High school football report

Longtime assistant gets shot

Todd Wood (second from right), shown here as Pulaski Academy’s defensive coordinator in 2015, is getting his first opportunity as a head coach at Heber Springs, which is coming off a 4-7 season.
(Democrat-Gazette file photo)
Todd Wood (second from right), shown here as Pulaski Academy’s defensive coordinator in 2015, is getting his first opportunity as a head coach at Heber Springs, which is coming off a 4-7 season. (Democrat-Gazette file photo)

Todd Wood has been one of the state's most respected assistant coaches in high school football.

This year, the longtime defensive coordinator at Pulaski Academy and Russellville is getting his opportunity to be a head coach at Heber Springs.

Wood was Pulaski Academy's defensive coordinator from 2002-16, helping the Bruins win six state championships, including three in a row from 2014-16 with Coach Kevin Kelley. He coached current University of Arkansas linebacker Hayden Henry, the 2016 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps Defensive Player of the Year, at Pulaski Academy.

From 2017-19, Wood was at Russellville on Jeff Weaver's staff as defensive coordinator. He accepted the Heber Springs position in January.

Wood, 54, is in his first head coaching position in football, but he feels like he's been prepared thanks to his experience working for Kelley and Weaver, along with Russellville offensive coordinator David Farr, who has head coaching experience at Maumelle.

"They've showed me the way," Wood said. "I worked with Coach Kelley for so long. His motto was, 'Expect the unexpected and do the unexpected.'

"I've worked for Jeff Weaver and David Farr. I've learned a lot from those guys. I wanted to take what they gave me."

Heber Springs is coming off a 4-7 season in which it earned the No. 5 seed from the 4A-2 Conference. The Panthers earned a playoff berth in the final week of the regular season with a 28-14 victory at Mills, but lost in the first round at Shiloh Christian 62-27.

Wood said the Panthers have 31 players participating in fall practice, which began Monday. Although he would like more numbers, he appreciates the team's effort thus far.

"The kids have had great attitudes," Wood said. "The kids have really showed off. We've had a great week of practice."

The Panthers will run multiple schemes offensively and defensively, Wood said. He will serve as the Panthers' offensive coordinator in addition to his head coaching duties. Former Decatur coach James Ortiz is the team's defensive coordinator.

Heber Springs is scheduled to open the season Sept. 4 against Newport at home. Wood said he is preparing the Panthers as if they will have a game to play in early September.

"I tell our guys every day at practice, today may be the last time you put on that football uniform and go at it," Wood said. "For us, we plan to play a game Sept. 4. It's a privilege, not a right to put on that uniform.

"It's not up to me. It's up to people smarter than me. Whatever happens will happen. We'll be getting geared up to play."

NORTH LITTLE ROCK

New assistants

North Little Rock Coach J.R. Eldridge has completed his staff for the 2020 season with the additions of Georgeio Milam and Brandon Marks.

Milam arrives at North Little Rock from Ashdown, where he was the offensive coordinator last season. He also has been an offensive line coach at Arkansas Tech University.

Marks played running back at Prescott and Ouachita Baptist University. He was an assistant coach at Fountain Lake before being hired by North Little Rock.

Earlier in the offseason, Eldridge brought his defensive coordinator Chris Kizer from Arkadelphia to serve in the same position at North Little Rock.

Five previous assistants at North Little Rock under Jamie Mitchell -- Blake Pizan, Randy Sandefur, Jonathan Calvin, Clint Reed and Ray Sessions -- are still on the North Little Rock staff.

STAR CITY

Third year charm?

Star City believes the 2020 season could be a special one.

Chris Vereen is entering his third year at the 4A-8 Conference school and has led the Bulldogs to two consecutive Class 4A state playoff appearances.

The Bulldogs upset Southside Batesville in the first round last season, then fell to Pea Ridge 21-14 in the second round.

Last year's playoff experience helped fuel the Bulldogs' offseason.

"It helped us tremendously," Vereen said. "You want to get better. These guys knew that we should have won that Pea Ridge game last year. It left us hungry."

Star City has 46 players in the program, Vereen said. The veteran coach who also has had stops at Gillett, De Queen and Hot Springs said that the first week of fall practice last week was "the best" he's had since November, citing the current coronavirus pandemic.

The Bulldogs also will have a new artificial turf and lights at Bulldog Stadium this fall. Vereen said the project cost $900,000, which was paid for with school and private funds. The field is still being installed, which Vereen said forced the cancellation of Star City's annual Blue-White game scheduled for Thursday.

"We feel that our stadium now will be as good, if not better, than the facilities around us," Vereen said.

Star City's season opener is Aug. 28 at Forrest City. The Bulldogs' first home game is Sept. 4 against Stuttgart.

