7-A West high school football

Rebels focused on field, not mascot

Fort Smith Southside

Jeff Williams, Fort Smith Southside football coach, said the team is focused on the field, not the recent decision to drop the school’s “Dixie” fight song for this season and the Rebels mascot next season. Williams begins his 11th season at the school this year.
Jeff Williams, Fort Smith Southside football coach, said the team is focused on the field, not the recent decision to drop the school’s “Dixie” fight song for this season and the Rebels mascot next season. Williams begins his 11th season at the school this year.

The controversy surrounding the impending mascot and fight song change at Fort Smith Southside hasn't affected the Rebels' football team, coach Jeff Williams said.

Last week the Fort Smith School Board voted to remove the school's iconic "Dixie" fight song for this season, and drop the Rebel mascot for the 2016 season.

"It's not really something we've talked about," said Williams, who enters his 11th season and is 78-41-1 at Southside. "Our job is to make sure we get into that blue end zone, and the other team doesn't get into the blue end zone whatever name is on it."

The Rebels did plenty of the former last season to win a share of the 7A-West Conference title and advance to the Class 7A state semifinals. Southside lost some talented skill position players off that team, but Williams has a lot of depth along the offensive and defensive lines.

"This year is kind of a role reversal for us," Williams said. "We're excited to get started. We're going to have to develop some skill players, but we've had a good summer and we made some strides there."

The Rebels will open practice Monday morning, Williams said. The team will report about 7:15 a.m. and hit the field around 8:15 a.m. and go until around 11, Williams said.

Williams, like most, is predicting Fayetteville as the favorite in the brutally tough 7A-West. But he also knows anything can happen.

"Usually the games in this conference come down to the last two minutes," he said. "Either you are trying to score or trying to keep the other team from scoring at the end."

Springdale Har-Ber

Defensive improvement key for Wildcats

No 7A-West team has had more nose guards go on to play high-level college football than Springdale Har-Ber over the course of the last few years.

Josh Frazier is the headliner, a nationally touted class of 2014 recruit who signed with Alabama. Rickey Dobbins graduated in May and hopes to make an early impact at Central Arkansas. Going back to 2008, Eric Pearce was an impact nose for the Wildcats before playing all four years at Missouri State.

Rising sophomore Alejandro Ramirez has a chance to be Har-Ber's next big-time interior lineman. The 6-foot-3, 285-pounder possesses the size, strength and ability to make an impact right away in his first year on varsity.

"He's the fourth one in that line of kids we think has a chance to be a pretty special talent in there," coach Chris Wood said. "That's one of the trademarks of who we've been over these nine, 10 years. That position has usually produced a college guy. And we think he has that opportunity."

Ramirez figures to be a key cog, but there will need to be improvement from the rest of the Wildcats defense as Har-Ber tries to shake off a 3-8 season last year in which the defense allowed a shoddy 31.3 points per game.

There is skill in the back seven, including talented safety Austin Henderson (6-2, 195), a three-year starter, seasoned senior linebackers Sione Nasilia (6-2, 230), Jacob Robertson (5-10, 190) and Brock Brames (6-0, 180), along with Nasilia's younger brother, Oliver (6-3, 235), another sophomore who could make an early impact as Har-Ber tries to piece together a strong unit to complement a potentially explosive offense in the chase for a conference title.

"Who you are as a football program and a championship-level team hinges on that defense," Wood said. "I've been here nine years and I don't know if we've ever not been in the top three on offense (in the conference). Our special years, we've been in the top three on defense. That's just always going to be the trademark of the West."

Har-Ber will begin fall practice Thursday. Wood gave the team a few days off after wrapping up summer workouts Friday, which included two weeks of preparation for Missouri powerhouse Webb City, the Wildcats' week-one opponent.

Springdale High

Line play a focal point entering fall camp

There are a number of question marks for Springdale High as it opens fall camp Monday under the direction of first-year coach Zak Clark.

That's only natural for a team coming off an 0-10 finish and adjusting to a culture change with new leadership.

