Union Christian quarterback Christian Snipes is only a freshman, but Coach Chris Smith had a feeling he was going to be playing for the Eagles early.
Snipes had never played quarterback before the seventh grade, Smith said, but he led the team to a 5-4 record as a seventh-grader and 8-0 in eighth grade last year for Union Christian’s junior high teams.
Smith talked with Snipes’ mother, Sindee, during the offseason and told her that he was planning to start Snipes at quarterback, even if he was just a freshman.
Sindee was on board.
“She has been a big part of his success,” Smith said. “She said, ‘He believes in you. You believe in him. You do what’s in his best interest.’
“I took him under my wing. He’s progressed. He’s getting better every day.”
Snipes, 6-1, 170 pounds, has completed 64 of 116 passes for 1,043 yards and 9 touchdowns this season. Union Christian (2-2, 2-1 4-2A), a private school in Fort Smith, beat Magazine 20-8 last Friday as Snipes completed 16 of 30 passes for 167 yards and 1 touchdown.
Braxton Smith threw for 2,998 yards for Union Christian last season, but Chris Smith said what Snipes is doing despite playing behind an inexperienced offensive line is outrageous.
“Fifty percent of the time, he’s running for his life,” Smith said. “He makes good decisions. He’s still young. I’m anxious to see what the kid will be like in three years.”
Union Christian dresses only 17 players, and 10 of them are freshmen and sophomores. The Eagles will go as far as Snipes can take them, Smith said.
“He’s mature for his age,” Smith said. “There’s a couple of times he gets hit by an outside senior linebacker, he could have folded, ‘I’m done with this.’ It’s been huge for our kids to see he hasn’t backed down. He’s accepted the challenge.
“He’s improving each week and showing confidence.”
PRESCOTT
Turning up
Prescott, No. 5 in Class 3A in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s rankings, has received solid efforts from quarterback Trevor Pipken and running back Khaalid Stewart this season, but Coach Tommy Poole said the Curley Wolves’ success has been a team effort.
“Nobody’s trying to be a hero,” Poole said. “Nobody’s trying to be a superstar. We’re a good team right now.”
Pipken completed 16 of 23 passes for 286 yards and 4 touchdowns, and Stewart rushed for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns on 12 carries in Prescott’s 40-21 victory at Centerpoint to open the 5-3A Conference schedule.
Poole said conference games on the road are tough, but he was pleased with Prescott’s effort Friday.
“We played together as a team on offense and defensive,” Poole said.
Prescott (4-0, 1-0) hosts Episcopal Collegiate (4-0, 1-0) in a 5-3A showdown Friday night. Episcopal, the No. 4 team in Class 3A, is led by quarterback Douglas Munson and wide receiver Allie Freeman.
Poole said finding motivation hasn’t been a problem with the success Prescott and Episcopal have enjoyed this season, but the Curley Wolves haven’t forgotten that Episcopal eliminated them 14-6 in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs last season.
“Both teams have a lot of similarities,” Poole said. “They’re a real good football team. We are, too. The one with the fewest mistakes will win.”
Prescott won all three of its nonconference games against Gurdon (47-14), Camden Harmony Grove (31-6) and Hope (58-38). Poole credits the team’s work during the offseason for its fast start so far.
“We’ve played extremely well,” Poole said. “I’m amazed at the team effort. The senior leadership has been big for us.”
MAGNET COVE
Back steps up
Magnet Cove sophomore running back Jamil Tyner was determined not to repeat his performance against Benton Harmony Grove in the Panthers’ 5-2A Conference opener against England.
Tyner was held to 8 yards on six carries in the Panthers’ 30-27 loss at Benton Harmony Grove on Sept. 19. But against England, which was the No. 6 team in Class 2A, Tyner rushed for 168 yards and 3 touchdowns on 21 carries in a 34-28 victory. He scored on runs of 37, 23 and 2 yards.
Coach Ronnie Efird said Tyner looked timid against Benton Harmony Grove, but he looked anything but that last Friday night.
“It was different,” Efird said. “There was no tippy-toeing. His intensity level was higher.”
Tyner, 5-9, 162 pounds, has rushed for 312 yards and 4 touchdowns on 54 carries. He is averaging 5.7 yards per carry and 78.0 yards per game.
Efird said he’s never had an athlete like Tyner at Magnet Cove, which is located between Hot Springs and Malvern in Hot Spring County.
“He’s probably the fastest guy on the team,” Efird said. “He’s a big playmaker on this team. He can break it all the way. I wasn’t expecting it early this season.”
Magnet Cove (3-1) travels to Poyen on Friday with a chance to go 2-0 in the 5-2A despite starting seven sophomores.
“We’re a lot further ahead than we thought we would be,” Efird said. “At team camp, gosh, I hoped we could win a nondistrict game. But these kids have gotten better.”