Arkansas Sports 360.com - July 2008 - (Page 64) hOrnets Bryant HEAD COACH: Paul Calley (37-13-3 at Bryant, 37-17-3 overall) LAST SEASON: 8-2-1 (6-1 in the 7A-Central Conference) PROJECTED 2008 FINISH: 5th TOP NEWCOMERS: Dylan Pritchett, So., WR/ RB, 5-9, 160, So.; Tanner Tolbert, So., CB, 5-10, 180; James Glasper, So., CB, 5-9, 160; Josh Hampton, DE, 6-2, 210; Jordan Moore, DT, 6-1, 230; Jordan Murdock, So., OL/DL, 5-10, 220. ALL-STAR CANDIDATES: Tim Floyd, Sr., WR; Aspen Trevino, Sr., RB; Scott Pilcher, Sr., OL; Dijon Benton, Sr., S; Austin Humbard, Sr., MLB. CENTRAL Panthers Cabot HEAD COACH: Mike Malham (218-96-4 overall, 218-96-4 at Cabot) LAST SEASON: 7-4 (4-3 in the 7A-Central) PROJECTED 2008 FINISH: 1st TOP NEWCOMERS: Brock Bunting, Jr., OL-DE; Zack McNeil, Sr., OL; Walt James, Jr., OL; Ben Wainwright, Sr., TE; Alex Bray, Jr. LB; Ben Ford, Sr., DL; Jared Maxwell, Jr, DL; Nick McTaguel, Sr., DE. ALL-STAR CANDIDATES: Michael James, FB; Seth Bloomberg, QB; Kyle DeBlock, DL; Spencer Neumann, LB; Hunter Hess, DB. CENTRAL Key Returnees Tim Floyd Jordan Jacobs Scott Pilcher Sam Tucker Aspen Trevino Chris Rycrow Chris Arnold Logan Garland Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. WR 6-6 165 OL 6-3 250 OL 5-9 260 OL 5-9 255 RB 5-9 175 RB 5-10 175 WR 5-10 165 WR 5-8 160 Key Returnees Michael James Kyle DeBlock Seth Bloomberg Hunter Hess Chris Bayles Cody Myers Wesley Sowell Spencer Newmann Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. FB 5-11 190 DL 5-8 222 QB 5-8 145 DB 5-7 155 HB 5-6 140 DL 6-1 210 HB 5-7 160 LB 5-11 180 KNOCKOUT PUNCH: Bryant’s wide-open offense doesn’t focus on one individual, but receiver Tim Floyd and running back aspen trevino gives the Hornets a solid 1-2 punch. Floyd, a 6-foot-6 receiver, caught 45 passes for 468 yards and four touchdowns. Trevino gained 440 yards on 69 carries (6.4 yards per attempt) and four touchdowns. With running back Chris Rycrow and receivers Chris Arnold and Kaleb Jobe back, there are plenty of weapons for Bryant. WHY THEY’LL WIN: If the offense can carry the defense early in the season and can survive the brutal road schedule, the Hornets will make the postseason again. Another key to tradition is the junior high program. Last season, the junior Hornets finished 9-0-1, a positive sign. WHY THEY WON’T: Inexperience, a tough schedule and recent disappointment. With the loss of 17 starters, Bryant almost will be starting from scratch, especially on defense. On offense, the quarterback will be unproven. COACH SAYS: “We are coming off the most successful back-to-back seasons in school history. Unfortunately, we are losing 17 starters.” — Paul Calley GAMEBREAKER: The Cabot offensive since Mike Malham became head coach is the T formation (sometimes known as the Dead T). The fullback keys this offense and the Panthers have a solid fullback in junior michael James. He rushed for 1,709 yards and scored 20 touchdowns in 11 games last season. WHY THEY’LL WIN: Experience. Cabot returns 18 starters (9 on each side of the ball), and has nearly 30 seniors. Blend in a championship pedigree coaching staff and you have a formula for success. Also, Cabot’s T-formation offense is perfect against the pass-happy opponents because it keeps the ball away and milks the clock. WHY THEY WON’T: With teams like Bryant and Russellville throwing the football with abandon, Cabot cannot have injuries or breakdowns in the defensive backfield. Another position that must stay healthy is the quarterback. Last season, Seth Bloomberg broke his collarbone in midseason, as did halfback Chris Bayles. Too many injuries may not keep Cabot from the postseason, but would knock them out of state title contention. COACH SAYS: “We had a pretty decent year [in 2007]. We have to stay healthy.” — Mike Malham rOCKets Little Rock Catholic HEAD COACH: Ellis “Scooter” Register (30-25 at Catholic) LAST SEASON: 6-5 (4-3 in the 7A-Central) PROJECTED 2008 FINISH: 2nd TOP NEWCOMERS: Chase Miller, Sr., QB, 6-4, 238; Thomas Gring, Jr., RB, 5-11, 