LITTLE ROCK — This is the year De Queen hopes to be the king.
And if any team in Class 4A is equipped to dethrone defending state champion Shiloh Christian, it could be De Queen, which returns 16 starters from an 11-2 playoff quarter-finalist.
Coach Chris Vereen is not downplaying lofty preseason expectations, either, since he's armed with one of the most experienced teams in 4A.
The Leopards have 22 seniors, led by heralded running back / defensive end Greg White.
Conversely, Vereen's first team at De Queen finished 3-7 in 2005 with just 24 players.
"Honestly, I can tell you that nobody is going to put more pressure on us than I'm going to put on myself," Vereen said. "That's not a problem. When I came here, there were no expectations. Mom and daddy were happy if their kid was getting some playing time and just being on the field.
"Now when the kids go into a store they hear, 'Are you going to win the state championship?' They read it in the paper. I think it's a good thing to have some expectations. I want them hearing that every day."
De Queen's only two losses last fall were at perennial 7-4A champion Nashville (34-14) and at Osceola (35-28) in the playoffs.
The Leopards finished 5-6 in2007, losing at Dardanelle in the first round of the playoffs, before having their most successful season since finishing 14-1 and Class AAA state runner-up in 1998.
"I could see it coming," Vereen said of the 2008 season. "Again, it's a very special group of guys, and they've stuck together. We weren't really shocked. We knew we were going to have to have some breaks, but honestly, we felt like we should have walked out of Osceola a winner."
Vereen said De Queen's biggest weakness is depth, so avoiding injuries will be imperative for an even deeper post-season run this fall.
De Queen returns eight starters on each side of the ball, with the 6-1, 220-pound White the obvious headliner.
White orally committed to Missouri this summer after rushing for 1,499 yards and making 102 tackles - 24 for loss - as a junior.
"You're not talking about a scat back," Vereen said. "The first contact, he is definitely not going down."
Vereen said White is probably better suited to play linebacker in college, but he plays end in order to pressure the quarterback and control one side of the field.
"We call him a Spread killer," Vereen said. "Very few tackles in the league can block him. They're not going to run the football his way, so we can kind of dictate what people do. I can assure you about nine out of every 10 times they run his way he's going to make the tackle, no matter how many people they put on him to block him."
De Queen's fastest player is senior quarterback Jamario Ervin, a returning starter at outside linebacker.
Ervin, who had the state's top time in the 100 meters last spring (10.78 seconds), averaged 9 yards per carry last season at running back, Vereen said.
Vereen said the versatile Ervin, the backup quarterback last season, scored touchdowns against Mena on a kickoff return, punt return, reception, run and interception return.
"Just a tremendous athlete," Vereen said. "Right now, he's head and shoulders above where we really thought he would be at this point. He has really done well."
Other top returnees include senior wide receiver/cornerback Grant Dooley, 6-3, 185, junior running back /safety Corey Morgan, 5-8, 170, and junior offensive guard/defensive tackle Oscar Gonzalez, 5-11, 230.
De Queen opens Aug. 31 against Class 5A power Monticello before hosting Nashville in the 7-4A opener Sept. 25.
"If we're going to make it to the big games, and win the big games, the Nashville game and make to the state championship, we're going to have to stay injury-free," Vereen said.
Schedule Aug. 31 vs. Monticello (at UAPB) Sept. 11 Camden Harmony Grove Sept. 18 Idabel, Okla.
Sept. 25 Nashville* Oct. 2 at Pulaski Oak Grove* Oct. 9 Mena* Oct. 16 at Waldron* Oct. 23 Ashdown* Oct. 30 at Arkadelphia* Nov. 6 Malvern* *7-4A game
Sports, Pages 28 on 08/23/2009