LINCOLN

Year of transitions

Reed Mendoza said it's mostly been a smooth transition in his return to Lincoln as head coach after one year at Dover.

Mendoza was formerly the offensive coordinator and head baseball coach at Lincoln, so he'll be quite familiar with some of the athletes who'll play for the Wolves. But changes and disruptions brought on by coronavirus pandemic are still a challenge.

"The transition is about as smooth as it could be," Mendoza said. "Obviously, everything with the circumstances, we've had to be very adaptable. But that's not unique to us. That's been everybody. We try to take those things and turn them into a positive."

The Wolves have more than 40 players as they move from Class 4A to Class 3A because of reclassification. Mendoza said Lincoln has plenty of work to do before the season opener Aug. 28 against Elkins.

Lincoln finished 5-5 last year under former coach Don Harrison, who is now coaching in Stilwell, Okla.

"Offensively, we need to work on our execution," Mendoza said. "On the defensive side, the focus is knowing our assignments and getting in the right place to make plays."

BENTONVILLE

Finish with scrimmage

Bentonville planned to close out the first week of preseason drills with an hour-long scrimmage Saturday morning, but part of it had to be done inside the Tiger Athletic Complex after lightning entered the area.

Coach Jody Grant was pleased with how the Tigers performed on the first day high school teams could practice in full pads.

"It marked six straight days of practice, and I think our kids got after it," Grant said. "I think they were ready to go out and hit something besides a dummy, and I saw some good things out of it. It was nice to get out there and do it, even if the last 20-25 minutes had to be done inside. I was glad to see us get it in."

Grant said a number of players have caught his eye already. Donnie Thomas has performed well on the defensive line, as well as Zane Ochoa and Ethan Arnold in a rotation of players at outside linebacker.

Josh Ficklin and Johnny Pike, a pair of sophomores, have gained attention at running back as they perform behind the Tigers' experienced offensive line. Pike also could see time at linebacker, Grant said.

"Right now, we're just trying to smooth some things out and trying to develop some depth in some areas," Grant said. "I think we still need more time for some players to get reps in some positions, but we will try to clean up some minor mistakes in some areas. We'll grow, and we'll get better."

More News

High school football coaching changes

SCHOOL;NEW COACH;PREVIOUS COACH

Alma;Rusty Bush;Doug Loughridge

Arkadelphia;Trey Schucker;J.R. Eldridge

Atkins;Matt Porter#;Tommy Cody

Bauxite;Caleb Perry;Daryl Patton

Booneville;Doc Crowley;Scott Hyatt

Brookland;Eric Munoz;Chuck Speer

Cross County;Cody Goulart;Tommy Wells

Crossett;Shawn Jackson;Sonny Nason

Cutter Morning Star;Matt Kinsinger;T.C. Shamel

Danville;Drew Smyly;D.J. Crane

De Queen;Brad Chesshir;Stephen Sloan

Des Arc;BJ Paschal;Tyler Paschal

Dover;Will Cox;Reed Mendoza

Dumas;George Shelton;Max Pennington

England;Josh Anderson;Andrew Roberson

Fort Smith Southside;Kim Dameron;Jeff Williams

Fountain Lake;Kenny Shelton;Kenny Shelton*

Gentry;Justin Bigham;Paul Ernest

Green Forest;Greg Tibbitt;Bobby Bishop

Greenwood;Chris Young;Rick Jones

Heber Springs;Todd Wood;Will Cox*

Horatio;Lantz Castleman;Robert Collum

Jacksonville;Maurice Moody;Jordan Johnston*

Lincoln;Reed Mendoza;Don Harrison

LR Hall;Jim Withrow;Kipchoge VanHoose

LR Southwest;Daryl Patton;NA^

Magazine;Ryan Chambers;Doug Powell

Mountain Home;Steve Ary;Bryan Mattox

North Little Rock;J.R. Eldridge;Jamie Mitchell

Osceola;Jamie Carter;Robert Hooks

Pea Ridge;Jeff Williams;Stephen Neal

Prescott;Brian Glass;Tommy Poole

Riverview;Daniel Bristo;Drake Widener

Salem;Josh Watson;Clay Wiggins

Searcy;Kenny Simpson;Mark Kelley

Sheridan;Larry McBroom;Lance Parker

Smackover;David Osborn;Brian Brown

Southside Batesville;Brian Reardon;Kenny Simpson

Sylvan Hills;Chris Hill;Jim Withrow

Trumann;Randy Phillips;Craig Green

Waldron;Doug Powell;Jonathan Bates

West Memphis;Robert Hooks;Billy Elmore

*Interim coach in 2019 ^New school in 2020

#Interim coach for 2020

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