190; Michael Moody, Jr., OL, 5-10, 245; Drew Storey, Jr., OL, 5-9, 240; Taylor Hooker, Sr., OL, 5-11, 240; Evan Blake, Sr., 6-1, 235; Jacob Hum, Jr., OL, 5-11, 205; Logan Damon, Sr., OL, 5-11, 250; Jacob Boyce, Sr., WR, 6-1, 175. ALL-STAR CANDIDATES: Paul Drake, Sr., WR, 6-2, 215; Mayborn Peters, Sr., RB, 5-5, 155; Garrett Uekman, Sr., TE, 6-3, 230; Ryan Hobby, Sr., OL, 6-4, 280; Tyler Campbell, Sr., P, 6-3, 230. CENTRAL WamPus Cats Conway CENTRAL ROCKETS WON BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 1984, 1985 HEAD COACH: Kenny Smith (127-67 at Conway) LAST SEASON: 3-7 (2-5 in the 7A-Central) PROJECTED 2008 FINISH: 7th TOP NEWCOMERS: Micah Delph, So., QB; Jamarkus Harmon, So., RB; Darian Hill, So., LB; Terrance Cartwright, So., LB. 1964 WAMPUS CATS FINISHED 11-0 AND RANKED NO. 1 Key Returnees Paul Drake Taylor Bartlett Mayborn Peters Garrett Uekman Ryan Hobby Tyler Campbell Ryan Herget Eric Redman Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. WR QB RB TE OL P LB/OL CB 6-2 5-10 5-5 6-3 6-4 6-3 6-0 5-10 215 175 155 230 280 230 225 168 Key Returnees Brian Wofford Will Schichtl Zach Sanders Terrell Heard Spencer Jones Ryan Kotch Ivan Mendoza Dakota Cornett Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. LB DE DT CB CB QB FB RB 6-2 6-7 6-2 5-10 5-11 6-2 5-8 5-10 185 220 235 160 165 166 200 165 ALL-STAR CANDIDATES: Brian Wofford, Sr., LB, 6-2, 185; Will Schichtl, Sr., DE, 6-7, 220; Zach Sanders, Sr., DT, 6-2, 235. GAMEBREAKER: He may be one of smallest players on the field at 5-foot-5, but don’t let the fool you. Mayborn Peters was an all-conference performer last season when the 155-pounder rushed for seven touchdowns and more than 700 yards, including 107 yards and a touchdown in a 28-18 victory over Benton last season. WHY THEY’LL WIN: Nine returning starters on offense that averaged 21.9 points per game last season. Those numbers should go up with the talent that coach Scooter Register has coming back. WHY THEY WON’T: Register won’t have to spend as much time in preseason drills with the offense with nine starters coming back, instead he’ll have to focus the bulk of his energy on the defensive side of the ball where the Rockets must find nine new starters. COACH SAYS: “We played better football at the end of the season. We just missed the second round of the playoffs at Bentonville, 15-14. We have to travel to Cabot the second conference game. That looks to be a real challenge. We open at home against 2006 state champs [Fort Smith] Southside and play [Fort Smith] Northside in week three. There are no weak sisters on our schedule.” — Ellis ‘Scooter’ Register FULL SPEED: Senior fullback Ivan Mendoza suffered a leg injury last year that kept him out for the last half of the season. However, when he played he helped pace Conway’s rushing attack and rushed for more than 200 yards against Benton. He has the strength and speed to break off long runs and could have a knack for the end zone when the Wampus Cats get in scoring range. WHY THEY’LL WIN: The Wampus Cats enter 2008 with some key returnees among the skillposition players. Quarterback Ryan Kotch and running backs Dakota Cornett and Ivan Mendoza both saw significant playing time last season and will be counted on again this year. Defensive tackle Zach Sanders, defensive end Will Schichtl and linebacker Brian Wofford will help provide a solid anchor for the defense. THEY WON’T: Conway missed the playoffs last season and will have to do it with a young team if things are going to be different in 2008. Lack of experience will be a major hurdle for the Wampus Cats to overcome this season. COACH SAYS: “We don’t have a lot of interior people on the offensive line and defensive line who have Friday night experience. What we’ve got, though, is a willingness to learn. Size is not a strength, but the kids are going to compete. We’re proud of the kids we’ve got.” — Kenny Smith ArkansasSports360.com July 2008 http://ArkansasSports360.com
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