Storlie Eager To Take Over Quarterback Position

Senior Jacob Storilie will take over at quarterback this season for Prairie Grove. Storlie replaces Cooper Winters, a three-year starter for the Tigers

Senior Jacob Storilie will take over at quarterback this season for Prairie Grove. Storlie replaces Cooper Winters, a three-year starter for the Tigers

Sunday, September 1, 2013

PRAIRIE GROVE — Prairie Grove fans should remember Jacob Storlie helped his team to a playoff victory in his only start at quarterback.

That should ease some concerns about the senior, who’ll take over the position full-time after the graduation of Cooper Winters, a two-year starter.

“We have complete confidence in Jacob Storlie,” said Prairie Grove coach Danny Abshier. “He was man without a home last year. He played free safety, receiver, and even linebacker when we needed him to step in there. Jacob hasn’t played a lot at quarterback, but he’s been waiting his turn and he’s intent this year on showing what he can do. He’s hard to rattle.”

Storlie (6-foot-2, 176 pounds) is more of a runner than Winters, who threw for 1,286 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. His ability to run the option effectively will prevent defenses from focusing too much on Logan Bartholomew, the Tigers’ feature back.

“Jacob likes to throw, but he really runs well,” Abshier said. “He’s got good speed and he should be able to make something happen when a play breaks down.”

Storlie helped direct a Prairie Grove offense that piled up 410 rushing yards in its 42-27 victory over Mena in the playoffs two years ago. Most of that yardage came from former all-state running back Weston Bartholomew, who had 227 yards and scored three touchdowns.

But Weston Bartholomew, and 17 others seniors from last year are gone, leaving Storlie with much more responsibility this season.

“We put in a couple of new things this year, but I feel real comfortable about taking over at quarterback,” Storlie said. “We lost some good seniors, including Cooper, but we had some good players backing them up. I just want to stay healthy and have fun.”

Storlie worked hard over the summer and attended football camps at Central Arkansas, Henderson State, and Ouachita Baptist. He improved his quarterbacking skills and gained the confidence of his teammates, including all-state linebacker Brandon Nodier.

“People who come to our games should be ready for a show,” said Nodier, who is one of five returning starters from a unit that allowed only nine points per game last season. “Jacob is smooth and he’s not going to make a lot of mistakes. I’m proud to say he’s my quarterback.”

The Tigers hope for another fast start after winning 12 consecutive games before losing 32-15 at Stuttgart in the state semifinals a year ago. A key game will come in the opener, when Prairie Grove hosts Ozark in the conference opener on Sept. 20. The Tigers won 30-6 last year while capturing their first league championship since 2005.

“There’s some pressure there after winning conference last year, but I think we’ll be just fine,” Storlie said. “We’ve got some good players and good coaches.”


PRAIRIE GROVE TIGERS

COACH: Danny Abshier (136-92-1)

LAST SEASON: 12-1, 7-0 4A-1 Conference

OFFENSE: Wing-T

DEFENSE: 3-3

RETURNING STARTERS: Offense 2, Defense 5

POINTS SCORED PER GAME: 38.3

POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 9.0

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH: Logan Bartholomew (Sr., RB, 5-9, 176), J.D. Speed (Sr., WB, 5-9, 166), Jacob Storlie (Sr., QB, 6-2, 176), Nick Sugg (Sr., FB, 5-9, 177).

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: Brandon Nodier (Sr., LB, 6-0, 182), Jackson Diebold (Sr., NG, 5-11, 195), Jack Reynolds (Sr., LB, 5-7, 195), Boyd Sparkman (Jr., DT, 5-7, 240).

KEEP AN EYE ON: Bobby Catt, junior two-way player at running back and cornerback. Tigers like his quickness and cover skills.

OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK: It’s a plus to have a running quarterback in an option-based offense and Storlie fits that description. Logan Bartholomew and J.D. Speed are also big-play threats for the Tigers, who rushed for nearly 3,600 yards last season.

DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK: Nodier is a physical player who’ll set the tone, much like Jacob Kahl did last season for Prairie Grove. Storlie and Bartholomew will help out in the secondary.

SEASON OUTLOOK: Tigers earned much statewide respect with a 12-1 record that included playoff victories over Crossett, Pottsville, and Nashville. Another postseason run is possible despite a lack of depth.

KEY GAME: Sept. 27 vs. Ozark. No one wants a shot at Prairie Grove more than the Hillbillies, who were humbled by the Tigers 30-6 last year. It’s the conference opener again for the Tigers and a chance for a home victory before heading to Farmington.

QUOTING COACH ABSHIER: “We lost 18 seniors from a team that won a lot of games. We’re not as deep as that team, but we had a good junior class last year and some sophomores back who contributed.”

SCHEDULE

DATE^OPPONENT^TIME

Sept. 6^Lavaca^7 p.m.

Sept. 13^Morrilton^7 p.m.

Sept. 20^at West Fork^7 p.m.

Sept. 27^Ozark*^7 p.m.

Oct. 4^at Farmington*^7 p.m.

Oct. 11^Lincoln*^7 p.m.

Oct. 18^at Berryville*7 p.m.

Oct. 25^Pea Ridge*7 p.m.

Nov. 1^at Gentry*7 p.m.

Nov. 8^Gravette*^7 p.m.