SPRINGDALE — Shiloh Christian fired a 232 to win the team title at the boys 4A Region I Golf Tournament at The Creeks on Tuesday.

Shiloh’s foursome claimed a 10-stroke victory and will advance to the 4A state golf tournament next month.

Chase Wakefield and Trent Tollett each fired 77s to lead the Saints amd Tyler Kelsay shot a 78. Dave Matthews rounded out the Saints with an 81. The top three scores from each team count as the team score.

Gentry finished second with a 242, led by Ben Sarratt’s 76. Robbie White carded an 82 and Joe Morris fired an 84.

Farmington (251) was third, led by top overall medalist Jason Purdy, who fired a 73 to lead the field. Jake Adkins and Kolby Burnett each fired 89s for the Cardinals.

The 4A state boys tournament will be held Oct. 7 at DeGray.

5A-West Tournament

Greenwood won its third straight 5A-West Conference girls golf title on Wednesday at Ben Geren Golf Course in Fort Smith.

Greenwood’s girls have been top three at state three years in a row, winning in 2007. The state match is next week in Paragould, where Greene County Tech is defending champ and host team.

Alma finished runner-up and Siloam Springs was third. Both teams will advance to state. Siloam’s team was comprised of Brittany Crawley, Savanna Seliga, Jessica Glass and Emery Rakestraw.

Harrison ran away with the boys title. The Goblins won their fifth straight conference crown and are three-time defending state champions.

Siloam will send Don Voss and Jackson McKinnon to state as individual medalists.

“Their quarterback did a good job,” Floyd said. “We had a hard time covering their receivers.”

Shook’s run capped a quick six-play drive that covered 62 yards in 62 seconds. Shook hit Stephen Hogan for 12 yards to begin the drive, and hit Harris for 20 to Shiloh Christian’s 30. On second down, Shook scrambled to Shiloh Christian’s 10 with 34 seconds left, and scored two plays later.

Shiloh Christian went up 51-48 with 1:14 left with a spectacular 18-play drive that covered 92 yards and took seven minutes, five seconds. Frazier completed 7-of-10 passes on the drive, finally hitting Chris Bryant out of the backfield for a 5-yard touchdown play. Shiloh Christian converted two third-down plays and two fourth-down attempts on the drive.

Both offenses traversed up and down the field with both quarterbacks putting on an aerial show.

Shook completing 28-of-40 passes for 463 yards and six touchdowns, including 8-of-10 for 217 yards in the third quarter, bringing Greenwood from a 31-28 halftime deficit. Harris had eight catches for 229 yards and four touchdowns.

Frazier completed 34-of-55 passes for 496 yards and six touchdowns, including 17 of 28 for 327 yards and four scores in the first half when Shiloh Christian threatened to run away from the Bulldogs. Bryant caught 10 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns, Zann Jones had 10 receptions for 106 yards and Jake Scott eight catches for 116 yards and three scores.

Kickers Austin Hartness of Greenwood and Trevor Tumlinson consistently put kicks into the end zone, but that did little to slow down the offense. Nine times, the teams went at least 80 yards on scoring drives.

Billed as a shootout, the game was certainly that from the start with five touchdowns in the first quarter when Frazier threw for 199 yards and three scores, and four more scores in the second quarter.

GREENWOOD 54, SHILOH CHRISTIAN 51

Shiloh Christian    21    10    13    7    —    51
Greenwood    14    14    20    6    —    54
First Quarter
Green — Parker 9 pass from Shook (Hartness kick), 9:37
Shil — Bryant 3 pass from Frazier (Tumlinson kick), 7:44
Green — Harris 22 pass from Shook (Hartness kick), 3:09
Shil — Bryant 55 pass from Frazier (Tumlinson kick), 2:05
Shil — Scott 10 pass from Frazier (Tumlinson kick), 0:53
Second Quarter
Shil — Scott 20 pass from Frazier (Tumlinson kick), 9:17
Green — Hogan 16 pass from Shook (Hartness kick), 7:37
Shil — FG Tumlinson 41, 4:21
Green — Sandifer 9 run (Hartness kick), 1:01
Third Quarter
Green — Harris 77 pass from Shook (Hartness kick), 11:20
Shil — Frazier 13 run (Tumlinson kick), 7:42
Green — Harris 21 pass from Shook (Hartness kick), 5:05
Shil — Scott 20 pass from Frazier (kick blocked), 3:36
Green — Harris 42 pass from Shook (pass failed), 2:08
Fourth Quarter
Shil — Bryant 5 pass from Frazier (Tumlinson kick), 1:14
Green — Shook 3 run (kick failed), 0:23

