McGehee commits to Purdue
All-Arkansas punter Austin McGehee of Pine Bluff orally committed to Purdue on Friday, two days after being offered a scholarship by the Boilermakers.
McGehee averaged 40.3 yards on 40 attempts last fall as a junior, with a long of 64 yards. He had a net average of 40.1 yards, and 18 of his punts were downed inside the 20.
McGehee also made 58 of 64 extra-point attempts and 8 of 14 field-goal attempts (a long of 36 yards).
McGehee, 6-0, 200 pounds, helped the Zebras reach the Class 6A final last fall.
LAKE HAMILTON Looking ahead
Lake Hamilton Athletic Director John Utley said the school has an oral agreement with Hot Springs for a home-and-home series in Week 3 in 2014 and 2015.
The Garland County rivals haven’t met since 2005, when Lake Hamilton beat Hot Springs for the third consecutive time, 44-7.
The schools were conference opponents (AAAA-Southwest) as late as 1999 before Lake Hamilton moved to the state’s largest classification, then AAAAA, through reclassification.
Lake Hamilton is now a Class 6A school. Hot Springs is a member of Class 5A.
A season-opening nonconference series ran from 2000-2005.
GREENWOOD Coming home
Greenwood Coach Rick Jones said Nathan Staton, a standout wide receiver and defensive back on the school’s state championship teams in 2005 and 2006, will coach running backs and coordinate special teams for the Bulldogs this fall.
“He knows what we’re about and has a feel for it,” Jones said. “He’s been around us and knows what we do.”
Staton, as a player, was part of several of the most famous plays in Greenwood history.
In a 25-24 victory over Wynne in the semifinals of the 2005 Class AAAA playoffs, Staton returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown with 9:43 remaining, then caught the game-winning two-point pass at 2:10.
Staton caught the game winning two-point pass with 12 seconds remaining in a 56-55 victory over Pulaski Academy in the Class 5A final the following year as a senior.
Jones said Staton recently graduated from Arkansas-Fort Smith and replaces Jordan Huckeba, who left to become a junior high coach in Bentonville and pursue certification in administration.
WEST FORK Permanent hire
West Fork Superintendent John Karnes said Brad Lindley is the permanent replacement for Rodney Selph, now girls basketball coach at the school after leading the Class 3A Tigers to a 38-20 record and three conference titles over the past five seasons.
Lindley was named interim coach after Selph moved to girls basketball in the spring. Lindley had been West Fork’s defensive coordinator.
“We thought it was the right move,” Karnes said.
Lindley is the son of Marvin Lindley, a longtime assistant at Jacksonville under Johnny Watson, now athletic director at Little Rock Christian.
Karnes said Lavaca assistant Lance Tucker has joined Lindley’s staff at West Fork.
EXTRA POINTS
A memorial service was held Saturday morning for Pocahontas senior running back P.K. Kirk, 18, who was killed in an automobile accident Wednesday. … Genoa Central Athletic Director Bear Bryant said it will be at least mid-July before a coach is named to replace Eddie Jackson, who retired this spring because of health problems. Bryant said Joel Brown has been hired as an assistant at the Texarkana-area school to replace T.J. Burk, nowwide receivers coach at Hot Springs Lakeside. Brown had been coaching at nearby North Caddo High School Louisiana. … Brian Maupin is the new linebackers coach at Pulaski Robinson. Maupin, 24, played linebacker at Robinson and Harding University. Michael Horton, formerly of Maumelle Middle School, will coach cornerbacks this fall for Robinson. … Vacant head coaching positions at Little Rock McClellan and Little Rock Hall didn’t come up during a regularly scheduled LRSD school board meeting Thursday. The school board next meets July 11. … Lake Hamilton Athletic Director John Utley said games are moving to KLBL-FM, 104.5, in Hot Springs this fall. They had been on KLAZ-FM, 105.9.
7-on-7 tournament schedule
MAY 31
WEST MEMPHIS CHRISTIAN 7-ON-7 SHOWCASE
At West Memphis Christian High School FINAL Tournament canceled (lack of teams)
JUNE 1
AIR RAID
At Harding University FINAL Tournament canceled (weather)
BALD KNOB TOURNAMENT
At Bald Knob High School FINAL Tournament canceled (weather)
JUNE 5
SUMMER SHOWDOWN
At Pulaski Robinson High School FINAL Pulaski Academy 30, Mills 10
JUNE 5-6
OBU TEAM CAMP
At Ouachita Baptist University FINAL Tournament canceled (weather)
JUNE 7
HARRISON 7-ON-7
At Harrison High School FINAL Fayetteville 28, Strafford, Mo., 25
YOUNG GUNS
At LR Parkview High School FINAL LR Central 34, Benton 14
SLINGIN’ IN THE SOUTH
At Arkansas-Monticello FINAL Smackover 14, Hamburg 13
SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE 7-ON-7
At Southside Batesville High School FINAL Southside Batesville 29, Melbourne 28 OT (championship bracket); Mountain View 32, Priceville (Ala.) B 24 (consolation bracket)
JUNE 8
RED DEVIL CLASSIC
At Atkins High School FINAL Atkins 27, Fordyce 24
JUNE 13
VALLEY VIEW 7-ON-7
At Valley View High School FINAL Southaven, Miss., 21, Highland 0
JUNE 14
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS SHOOTOUT
At Hope High School FINAL Hope 31, Benton 14
JUNE 14-15
SHOOTOUT OF THE SOUTH
At Mighty Bluebird Complex, Little Rock FINAL Lake Hamilton 37, Oklahoma City Heritage Hall 28
JUNE 15
ARKANSAS 7-ON-7 CHAMPIONSHIP
At LR Central High School FINAL Mount Pleasant, Texas, 35, LR Central JV 9
CHARLESTON TIGER FOOTBALL FOUNDATION 7-ON-7 SHOWCASE
At Charleston High School FINAL Charleston 23, Gentry 22
JULY 6
FOUNTAIN LAKE 7-ON-7
At Fountain Lake High School DEFENDING CHAMPION Charleston
JULY 9
TIGER CLASSIC
At LR Central High School DEFENDING CHAMPION LR Central
JULY 12
OIL TOWN 7-ON-7
At Smackover High School DEFENDING CHAMPION Smackover
JULY 12-13
SOUTHWEST ELITE SHOWCASE
At Shiloh Christian High School DEFENDING CHAMPION Fayetteville
GARRETT UEKMAN MEMORIAL
At War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock DEFENDING CHAMPION Dumas
JULY 13
4-STATE 7-ON-7 CHAMPIONSHIP
At Gravette High School
JULY 18 ARKANSAS STATE 7-ON-7 CAMP
At Arkansas State University
DEFENDING CHAMPION Olive Branch, Miss.
JULY 20
BEAST OF THE EAST
At Hoxie High School DEFENDING CHAMPION Forrest City (big school), Melbourne (small school)
Sports, Pages 31 on 06/30/2013