Beavers installing turf field
Glen Rose was forced to move two playoff games to Benton Harmony Grove because of poor field conditions at Beaver Stadium during its run to the Class 3A state championship game last season.
The Beavers will be able to stay home this season if they qualify for a home game in the Class 3A playoffs.
Glen Rose is just the latest Arkansas high school to replace its grass field with FieldTurf. Coach Mark Kehner said the project will cost $533,000, with all the money raised through private donations, and installation should be complete in time for the upcoming season.
The Beavers beat Green Forest and Smackover in last season's playoffs at Sykes Stadium and Jimmy "Red" Parker Field in Haskell and advanced to their second consecutive Class 3A championship game, where they lost to Charleston.
"We got to the semifinal game [against Smackover], and you can't have your seniors play their playoff game on their field," Kehner said of last season's playoffs. "It wasn't safe for the kids to play on.
"This was in the best interest of the kids."
Glen Rose, 12-2 last season, will christen the new turf field Sept. 5 against Malvern.
Kehner said the field will feature the school's beaver head logo at the 50-yard line and "Glen Rose" and "Beavers" in block lettering in the end zones. The businesses that have donated to the field's installation will have their advertisements on signs facing U.S. 67 behind Beaver Stadium.
The push for a turf field started during the middle of last season and was finalized in January.
Kehner said weather has pushed back construction this week, but it should take four weeks for the field to be put in. Glen Rose will practice at its baseball field in the meantime.
"We've been playing and practicing on our game field for years," Kehner said. "We felt like we needed something to do help our kids."
HIGHLAND
Wanting more
Highland returns 15 starters from last year's Class 4A playoff team, but Coach Spencer Hill said the thought of advancing deep into the postseason is driving the Rebels this offseason.
The Rebels are led by junior quarterback Reid Maag and senior receivers Deon Stewart and Avery Johnson.
Highland finished 8-3 last season, losing to Dardanelle in the first round of the 4A playoffs.
"We've got the experience. We've got some talent. We've got some depth," Hill said. "We've got three classes that have a lot of success winning ballgames, so we think winning breeds winning. We're expecting big things."
Maag, 6-1, 180 pounds, started as a sophomore last season. Stewart, 6-0, 165, caught 36 passes for 757 yards and 8 touchdowns while rushing for 448 yards and 4 touchdowns. The University of Arkansas commitment also had 35 tackles and six interceptions at safety. Johnson, 6-2, 210, rushed 62 times for 664 yards and 10 touchdowns and caught 32 passes for 449 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Those are all nice numbers, but Hill said Highland will need more than just Maag, Stewart and Johnson to make a deeper postseason run.
"We have to find the other pieces," Hill said. "You can't win ballgames with three or four kids. It takes 11 to come together. That's what we're working on."
Highland opens the season Sept. 1 against Midland Christian (Texas) at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
PULASKI ROBINSON
Assistant added
Former North Little Rock assistant coach Tim McKelvy has joined Todd Eskola's staff at Pulaski Robinson.
McKelvy will coach running backs.
The former Russellville High standout coached at North Little Rock for three seasons. He was the head coach of the seventh- and eighth-grade teams at Lakewood Middle School in the North Little Rock School District.
In 2010, McKelvy served as head coach in the final seven games at Western Yell County after Phil Collins was forced to retire because of health concerns. McKelvy also was the baseball coach at Western Yell County.
Pulaski Robinson hosts Bauxite in its season opener Sept. 5.
EXTRA POINTS
Marc Davis has returned to Fountain Lake as athletic director. Davis retired after 29 years at the Garland County school in 2013. The Harrison native was a former football assistant at Fountain Lake under Jerry Clay and John Utley before taking over as head coach in 1994, a position he held for nine seasons. He remained on Coach Tommy Gilleran's staff for five seasons before focusing on his athletic director duties. Davis replaces Keith Baker. Fountain Lake is moving back to Class 4A this year after spending the past six seasons in Class 3A. ... Conway has hired former University of Central Arkansas assistant coach Brooks Hollingsworth as its offensive line coach. Hollingsworth served on former Clint Conque's UCA staff in 2004-2013. He was the Bears' offensive coordinator and tight ends coach last season. Conque left in December to take the head coaching position at Stephen F. Austin, and Hollingsworth was not retained by UCA Coach Steve Campbell. Hollingsworth worked with North Little Rock's coaching staff during spring practice. ... Glen Rose will be without two key seniors this season. Running back Carlos Burton, 5-10, 197 pounds, tore his anterior cruciate ligament last month at the Auburn team camp. He rushed for 2,446 yards and 39 touchdowns last season. Offensive lineman Alec Edwards, 6-0, 250, tore his meniscus in spring football. ... Greenwood has hired former Bulldogs wide receiver Travis Sandifer as its secondary coach. Sandifer played for Greenwood's state championship teams in 2005-2007. He replaces Larry Shuck.
Sports on 07/20/2014