SPRINGDALE — Springdale High interim coach Dennis Debusk was happy with the improvement the Bulldogs made this week, but wasn’t pleased with a few things Friday night.

During an intrasquad scrimmage at Springdale’s Pigskin Preview, the Bulldogs had one too many fumbles, leaving Debusk unhappy with his team’s effort.

“I’m a running backs coach, I certainly don’t like it when we fumble the ball,” Debusk said. “That’s something we’re going to get corrected, I can promise you that.”

For the most part, Debusk said the offense improved as a whole, from the offensive line’s pass blocking to the receivers catching passes on a consistent basis. Debusk also said junior quarterback Joseph Calcagni has made significant progress throughout the last two weeks.

“He’s doing a great job,” Debusk said. “From practices, I think he’s ready to see some good competition, and I guess we’ll find that out Tuesday night.”

The Bulldogs will host Siloam Springs in a preseason scrimmage, which begins at 6 p.m. in Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium.

Wood Pleased With Consistency

SPRINGDALE — Throughout the last week, Springdale Har-Ber coach Chris Wood wanted to challenge his offense by seeing how often they could score against Har-Ber’s first-team defense.

It wasn’t as often as he would have liked.

Wood said the Wildcats’ defense made significant progress this week and often showed why they’ll be a key factor in helping Har-Ber be successful this season.

“We wanted to see our offense do a little more than they did, but at the same time, it was good to see our defense step up and make some plays,” Wood said. “Overall, I’m happy with where we’re at, but I think there are still a couple of areas we can work on.”

During Friday’s Pigskin Preview, both senior running back Tre Tyler and senior receiver Josh McKinney didn’t participate, but only as a precaution.

Tyler “tweaked his knee” earlier this week and McKinney currently has a bruised ankle. Both players will take it easy for the rest of the week, Wood said.

“Right now, we don’t want those guys to get hurt worse or anything,” Wood said. “They’ll both be back for the first week of the season, so we’re just keeping them out as a precaution.”

Wood said he hadn’t decided whether or not either player will participate Friday when Har-Ber travels to Tulsa to compete in Tulsa Union’s Vype Gridiron Classic.

Purple’Dogs Set For Scrimmage

FAYETTEVILLE — With its season opener only a week away, Fayetteville gets an early test when it travels to Springdale to face Shiloh Christian in a scrimmage on Monday night.

The last time the two teams faced off was in a 7-on-7 contest last month, a game Fayetteville won in the closing seconds.

Shiloh won the Class 4A state title last season and returns several key players, including junior quarterback Kiehl Frazier.

The Purple’Dogs, who open in Little Rock against Central on Aug. 30, also enter the scrimmage with a standout junior quarterback of their own. Brandon Allen threw for 30 touchdowns last season as a sophomore and his coach has high expectations for him this season.

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

No Moonshine

ROGERS — The still has been shutdown in Rogers, at least temporarily.

For the past two seasons, Rogers High ran an offensive set called Moonshine. It featured running back Michael Tibbs moving to quarterback and was similar to what Arkansas did with Darren McFadden.

But Tibbs has graduated and is at the Air Force Academy and coach Ronnie Peacock doesn’t have the personnel to run the formation.

“We won’t run the Moonshine,” Peacock said.

Rogers scrimmaged Saturday in preparation for Friday’s scrimmage with North Little Rock in Mountie Stadium. The first play is set for 7 p.m. North Little Rock is coached by former Mounties assistant Brad Bolding.

New Starter

ROGERS — Rogers Heritage may have a new starter after all.

The War Eagles had 22 starters back in the fold when August drills started but an offensive limeman missed a day of two-a-day practices and that left the door open for Jacob Huckaby.

Huckaby stepped in at left guard for the day and has been in the starting role ever since, said Heritage coach Perry Escalante.

“We had a senior that was starting there but he missed a day of two-a-days,” Escalante said. “Jacob stepped in there and hasn’t give it back. Jacob is very strong and very aggressive.”

Heritage will scrimmage Russellville on Thursday in Gates Stadium on the school’s campus. The first play is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Morning News sportswriters Kurt Voigt, Nathan Allen and Paul Nielsen break down all the Friday night action, including big injury news out of Rogers.

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ROGERS — The Rogers High coaches in the press box spotted an advantage after just one play Friday night against Rogers Heritage.

FS Northside 21, Springdale Har-Ber 7

FORT SMITH — Semaj Edwards’ 30-yard interception return for a score sealed Fort Smith Northside’s upset of previously unbeaten Springdale Har-Ber.

