Jackson 3 in tune with Patriots’ past

It has been 30 years since Little Rock Parkview routinely contended for state football championships.

But the 2014 Patriots sound like a confident group with summer drills underway on the same campus practice field where the Patriots prepared for consecutive state titles from 1977-79 and where Keith Jackson built a foundation in the early 1980s for his storied college and NFL career.

Most agreed that the team's 28-25 victory over Texarkana in the first round of the playoffs last season is fueling their optimism.

"That game really showed what we are capable of being this year," senior linebacker Dominique Scott said. "We have a strong defense and a fast offense, and I feel very good about this season. If we play like we did in that game, we can play with anybody."

Parkview has 45 varsity players in camp as it prepares for its first season in the 6A-South Conference, but Coach William Hardiman said he has 35 freshman junior varsity players, some of whom might contribute down the stretch of the conference schedule.

I'm very pleased with that turnout," he said. "That might say something good about our future."

Hardiman also sounded pleased to have a staff of six assistant coaches, plus the volunteer assistance of Jackson, the longtime Arkansas Razorbacks radio analyst who has two sons on the team.

Kenyon Jackson is a junior linebacker, and Koilan Jackson is a sophomore quarterback. Both are expected to start for Parkview this season.

Hardiman said he believes Kenyon Jackson will help lead the defense, which he said has dominated preseason drills. Hardiman also sounded confident that Scott and senior linebacker Keary Hilliard will make significant contributions.

"Defense wins championships," Hilliard said. "As a defense, we know that all we have to do is go out and execute on every play and we'll be successful."

"Our defense is killing our offense," Hardiman said, "but I'm pleased with the way our guys are working and showing up ready to go every day."

Hardiman said Parkview's offense will primarily rely on underclassman like Koilan Jackson.

"Koilan's looking good," Hardiman said. "He makes some young-guy mistakes, but he's learning how to run the offense pretty well. I'm pleased."

Koilan Jackson admitted there is a lot to handle at quarterback.

"You get yelled at a lot, but you just have to learn from your mistakes," he said.

Of course, it helps that his father played with some pretty good quarterbacks during his day and can offer advice when needed.

Keith Jackson played in five Pro Bowls as a tight end with the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, and Green Bay Packers and caught passes from Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino and three-time NFL Most Valuable Player Brett Favre.

"He helps me a lot," Koilan Jackson said. "He played with a lot of great quarterbacks."

Keith Jackson admits he is excited to have his youngest two sons playing for Parkview, too.

"Both of them are having a lot of opportunity to play early, which is good, because they're getting a lot of experience," Keith Jackson said. "Both of them are playing very well. Every year they seem to get better."

Sports on 08/14/2014