Shil    Green
First Downs    30    25
Rushes-Yards    37-142    27-92
Passing Yards    498    463
Comp-Att-Int    35-56-3    28-40-0
Punts        3-32.3    4-41.7
Fumbles-Lost    4-0    3-2
Penalties-Yards    6-50    4-25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Shiloh Christian, Bryant 10-56, Frazier 16-36, Harper 7-32, Huett 3-21, TEAM 1-(minus 3). Greenwood, Shook 9-56, Green 8-31, Sandifer 4-13, Vota 1-2, TEAM 1-(minus 1), Harris 1-(minus 5), Smith 2-(minus 4), McCraney 1-(minus 5).
PASSING—Shiloh Christian, Frazier 34-55-3-496, Huett 1-1-0-26. Greenwood, Shook 28-40-0-463.
RECEIVING—Shiloh Christian, Bryant 10-169, Jones 10-106, Scott 8-116, Harper 3-40, Hawes 2-71, Self 1-5, Schisler 1-1. Greenwood, Harris 8-229, Hogan 5-67, Sandifer 5-38, Parker 3-69, Green 3-12, Vota 2-25, Bl.Hasley 2-23.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.

SPRINGDALE — With so many weapons at his disposal, Shiloh Christian coach Josh Floyd almost has an embarrassment of riches.

But when running back Chris Bryant got his bell rung on the first offensive series against Evangel Christian in the season opener, the Saints’ high-powered offense fizzled.

Bryant, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior, spent the remainder of the first half on the sideline in a fog and it was questionable whether he’d return in the second half, Floyd said.

“I didn’t really know what was going on,” Bryant said.

Midway through the third quarter, the clouds cleared and Bryant returned to the field. And he made an immediate impact.

He darted through a gaping hole behind Shiloh’s massive offensive line and his long run sparked the Saints. He later added a huge touchdown catch out of the backfield to key the 37-36 win.

“I didn’t expect that at all,” Bryant said. “I thought I might have a pretty good game, but I never thought it would turn the game around. Everyone else was like slumping their shoulders, then I had that big run and everything just kinda turned around after that.”

Saints offensive lineman Sam Harvill said Bryant’s 32-yard run turned the game around.

“The game with Evangel was a stalemate and we just kept working and working and finally Chris’ long run seemed to open it up,” Harvill said. “He’s a great running back. If we can just make a little hole he’s going to make some yards out of it. Chris is a tough running back and he’s hard to bring down.”

Floyd said Bryant is not only a key weapon running the football, he’s also a huge factor in the passing game.

“The thing I like about him is, he can obviously run the football, but he’s also a threat to catch the football as well,” Floyd said. “He’s made just as many big plays on the receiving end as he has running the ball.”

Floyd will need that kind of production from Bryant on Friday when the Saints (2-0) hit the road for the first time this season to Greenwood (1-1). These two programs have staged some of the most exciting games in the state over the past four or five years and this one could be on that level.

“It’s a big rivalry with Greenwood,” Bryant said. “I’m looking forward to it. They always have a really good student section and a pretty good crowd, so it will be a good atmosphere to play in.”

Floyd said beating Greenwood on the road would be a huge challenge for the Saints.

“We have a lot of respect for them,” Floyd said. “Rick Jones, there’s not a better head coach in the state than him. It’s always a big challenge for us. We know we have to be ready.

“They don’t lose much down there.”

Profile
CHRIS BRYANT
School: Shiloh Christian
Class: Senior
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 205 pounds
Notable: Had 107 total yards in win over Evangel Christian on 54 rushing and 53 receiving, including a 20-yard touchdown reception.

Some of the biggest tackles came from senior free safety Houston Pruitt, senior cornerback Russ Reynerson and senior linebacker Jacob Bundrick, who returned an interception 26 yards at the end of the first quarter to give the Wildcats a 28-0 lead.

