FAYETTEVILLE -- Teams facing Fayetteville will spend much of the week game-planning on how to contain Connor Flannigan, who led the state in receiving last season.
But that's not their only problem. Beau Stuckey is back, too.
The two seniors are expected to frustrate defenders again after combining last season for 165 catches, 33 touchdowns and more than 2,500 yards in receiving. Flannigan had over 100 yards receiving in 10 games while Stuckey had at least 150 yards receiving in four games.
Their return should make for an exciting year for the Bulldogs and Casey Dick, who takes over as head coach following the resignation of Billy Dawson last spring. Fayetteville finished 9-3 last season after losing to eventual Class 7A state champion Bryant 28-25 in the second round of the playoffs.
"They're both dynamic and coachable kids," said Dick, the former University of Arkansas quarterback who coached last season at Van Buren. "They have some God-given talent, and both really understand how to run a route based on the coverage."
Flanningan (5-foot-11, 170 pounds) is the son of a coach, which has some advantages but one huge disadvantage for the player. It's something that even a standout player like Flannigan has experienced.
"I've heard, 'Oh, you're only playing because your a coach's kid,'" said Flannigan, whose father, Shawn Flannigan, is his position coach at Fayetteville. "I heard that going into my sophomore year, so I came in with a chip on my shoulder, knowing I had to prove myself. I want people to say, 'He's a good player no matter who his dad is.'"
The proof is in the numbers, where Flannigan set six Fayetteville school records and led the state in receiving with 102 catches for 1,695 yards and 20 touchdowns. As a sophomore, Flannigan started nine games and caught 24 passes for 392 yards and five touchdowns.
Flannigan is also a standout in the classroom with a 3.9 grade point average. Air Force and Yale have already offered scholarships, and more Division I schools could do the same as long as Flannigan continues to produce on the field.
"To play Division I football, that's my goal of course," said Flannigan, who scored a 34 on his ACT. "But I wouldn't be too disappointed if I ended up at Yale, an FCS school, or even a Division II school if it was the right fit for me academically and socially."
Stuckey (6-0, 180) is a versatile athlete who plans to attend Missouri State next season on a baseball scholarship. He's also a dangerous receiver who caught 63 passes last year for 991 yards and 13 touchdowns.
"Both of these young men are phenomenal receivers," Bentonville coach Jody Grant said. "They are great route runners who catch the ball well. Having both of these guys out there together makes it real tough to double cover one of them because, obviously, if you double one, the other will hurt you.
"These two will be tough on 7A West defenses this season."
Stuckey and Flannigan return punts and kicks and the two could contribute in the defensive secondary where Brooks Flannigan, Connor's twin brother, is a starting cornerback.
Fayetteville is not the only team in the 7A-West with dynamic targets in the passing game. Springdale Har-Ber has two standout receivers in Hunter Wood and Micah Seawood. Wood is a Division I prospect, and Seawood displayed his potential against top-notch competition when Har-Ber won the Southwest Elite 7-on-7 tournament at Shiloh Christian.
"He's a great player for sure, but we've all got one more year to prove ourselves," Flannigan said. "If he comes out on top, good for him. Hunter Wood, he's going to do the same, and I'm going to come out to try and prove I'm the best. At the end of the year, we'll leave it up to (the media) to decide that one."
The Bulldogs must decide on a starting quarterback between Hank Gibbs and Quinn McClain, a transfer from Elkins. When they do, the starter will have other options in the passing game between Stuckey and Flannigan.
Luke Charboneau returns after catching 41 passes for 622 yards and five touchdowns as a junior, and Isaiah Sategna is a track star who could have a big impact as a sophomore.
Fayetteville opens the season Friday at home against Vianney (Kirkwood, Mo.) The Bulldogs exploded 51-28 on Vianney last season behind Flannigan, who caught 13 passes for 311 yards and four touchdowns, and Stuckey, who returned the second-half kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown.
"Stats are great, but in the end, it's all about winning," Stuckey said. "I'm in the senior class now, and the goal is to win a state championship with the guys you've grown up with. The stats and the touchdowns come with that."
Sports on 08/22/2019