NORTHSIDE
GRIZZLIES
2016 RECORD 7-3 COACH Mike Falleur RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 3 defense KEY PLAYERS QB/RB Derrick Wise (Jr., 5-11, 180), WR DeAaron Robinson (Sr., 6-0, 185), OL Stevie Young (Jr., 6-5, 290), LB Locke Stubblefield (Sr., 6-2, 220), DB Elijah Tabut (Jr., 5-10, 175), DB Tyriq Adams (Jr., 5-9, 160). THE SKINNY Northside hung its hat on strong defense a season ago, which led to a playoff berth and 7-3 finish. … Defensive back Tre Norwood, now at Oklahoma, and Tanner Cross (Dartmouth) were two of seven defensive players to sign with college programs in February. … Nine players will start defensively for the first time this fall, Falleur said. … The Grizzlies’ offense will revolve around standout junior Derrick Wise, who rushed for 515 yards and four TD in 2016. … Stevie Young is as talented as any offensive lineman Falleur has coached and feels the offensive line could be a plus. COACH SPEAK “We’re young, really young. We’re probably as young as we’ve been since I’ve been here, but we’ve got some very talented kids. I think it’s really just going to depend on them growing up and being able to handle the pressures of Friday. We’re an overall inexperienced football team, but I like what I’ve seen. They’re working hard and getting after it,” Falleur said
SCHEDULE
Sept. 1 .................at Greenwood
Sept. 8 .......................Van Buren
Sept. 15 ..................at Pine Bluff
Sept. 22..........................Bryant *
Sept. 29...................LR Central *
Oct. 6 ....................at LR Catholic *
Oct. 13 ............................Conway *
Oct. 20...........at North Little Rock
Oct. 27............................... Cabot *
Nov. 3 .................at FS Southside
- — Denotes 7A-Central Conference game
FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE
MAVERICKS
2016 RECORD 3-7 COACH Jeff Williams RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Taye Gatewood (Jr., 5-11, 205), WR Dylan Wyatt (Sr., 5-8, 165), HB Cole Altus (Jr., 6-4, 215), LB Kham Belcher (Sr., 5-9, 190), LB Darrin Davenport (Jr., 6-2, 225), DB Dee Dee Smith (Jr., 6-2, 160). THE SKINNY Jeff Williams’ Southside squad missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007 last fall and finished a disappointing 3-7. … The Mavericks’ decade-long winning streak over rival FS Northside also came to an end. But Williams is hopeful players who were thrown into the fire last season will make strides in 2017. … The coach is high on his skill players, highlighted by QB Taye Gatewood and receiver Dylan Wyatt. Gatewood played both ways last season and Wyatt started each game. … Junior Darrin Davenport (64 tackles) returns at linebacker after tearing an ACL in week 5, and Dee Dee Smith (Jr., 6-2,
160) will be a playmaker in the secondary with 4.6 speed. COACH SPEAK “We hadn’t been through a year like last year since I’ve been at Southside. We earned what we got. Going into this year we’re young and a pretty junior-oriented bunch. They’ve really bought into what we’re trying to do, and I think they understand (the 7A-Central) a little bit better. I think our coaching staff and players are better prepared, and we’re excited about getting started,” Williams said
SCHEDULE
Sept. 1 .........Springdale Har-Ber
Sept. 8 .................at Greenwood
Sept. 15 ...........Rogers Heritage
Sept. 22................... at Conway*
Sept. 29.......................at Cabot*
Oct. 6 ................North Little Rock*
Oct. 13 ..........................at Bryant*
Oct. 20......................LR Catholic*
Oct. 27................... at LR Central*
Nov. 3 .................... FS Northside*
- — Denotes 7A-Central Conference game