After a combined 12 wins in the previous four seasons, Maumelle won eight games in 2019, and with 15 starters returning, 2020 could yield even more wins.
The Hornets finished 8-3 last season, including a 24-21 loss at Texarkana in the opening round of the Class 5A state playoffs. They finished third in the tough 5A-Central, with losses to Pulaski Academy, 41-29, and Little Rock Christian, 34-7.
PA knocked off LRC in the championship game, a year after LRC prevailed in the 2018 state-title contest.
Nine defensive starters return for the Hornets, with six back on offense.
“Almost the entire defense is back, and on offense, we are returning four of out five starters on the line, our quarterback and our tight end,” coach Kirk Horton said.
Maumelle snagged nonconference wins last year over Pea Ridge, Vilonia and Little Rock Mills by a combined 129-39. The Hornets’ conference wins came over White Hall, 29-21; Little Rock Parkview, 35-28; Little Rock Fair, 56-0; Beebe, 46-15; and Watson Chapel, 27-6.
For 2020, team strengths will be experience and speed, but the Hornets will have to replace their receiving corps, the coach said.
Back starting for a Multiple 3-4 defense that allowed 18 points per game in 2019 are defensive backs Jaylen Pettus (5-8, 145 junior), Keyonte Sykes (6-0,175, senior), Maxwell Pace (6-1, 175, senior) and TJ Scarborough (5-9, 155 senior); defensive back/linebacker Josh Marshall (6-2, 210 senior); linebacker Remone Stratton (6-0, 195 senior); defensive end/linebacker CJ Murphy (5-10, 210 junior) and defensive ends Jordan Scott (6-0, 215 senior) and Nico Davillier (6-5, 280 junior).
Scott recorded 6 sacks as a junior. Marshall had 85 tackles and 3 interceptions in 2019.
Returning starters for the Hornets’ Multiple Spread offense, which averaged 33 points per game last fall, include quarterback Jonathan Reyes
(6-1, 185 senior), tight end Houston Motes (6-1, 215 senior), tackles Andrew Chamblee (6-7, 300 junior) and Nolan West (6-5 265 senior), guard Kelby Forte (5-10, 265 junior) and center Nathan Juhl (6-2, 250 senior).
Reyes threw for 2,808 yards and 36 touchdowns last year, including 350 yards and 5 TDS against Vilonia, and 340 yards and 4 scores against Watson Chapel.
Horton said he figured PA and LRCA would vie again for the conference title this fall.
“They’ve played for the state title the past two years and are always contenders,” he said. “Maumelle, White Hall and Watson Chapel are very good teams as well. Jacksonville, Beebe and [Little Rock] Hall round out the conference, and all have very good coaches.”
The Hornets are picked to finish fifth in the Central, according to a statewide publication’s preseason poll of league coaches, behind PA, LRC, White Hall and Watson Chapel, and ahead of Jacksonville, Beebe and Little Rock Hall.
Key games for the Hornets, the coach said, would be White Hall at home in Week 8 and at Watson Chapel in Week 9.
“Wins in those games will assure a playoff berth,” he said.