The biggest question mark is perhaps the offensive line, where the Bulldogs return just two starters, tackle Steffan Bonilla and guard Alex Davis. And while Bonilla is entrenched at left tackle protecting quarterback Jack Lindsey's blind side, Davis is battling an as-of-yet unidentified illness and is out for the time being.

"Really not sure what it is," Clark said. "Running some tests. If he's back, obviously there's a hole there (at right guard)."

Along with Bonilla (6-foot-1, 255 pounds), seniors Pedro Lazo (5-8, 192) and Jackson Hutchins (5-8, 230) have carved out starting spots at center and right tackle, respectively, during the spring and summer. There is competition at the two guard spots, especially with Davis' status up in the air.

Senior Michael Del Rio (5-8, 255) will open fall camp at left guard. Fayetteville transfer Chris Major (6-3, 275) and Elkins transfer Hank Hickman (6-3, 340) are in the mix at right guard, as is senior Bubba Hutchinson (5-7, 291).

"If Alex is out for a little bit, maybe that's our opportunity to build depth, especially early when we're going against the ones, good on good," Clark said.

The Bulldogs will enter camp seeking answers on the line. A matchup with Class 6A power Greenwood, which has arguably the best defensive front Springdale will face all year, looms in week one, but the starting line may not be set until a few weeks into camp.

"Continuity and chemistry on the offensive line is very important, but it's more important to find the right guys," Clark said. "We're going to take as long as we need, until somebody emerges. ... I've played with six, never seven, with a rotation. But we'll figure it out."

Fayetteville

Numbers high for Bulldogs

The start to the 2015 high school football season has a much different feel around Fayetteville this year.

With ninth-graders transitioning up to the high school level, practices at Harmon Stadium will be plenty busy. Both Fayetteville Purple and Fayetteville White, the district's two freshmen teams, begin workouts Monday with the returning varsity players scheduled to begin practice on Aug. 5.

"I was telling my wife the other day that for the past 15 years of so I've been doing things the same way," Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. "And now that's all about to change. It's good change, but there is a lot of changes with the ninth graders moving up."

Fayetteville has around 160 players in the 10th through 12th grades to open fall camp. Add in the freshmen teams and the number increases to 270 players.

"It can be a challenge with so many guys," Patton said. "But overall we're tickled with what we've got.

"We're starting with the freshmen on Monday and then the varsity on Wednesday. They've had a good summer, and they deserve a couple of days break before they get started."

Rogers Heritage

Sheetz' injury not deemed serious

Rogers Heritage coach Perry Escalante lamented he's had a few players suffer knee injuries in non-contact situations.

But he got good news about starting linebacker Garrett Sheetz, who was injured during the Southwest Elite 7-on-7 tournament three weeks ago at Shiloh Christian.

Sheetz, who led the War Eagles with 131 tackles last season, will be available for Heritage's season opener at Olathe (Kan.) North on Sept. 4, Escalante said.

"He has a small tear, but it won't require surgery," Escalante said. "They are going to put it in a brace and let it heal on its own. He will be ready for week one."

Starting tight end Mason Gray suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear during spring practice and will miss his junior season. But defensive lineman Andy Mendoza (6-0, 240) was released recently for full contact as he begins his senior year. Mendoza missed most of last season with a knee injury.

The War Eagles will start practice Wednesday. The freshmen and high school groups will be brought in together from 7-9 a.m. this week, Escalante said. He expects a little more than 100 players to report.

"Since we're not in pads, we'll bring both groups in at the same time," Escalante said. "We'll do our drill work together, but separate to do team stuff."

Some of Escalante's assistant coaches shuffled duties over the summer. Offensive coordinator Darren Hotelling will now go back to the offensive line, while Jason Upton will coach running backs. Aaron Ledbetter, who moved up from the freshman staff, will coach quarterbacks.

Escalante said Hotelling requested to move back to the O-line, which he oversaw when the school opened.

