LITTLE ROCK — Lamar won't take anyone by surprise this year, but then, the Warriors won't need to do that.
After tying for the 4-3A Conference title last season, Lamar made an surprising run to the semifinals of the Class 3A state playoffs, where the Warriors lost a close game to eventual state champion Charleston. Along the way, Lamar won the first three postseason games in school history and hosted a playoff game for the first time.
They may have caught some teams off guard last season on the way to an 11-2-1 record, but this season the Warriors are one everyone's radar in the 4-3A Conference.
"People know who we are," Lamar Coach Jay Holland said. "We don't want it to be a fluke, a one-and-done. Everybody's got to bring it."
Lamar has six starters back on each side of the ball, led by rugged senior Casey Kinsey, a 6-2, 210-pound running back who also serves as the team's kick returner. Speedy senior Matt Jones, 6-1, 200, will make the switch from receiver to quarterback and will keep defenses from loading up to stop Kinsey, and both should find plenty of room to run behind a sizeable offensive line anchored by Levi Sexton, 6-1, 291, and Joe Arreola, 6-1, 305.
Lamar's defense also should be stout, with Daniel Shaw, 5-11, 163, and Zach Ward, 6-1, 220, spearheading the unit from their linebacker positions.
YELLVILLE-SUMMIT
Yellville-Summit heads a group of five teams expected to battle for the conference's remaining playoff spots.
The Panthers went 5-5 last season but return one of the league's top players in do-it-all senior Timothy Hoyt, 6-1, 185.
Hoyt plays quarterback and cornerback and returns kicks, in addition to handling the team's punting and place-kicking duties. Hoyt had 2,423 total yards and scored 26 touchdowns last season. He also had a team-leading four interceptions and averaged 41 yards per punt.
"We're a player away from playing JV football," Yellville-Summit Coach Calvin Mallett said. "He's that good."
Fullback Anthony Hoyt, 6-0, 180, ran for 529 yards and 10 touchdowns last season in the Panthers' Spread offense, and much of the offensive line is back.
The defense is even more experienced, with 10 starters returning, but there is no question Yellville-Summit will go as Timothy Hoyt goes.
ATKINS
Atkins has reached the playoffs 18 times in the past 21 seasons, and the Red Devils expect to get back there again this season even though they return only seven seniors from last season's 7-5 team.
Atkins' strength will be its lines. Charlie Ghent, 6-3, 290, is a rock at offensive right tackle, and tight end Brae Bednar, 6-1, 200, will help provide protection for the Red Devils' backfield.
Linebacker Brandon Harris, 6-1, 230, led the team last season with more than 100 tackles and is being counted on again to provide even more leadership.
"We're going to be big and strong,," Atkins Coach Charlie Sorrels said, "and anytime you're strong up front, you've got a chance to be good."
PARIS
Coach Bryan Hutson was a proven winner at the state's largest classification when he coached North Little Rock, and this might be the year he leads Paris back into the playoffs.
Paris returns nine starters on both sides of the ball from last season's 2-7-1 team.
Anchored by three-year starting center Ben Neumeier, 6-0, 250, the Eagles have an experienced and sizeable offensive line that should be tough on conference opponents. Tackles Richie Trusty and Charles DeMint weigh a combined 605 pounds, and they should provide plenty of room for running back Dilyn Orr, 5-9, 180, who had more than 500 yards last season. Also returning is tight end Josh Vines, 6-1, 190, an all-conference pick last season.
The big question mark for Paris is on defense, which has plenty of speed but not a lot of size other than the line.
"We're fortunate," Hutson said. "I've had teams in the past where we lived or died by one guy, but this year we have several kids we rely on."
PERRYVILLE
Perryville went 8-2-1 and claimed a share of the conference title last season, its first in 47 years, but the graduation of two key players makes a repeat unlikely.
Still, a sixth consecutive playoff berth is a possibility.
The Mustangs are expected to rely more on their passing game this year. Senior wide receiverKyle Crawford, 6-2, 200, averaged almost 24 yards per reception and led the team in catches, but he had only 19, which shows how much Perryville relied on the run last season.
"Everywhere I've been, we've run the football. But we've got to throw it this year," said Perryville Coach James Clayton.
There are also concerns in the secondary, but the rest of the defense looks solid. All-conference linebacker Tyler McAnally, 5-11, 170, linebacker Keegan Belk, 5-10, 200, and defensive tackle Chris Alverson, 6-2, 303, all had more than 70 tackles last season.
GREEN FOREST
Green Forest earned a share of the conference title last season, when it finished 8-3, but low numbers will make repeating that feat difficult.
The Tigers' unusual offense, a mixture of the Wishbone and the Spread, will be led by senior quarterback Josiah Goodman, 5-11, 170. Green Forest also returns senior running back Abel Reyes, 5-9, 165, who accumulated more than 600 combined rushing and receiving yards last season.
Senior Gary Smith, 5-9, 170, is undersized - like many on the Tigers' roster - but he is a playmaker at tight end and defensive tackle. David Beas, an all-state soccer player, also gives Green Forest one of the conference's better kickers.
If the Tigers' defense can match its stinginess from a year ago, when it led the conference by allowing an average of only 13.2 points per game, Green Forest might find its way back into the playoffs.
MARSHALL
Marshall dropped from 10 victories in 2007 to a 2-8 record last year, and six of those losses were by 10 or more points.
The Bobcats look to rebound this year, but a lack of experience at the skill positions will make it difficult to get back to the playoffs
Much of Marshall's experience is on the lines. Senior right guard Dylan Watts, 5-11, 210, was an all-conference player who also had 30 tackles at defensive end.
The Bobcats are hoping they will be a better passing team this season behind junior Jarred Barrett, 5-9, 140, who takes over as the full-time starter at quarterback after starting two games last year.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
Mountain View went 0-10 last season and hasn't won a game since 2006.
The primary problem last season was a defense that was torched for an average of 47.3 points per game.
"We didn't stop anybody," Coach Matt Sullivan said.
Mountain View does have some talent on offense. Senior running back Chris Avey, 5-10, 175, ran for almost 1,000 yards last season and has breakaway speed, running the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds. He's also added 20 pounds to his frame since last season.
Sports, Pages 82 on 08/30/2009