“(Har-Ber) just got after us, we ran into a buzz saw,” said Greenwood coach Rick Jones, whose team got mercy-ruled for the first time since 2007. “It’s one of those nightmare scenarios. We had trouble stopping them, we had trouble making first down and that means 35 points in the first half.

“Har-Ber played extremely physical — that’s a very good ballclub.”

The Wildcats wasted no time scoring its first touchdown after their defense held Greenwood to a three-and-out possession at the start. Har-Ber’s first offensive possession of the season was a 7-play drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run from senior Tre Tyler — and that was just the beginning.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs (0-1) couldn’t do anything on offense as senior quarterback Tyler Shook completed only 15 passes for 153 yards and two interceptions.

Greenwood’s running game never found a rhythm as it ran for minus 10 yards on 16 carries.

“I thought our guys came out focused and ready to play,” Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. “Our defense got a quick three-and-out and that was huge. We wanted to be physical, and I thought we were.”

Meanwhile, Har-Ber will feature new quarterback Ryan Luther, who has improved greatly since he was tabbed the team’s starter in the spring. In the backfield, junior Gordon Welch and senior Tre Tyler will get most of the carries while senior Josh McKinney leads Har-Ber’s impressive group of receivers.

All three positions will also combine with Har-Ber’s talented offensive line, which features junior Division I prospect Brey Cook, who has already been offered from Oklahoma, Auburn and Tulsa. Cook stands 6-foot-6 and weighs about 240 pounds.

“When the game’s over, we’ll know who can perform under pressure and what we need to adjust,” Greenwood coach Rick Jones said. “We’ll answer a whole lot of questions. Playing good people make you better. That’s the great thing about scheduling good people.”

Perhaps the biggest intangible tonight will be on defense. With both teams trying to keep each other from scoring points, the game could take a few unexpected twists and turns, Wood said.

“We’ve really challenged our defense, we absolutely have to minimize what Greenwood does best,” Wood said. “We can’t let them throw over our heads or get behind us. We need to create some turnovers and get the momentum on our side if we want to win the game.”

SPRINGDALE — Jill Barrett gave Greenwood offense a little jump-start in the opening set of its high school volleyball match against Springdale High and the Lady Bulldogs went on to a convincing 25-15, 25-11, 25-17 win.

Golden said her team came out flat.

“I got on them about it,” Golden said. “They did a little bit better and that’s something we’re going to work on.”

Middle hitter Keeley Treece added seven kills, two solo blocks and a block assist, while senior outside hitter Kristin Hylton led Springdale with nine kills.

Springdale coach Nan Shamblin said her team has trouble believing it can win.

“I know we have the talent,” Shamblin said. “I think it’s a mental game. But I really think this is the year we’re going to overcome it.”

The Lady Red’Dogs stayed close in the third set behind stronger net play in the middle.

“Greenwood’s a tough team,” Shamblin said. “They will pass anything. … I think if we would have gotten up on our block (sooner) we could have slowed it down.”

Lauren Perry’s solo block pulled Springdale within 11-9 and Courtney Shaw’s tip over the block got them within 16-13, but Greenwood then went on an 8-1 run to take command.

SPRINGDALE — At first glance, he appeared severely out of place.

The chiseled 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior has features more in line with those in Reynolds Razorback Stadium than Champions Stadium. He clearly stands out as a man among a throng of boys.

Mitchell Roberts hopes his play this fall is as impressive as his physical stature. If he can stay healthy, he has a chance to be really special.

But first, he has to avoid injuries, which have proved costly to Roberts in each of the past two seasons. He was hurt early in the Class 3A 2007 state championship game against Glen Rose and the Saints ultimately lost in overtime.

Last year, he battled mononucleosis early in the season and missed several games, then fought through a knee injury. He finally healed later in the season and his return keyed the Saints’ run to the Class 4A state title.

“Mitchell’s a guy that’s an emotional leader for us on defense,” Saints coach Josh Floyd said. “He’s one of those guys who makes a lot of big plays at his position.”

While the Saints’ offense gets most of the attention, it’s the defense that really should get the credit for the team’s success. While Shiloh scored an average of 55 points per game in 2008, the numbers posted by the defense were equally impressive. Remove the 47 points scored by Shreveport (La.) Evangel Christian in the opener, when Roberts was out of the lineup, and the Saints allowed just 52 points the rest of the way.