FAYETTEVILLE – With several key figures gone from the offense that helped produce a state championship in 2007, Fayetteville has spent a good portion of the preseason working out some kinks. And according to coach Daryl Patton, everything is on schedule thus far.

“We’re still probably about at the same point as we usually are at this time,” Patton said. “I feel really good about our receivers, we’ve got probably the most depth we’ve ever had at quarterback and we’ve got two lineman – Colby Berna and Tyler McKee – back to lead that group. Then we’ve also got four running backs that are as good as we’ve ever had, as a group.”

Even though things are running smoothly – particularly under center where sophomore Brandon Allen is set to take over for all-state quarterback Blake McDonald – Patton knows plenty of work is still left to be done.

“We’re not there yet by any stretch,” Patton said. “But we’re getting there.”

The Bulldogs have been working out from 4-9 p.m. all week before finishing off with a two-hour scrimmage on Saturday. Fayetteville has also avoided the injury bug for the most part, with McKee (hyperextended elbow) and placekickers Drew Patton (hip flexor) and Chad Levin (back strain) being the only players forced to miss much time.

- VERNON TARVER

Tigers Offense Showing Improvement

BENTONVILLE – Bentonville coach Barry Lunney Sr. has 145 reasons to be optimistic. That’s the number of players who showed up to start fall practices last week.

“Coming off of spring football and then our camp, it’s really not a surprise, we thought we’d be farther along with our defense,” Lunney said. “We’ve got eight or nine starters back, depending how you look at it, and we only have two coming back on offense. We’re kind of on target right now.

“I think our offense has made improvement but again we’re going against … you know, a bunch of guys who played a lot on defense last year. Sometimes it can be a little one sided but traditionally it is that way, but if you couple what with inexperience on offense, it’s made it pretty tough.

“It’s a pretty good bunch on defense and it’s going to help us get better and better. We’ve made a lot of progress offensively since spring practice. We’ve done better on offense. With a lot of those guys, you can see, they are thinking instead of reacting.”

- Jerry L. Reed

Faust Standing Out In Prace

SPRINGDALE – Less than a week into fall practice, Har-Ber coach Chris Wood is already seeing good things out of his quarterback.

And why wouldn’t he?

This will be senior Zach Faust’s first season as the starter, but it most definitely won’t be his first time to take the field as the Wildcats’ signal-caller.

Faust rotated with Patrick Calcagni as the Wildcats used a two-quarterback system in their state runner-up campaign last season. Calcagni, who was the more mobile and athletic of the two, was the starter. Faust, who possessed the better arm came in on the third drive of every game.

“He’s a seasoned guy,” Wood said. “It’s not like we’re not returning a starter. He got snaps. He was a major, major player in us getting to the finals.”

Wood said Faust’s arm has gotten stronger and his passes have a little more zip to them.

“Zach Faust can throw the ball. I don’t think a lot of people give him credit for his ability. He’s going to play with a chip on his shoulder and play well. With him throwing it, we’re going to have an opportunity to do some good things.”

- Brandon Harris, Special To The Morning News

No Seniors For War Eagles

ROGERS – Rogers Heritage doesn’t have any football tradition but coach Perry Escalante wasn’t afraid to introduce the War Eagles to a Rogers Mounties legend this week.

Escalante invited Whitey Smith to practice and had every player shake Smith’s hand. Smith even got a coaches shirt out of the deal. Smith, a Rogers businessman and 1956 graduate, was the first Mountie football player to ever play in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star game.

Smith returned the favor on Friday by treating the team to watermelon after practice.

Heritage has almost 120 players out, but will start the season with no seniors on the roster. And only junior Jordan Snoderly brings any 7A-West Conference game experience after catching nine passes for 154 yards last year for the Mounties.

“(Snoderly) is going to be a play-maker,” said War Eagles offensive coordinator Chad Harbison.

Mounties Battling Injuries

ROGERS – Rogers High is already battling the injury bug a week into preseason drills and the Mounties may be without a key player because of a transfer within the district.

Michael Tibbs is expected to carry most of the rushing load after picking up 646 yards on 110 carries last year but the senior has been slowed by a sore hamstring.

Mounties coach Ronnie Peacock, who welcomed 120 players to the first day of practice, also said that lineman Blake Pitts broke his collarbone while junior Brandon Austin is moving into the Rogers Heritage district.

Austin rushed for 140 yards on 28 carries as a sophomore last year.

“Pitts is a two-way starter and Tibbs is not at full speed and that puts us back a bit,” Peacock said. “But overall, I’m encouraged because we are working very hard. We are headed in the right direction.”

Rogers will conduct a scrimmage Saturday morning at the new stadium on the high school campus.

- PAUL NIELSEN