LITTLE ROCK — No school in the state’s largest classification has repeated as champion since Little Rock Central in 2003-2004.
Fayetteville, which is No. 1 in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette top 10, has a chance this fall.
“I know it sounds crazy, but we don’t talk about it,” Fayetteville Coach Daryl Patton said. “We don’t talk about being No. 1 or being state champs last year.”
This was supposed to be the year of title talk around Fayetteville, but a junior laden group of Bulldogs flipped the script last fall.
Fayetteville beat defending state champion Bentonville in the Class 7A final 29-28 on a two-point pass in overtime, ending the Tigers’ 25-game winning streak.
The Bulldogs return 15 starters from that 12-2 team, including three who have orally committed to Arkansas.
Of those 15 returning starters, 14 are seniors.
“When you look at it on paper, we thought this was the year we could probably win a state championship,” Patton said. “Last year, we thought we were a year away with everything Bentonville had.”
Patton, in his 10th season at Fayetteville, said the 2012 Bulldogs are deeper on both lines than they’ve ever been, better at linebacker and safety and as good at quarterback.
Still, nothing is guaranteed.
“We definitely think we’ve got a shot this year,” Patton said. “But I’m sure Bentonville thought they had a shot in August last year. You’ve got to play it out and see.”
Fayetteville’s blue-chip talent includes senior quarterback Austin Allen, the Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Offensive Player of the Year after completing 266 of 422 passes for 4,078 yards and 46 touchdowns.
Austin’s yardage and touchdowns were single-season records in the state’s largest classification.
Senior linebacker Brooks Ellis was the Democrat-Gazette Defensive Player of the Year after recording 41 tackles, 9 other tackles for loss and 13 1/2 sacks.
Senior safety Alex Brignoni was Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas after recording a team high 124 tackles, including 65 unassisted, and 10 interceptions.
Allen, Ellis and Brignoni have orally committed to Arkansas.
Fayetteville’s offense received a major boost this summer when junior wide receiver Jordan Dennis transferred from Springdale.
Dennis, a Democrat-Gazette Super Sophomore team selection, caught 8 passes for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns in Monday’s scrimmage at Pulaski Academy.
“He’s the real deal,” Patton said.
Special teams became stronger Wednesday when senior place-kicker Ryan Starr rejoined the program after not playing last fall to concentrate on soccer.
Patton said Starr was highly regarded exiting junior high and can routinely reach the end zone on kickoffs.
While Patton said Starr should solidify the kicking game, depth at wide receiver and cornerback is a concern.
Patton said the talk in fall camp is about improving each day and winning each play - not repeating as state champion.
“It’s just, ‘Hey, let’s come out and play and have fun,’ ” he said. “That comes from our senior leadership. We’ve got good seniors.”
Fayetteville glance
MASCOT Bulldogs CONFERENCE 7A/6A-West ENROLLMENT 1,859 (based on 2012-2014 classification cycle; seventh among 16 Class 7A schools) HEAD COACH Daryl Patton (10th season, 75-32-2) ASSISTANTS Wendell Harris, linebackers; Daryl Anderson, cornerbacks; Mark White, offensive linemen; Eric Arrington, wide receivers; Zak Clark, quarterbacks; Trey Selmon, defensive tackles; Drew Yoakum, tight ends; Jeb Huckeba, defensive ends; Tim Miller, running backs; Brian Early, safeties; Joe Thoma, place-kickers/punters 2011 RECORD 12-2, 5-2 7A-West, second-place tie PLAYOFF RESULTS Beat LR Catholic 42-13 in first round, beat Conway 49-28 in quarterfinals, beat FS Southside 23-20 in semifinals, beat Bentonville 29-28 (OT) in final
PLAYERS TO WATCH QB Austin Allen, 6-1, 210, Sr.; LB Brooks Ellis, 6-2, 220, Sr.; WR/FS Alex Brignoni, 6-0, 190, Sr.
RETURNING OFF./DEF.STARTERS 8/7 OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE FORMATION Multiple/4-2-5 SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT
Aug. 30 Memphis Univ. School# Sept. 7 at Jefferson City, Mo.
Sept. 14 Muskogee, Okla.
Sept. 21 Van Buren*
Sept. 28 at Springdale*
Oct. 5 Rogers Heritage*
Oct. 12 at Rogers*
Oct. 19 Siloam Springs*
Oct. 26 Springdale Har-Ber*
Nov. 2 at Bentonville* #at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville
*7A/6A-West game
Sports, Pages 21 on 08/26/2012