Of that total, 20 points were scored by Class 5A state finalist Greenwood and 14 by Gravette, a team that reached the Class 4A semifinals in 2007.

The Saints are favored to repeat in 2009, but often the hardest accomplishment in sports is duplicating a title run. The Saints found that out in 2007 when they lost in overtime to Glen Rose in War Memorial Stadium despite being heavily favored as the defending 3A champs.

“There is definitely a lot of expectations that our kids have,” Floyd said. “A lot of those leaders are back, which is a great thing, but it’s also a big target on your chest. We know a lot of people are going to be gunning for us, but our guys are excited about it and they’ve tried to take the necessary steps to try and defend it.”

Roberts said the team is focused on this year, not last year.

“We haven’t even talked about (repeating),” said Roberts, who has drawn several scholarship offers from Division-I schools. “We’re not trying to dwell on the past. We want another one.”

Junior Kiehl Frazier said the Saints are up to the task. The 6-2, 210-pound quarterback said the pressure of winning is part of the Shiloh tradition.

“Shiloh is kind of used to the pressure because there are always accusations and stuff and people are always aiming for Shiloh, so it’s kind of the same as every year,” Frazier said. “We just have to play like we can.”

While a healthy Roberts certainly enhances the chances of a repeat, Shiloh’s defensive line, anchored by massive Samuel Harvill, often stuffs opponents’ offenses before they can pass the line of scrimmage.

Harvill, with his face painted black and jersey unable to contain bulging biceps, is intimidating, no doubt. While most key defenders often garner double-teams, even that ploy often proved futile as Harvill’s 530-pound bench press allows the 6-0, 260-pounder to toss even two defenders to the side.

That means sometimes three players are assigned to block Harvill, which frees up the other 10 Saints to outman the eight remaining offensive players. But don’t think Harvill just spends time doing the tango with outmanned offensive linemen. His 16 sacks and 96 tackles in 2008 would be a nice career for a lot of prep players.

Shiloh, barring a rash of injuries, will again make a long playoff run that is likely to end up in Little Rock. Depth could be an issue and the Saints are again playing a very tough nonconference schedule that includes Evangel, Greenwood and Tulsa (Okla.) Lincoln Christian — all three teams that reached state title games in 2008.

“We’ve got to replace some guys in the secondary,” Floyd said. “We don’t have quite the depth in the secondary and the D-line that we had last year, but as far as our main guys, they are back, so we’re excited about that.”

Wilson Huett is back to lead the secondary after picking off seven passes in 2008 before teams finally quit throwing his way. Jake Scott and Garrett Harper are also keys to the secondary.

Several of the Saints remember the sting of the one-point loss to Glen Rose in 2007 and don’t want to see a repeat of that. The euphoria of winning the school’s fifth title in 11 years is what the players want to experience again.

“We all remember the feeling of what it was like after that game, so we’re wanting it again,” Roberts said. “We’re all set on this year, we’re not worried about last year.”

See the Team Info page for roster, schedule, team photo and more…

FAYETTEVILLE — Brian Early wasn’t anywhere on Daryl Patton’s short list when he started looking for a new defensive coordinator.

Then the calls of support for Early started coming in to the Fayetteville coach from across the state — from West Memphis, Greenwood and Conway, to name a few. By the time the calls stopped, and after meeting Early, Patton had heard and seen all he needed to.

“Everyone told me, ‘If you want a 24-7 defensive coach who is enthusiastic and energetic and an in-your-face style of coach, he is your guy,’” Patton said. “And the more I met him and talked to him, the more I fell in love with his style.”

Early, formerly the defensive line coach at the University of Central Arkansas, arrived in Fayetteville in mid-July. He quickly met the team and started coaching in 7-on-7 tournaments, trying to get a running start on improving a defense that allowed an average of 31.5 points per game last season.

His first mission: How to make a defense tougher, both mentally and physically.

“That is definitely the challenge,” Early said. “We have to work on getting mentally tougher. When something bad happens, we have to be mentally tough enough to overcome it.

“It can’t be, ‘Aww, here we go again.’ They got used to that a little bit last year.”

In order to toughen up Fayetteville’s defense, Early has brought with him a method of accountability this summer. His off-the-field style is direct and intense, one that quickly was noticed.

“He’s truthful and not going to sugar-coat something or tell you what you want to hear,” Patton said. “He demands effort, enthusiasm and being precise. The kids are starting to figure out what’s expected and that if they don’t do it, somebody else is coming in.”

