THREE RIVERS AREA — In his first year at the helm of the Harding Academy Wildcats, head coach Roddy Mote led the team to a 10-2 record and another trip to the playoffs.
This year, with five returning starters on both
sides of the line, Mote is confident that his team can
reproduce, if not surpass, last year's mark. In 2008, the
strength of the team was its offense, averaging nearly36 points per game, and this season looks to be no different.
"Our strength is our skill positions," Mote said. "Wehave two or three receivers we feel are pretty good."
The one in charge of finding those receivers will be junior Seth Keese. As a sophomore, Keese took over for the 2008 Three Rivers Player to Watch Matt Lincoln when he was moved to wide receiver.
"He's a great competitor," Mote said. "He's very talented and can run and throw a nice ball. It's great that he has a year of experience already under his belt."Keese will be pushed at the position by Tyler Gentry, who will spend a majority of the time at receiver, but is "special when the ball is in his hands," Mote said.
Leading the charge in the ground game will be senior Will Hardin, who is "real explosive with quick feet," Mote said. "We look for him to do great things." Backing up Hardin will be junior Ben Lecrone, whose "natural ability" on the field will be an asset to the offense, Mote said.
Gentry, who had a big year for the Wildcats last year, is expected to be the go-to guy in the passing game. With Ben Lecrone, Will Hardin and James Dillard all capable of making big plays in the passing game, Keese will have no shortage of options. There are also five to six other players vying for time at receiver.
"There's a chance for anyone to fill that other spot," Mote said.
This year's offensive line will not have the size of the teams of the last few years, but their knowledge of the game and their assignments give Mote reason to be optimistic.
With senior Nate Calhoun and Montgomery Fisher anchoring the line along with a "pretty good group of sophomores with the ability to help us," Mote believes the strong offensive performances of the past will continue this season.
There will be a lot of players on the offensive side of the ball that also play on the defensive side. On the line, Jacob Feather, Jake Wells and Montgomery Fisher will take the responsibility of being the first line of defense this season.
"There's a lot of promise with our sophomores," Mote said.
The Wildcats will employ a 3-4 defense this season and will have "a good rotation of five or six players" to keep legs fresh into the fourth quarter of games.
The linebacking corps will be anchored by returning starter Austin Lowery. Joining him at the position will be Chace Davis, who "could develop into a special linebacker," Mote said.
Others expected to play a big role at linebacker include Ben Lecrone, Seth Ransom, Jonathan Ford and sophomore Ross Campbell.
It is the sophomores who could be the X-factor on this year's team.
The sophomore class was champion and co-champion of the conference in junior high, which means "we've got some young guys that can step up," Mote said.
There is not a lot of returning experience at cornerback this season, and the job of stopping the pass will fall to James Dillard, Will Hardin and senior Chris Carr.
The pass defense is aided by two returning starters at safety, Seth Keese and Tyler Gentry, who "are as good as anyone in our conference," Mote said.
"They create big plays for us."
Once again, the big challenge for Harding Academy will be making its way through a tough conference schedule. Mote expects four or five teams could compete for that top spot along with the Wildcats.
BREAKING DOWN THE WILDCATS
5 returning starters on both sides of the line
10-2 record 36 points per game in 2008
HARDING ACADEMY WILDCATS
Sept. 4 ............at Pocahontas
Sept. 11 .............at Jessieville
Sept. 18 ...... Arkansas Baptist
Sept. 25 .............. Episcopal*
Oct. 2 ............... at England*
Oct. 9 ......................Barton*
Oct. 15 ..........at Mayfl ower*
Oct. 23 ............... Riverview*
Oct. 30 ..................Brinkley*
Nov. 5 ............. at Rose Bud*
Special, Pages 157, 158, 160 on 08/23/2009