LAKE HAMILTON WOLVES: Making noise

Last year's backups replace talented class, ready to shine for defending state champion

— Act one for the Lake Hamilton Wolves was losing the 2007 6A state championship game after an otherwise perfect season.

Act two was shaking off that memorable loss to best El Dorado in the 2008 state championship game. So what do the defending state champion Wolves plan to do for act three? Repeat, of course.

However, success may not come as easily this year for a Lake Hamilton squad that graduated a number of talented players, especially at the skill positions.

All-state quarterback and 6A championship MVP Phillip Butterfield is off to Arkansas State University, and one of Butterfield's top targets, Tauno Vannucci, will suit up for the University of Central Arkansas in the fall. Also missing from this year's squad is receiver Josh Proffit, who will play for Southern Arkansas University after his all-star campaign last year. The three were integral parts of the Wolves' championship season, which was Lake Hamilton's first state title since 1992.

"We had a bunch of high character guys who were overachievers," head coach Jerry Clay said. "It was a smart group that had all the intangibles." Returning from that group is a number of full- and part-time starters who hope to help make the Wolves' dreams of a repeat a reality. Senior Addison Wynn, who tallied nearly 400 yards receiving last year, headlines the Wolves' receiving corps, although he may end up getting more snaps at tailback. Wynn will split time in the backfield with junior Tyler Walker, who got most of his playing time with the junior varsity squad in 2008. Last year's starting safety, senior Benson Jordan, will take over under center after serving as Butterfield's backup in 2008.

"[Benson] is a very accurate passer, and he's got good height," Clay said of the 6-3, 220-pound quarterback. "He's in the same mold as Butterfield." Clay said a strength for his team would be its offensive line, which lost four starters from last year's squad, including all-state honorees Jared Chesshir, Alec Gordon and Levi Jamison. Returning for the Wolves, tackle Zach Ruth (6-2, 285) and tight end Kenny Rains (6-4, 250), both all-conference selections a year ago, will bolster a fresh group of players up front.

"We try to play power football," Clay said. "Everybody at this level has big guys. We're not any bigger than anybody else, but we have a good nucleus coming back."The Wolves will look familiar on both sides of the ball this fall, with as many as six players starting both ways.

Rains, who has scholarship offers from Arkansas State and Central Arkansas, will be back at defensive end. Senior defensive tackle KolbyHamilton will join Rains as a returning starter. Several part-time starters will also line up on defense for the Wolves. Linebackers Chris Jones, Bubba Hall Jr. and Chris Fikes all return, as does cornerback Landon Jackson. Outside of Jackson, the entire secondary will be new to their positions.

"Our real question mark is depth," Clay said. "We've got a lot of guys going both ways. Defensively, we're going to alternate a lot of these guys in and out to keep them fresh."

Tri-Lakes, Pages 15 on 08/30/2009

Upcoming Events