SPRINGDALE — There doesn’t appear to be a dominant team in the 1-4A Conference heading into the season, whichjust leaves the door open for Prairie Grove.
The Tigers have been one of the most reliable teams in the state for the past two decades under Coach Danny Abshier, whotook them to the playoffs 14 consecutive years from 1996-2009. After narrowly missing the postseason two years ago, the Tigers went 8-4 and advanced to the second round last year.
“We had a good time in the playoffs,” said Abshier, who begins his 20th year as Prairie Grove’s coach. “We played well against Mena and ran into a buzzsaw at Malvern.”
Prairie Grove returns most of its key talent, including eight starters on offense and seven on defense. As usual, the Tigers can be counted on to wear down defenses with their run-oriented Wing-T offense and play the physical style of football Abshier has demanded throughout his career.
Senior Cooper Winters is back for his third season as the starting quarterback after a productive junior year, but senior running back Weston Bartholomew might embody Abshier’s philosophy best. Bartholomew, 5-4, 166 pounds, may not be big, but he will start at fullback after rushing for 1,008 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns as a halfback last year.
“He makes moves I haven’t seen other people make at this age,” Abshier said. “He’s switching to fullback because we’ve got a mess of guys who can run but are not fullback types.”
Winters should keep defenses honest after passing for 1,319 yards last season, and his primary target is expected to be 6-3, 240-pound tight end Jared Murphy.
Senior middle linebacker Jacob Kahl will direct the Tigers’ 3-3 defense after leadingthe team with 105 tackles and seven sacks last year.
“I think Prairie Grove is the team to beat,” Lincoln Coach Brad Harris said. “They’ve got a lot coming back.”
Prairie Grove will be tested early when it opens conference play at Ozark, the defending 1-4A champion.
The Hillbillies finished 9-2 last season and lost in the first round of the playoffs, but they return 26 seniors, 15 starters and two of the conference’s top skill-position players in seniors Jonathon McKenzie and Toby Richard. McKenzie passed for 1,784 yards and 12 touchdowns last year, and Richard has eclipsed 1,110 yards receiving each of the past two seasons.
The challenge will be replacing Asher Ree, who rushed for 1,742 yards and 22 touchdowns last season.
“We’ve had four coaches since 2005,” said Jeremie Burns, who begins his second season as head coach. “These guys have adapted to whatever system comes in and still have been successful.”
Pea Ridge hasn’t made the playoffs in seven years, but the Blackhawks appear to have enough firepower to make it back this season.
Tailback Dayton Winn returns after rushing for 1,512 yards last year. Thirdyear starting quarterback Austin Easterling and fullback Dalton Morgan round out the Blackhawks’ pro-set I backfield. Winn (cornerback), Easterling (safety) and Morgan (middle linebacker) are also standout defenders.
“We’ll have a shot each Friday night,” Coach Tony Travis said. “They’ve developed an attitude that they can win, and it’s fun when you can go into battle with that attitude.”
All 15 of the Blackhawks’ returning starters are seniors, as are 26 of their 57 players.
“I think Pea Ridge is kind of a dark horse,” Berryville Coach Eric Daniel said. “I’m very impressed with what Tony has done. They have a lot of experience coming back, and they’re primed to make a little bit of noise in conference this year.”
Sports, Pages 29 on 08/26/2012