Before settling in at UCA for the past five years, Early traveled from job to job like many coaches. His resume includes both college and high school experience, featuring stops in Greenland, West Memphis and briefly in Greenwood under coach Rick Jones, one of Early’s former employers who called Patton in his support.

It’s both that support as well as Early’s instate ties and college experience that have Patton excited for the Purple’Dogs.

“He’s on the phone every day with college coaches,” Patton said. “If you’re a kid on our defense, you’re not going to go unnoticed.

“It’s also nice that with him being a former college coach, he has a certain level of expectation, but instead of him coming down here and lowering his expectations, he’s trying to bring those kids up.”

Early’s 4-3 defensive philosophy meshes with what Fayetteville has done in the past, and he intends to mix both zone and man-to-man coverages, depending on what Fayetteville’s talent dictates from year to year. He also thrives on being unpredictable in his defensive playcalling.

“Other teams are going to have to account for all 11 at some point,” Early said. “Everyone of them is going to blitz.”

That said, he enters the 7A-West Conference with his eyes wide-open and with plenty of respect for the opposition, former college coach or not.

“This league, and the quality of coaches and the style of offense they play, is a lot more similar to the college level than some of the places I’ve been in high school,” Early said.

Patton doesn’t expect Early to turn Fayetteville into a defensive powerhouse in his first season. He simply wants to see improvement.

“With our offense, we feel like we’re going to score points,” Patton said. “If we can keep it from being a 42-38 kind of game, we’re going to win those 28-17, 31-20 games.

“You don’t have to be the biggest and baddest to hold points to 20 points or less.”

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

Why Fayetteville Will Win

Because the Purple’Dogs bring a core set of offensive skill position players that are unmatched in the 7A-West Conference. Fayetteville averaged 28.1 points per game last season — with its top passer (Brandon Allen), top receiver (Demetrius Dean) and top rusher (Michael Heintzman) all underclassmen. All three are back, and they have plenty of help.

Why The Purple’Dogs Will Struggle

Size, or more specifically, a lack thereof. Fayetteville averages just 219 pounds across its starting defensive front, a problem area last season. And with several power running teams (Bentonville, Springdale Har-Ber and Fort Smith Southside) on the schedule, the Purple’Dogs must prove they can slow the run game if they are to reach an elite level.

Crucial Games

Bentonville, Sept. 25

Fayetteville’s Class 7A state semifinal win over the Tigers on its way to a state championship two years ago seemed much longer ago during Bentonville’s 31-3 drubbing of the Purple’Dogs last season. Fayetteville has the advantage of facing an inexperienced Bentonville defense in the first conference game of the season, but stopping the Tigers’ powerful running attack will be key.

at Springdale High, Oct. 2

A 55-27 loss to the rival Red’Dogs last season was the story of last season for Fayetteville: Plenty of offense, but a defense that simply fell apart at times. For the Purple’Dogs to return to the 7A-West’s upper tier, defeating Springdale is a must.

at Springdale Har-Ber, Oct. 30

It hasn’t taken long for this Fayetteville-Springdale matchup to turn into one of the best rivalries around, particularly after the Purple-Dogs’ win over the Wildcats in the state championship game two years ago. Har-Ber’s physical defense controlled Fayetteville in a 28-7 win last season, and the game could determine which team gets a first-round playoff bye this year.

More Dean To Cover

Demetrius Dean burst onto the varsity scene last season as a sophomore, finishing with 67 catches for 987 yards and 13 touchdowns — resulting in an early scholarship offer from Arkansas.

This season, expect more of Dean, but not necessarily in the way you might think. The junior added 40 pounds during the offseason, reporting to fall camp at more than 260 pounds.

Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said two weeks into camp that Dean was down to 248 pounds.

“He played last year at around 230-235,” Patton said. “We would like him to be in that range and he’s getting a lot closer.”

Allen Returns For Second Go-Around

Most high school quarterbacks enter their junior seasons hoping to compete for the starting job.

For Brandon Allen and his 30 touchdowns as a sophomore, earning the starting job isn’t a problem. Allen returns after an up-and-down, sometimes spectacular, sophomore season as the unquestioned leader of Fayetteville’s offense. He does so with a recent scholarship offer from Arkansas under his belt as well as the complete support of his coach.

