MORRILTON: It all comes down to the end

MORRILTON — With talent to compete and experience taking hard knocks, Morrilton head coach Buddy Greeson expects to see a lot of improvement from his team this year.

"We're going to be a senior-laden team, so we're expecting big things. We're a year older and a year better," Greeson said of his Devil Dogs, many of whom have been starters since they were sophomores and know the ropes of the 5A-West.

And it's been a tough couple years for this bunch. Winning just one game in 2007, last year's Dogs improved slightly to two wins overall, one in conference, but Greeson said there was potential for more.

"I think last year we played well enough to win several ballgames, we just didn't know how to win," he said, pointing to leads lost, particularly late in games. Only two games, Siloam Springs and Harrison, got out of hand too quickly, he said.

"I think the kids last year, they were looking for something bad to happen. Instead of making good things happen, they were looking for something to go wrong. Then when it did, we'd just hang our heads," Greeson said.

So for the past year the message from coaches has been to finish, whether it's a series, a drive, a half or a game.

Leading that charge on offense will be quarterback Terrance Heaggans, a senior and three-year starter who can make plays with his feet but is a stronger passer.

"It's his time," Greeson said. "He's going to have to step up and make plays."

But Morrilton remains a run-first team, and the player bound for the most touches on the ground is senior Justin Criswell, another three-year starter with great speed. Another explosive back, senior Matthew Franklin, will share the load. Protecting them will be a line boasting three returning starters at the tackles and center, with veteran seniors stepping in to fill the guard spots. Through the air, the story remains much the same, senior receiver Montel McKey, "a talented kid with very good hands and decent speed," is going to be the primary passing target, Greeson said.

Likewise, the defense will benefit from a roster of veteran players, particularly because most offensive starters will play both ways. The speedy Criswell, the team's leading tackler from last year, will play free safety and direct the secondary. Senior linebackers Wallace Downs and James Kellar will lead the defense and make sure everyone is lined up right.

The biggest concern, Greeson said, is the defensive line, which lost three starters from last year, returning only junior Tyler Chamberlain. Players from the offensive line will probably have to fill in, but Greeson said he'd prefer otherwise and hasn't had an easy time making those replacements.

"It's been a struggle every day to get guys to step up and play the way we want them to play," he said.

Overall, though, it's a team that could do well, the coach said. They've got talent, though not a lot of depth, so barring injury, a winning record and a playoff berth should be in the picture. Maybe even more than that.

"If we can get our kids to where they're finishing games and they're over that hump, I really think we've got a chance at a conference championship," Greeson said.

BREAKING DOWN THE DEVIL DOGS1-6 2008 conference record9

returning offense starters1,500

Terrance Heaggans passing yards

4.4

fastest time in 40

21

points per game7 conference fi nish

MORRILTON DEVIL DOGS

Sept. 4 ................. Russellville

Sept. 11 .. Little Rock Christian

Sept. 18 ................. at Ozark

Sept. 25 ....... at Greenwood*

Oct. 2 ....................... Alma*

Oct. 9 ......... Siloam Springs*

Oct. 16 ............. at Harrison*

Oct. 23 ..........at Greenbrier*

Oct. 30 ................... Vilonia*

Nov. 6 ................... at CAC*