BEEBE BADGERS: Staying the course

Despite large turnover, Badgers hope to continue winning ways

Dustin Stallnacker, left, tries to stop Rory Moore from catching the ball.
Dustin Stallnacker, left, tries to stop Rory Moore from catching the ball.

— After winning eight and nine games, respectively, in head coach John Shannon's first two seasons, the Beebe Badgers hope to continue to improve that win total and build on a rare playoff success in 2009.

The improvements the program has made during Shannon's tenure have been encouraging to the players, which will hopefully lead to more confidence this season, the coach said.

"We were pleased last year at 9-3," Shannon said. "We made the playoffs for the second straight year and won a playoff game for the first time, I think, since 2002, and it was only their second win in the playoffs in about 20 years. So we made some strides there. We finished second in the conference (5ASoutheast) and felt like we took another step forward to getting the program back on the footing it needs to be on."The Badgers will have their work cut out for them with only eight returning starters, six of which will be on defense. The offense will be replacing the entire starting backfield including fullback Sammy Williams, who rushed for more than 3,000 yards combined in the past two seasons. To improve on last year's success, Shannon said some players will have to step up and fill the role.

"It's going to be tough," Shannon said. "Besides Sammy, we lost five of our seven starters on the offensive line. We lost our quarterback and two halfbacks, so of course we have a lot ofshoes to fill on offense.

"The kids we have coming up, this will be their third year in the program, so hopefully they will understand the system better and we had a good offseason. The class we just lost was one of the best classes to ever come through here, but this class has worked hard, and we are bigger and faster than we were at this time last year. The only difference is we have a bunch of kids who've never been on the field on Friday night." What the backfield lacks in experience it makes up for with speed. Senior Victor Howell (5-9, 168) will use his 4.38 speed (40-yard dash) at one halfback spot with junior Colby Taylor (4.53 40 time) at the other. Junior Kyle Simpson (5-11, 205) will replace Williams at fullback while Scott Gowen (5-11, 157) takes the reins at quarterback. He will not be asked to pass much.

"If you've seen Cabot play, you've seen us play," said Shannon, who was an assistant for 12 seasons at Cabot, where the forward pass is almost as rare as Haley's Comet.

The key to the offense will be the development of the linemen. Guard Brandon Bailey (5-9, 189) and tight end Dylan Jones (5-10, 178) are the only returning starters to a that will start two sophomores.

"The offensive line is our question mark," Shannon said. "If those kids can grow up quick and come on quick, I feel like we'll be pretty good." The strength of this team should be the defensive secondary. The squad returns all four starters including leading tackler Spencer Forte (5-11, 160), who was all-state at safety in 2008. Howell will move over from offense to man the other safety position, where he was all-conference last year. Charles Latture (6-0, 166) and Austin Sites (5-9, 162) will play the corners.

Another returning all-conference performer is defensive tackle William Conley (6-1, 240), who Shannon said is also one of the strongest on the team.

"He's our strongest kid on the power clean," Shannon said. "He's one of those kids whose motor never quits running. He's the type of kid you want on the defensive line." The rest of the line in the 5-2 formation will be filled by two juniors and two sophomores. Reece Totty (6-2, 181) and Caleb Davidson (6-3, 180) will hold down the end spots while newcomers Johnathon Dove (6-1, 230) and Mark Watkins (5-8, 255) will be on the inside.

The linebacking corps features junior Tyler Ratz and senior Adam Griffs, who Shannon calls the strongest player overall on the team. Griffs boasts a 275-pound power clean and can bench press 300 and squat 455.

The defense will be relied on to keep the team in games early while the offense develops. If that happens, Shannon said he can see great things for his program.

"We feel like we've made strides to get on that elite status with the Greenwoods, the Pulaski Academys, the Monticellos," he said, "and that's one of our goals, to be one of the best teams in the state."BEEBE BADGERSSept. 4 ................ Greenbrier Sept. 11 ................ at Lonoke Sept. 18 .................... Vilonia Sept. 25 ............. at Crossett* Oct. 2 ............North Pulaski*Oct. 9 ............ at Monticello* Oct. 16 .......... LR McClellan* Oct. 23 ...................at Mills* Oct. 30 ............. White Hall* Nov. 5 ..........at Sylvan Hills*

BREAKING DOWN

THE BADGERS9-3 record for 20082

returning offense starters300

pounds bench pressed by senior linebacker Adam Griffs6

returning defense starters2 wins in the playoffs in the past 20 years

Special, Pages 165, 166, 167, 166, 168 on 08/23/2009

Upcoming Events