BRYANT HORNETS: 'In the mix'

TRI-LAKES AREA — With a majority of their oense returning, the Bryant Hornets look to improve upon their 8-4 performance of a year ago. e Hornets advanced to the second round of the 7A playos, but despite having a record-setting performance from their running back, Bryant averaged just 21 points per game. Defense was the name of the game last season, as the Hornets allowed just

13 points per game and allowed 14 points or

less in 10 games last year.

This season the focus will be on the offense, as just three defensive starters return

for the 2009 campaign.

Returning under center this season will

be senior Jimmy Easterling, who passed for

800 yards last season before getting injured

in week seven.◊e goal for head coach Paul

Calley this season is to get Easterling out of

the pocket more this season and make him

more mobile. Backing up Easterling will be

junior Blade Davidson, who saw some time

last year.

◊e strength of this year's Hornets team

will be 2009 Tri-Lakes Player to Watch Chris

Rycraw.◊e senior rushed for 1,514 yards on

284 carries and 17 touchdowns (all school

records).

"He's one of the top backs in the state,"

Calley said. "He's stronger and faster thanlast year." Joining Rycraw in the back◊eld will be James Jones, a senior transfer from Texas.

◊e team's leading receiver from last year, Brandon Parish, returns for his senior year.

As a junior, Parish hauled in 18 passes.

Other receivers expected to play key roles include Chris Arnold, who is recovering from an injury su◊ered during spring practice; Dylan Pritchett, who saw time last year; junior Caleb Garrett, who impressed the coaches during the 7-on-7 season; and sophomore Sawyer Nichols, who impressed the coaches during spring and summer practices.

While the skill positions see a lot of returning talent, the o◊ensive line returns just one starter, Kaleb Burns, at le◊tackle.

"◊ e o◊ensive line is interchangeable," Calley said. "I feel pretty good about them;

they're not as big, but they're more athletic." Other players expected to see signi◊cant playing time on the line include Jordan Murdock, Austin Johnson, Billy Bearden, Landon Pickett, Steve Lecanu, Brett Clemons, Ben Seale, Justin Rauch and Caleb Coger.

One of the largest players on the team will make it di◊cult for opposing teams to set up a running game. Junior Josh Hampton (6-3, 260) will line up at defensive tackle this year along with 5-11, 265-pound Ronnie Maxwell.

"We haven't had a defensive line this big," Calley said.

Others expected to see playing

time on the line include Mitchell Wise,

Dustin Grimmett and Pickett at the

tackle positions and Blake Howell,

Ryan Cox, Ross Smith and Matt Jones

at the defensive end positions.

At linebacker, the Hornets will look

to Hunter Mayall at middle linebacker

and Trey Sowell and Brennan Bullock

at the outside linebacker positions.

Most of the starting secondary will

also see time at wide receiver this sea

son. Colgan Garland Sammil Watson

and Tanner Tolbert (who will also be the team's punter) will be the cornerbacks, and

Brady Butler and Stanley Oxner will play safety.

◊ere have been some changes to Calley's coaching sta◊this season. Dale Jones

will take over as o◊ensive coordinator and Jason Hay will add co-coordinator to his

resume. John Duke Wells III returns to coaching a◊er four years to head up the secondary and special teams.

"I've been pleased with the work ethic and committment and competitiveness,"

Calley said. "◊ey believe in themselves and they just have to play smart and execute." Calley expects North Little Rock, Cabot and Little Rock Catholic to push for the

conference title.

"Plus, I think we'll be right there pushing with them," Calley said. "We'll be in the

mix."