“We feel like he’ll be one of the best quarterbacks, not just in our state, but in the nation,” Patton said. “He’s got a great receiving cast and is very smart at getting rid of the ball quickly.”

By The Numbers

20 — Interceptions thrown by Fayetteville junior quarterback Brandon Allen last season as a sophomore
30 — Touchdowns thrown by Allen, who also rushed for four more
31.6 — Average points allowed by the Purple’Dog defense last season
958 — Total rushing yards for Fayetteville in 11 games last season
987 — Receiving yards by junior Demetrius Dean last season as a sophomore

HOW THEY LOOK

On The Ground

While Fayetteville threw for more than 3,300 yards last season, the Purple’Dogs rushed for just 958 yards as a team. In order to slow down the opposing pass rush, Fayetteville must develop more of a running game.

Enter junior Dylan Hale (5-foot-10, 195 pounds). Hale battled injuries early last season and was limited to just 182 yards on 30 carries, but he’s being counted on this year to ingnite the Purple’Dogs rushing attack. Hale ran for more than 100 yards against Roger Hertiage last season, something that’s expected often this season.

“He’s very talented and we expect big things from him,” Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said.

Through The Air

Junior quarterback Brandon Allen (6-3, 205) gets the headlines, deservedly so, and he’ll have plenty of weapons to choose from this season. Fayetteville’s receving corps are talented, experienced and deep — led by junior Demetrius Dean (6-3, 245).

Michael Heintzman (5-10, 195) moves from running back to receiver and is a “home run hitter,” says coach Daryl Patton. Josh Hale (6-4, 214) had 29 catches last season and returns, and Troy Underwood (6-0, 170) and Colby Jordan (5-11, 165), Nathan Varady (6-0, 175) and Casey Perry (6-0, 165) figure to see plenty of action as well.

On defense, Reid Murry (5-11, 200) and J.T. McCormick (6-0, 190) bring experience at the safety positions, while Heintzman and Dean will also see action in Nickel packages. Nathan Grady (6-3, 190) hasn’t played since junior high, but Patton calls him the “most athletic” of the safeties.

At cornerback, Will Stukenborg (5-8, 150) and Cameron Baker (5-9, 175) hold down the outside and will get help from Donovan Ragland (5-9, 160) and Drake Harrison (5-10, 180).

In both pass coverage and aginst the run, Fayetteville’s three senior linebackers — Garreth Booth (6-1, 195), Peyton Baker (5-10, 195) and Bentley Banister (6-0, 190) — have the ability to take control. Reid Abernathy (5-10, 225), Tim Cavell (6-2, 195) and Colby Mhoon (5-10, 171) will also see time.

In The Trenches

What Fayetteville lacks in top-end talent on the offensive line this season compared to a year ago, Patton hopes to make up for in depth. Ricahrd Vines (6-0, 245) and Nathan Watson (6-1, 245) both saw starting action last season and have locked down the tackle positions. After that, the rest of the line is uncertain. Patton said the final three spots are up for grabs between 10 players.

“If you took all 10-11 of those kids and shook them up in a hat, there’s not a lot of difference,” Patton said. “They’re all just good high school football players, which will help our depth this season.”

Corey Harris (5-11) has moved from the defensive line to offense and will likel either start at center or guard, while sophomore Billy McEver (5-10, 225) has proven to be a reliable snapper at center. Others in the mix in the middle include Kyle Hallam (6-2, 215), Will Watson (6-0, 270), Sims Terry (6-2, 250), Jesus Rodriguez (6-0, 215) and Alex Rodriguez (6-0, 215)

On the defensive front, what the Purple’Dogs lack in size they make up for with athleticism. Bobby Nefzger (6-0, 210) returns in the middle and is the unquestioned leader of the defense. Junior Devin Bowers (6-1, 215) “has a chance to be a great one,” while Diondre Whitaker (6-4, 230) “has all the talent in the world,” Patton said. Also, transfer Aaron Johnson (6-5, 235) is being counted on in the middle.

Special Teams

Allen averaged 36.8 yards per punt last season and holds down that job once again.

“He’s one of the best punters in the state,” Patton said. “He could punt in college if he wanted to, but I don’t think he’ll have to worry about that.”

