Little Rock Christian hasn't had a winning season or made the playoffs since 2009, when tailback Michael Dyer was putting the finishing touches on his career state rushing record.
But maybe no program in Pulaski County is better positioned for the future than the Class 5A Warriors, who figure to benefit the next several years from a talent spike that stretches to junior high.
LR Christian
COACH Jeff Weaver
CONFERENCE 5A-West
2013 RECORD 4-6
KEY RETURNERS QB Brooks Boshears, 5-10, 185, Sr.; LB Hayden Hill, 6-1, 215, Sr.; WR Joe Hampton, 6-1, 185, Jr.
SCHEDULE
DATE;OPPONENT
Sept. 5;at Fountain Lake
Sept. 12;White Hall
Sept. 19;Jacksonville
Sept. 26;at Farmington*
Oct. 3;Harrison*
Oct. 10;at Vilonia*
Oct. 17;Greenbrier*
Oct. 24;at Clarksville*
Oct. 31;Morrilton*
Nov. 7;at Maumelle*
*5A-West game
The school's eighth-grade class, which includes quarterback Justice Hill, son of Arkansas Baptist College President Fitz Hill, manhandled opponents last fall.
Several players off that team are so advanced that they will compete against ninth-graders this season, Warriors Coach Jeff Weaver said.
"There's a really bright future here," Weaver said. "We have pieces in place to be really, really good down the road. We have a chance to be really, really good this year."
Weaver begins his second season at Little Rock Christian with 14 starters returning from a 4-6 team. The Warriors finished 2-5 in the 5A-Central (seven of the eight members were in Pulaski County).
"I think talent-wise we were really good in places last year," said Weaver, a Greenwood native who coached Mena in 2009-2012. "But I think our weakness was our strength and play up front. Eventually, that will always catch up to you. When we got into conference, people exposed that."
Weaver said the Warriors will be much stronger physically this season, and again possess top-shelf talent. Little Rock Christian scored at least 35 points in four games last season.
Senior Hunter MacFarlane returns at running back after rushing for 587 yards last fall.
The program received a major boost this summer when junior running back Damarea Crockett, 6-0, 200 pounds, transferred from Class 5A power Camden Fairview.
Crockett led the Cardinals in rushing last season (696 yards) and finished fourth in the 100 meters (11.49 seconds) at the 5A-South track and field meet last spring.
Junior wide receiver Joe Hampton, 6-1, 185, caught 34 passes for 484 yards and 7 touchdowns last season. Weaver calls Hampton, a college prospect, "special."
Weaver said he expects sophomore wide receiver Austin Guymon, the son of Harding University track and field/cross country coach Steve Guymon, to have an impact this fall.
"We are really good at the offensive skill positions," Weaver said. "Our line has improved dramatically on offense."
Weaver praised new offensive line coach Buck James, who led Fairview to the Class 5A state championship in 2012, for instilling more physicality.
Little Rock Christian's biggest question mark, Weaver said, is probably the defensive front.
Weaver said junior tackle/nose guard Dylan Hays, 6-3, 270, missed the 2013 season because of a back injury, but is "very athletic" and would be the team's best defensive lineman, if available this fall.
Little Rock Christian returns to the 5A-West for the 2014-2016 cycle.
The Warriors won the 5A-West championship in 2007 -- Dyer's sophomore season -- advanced to the state title game and finished 13-1.
The 5A-West, in this cycle, includes schools from Pulaski County to suburban Fayetteville.
"I feel like we match up better out there," Weaver said. "Our type of player is more like the players we'll be seeing."
Sports on 08/22/2014