SPRINGDALE — The secret is out at Springdale Har-Ber.
For much of the season, Wildcats senior fullback Jeremy Vongvone has gone overlooked while other offensive players received most of the attention from opponents.
After seven games and plenty of hard-fought lessons, however, foes have discovered it’s Vongvone who has become one of Har-Ber’s most important offensive weapons.
“All of our receivers and running backs have been helping me out, because the eyes are all on them,” Vongvone said. “They really don’t look at me as much of a threat.
“But now if they pay attention to me, it’s just going to open that much more for our receivers and running backs.”
Vongvone, a stocky 5-foot-7, 196-pounder, isn’t the typical high school fullback. Sure, he can line up and deliver and bonecrushing block for tailback Gordon Welch. But unlike other fullbacks at this level, Vongvone’s skills go well beyond leading the way through the hole.
Har-Ber coach Chris Wood praised Vongvone’s versatility as a blocker, runner and receiver.
“Jeremy has really been one of our most valuable players so far this year,” Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. “... He can multi-task with the best of them.”
Vongvone’s 19 pass receptions for 369 yards and five touchdowns has certainly come as a surprise to almost everyone, including opponents and even himself.
“I’m kind of surprised,” Vongvone said. “But I’ve been working hard through the offseason and that’s pretty much what got me in this situation.”
Most of Vongvone’s receptions have come on play-action passes or on shovel pass plays. Either way, they’ve caught defenses off guard in a big way. And for Vongvone, it’s been a blast.
“It’s more fun running and catching, obviously,” he said. “But I’ll do whatever it takes to win.”
Wood said his staff knew Vongvone had an ability to be more than just a blocking fullback when they first laid eyes on him at Southwest Junior High.
“Coach (Bruce) Matthews used him in the passing game over there (at Southwest), and when he was coming to us we were excited to get him,” Wood said. “Of course, his junior year we were more a run control team, but this year we’ve been able to open it back up a little bit.
“But back at Southwest they were able to develop him and we’ve been able to build off of that.”
And now, Vongvone has built his game so well that he’s become one of Har-Ber’s biggest offensive weapons.
Just not a secret weapon anymore.
“That position has been a glorified guard in the past for us,” Wood said. “Kids have had to be physical in the past for us and Jeremy has been physical, but we’ve also been able to utilize him in the passing game and that helps us because teams can’t just focus on Gordon (Welch) and our receivers. Because he’s been able to slip in there and have some really productive nights.”
Today’s Ticket
Springdale Har-Ber at Fort Smith Southside
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Jim Rowland Stadium, Fort Smith
ON THE AIR: KQSM-FM 92.1
RECORDS: Springdale Har-Ber Wildcats, 7-0, 4-0 7A-West Conference. Fort Smith Southside Rebels, 4-3, 2-2.
HOOTEN’S RANKING: Har-Ber is No. 2 in Class 7A; Southside is No. 5.
HOOTEN’S LINE: Har-Ber by 3