Mills received an upgrade for the 2016 football season.
The Comets will play on a new turf field. There are new stands, a new scoreboard and a new press box. Eventually, there are plans for a 40-yard indoor facility.
Mills at a glance
2015 RECORD 2-7
CONFERENCE 5A-Central
COACH Patrick Russell
KEY PLAYERS QB Jeremy Allen (Sr. 5-9, 150), FB Brandon Bunting (5-10, 215), HB Rajhon Ware (Sr. 6-0, 185), HB Corbin Humphrey (Jr. 5-6, 160), CB Seth Dillard (Sr. 5-10, 155), LB Braylen Cloird (Jr. 6-0, 185), CB Xavier Hardy (Jr. 5-10, 155)
SCHEDULE
DATE;OPPONENT
Sept. 2;at Jacksonville
Sept. 9;Hall
Sept. 16;Maumelle
Sept. 23;Parkview*
Sept. 30;at McClellan*
Oct. 7;at Sylvan Hills*
Oct. 14;Fair*
Oct. 21;at Beebe*
Oct. 28;Little Rock Christian*
Nov. 3;at Pulaski Academy*
- Denotes 5A-Central Conference games
As for the team's improvement -- the Comets are a combined 5-14 the two previous seasons after winning nine games in 2013 -- Mills Coach Patrick Russell is awaiting any dividends.
"I thought it would mean an influx of players and enthusiasm," Russell said of the new facilities. "But it hasn't meant that yet, and that's a little surprising and disappointing, too. Actually, our numbers are down, and you would think with that kind of commitment from the district and what our coaches have done this summer to ensure that we would have more players, well, that hasn't been the case."
Russell said the Comets have 40 players on the varsity roster and another 20 on the freshman team.
"In a good year, we generally top out at 50," Russell said.
The Comets will attempt to return to their winning ways with Russell's Flexbone offense, something he said he got away from too much last season.
Senior Jeremy Allen, 5-9, 150 pounds, won a quarterback battle during the spring. Allen was hurt most of last season.
"This spring, he beared down and he earned that job," Russell said. "He's been a really steady influence on the offense, protecting the football and reading [defenses] well, which is the key for us."
Russell said his team will rely on the running of senior fullback Brandon Bunting, 5-10, 215.
"He has a chance to be as good of a fullback as we've ever had," Russell said. "And we've had some pretty decent ones."
Depth at halfback should not be a problem for the Comets. Senior Rajhon Ware, 6-0, 185, and junior Corbin Humphrey, 5-6, 160, will shoulder the load.
Defensively, Russell said junior linebacker Braylen Cloird, 6-0, 185, is a leader because "of his attitude and his desire to get better."
The Comets secondary -- led by senior safety Damon Smith, 5-9, 175, and junior Xavier Hardy, 5-10, 155, -- is the strength of the defense, Russell said.
Russell said the most encouraging thing he's seen since spring is the amount of time his assistant coaches have put into the program.
"I can't say enough about our coaching staff," Russell said. "They went above and beyond. They put in extra work. The coaches' attendance at the summer workouts was 100 percent, all summer long. They have gone the extra mile to get players. They've spent extra time tweaking our schemes."
Sports on 08/20/2016