LITTLE ROCK — Leading Highland to a perfect record is even more special for second-year Coach Spencer Hill, who was a standout running back/linebacker for the Rebels before graduating in 1994.
Hill, 37, now has Highland (11-0) in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs Friday night at home against Pine Bluff Dollarway (10-1).
“To have the season where you’re 11-0 and just kind of rally the community back into football, it’s been a lot of fun,” Hill said.
Hill said he expected Highland, No. 4 in Class 4A, to make a statewide splash this fall because it returned a large senior class (18) from an 8-2 team that shared the 3-4A championship.
“And they all play,” Hill said.
The headliner is quarterback Sterling Stowers, who has started every game the past three seasons.
Stowers has rushed 123 times for 1,454 yards and 23 touchdowns and completed 65 of 112 passes for 1,435 yardsand 20 touchdowns this fall.
Hill said Stowers, 6-0, 180 pounds, is drawing recruiting interest from Arkansas State, Harding and Ouachita Baptist.
“He’s definitely been our bell cow,” Hill said. “He’s a dual-threat guy. In the passing game, we try to roll him out and let him create. I think that’s what he does best. He’s got great instincts running the ball.”
Hill triggers a Spread attack that averages 433.3 total yards per game.
Senior running back Jordan Brewer has rushed 119 times for 1,187 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Hill said Brewer doesn’t possess breakaway speed, but is quick, smart and hard to tackle 1-on-1.
“That fits our offense,” Hill said. “When you spread the field, you want 1-on-1 matchups.”
Hill said Stowers and Brewer are among “five or six” three-year starters.
Senior linebacker Carr Hill leads the team with 155 tackles, including 121 unassisted.
Spencer Hill said Highland starts six sophomores and 5 of 6 juniors on the roster also start, including linebacker Shawn Young, who has a team-high five interceptions.
Hill calls sophomore wide receiver Avery Johnson “probably” the team’s best athlete.
Highland normally doesn’t have any starters playing both ways, Hill said.
“We’re pretty deep and rotate a lot of guys in and out on both sides of the ball,” Hill said. “First year we’ve ever had a defensive unit and an offensive unit. I think it’s paid off.”
Hill said No. 3 Dollarway will present Highland’s biggest challenge to date.
Dollarway’s only regularseason loss was to No. 2 Stuttgart (24-14), and the Cardinals won at Ozark, Stuttgart and Gravette in last year’s playoffs.
“They’re definitely the best team we’ve seen,” Hill said. “Very athletic, very physical. They just thrive on the big play. I think that’s kind of the key for us, not letting them have the big play on offense.”
Hill’s father, Sam, coached Highland in 1988-2000 and older brother Stuart is the coach at Riverview in Searcy.
After graduating from Central Arkansas in 1999, Spencer Hill spent two years as an assistant at Salem and was Highland’s defensive coordinator for a decade before landing his “dream job” in 2011.
“It’s home,” Hill said.
Sports, Pages 26 on 11/15/2012