CENTRAL ARKANSAS CHRISTIAN: Team building, year by year

RIVER VALLEY and OZARK AREA — In their first season under head coach Tommy Shoemaker, the Central Arkansas Christian Mustangs posted a 6-5 record and advanced to the playoffs once again.

But it was a short trip for the team still getting used to a new style, and a threepoint overtime loss in the first roundended their season.

Now, with a year of experience in Shoemaker's system, the Mustangs will attempt to improve on last year's results, but with just four returning starters on both sides of the ball, game experience will be crucial.

"Our strength will be our skill players," Shoemaker said. "And we have really good senior leadership." One of the positions that is still up in the air is the quarterback position, which could come down to either sophomore Jay Bona or senior Michael Posey. Bona was the starter on last year's junior high team, while Posey was the starter on the junior varsity team, and each one brings his own strengths and weaknesses to the table.

"Jay is a good athlete with a live arm, but he lacks experience," Shoemaker said.

"Michael is a smart player but needs to be more consistent." Another possibility is to move wide receiver Jonathan Johnson to quarterback.

The running back position will be one of the strengths of this year's Mustang squad with junior Jaalen Watkins handling the carries. Last season he rushed 152 times for 892 yards and six touchdowns and also caught 32 passes for 351 yards and two touchdowns.

"He has great feet," Shoemaker said.

"He will be a vital part of whatever we do." At fullback will be returning starter senior Fletcher Dowell, who caught six passes for 39 yards and a touchdown last year.

The receiving corps for CAC is just as loaded as the running back position with Jonathan Johnson, senior Jonathan Keszeg, who caught 12 passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns, and junior John Edwards.

Another receiver that could also see time at running back is Carl "Bubba" Lewis. The senior rushed for 224 yards on 49 carries with five touchdowns a season ago.

At tight end, the Mustangs will utilize senior Chase Watson and junior Jaylon Jones.

If there was a worrisome area on the offense for Shoemaker it would be his young offensive line.

"They're real young, but eventually they'll be a solid group," Shoemaker said.

There is a potential to have three sophomores starting on the offensive line for CAC this season with Drake Horton, Logan Wright and Tyler Keszig. Blake Quattlebaum and seniors James Marler and John Strange will round out the offensive line.

Strange will see double duty as right guard and defensive end this season, and Wright will see time at nose guard as well.

Adam Ott will hold down the defensive tackle position.

Shoemaker has a host of players to

choose from when it comes to linebackers

with Tyler Kezig, Fletcher Dowell, David

Dehefhei, Chase Watson, John Edwards

and Dylan Richardson.

Many names from the offensive side of

the ball will show up again in the second

ary, such as Michael Posey and Jonathan

Keszeg at cornerback and Jaylen Jones

and Jay Bona at safety. Others who could

see time in the secondary include seniors

Connor Walker at cornerback and An

drew Park at safety.

Shoemaker has added some new

coaches to his staff including Jordan

Huckeba as the secondary coach. Madi

son Taylor will be the defensive coordina

tor this year, and Caleb Shock will coach

the cornerbacks and running backs.

Looking across the conference, Shoe

maker knows it could be a tough year,

based solely on the coaching talent in the

conference.

"You won't find a conference that is

better coached," Shoemaker said. "Every

week is a playoff game. It will be tough

and exciting, but I feel good about the

team. They're a lot of fun to coach."

CENTRAL ARKANSAS CHRISTIAN MUSTANGSAug. 31 ............... Dollarway Sept. 10 ..at Pulaski Academy Sept. 18 .................... Lonoke Sept. 25 .................at Alma* Oct. 2 ............... Greenbrier*

Oct. 9 ...................Harrison*

Oct. 16 ....at Siloam Springs*

Oct. 23 ............... at Vilonia*

Oct. 30 ............Greenwood*

Nov. 6 ................. Morrilton*