year, the 5-foot-9 senior finished with 2,295 yards rushing in 2007. he had 212 yards and four touchdowns against Valley View and 283 yards and two scores against mcGehee. m July 2008 MicHAeL Pirnique http://ArkansasSports360.com
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