High school football report

By Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Staff

Posted: August 4, 2009 at 6:20 a.m.

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LITTLE ROCK — Jones not bothered by holes

Coach Rick Jones isn't worried about how he will fill the holes on his offensive and defensive lines this year.

However the holes are filled, Jones is confident things will work out just fine. That's how it goes in Greenwood, where the Bulldogs won three consecutive state titles from 2005-2007 before reaching the Class 5A semifinals a year ago.

"I'm always confident," Jones said. "Our guys will figure out a way to win. We work too hard to think any other way."

The Bulldogs have one fulltime starter returning on the offensive line and two on the defensive line. Two other players have starting experience on the offensive line, including senior Kyle Helms.

Helms started both ways a year ago before injuring his knee late in the year. Jones said Helms is healthy, which is good because the Bulldogs are counting heavily on him.

Jones and his staff will use summer practices to mix-and match combinations on the lines. He said he makes decisions based on what gives the Bulldogs the best chance to compete for the state championship.

"We're doing it right now as we speak," Jones said. "We're moving guys around. With a lot of these guys, it's an evaluation process.

"It's just high school football.

You take what you have and you make it work." - Marty Cook SPRINGDALE Challenges await Bulldogs

Springdale's No. 1 concern at the outset of two-a-days is trying to replace a senior quarterback and receiver who formed arguably the best passing combination in the state last season.

Ashton Glaser threw for over 3,000 yards and 31 touchdowns with half of his completions going to LaDarius Eckwood, who set a school-record with 108 catches for over 1,500 yards. Glaser signed with Missouri and Eckwood with Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

"Those were two great players for us and we'll need some guys to step up," Springdale Coach Kevin Johnson said Monday during a break between practices. "We threw the ball a lot to LaDarius and no one can replace LaDarius, but we like our corps of receivers. We'll spread it out more and go with whoever has the hot hand that night."

Junior Joseph Calcagni takes over at quarterback with senior defensive starter Chris Clinard also likely to see action at the position. Senior Justin Bocchino could emerge as the primary receiver in a group that includes Austin Weir and Blake Fogg.

"Joseph had a good summer in 7-on-7 tournaments, but there's no defensive lineman coming at you," Johnson said. "It'll be interesting to see how he reacts but I'm pleased how he's been throwing the ball around and managing our offense."

Springdale will open the season Sept. 4 at Jefferson City (Mo.) then meet Blytheville at aneutral site in Little Rock (Pulaski Academy High School) on Sept. 11.

- Rick Fires UNION CHRISTIAN Eagles blending in

Bob Hattabaugh is in his fourth season as the Eagles' head coach but 38th overall coaching football. So why not blend his experience with some young blood? That's what Union Christian is doing this season. Hattabaugh added two assistants in their first full-time jobs, recent college graduates Lee Blankenship and Tyler Driscoll.

Blankenship, the new offensive coordinator, has good coaching roots. His uncle Bill Blankenship was the longtime coach at Tulsa Union High School and is now coaching college football at Tulsa. Lee Blankenship started his college football at Oklahoma and then played at East Central University in Ada, Okla.

Driscoll will coach the secondary and wide receivers for the Eagles. The Greenwood graduate is also the school's new baseball coach.

"I think we've got the best of the old and the new," Hattabaugh said.

Hattabaugh served as the Eagles' offensive coordinator last season when Union Christian went 6-5 and finished second in the 2A-4 Conference. Now Blankenship will oversee the offense as well as the quarterbacks.

"It gives me a little bit of a chance to work more on the defensive side of the ball and get in more in that area," said Hattabaugh, who returns Glenn Stewart as defensive coordinator for the fourth consecutive year.

"I like the coaching the offensive line, and for the last four years I've been torn between running over there and coordinate the offense. This year it'll give me some freedom." -Chris Cocoles Scrimmage schedule AUG. 24 CAC at Newport, 7 p.m.

Charleston at Booneville, 6 p.m.

Clarksville Sr.-Jr., Prairie Sr.-Jr. at Atkins Sr.-Jr., 6 p.m.

Fayetteville at Shiloh Christian, 7 p.m.

Fordyce at Hot Springs, 6 p.m.

Greenbrier, Mills, North Pulaski at Pulaski Robinson, 6 p.m.

Greenwood at Van Buren, 7 p.m.

Harrison at Batesville, 6 p.m.

Hermitage, Strong at Rison, 6 p.m.

Hope, Lafayette County at Ashdown, 6 p.m.

Lake Hamilton at Cabot, 6 p.m.

Monticello at Dumas, 7 p.m.

Pea Ridge at Cedarville, 7 p.m.

Pine Bluff at Bryant, 6 p.m.

AUG. 25 Alma at FS Southside, 6:30 p.m.

Bryant Jr. at Cabot North, 6 p.m.

Clarksville Sr.-Jr., Prairie Grove Sr.-Jr. at Atkins Sr.-Jr., 6 p.m.

Conway White, Conway Blue, Springdale Southwest at Russellville East, Russellville West, 6 p.m.

Elkins Sr.-Jr. at Green Forest Sr.-Jr., 6 p.m.

England at Palestine-Wheatley, 5:30 p.m.

Greene Co. Tech at Jonesboro, 6 p.m.

Heber Springs, Trumann at Harding Academy, 6:15 p.m.

Horatio at Fouke, 6 p.m.

Jacksonville, Pulaski Acad. at Sylvan Hills LR Central at Benton, 6 p.m.

Ozark Sr.-Jr. at Huntsville Sr.-Jr., 6 p.m.

Prescott at Glen Rose, 6 p.m.

Pulaski Oak Grove at Lonoke, 5:30 p.m.

Siloam Springs at Springdale 6 p.m.

Vilonia at Mena, 6 p.m.

Walnut Ridge Sr.-Jr. at Jonesboro Westside Sr.-Jr., 5:30 p.m.

Watson Chapel at Forrest City, 6 p.m.

West Fork at Gentry, 6 p.m.

White Hall at Stuttgart, 7 p.m.

AUG. 27 Johnson Co. Westside at Conway Christian, 5:30 p.m.

Magnolia at Hamburg, 7 p.m.

Russellville at Rogers Heritage, 6 p.m.

AUG. 28 Conway at FS Northside, 6 p.m.

Corning at Rector, 7 p.m.

LR Hall at Sheridan, 7 p.m.

Magnolia at Hamburg, 7 p.m.

North Little Rock at Rogers, 5:30 p.m.

West Memphis at Wynne, 7 p.m.

Sports, Pages 15 on 08/04/2009

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