Little Rock Hall hasn't earned a victory since Sept. 16, 2011, but Coach Tim Scarborough hopes some added strength and a heavty dose of discipline will give the Warriors a chance to end that skid soon.
"We're in the third year of our system, and I think that's going to play a big part in our chances of success," Scarborough said. "A lot of the guys we played last year were sophomores. Hopefully, we'll be able to correct the mistakes we made and maybe we can build off of it."
Little Rock Hall
COACH Tim Scarborough
CONFERENCE 6A-South
2014 RECORD 0-9-1
KEY RETURNERS RT Darian White, 6-0, 305; LG J/Darean Morris 6-5, 290; RB Devin Meredith, 5-8, 180; QB Jaden McGraw, 5-11, 180; FB/DE Jarrett Washington, 6-1, 245; Daevon Martin, 6-2, 190.
SCHEDULE
DATE;OPPONENT
Sept. 4 at Ashdown
Sept. 11 Mills
Sept. 18 Dumas
Sept. 25 at El Dorado*
Oct. 2 Benton*
Oct. 9 at Parkview*
Oct. 16 at Pine Bluff*
Oct. 23 Sheridan*
Oct. 30 at Texarkana*
Nov. 5 Lake Hamilton*
* 6A-South game
Scarborough was hired as the Warriors' coach in July 2013 and has managed to remain upbeat despite an 0-19-1 two-year mark. The coach said his players began to spend more time in the weightroom after his first two seasons, and he is now asking them to concentrate on being more disciplined for his third.
Hall defeated Arkadelphia 35-21 in the third week of the 2011 season and has lost 37 of its past 38 games. The Warriors tied North Pulaski 6-6 in last season's opener. They return six starters from last season.
"It's been an uphill battle," Scarborough said. "The first year, I got hired here so late that I can't count it. ... Last year, after one year in the weight room, they were stronger. That was my main focus. ... I saw some improvement. We weren't getting pushed around, but we were making mental mistakes. We were playing sophomores, so that was expected.
"After two years in the weightroom, our focus is now on discipline."
Junior Jaden McGraw, 5-11, 180 pounds, will step in as the Warriors' quarterback after spending last year as a receiver. Scarborough said McGraw came to him during the spring and said he wanted the job.
"He's impressed us," Scarborough said. "Seriously, he throws the ball well. He has that quarterback composure. He doesn't get rattled that easily. He's a tough competitor."
Running back Devin Meredith, 5-8, 180, fullback Jarrett Washington, 6-1, 245, receiver Tyran Lacy, 6-2, 180, and slot receiver Timothy Brown, 5-9, 175, also will be counted on to give the Warriors' some offensive punch.
Defensively, linebacker Daevon Martin, 6-2, 190, and Washington, who plays at defensive end, are the team's two defensive starters back from last year.
"We're still looking for leaders, but if I had to choose one person it would be Washington," Scarborough said. "He's anchored the defense for the last three years. He's a kid that's committed to the weight room and he's gotten stronger. We're looking to rally around him."
Hall was shut out six times last season and scored 32 points, 20 of which came in the Warriors' final two games. The Warriors allowed 39.6 points a game. Scarborough said he sees some indicators that those numbers will be better for 2015.
"One of the things we've had to do is teach our guys the common knowledge of football," Scarborough said. "I went to my assistants and said 'let's teach.' That's what we did, and I think our guys are more comfortable with the game of football right now."
Hall begins its season Sept. 4 with a nonconference game at Ashdown.
Sports on 08/25/2015