The Purple’Dogs will once again split time at kicker. Drew Patton (6-1, 160) has a slightly stronger leg and made 30-of-32 PATs and 2-of-5 field goals last season, while Will Rosteck (5-7, 155) is the slightly more accurate of the pair, converting 5-of-6 PATs and hitting 3-of-4 field goals last season. Patton will be used on deep kickoffs while Rosteck will handle the placement kicks.

Two other kickers, Chad Levin (5-8, 155) and Max Coffin (5-9, 150), have performed well in practice and could see action as well.

Intangibles

With largely a new cast last season, especially at the skill positions, Fayetteville was unable to handle the pressure of being a defending state champion. As one of only two schools now in the 7A-West Confernece that hasn’t split, Fayetteville has the numbers — and the talent — to stay near the top for some time to come.

Overall

Expect the progression to continue for the Purple’Dogs and enjoy watching the on-the-field maturation of Allen, Dean, Hale and company. This group has the ability to score on any given play, and that confidence should fuel the defense as it tries to keep up.

Anything less than at least one win in the playoffs will be a disapointment.

SEASON PREDICTION: 9-3

FAYETTEVILLE — Daryl Patton learned more about the Purple’Dogs’ weaknesses than he would have liked in a scrimmage against Class 4A defending state champion Shiloh Christian on Monday. (see the related photo gallery)

Fayetteville spent the rest of the week working on those weaknesses in preparation for its regular season opener against Little Rock Central tomorrow night.

“It’s good to play a good team, and Shiloh is, of course,” Patton said. “You can find out real quick what your weaknesses are and what you need to work on.”

Fayetteville trailed 35-3 at the end of the first half against Shiloh while the first-teamers were still in. Patton said the two key areas the Purple’Dogs worked on were tackling and improving and emphasizing the running game on offense.

“Nobody played real well,” Patton said. “We worked on our enthusiasm, fun and intensity all week. We can’t have a lack of effort. Those are the things we’ve been preaching.”

Fayetteville went through a light practice Saturday morning and will take today off before leaving Monday morning for Little Rock. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.

Shiloh Game Moved To Thursday

SPRINGDALE — Shiloh’s season opener against Shreveport (La.) Evangel Christian has been moved to Thursday.

The game will be televised by FoxSports Southwest (local Cox channel 27), Saints coach Josh Floyd said.

“We’ve got everything finalized and the game will be at 7 p.m. and on Fox Southwest,” Floyd said Monday following the Saints’ scrimmage with Fayetteville.

Evangel is the last team to defeat Shiloh. The former national power defeated the Saints 47-9 in last season’s opener before the Saints ripped off 13 straight wins, capped by winning the 4A state title last December.

The Saints play their first two games at home in Champions Stadium before going on the road to Greenwood in Week 3.

— CHIP SOUZA

Wildcats Get Defensive

TULSA — It’s no surprise that Springdale Har-Ber put up 47 points against Sapulpa, Okla., on Friday in the Vype Gridiron Classic.

Under coach Chris Wood, the Wildcats have traditionally always put up big offensive numbers every season, something Har-Ber’s players and coaches have always been proud of.

But this season, it’s Har-Ber’s defense that has a chance to turn a few heads.

With four returning starters, the Wildcats’ defense held Sapulpa to only seven points, and that was well after Har-Ber replaced its starters with second- and third-team guys.

Throughout the scrimmage, Har-Ber’s defensive line put constant pressure on Sapulpa quarterback Michael Glisson, even sacking him three times.

“I thought we did a lot of good things, I was happy with our speed and our physicality,” said Travis Moreland, Har-Ber’s defensive coordinator. “I still saw a couple of things we can get better at, but for the most part, I thought we played very well.”

In the Chieftain’s first three possessions, Har-Ber never allowed them to cross their own 44. Furthermore, it was on Sapulpa’s fourth possession when it finally completed a long 30-yard pass, one of it biggest plays of the scrimmage.

“I think our guys on defense have a chance to really step up and be talented this season,” Wood said. “We’ve got guys like Houston Pruitt (safety), Jacob Lloyd (defensive end) and Jacob Bundrick (linebacker) who all have experience and can do some good things for us.”

Tigers’ Intensity Impresses Lunney

TULSA — It was pretty evident to Bentonville coach Barry Lunney on Friday night that his players wanted to beat Tulsa Union in the Vype Gridiron Classic.

