Commentary

Football: Northwest Arkansas Battle provides second chance for area players

Courtesy Photo Jake Denzer, left, closes in on a ball carrier during football action at Southwest Junior High in Springdale. Denzer is a top player for the Northwest Arkansas Battle and an assistant coach at Elkins.
Courtesy Photo Jake Denzer, left, closes in on a ball carrier during football action at Southwest Junior High in Springdale. Denzer is a top player for the Northwest Arkansas Battle and an assistant coach at Elkins.

The football field and metal bleachers at Southwest Junior High in Springdale are about as far as one can get from a big-time sports environment.

But it's a weekend playground for grown men in pads and helmets with the Northwest Arkansas Battle, a member of the Central Football League with other teams from Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas. Some of the players are years past their prime such as Jason Campbell, a 12-year veteran who played football at Arkansas in 2001. The roster is mostly comprised of players still in their 20s, many of whom retain a flicker of hope for something better in their football careers.

Jake Denzer, 25, was a four-year letterman at Arkansas Tech, where he was a tight end, fullback and punter. The former Elk from Elkins averaged 38.6 yards per punt in 2011 and had one punt for 72 yards. In addition, Denzer was an academic All-American who made the Gulf South Conference honor roll three times.

Denzer is the top player for the Battle, who are 6-3 with one week left before the playoffs. Denzer has scored two touchdowns at fullback, and he returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown while starting at inside linebacker.

"This is probably my first and last year," said Denzer, who graduated from Elkins in 2007. "It's a thrill to get out there in pads and hit people again, but it's mostly a hobby."

Denzer's hobby could lead to something bigger, although it's still a longshot. Northwest Arkansas Battle coach James Burkheart said the Kansas City Chiefs have shown interest in Denzer, and he could receive a tryout with the NFL team in mid-June.

"Jake is smart and an extremely talented player," Burkheart said. "We love having him on our team, and he raises the play of everyone around him. He'll blow up a guy then extend his hand down and help him back up."

Denzer said, even if nothing materializes with the Chiefs, playing football with the Battle this spring has been beneficial.

"It's helped me with my job as a football coach," Denzer said. "It's reassuring that what I'm trying to teach our kids out on the field actually works. I think the kids also respect the fact I can go out there and do any of the drills we ask them to do."

The Central Football League represents a second chance or, more accurately, a final chance for some players who were overlooked in high school and college. League players aren't paid, and they must rely on their own insurance if they get hurt. But the risk is worth it, especially for the very few who might get a chance with teams in the Arena League, Canadian League or even the NFL.

"Some guys out of high school just need another year or two to develop," Burkheart said. "Others just need to work on their skills. We give them that opportunity."

Henry Hernandez, 21, last played football as a senior receiver for Springdale High in 2011 before joining the Battle this spring. He's now the starting quarterback for the Battle, who needed a victory Saturday at Springfield, Mo., to host a first-round playoff game.

"It's pretty good competition and a lot of fun," said Hernandez, who works at Dillard's in Fayetteville. "This league gives you a chance to showcase what you can do. I didn't get any good offers after high school, but, if an opportunity to play in college came along, I'd certainly consider it."

Denzer said the quality of play in the Central Football League is below what he experienced in Division II at Arkansas Tech. But exceptional athletes are scattered throughout the league, and adults pay only $5 to watch the action at Southwest Junior High.

For fans counting down the days to football season, spending a few hours with the Battle is a worthwhile alternative. Especially when they love it so much, they play for free.

Sports on 05/31/2015

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