LITTLE ROCK — The most accomplished member of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette preseason Super Sophomore Team is Bearden quarterback DeFonta Lowe.
Lowe was elevated to the varsity last season in Week 5 against eventual Class 2A state champion Junction City, and his adept running and throwing helped the Bears reach the playoff semifinals.
In nine games (eight as a starter), Lowe rushed 79 times for 521 yards and 6 touchdowns and completed 30 of 54 passes for 618 yards and 8 touchdowns.
"He's a solid player," Bearden Coach Mike Cox said.
Cox said he thought about playing Lowe immediately on the varsity last season, but decided it was more important to have him available for early junior high showdowns against Strong and Junction City - the Bears' main threats for the conference championship.
Lowe was scheduled move up in Week 6, but his arrival date changed after senior quarterback Michael Belin broke his hand three days before the Junction City game.
Lowe, 6-1, 170 pounds, became the starter the following week and appears to have the starting job locked up for the next three seasons.
"He's as good as you'll find," Cox said.
Cox said Lowe is "very similar" to DeWayne Watts, a star quarterback on Bearden's 2007 Class 2A state runner-up team who signed with Arkansas State, but now attends Arkansas Baptist.
Lowe's uncle, Kenyon Lowe, was a standout defensive lineman on Bearden's 2007 team. He is also at Arkansas Baptist.
"He didn't turn 15 until April,so he's got everything in front of him," Cox said. "He can throw a ball 60 yards right now. He's got good speed and good football sense."
Cox said he expects Lowe will be heavily recruited to play receiver in college.
One of the top linemen on the Super Sophomore team is Mario Moore of Magnolia, who will start at tackle.
Moore, 6-3, 330, is the younger brother of Lamar Moore, a standout linebacker at Magnolia from 2004-2006 who is now at Central Arkansas.
Lamar Moore was a member of the preseason Super Sophomore team in 2004.
Magnolia doesn't play freshmen on the varsity, because Coach Robert Day said he doesn't want to put a ninth-grader ahead of an upperclassman who has worked throughout the season to play.
But Day said Mario Moore was physically mature enough to have helped the Panthers last season.
Day said Moore parallel squats more than 400 pounds.
"The thing you look at Mario is he's baby-faced," Day said. "But it's just on a massive body. Loves it. Loves ball."
Day said Moore has a 4.0 grade-point average and was student body president last year.
Maybe the most gifted player on the Super Sophomore team is running back Orlando Robinson of Crossett.
Robinson has great speed, Coach Greg Johnson said, and was a highly regarded sprinter in junior high.
Jonesboro placed four players on the team, including offensive tackle Javin Prunty, 6-3, 265, and wide receiver Zac Brooks, 6-2, 160.
Brooks, a transfer from Osceola, earned a starting spot with a strong fall camp.
"People are going to be coming around to talk to him in a couple of years," Coleman said, referring to college recruiters.
Sports, Pages 34 on 08/30/2009