CLASS 2A SUPER SIX NO. 1 ENGLAND

Title talk the buzz around England

England Coach Terry Farmer
England Coach Terry Farmer

When its coach took over the England football team in 2012, high expectations and confidence in championship outcomes were virtually nonexistent. Now the Lions have come full circle, to the point where the coach has found them another hurdle to clear.

“There’s been a lot of hype,” said England Coach Terry Farmer, who is in his fifth season at the school. “Obviously when you’ve been selected No. 1 for the first time, you can run into that. When you look at polls, and you get a new team up there, like Mississippi State a couple of years ago, they usually don’t stay for long because they don’t know how to deal with all the pressure and the hype and the media. That’s what we’re dealing with right now.”

England Lions

COACH Terry Farmer

CONFERENCE 5-2A

2015 RECORD 13-1

ASSISTANT COACHES Matt Garrett, offensive coordinator-running backs-linebackers; Caleb Garrick, defensive coordinator, offensive-defensive line; John Bell, special teams, receivers, defensive backs

KEY RETURNERS Senior quarterback Brayden Brazeal; senior running back/defensive end Malik Coleman; senior tight end/defensive end B.J. Thompson; senior receiver/defensive back Marc Westbrook

SCHEDULE

Aug. 30 Hamburg^

Sept. 9 at Junction City

Sept. 16 Episcopal Collegiate

Sept. 23 at Magnet Cove*

Sept. 30 Bigelow*

Oct. 7 at Conway Christian*

Oct. 14 Cutter Morning Star*

Oct. 21 Hector*

Oct. 28 at Quitman*

Nov. 4 at Poyen*

^at Arkansas-Pine Bluff

*5-2A game

And deal with it they must, as the Lions open the season ranked No. 1 in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Class 2A Super Six.

England won 13 consecutive games to start the 2015 season and advanced to a state playoff semifinal round for the first time since 1981. Though he has never coached a state championship winner, Farmer has had successful runs at Palestine-Wheatley, West Memphis, Germantown, Tenn., and Oswego , Ill., his alma mater.

When he was hired at England, it didn’t take Farmer long to see the potential in eighthgrade quarterback Brayden Brazeal. Last season as a junior, Brazeal completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 3,046 yards and 42 touchdowns. He averaged 10.9 yards an attempt and had just two interceptions.

“He’s pretty meticulous about his throws,” Farmer said. “He doesn’t like to fail.”

Brazeal said he is confident he and his teammates will thrive, despite high hopes at school and in town.

“There’s a little bit of pressure,” he said. “There’s a buzz around town. I mean, we’ve never had this much hype around us, but I think we have enough veterans to deal with it. We understand what we have to do to do what we did last year and to get beyond that. I really feel like we’re ready to go.”

Farmer said it was a simple choice to let his team’s passing game lead the way last season.

“When you have a player who can pass as well as our quarterback can pass, it makes sense to use that as a major part of your offense,” Farmer said.

He said it was important that his team also concentrate on a running game this season, particularly for a potential playoff run. Road games late in the playoffs on grass fields, away from England’s artificial turf, made things difficult for the Lions.

“We learned our lesson,” Farmer said. “We will definitely be able to run the ball this season.”

Senior running back Malik Coleman led England with 900 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Farmer said Coleman should be helped in the backfield by senior Simeon Brooks and juniors Darius Clarkson and Demarcus Houston.

Farmer said his defense depends on senior ends B.J. Thompson and Coleman. He said Thompson has received 10 scholarship offers.

“He’s hard to handle because he’s so dadgum long and rangy and fast,” Farmer said. “We have him and Malik on the other side, and those to guys have to play. They have to come to play.”

Brazeal said his team is eager to start a run toward a title.

“There never been this much buzz here,” he said. “I grew up here since forever, and there’s never been anything like this. I’m really excited. We’ve been waiting on this since the second grade, so we’re super excited for sure.”

Sports on 08/23/2016

Upcoming Events