Secondary education for Cabot’s Ferguson

LITTLE ROCK — Cabot Coach Mike Malham said only handful of freshmen went through spring practice with the varsity this year.

Malham said it didn’t take long to see that one of those freshmen, safety Jake Ferguson, would be practicing with the varsity in the fall, too.

“You could see that he was going to be one of our better players in the secondary,” Malham said.

Turned out, Ferguson was the best.

Ferguson is the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Sophomore Defensive Player of the Year after helping the Panthers reach the quarterfinals of the Class 7A playoffs.

Ferguson, 5-10, 165 pounds, finished with 108 tackles, including 2 for loss, 2 caused fumbles, 2 recovered fumbles and 7 interceptions.

Malham, who has led the Panthers to 256 victories and two state championships since 1981, said he can’t remember having a defensive back record as many tackles.

“He’s just always around the ball,” Malham said. “He plays hard and he plays physical.”

Malham said Ferguson bruised his shoulder early in the season and injured his ribs after intercepting a pass in a first-round playoff victory at Bryant.

Ferguson didn’t miss a game and followed up two interceptions against Bryant with two more in a 28-0 quarterfinal loss at North Little Rock.

Ferguson ripped off his helmet following his second interception against North Little Rock, which came near the goal line late in the fourth quarter.

“He’s very competitive,” Malham said. “I think he didn’t want them to put the mercy rule on us.”

Malham said Ferguson was a quarterback and fullback at Cabot South Junior High School and should have an expanded role next fall. Ferguson will work at quarterback and halfback, Malham said.

“He’s got good hands and is just a good athlete,” Malham said. “It will be hard to keep him off the field. He can play.”