Fort Smith Northside

Grizzlies ready to hit field

The Grizzlies will hit the practice field at 7 a.m. Monday under third-year coach Mike Falleur, who said his team is ready to start the season.

"We've had a good summer, we're in good shape and we are excited to get stated," he said.

Northside was 9-3 last season and lost in the second round of the Class 7A playoffs to North Little Rock. The Grizzlies return six offensive starters, including two-way standout Kiondre Thomas, one of the most explosive players in the 7A-West Conference.

Falleur said he knows what to expect now that he's made one tour of duty through the conference.

"We know it's going to be tough every week," Falleur said. "This conference is always tough."

Rogers High

Mounties work on passing game

The Mounties will open preseason football with a midnight practice on Monday, and they will return to a normal schedule Tuesday morning.

Rogers coach Shawn Flannigan is expecting around 90 players to show up this week. Rogers opens the season Sept. 4 at Siloam Springs. The home opener is Sept. 11 when Claremore, Okla., visits Whitey Smith Stadium.

Rogers, which was 2-8 last season, will continue to operate out of the run-oriented triple option offense, but the Mounties are looking for more production through the air. Senior Joseph Sultemeier and junior Max Horton are the top candidates at quarterback. Both could also play linebacker.

Flannigan said the Mounties made big strides in the offseason passing the football and that will be a major point of emphasis leading up to the season opener.

"It will be good to get into practice and do some serious teaching," Flannigan said. "You can see the wheels turning and they are thinking. They are making improvements all the time, they are picking it up. I feel like we will make improvements before we play the first game."

One big hole left on offense by graduation is at fullback and senior Christian Brummett (5-foot-9, 175 pounds) is the most likely replacement. Grayson Lee, Jeb Brain, Hunter Hawkins, and Colin McWhorter are all working at slotback. Lee and Brain saw extensive playing time last season.

"We are working guys at a lot of different positions," Flannigan said.

Bentonville

Tigers ready to get serious

Bentonville has moved its first week of preseason practices up an hour, but coach Jody Grant said an earlier start won't affect his players much.

The Tigers should be accustomed to a 7 a.m. start because that's when their workouts have started throughout the summer, with the exception of the two-week dead period.

"We're just trying to do what we can to beat some of the heat," Grant said. "We have that hour advantage, and it should keep the players on the same type of routine.

"But they needed to have a mindset of getting focused when they step on the field. When practice starts Monday, we need to move past last year. We're not that far from that first game, so we need to start focusing on what we need to do to get ready."

Bentonville still has holes to fill, particularly in its defensive lines. The Tigers prefer to use a player rotation and use several players in order to keep them fresh, but this year's group needs to find a level of consistency on the field in order to be successful.

Grant said his team has been bolstered by the addition of team camps throughout the summer instead of the usual 7-on-7 competitions.

"I believe the team camps are good for the team, and I prefer them over 7-on-7," Grant said. "Team camps are reality when it comes to football because teams have to work as a group. It gave us the opportunity to not only bring our starters, but some of the younger players and let them get some reps against other teams."

Van Buren

Pointers in learning stages

Greg Werner didn't become Van Buren's coach until mid-April, so the Pointers haven't had much time to learn a new system.

Werner, a 26-year coaching veteran who spent the last three years at Poteau, Okla., isn't about to put his new players on a crash course when Van Buren kicks off preseason practices at 7 a.m. Monday.

"It's a process right now, and I'm talking everything," Werner said. "It's not just about offense and defense. It's about learning to work and doing stuff in the weight room.

"We still have a long way to go, but the kids' attitudes have been good. They are adapting and learning, and they are buying into what I'm trying to do here. But it's going to take a little time to get there."

Van Buren will have approximately 85 players arrive for practice Monday. That number is considered low compared to many Class 7A schools, but Werner believes more players will arrive in due time.

One of the first things he's trying to do is turn the Pointers into a defensive-minded group.

"We're going to stress defense first," Werner said. "We're going to have our best players on defense, and we'll try to play a ball-control offense where we hope to shorten the games."

Sports on 08/02/2015

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