Fayetteville can't just give it away

— Quarterback Brandon Allen knows he has to be more careful when he drops back to pass.

The rest of the Fayetteville's offense couldn't agree more.

The Bulldogs were dangerous in 2008, but they were also generous. Allen, then a sophomore, threw 20 interceptions to go with his 30 touchdown passes.

The Bulldogs finished last in the 7A-West Conference in turnover margin, a big factor in their following up their first state championship in 2007 with a losing record - the first under Coach Daryl Patton- and a first-round playoff loss to Little Rock Catholic.

"I thought as coaches we didn't emphasize turnovers enough as we should have," said Patton, who is in his seventh year with the Bulldogs. "When a turnover happened maybe wedidn't get onto to them the right way, but now we're preaching it every day."

If the Bulldogs' 7-on-7 performance carries over into the fall, Allen will be far more efficient with his passes as a veteran junior and one of the state's most promising quarterback prospects.

"We had three interceptions, 183 touchdowns. Brandon did a good job," Patton said of his team's 7-on-7 success. "We're going to make mistakes. I know that. When you're running a Spread offense, you're going to have a few turnovers. But what we can't do is put our defense in a continuously backed-up situation at their end of the field."

The more Fayetteville can hold the ball, the more likely its offense can reach the end zone. Though inexperienced on the offensive line, the Bulldogs have multiple weapons atAllen's fingertips, from big targets Josh Hale, 6-4, 214 pounds, and Demetrius Dean, 6-3, 245, to speed receivers/running backs Michael Heintzman and Dylan Hale.

Allen also figures to be more comfortable with a full season of starting behind him.

"In the summer, I worked on having better decision-making," he said. "If nothing's there, throw it away or run it."

Dylan Hale, a junior running back, could be a key player as he takes a more significant role on offense afterDean, Josh Hale and Heintzman were featured performers.

"Dylan gives us a guy in the backfield who's a home run hitter," Patton said.

Patton said he's been told Josh Hale, who also plays defensive end and is receiving interest as a tight end, could become a Big 12 or SEC recruit if he excels as a defensive end, where he'll play in pass rushing situations.

That expectation alone should give Hale a lot of incentive, as does last season's rare sub-.500 record.

"Our goal is to get back to state," said Allen, who threw for 3,265 yards last season. "This is what we've all worked for in the summer."

If the Bulldogs can avoid mistakes in their Aug. 31 opener against Little Rock Central at War Memorial Stadium andbeyond, they feel good about getting back to playing consistent winning football.

"I've told the kids the punt is our friend," Patton said. "Punt and play the field position, but avoid the turnovers. Finish drives when we get the opportunity. Put the pressure on the other team's defense, and let our defense play and pin their ears back and go.

"We can be pretty good."

Fayetteville Bulldogs

COACH Daryl Patton

LAST SEASON 5-6

OFFENSE No-huddle Spread

DEFENSE 4-3

RETURNING STARTERS Offense 6, defense 5

POINTS SCORED PER GAME 28.1

POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME 31.5

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH Brandon Allen (6-3, 205, QB, Jr.), Demetrius Dean (6-3, 245, WR, Jr.), Michael Heintzman (5-10, 195, RB/WR, Sr.), Josh Hale (6-4, 214, TE, Sr.)

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH J.T. McCormick (6-0, 190, DB, Sr.), Bobby Nefzger (6-0, 210, DL, Sr.), Gareth Booth, (6-1, 195, LB, Sr.), Drew Patton (6-1,160, P, Sr.),

KEEP AN EYE ON Dylan Hale. On an offense hardly lacking big names and big-play talent, Hale has an unlimited ceiling. He showed flashes as a backup running back in 2008. Now as the Bulldogs' featured back, it's his chance to be a breakout performer as a junior.

OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK The Bulldogs should be fun to watch with a deep stable of offensive skill players. Seniors Heintzman and Hale are college prospects, and Allen and Dean should be pursued heavily after the 2010 season.

DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK Fayetteville struggled giving up big plays at times last season, but new defensive coordinator Brian Early brings passion and college experience after a stint at Central Arkansas. How well Fayetteville defends in its pass-happy conference could define its season.

SEASON OUTLOOK One year after its first state title in the school's 103-year history, Fayetteville slipped to 5-6 in 2008. This isa program that doesn't expect to be down for long. The Bulldogs are probably a step behind defending state champion Bentonville and Springdale Har-Ber in the 7A-West entering the season, but there is too much talent on offense for this team not to be a legitimate threat in every game.

KEY GAME Sept. 25 vs. Bentonville. It's the 7A-West opener, and the Tigers are the defending state champions. That alone makes this a measuring stick for Fayetteville.

QUOTING COACH PATTON "We've got some good skill. Our offensive line has to be the key for this thing. They have to keep coming together, and I think we've got a chance to be very good."

SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT Aug. 31 at Little Rock Central Sept. 11 Jefferson City, Mo. Sept. 18 Russellville Sept. 25 Bentonville* Oct. 2 Springdale* Oct. 9 at Fort Smith Northside* Oct. 16 at Fort Smith Southside* Oct. 23 Rogers* Oct. 30 at Springdale Har-Ber* Nov. 6 at Rogers Heritage* *Conference game

Sports, Pages 38, 39 on 08/30/2009

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