After Union won the game on a last-second touchdown pass, Bentonville’s players — as Lunney expected — were extremely disappointed in failing to pull off the preseason upset.

“You know, you see our guys, they’re mad, they’re frustrated, they’re angry and they hurt a little bit, and that’s all good,” Lunney said. “That tells me they’re ready, they’ve got the will to win inside of them. I like seeing that kind of intensity this early. I mean, it’s a scrimmage, and yet we played like it meant much more.”

Another thing Lunney was relieved about was getting out of the scrimmage without having any concerning injuries. In the last four years of competing in the scrimmage, the Tigers have always had at least one or two skill players go down with long-term injuries.

“You know, a lot of people were bringing that up to me this week and I didn’t think much about it,” Lunney said. “But as we got closer to the scrimmage, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and staying worried about it. Thankfully, nobody got hurt.”

— NATHAN ALLEN

War Eagles Turning Up The Heat

ROGERS — One of the biggest points of emphasis this preseason for Rogers Heritage coach Perry Escalante has been the defensive line.

Last year while going winless in the 7A-West Conference, Heritage struggled to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. As a result, the War Eagles defense surrendered over 50 points a game.

If Thursday’s scrimmage against Russellville is any indication, then the Heritage front four is much improved. Senior Casey Wilber (6-2, 185) has been moved from tight end to defensive end and the War Eagles will play three defensive ends in passing situations. Reid Schatzman (6-3, 265) and Conor Bolton (5-11, 170) are the two other ends.

“That’s a big deal for me, bringing Casey in and him getting his hands up and making a guy double-pump,” Escalante said. “That’s huge step for us when you can get pressure with four people.”

Heritage takes on Springfield (Mo.) Parkview at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in Gates Stadium.

Film Watching

ROGERS — Rogers High coach Ronnie Peacock and the Mounties staff watched a lot film Friday night and Saturday.

Rogers defeated North Little Rock 7-3 in a two-quarter scrimmage Friday in Mountie Stadium and despite pulling out a win, Peacock said there is a lot of work to do before Friday’s season opener against Webb City, Mo.

One area of emphasis will be on the offensive line. Mounties quarterback Andy Couture was under intense pressure all night and Peacock said that is one area that must be addressed.

“It’s (scrimmage) going to be a great film to evaluate individuals,” Peacock said. “Who is getting their butt beat and why? Who is doing really good and who is doing an exceptional job? Obviously, we’ve got to protect a whole lot better.”

Rogers linebacker Tyler Hawkins injured his neck during the scrimmage and was taken to a local hospital as a precaution. The injury, however, is not considered serious and Hawkins could be available Friday.

The Mounties play Webb City on Friday at 7 p.m. in Mountie Stadium.

— PAUL NIELSEN

TULSA — Springdale Har-Ber put on a clinic Friday night, and Sapulpa, Okla., never knew what hit it.

Led by an efficient performance from junior quarterback Ryan Luther, the Wildcats certainly had no problems scoring touchdowns en route to a 47-7 victory against the Chieftains in the Vype Gridiron Classic.

Luther finished with four completed passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns while junior running back Gordon Welch had six carries for 40 yards and one touchdown.

Other offensive leaders included Kaleb Vaughn’s two carries for 52 yards and a touchdown, senior receiver Josh McKinney’s two catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns and junior Shawn Sayarinh’s 70-yard touchdown catch.

“I thought our guys played fast, we played hard,” Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. “Defensively, we got some things done that I was really happy about.”

With senior running back Tre Tyler temporarily away from the team because of a recent death in his family, Welch got plenty of chances to run the ball and show how effective he could be.

“I felt really good, our offensive line did a great job in creating holes for me to run through,” said Welch, who also jammed his left shoulder during the modified scrimmage. “I think putting up that many points is going to give our offense a lot of confidence, especially going into the tough game we have to open the season.”

Defensively, the Wildcats held Sapulpa to three three-and-outs and got two big sacks from seniors Jacob Lloyd and Mitchell Smith.

Wood said he was pleased with what his team was able to do on both sides of the ball, but still expects it to improve this week before hosting Greenwood next Friday.

“This was good, we found some things out,” Wood said. “But we’ve still got a long way to go. We’ve got to keep getting better and tighten up some plays if we want to be successful.”