ROGERS HERITAGE
Escalante pleased with early spring workouts
Rogers Heritage coach Perry Escalanted liked what he saw from his team during the first week of spring practice with several holdovers standing out.
“We’re further along than we were last year,” Escalante said. “A lot further along. We had a lot of kids stand out. Joel Brackett, Joe Britton, (John) Glynn, an O-lineman. Joel’s going to play some running back and some linebacker. Joe will be a solid guy at safety, but he’s going to run it some, too.”
Brackett, who started several games at quarterback last season, looks to be a main option at tailback in what War Eagles offensively coordinator Darren Hotelling called a “tailback by committee” system to replace standout Joey Saucier. Britton, a returning starter at safety, could also see some playing time on offense, Escalante said.
“Joel looked good back there, he looked like a season guy,” Brackett said. “He was breaking tackles, showing some speed. Joe’s a big physical kid. We didn’t get to see him run over anybody because everybody kind of got out of his way and got down real low on his ankles to tackle him.”
Mason Gray, a returning starter at tight end, suffered a knee injury last week. He is slated for an MRI this week, Escalante said.
Rising sophomores Trey Kitterman and Dylan Qualls will get a look this week since the baseball team’s season ended last week in the state tournament. Kitterman will get some reps at quarterback, while Qualls will be at receiver.
Escalante is still searching for a place-kicker.
“We’re still shopping,” Escalante said. “It’s tough because we’ve had three really good ones here.”
— Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB
ROGERS HIGH
Mounties must fill several holes
Rogers High will have a little different look on offense this fall, but the Mounties will still look to run the football first and foremost.
Rogers will move its slot backs out a little wider this fall as the Mounties look to possibly put the ball in the air more.
“It’s a little different, but not much,” said coach Shawn Flannigan. “We are still a flex bone team at the end of the day. But we are going to have some different formations, alignments to give us some new opportunities.”
Four players are currently working at quarterback and the Mounties are also looking for a new fullback and a new slot back as spring football drills wind down this week.
Rising senior Joseph Sultemeier split time at quarterback last season and he rushed for 293 yards on 77 carries while completing 8 of 12 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns. But rising juniors Max Horton and Grayson Lee and sophomore Andrew McGlynn are also in the mix.
Horton (6-foot, 180 pounds) did not play as a sophomore and he could also play several other positions, including linebacker. Lee played slot back last season.
“Joseph stands out because he knows what is going on,” Flannigan said. “But Max has looked sharp. But all those guys, if they are not playing quarterback, they will be some place else.”
Flannigan also said that he hopes to have a new defensive coordinator hired by the time school ends next week. Current defensive coordinator Charles Hesse is retiring and Flannigan is looking at coaches inside and outside the district to fill the opening.
“We have just been working on defensive fundamentals so, when when do get a defensive coordinator in place, we can work on a scheme,” Flannigan said.
— Paul Nielsen • @NWAPaul
SPRINGDALE HAR-BER
Wildcats more experienced
Springdale Har-Ber will be in a better position to succeed than last season, when the Wildcats returned only one offensive starter.
Har-Ber’s inexperience grew after that lone returning starter, tackle Martin Escareno, suffered a knee injury against Conway and missed the rest of the season. This fall, Har-Ber will return two starters on the offensive line and eight starters overall on ofense from a team that finished 3-8.
“We return four of the five guys on the offensive line who played over 50 percent of the snaps last year,” Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. “We always strive to be balanced and it starts with the guys up front.”
Har-Ber returns four starters on defense and some major holes to fill again after losing three Division 1 signees the last two years. Rickey Dobbins signed with Central Arkansas after Jake Hall went to Arkansas and Josh Frazier signed with Alabama two years ago.
Versatile senior David Vowell will be counted upon to help improve a defense that gave up over 40 points per game last season.
“David can play D-line and he can kick, too,” Wood said. “He’s a good hand to have on the team.”
— Rick Fires • @NWARick
FAYETTEVILLE
Bulldogs making strides
Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton admits the offense is ahead of the defense at this point in spring practice. Just as he expected would be case.
The Bulldogs have installed a new fast-paced offense this offseason and have the entire system put in place. The defense, meanwhile, deals with overcoming many key graduations at several positions.
“The offense is further along than the defense,” Patton said. “To be fair to the defense, we’ve been going with a base defense a lot knowing we had some inexperience. So our offense is fully installed and we’re going against a base defense.
“But we’ve been pleased with both sides of the football so far.”
With all other spring sports eliminated from postseason tournaments on the boys’ side, Fayetteville has its entire rsoter for the final two weeks of spring practice. The Purple’Dogs will alternate between T-shirt and helmets and shoulder pad workouts this week and early next week before a final Purple-White game on Friday, May 29.
“I hate that our baseball team didn’t win another championship,” Patton said. “And I was sorry to see that our soccer team didn’t go farther in the playoffs. But we’ve got guys off those teams back with us and now it’s time to go to work.”
Among those returning from other sports are rising junior wide receiver Barrett Banister from baseball and rising senior placekicker Jon Fagg from soccer.
— Vernon Tarver • @NWAVernon
BENTONVILLE
Tigers go on despite absences
Bentonville’s football team has reached the middle of their first spring workout session under first-year coach Jody Grant, and the Tigers have done it without some key people.
Starting quarterback Kasey Ford and starting outside linebacker Destyn Adkins are still with the baseball team, which plays Friday in the Class 7A state championship game at Baum Stadium. Meanwhile, backup quarterback Chase Hunter and starting receiver Ben Barron are still involved with soccer and the Tigers’ state championship game Saturday at Razorback Field.
What isn’t missing from the spring workouts, Grant noted, is the team’s work ethic and intensity.
“I think one thing I have taken away from these practices is that these kids have been working hard,” Grant said. “The intensity has been there, and the leadership has been there.
“When you’re playing against each other, if the offense is playing good it means the defense isn’t. We’ve had our moments on both sides of the ball where I’ve been pleased. There are people that have stepped up and some things that have impressed us as coaches.”
Grant noted some young players have emerged with their play. One of them was receiver Kam’ron Hunt, a sophomore transfer from White Hall who wound up with a hip injury and will miss the remainder of the spring workouts.
Others include Tyler Johnson, who has rotated into some action at a linebacker spot and tight end. Jacob Clark has been impressive with how he his carried the ball at tailback, and so has David Nichols, who will see action on both sides of the ball. Tim Fernandez has made his presence known at defensive end, as has Kary Collier and Elijah Barnes in the secondary.
— Henry Apple • @NWAHenry
SPRINGDALE HIGH
Bulldogs building depth
Zak Clark felt good about 11 to 15 players entering his first spring practice as Springdale High’s new coach.
The last few weeks have been about the Bulldogs building on that number. The new hire has provided the program with a boost of enthusiasm despite coming off an 0-10 season. Player turnout is up, giving Clark more athletes to try and mold into contributors during spring practice.
“We need 22,” Clark said. “And we really need more than that. We need backups. A big issue is depth.”
In addition to building depth, Clark and the rest of the new coaching staff is installing new systems on both sides of the ball. The defense is shifting from a 3-4 to a 4-2-5. On offense, quarterback Jack Lindsey, a Fayetteville transfer and Clark’s nephew, has greatly eased the transition thanks to his familiarity with the scheme. He is a steady presence under center as the Bulldogs try to identify their strengths this spring.
“We’ve always felt like coming out of spring, we know what our identity is going to be,” Clark said. “What are we going to hang our hat on, on offense and defense?”
Springdale’s spring game is Thursday at 5 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.
— Jimmy Carter • @NWAJimmy