SPRINGDALE -- The entire Coweta, Okla., sideline knew where the football was going before the play began.
"They go to the kid in the neon socks every big play," one player yelled. Others echoed, shouting warnings to their teammates on the field.
The Skinny
Position Battle: Receivers
Watch Out For: Junior receiver Salvador Sandoval. … Sandoval’s 4.57 40-yard dash ranked third on the team. His size and speed make him a tough cover.
Biggest Strength: Size and athleticism at receiver. … Sandoval (6-2), Zach Burton (6-1) and Chris Owens (6-3) all have playmaking ability that should give Springdale one of the top receiving corps in the 7A-West.
Biggest Question: Tight end. … Junior Dylan Bible appeared to ready to be a solid starter, but left the team Tuesday. Senior Matthew Hutchinson moved to the position from defensive end Tuesday afternoon, but who winds up filling the role is still undecided.
Seconds later, Springdale High senior Zach Burton and his bright yellow socks were in the end zone after beating multiple defensive backs downfield to haul in a game-clinching, 40-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Fuller Chandler.
"My coaches said, 'Be confident in what you're doing and everything else will follow from there,'" Burton said.
And the 6-foot-1, 180-pounder built a lot of confidence this summer. It didn't seem to matter who Springdale faced during 7-on-7 play, Burton got open and made plays.
He and the Bulldogs hope that success carries over to Friday nights in pads this fall. The productive summer reinforced the coaching staff's offseason decision to move Burton, who is being recruited by Arkansas State, Northwest Missouri State and Pitt State, to offense after he started at safety as a junior.
"We wanted him to play receiver last year, but we were in such a bad situation at safety we just didn't have a choice," coach Shane Patrick said. "We knew going into this year, we needed him to do that."
Burton, who was voted a team captain and elected Springdale's senior class president within the last week, will still play safety in spot situations. But he was receptive about making the move when the coaches approached him shortly after the season ended last November.
"It's been fun for me to get back there senior year," Burton said. "I played receiver my sophomore and junior offseasons. It's been challenging getting my footwork and stuff back. I've been pretty good about running routes and getting separation and stuff, but my main thing is just making sure I catch the ball so I can do whatever after."
Burton's size and athleticism -- he also plays basketball and runs the 100, 200, 4x100, triple jumps and long jumps for the Springdale track team -- should make him a go-to target for Chandler, who threw for 1,110 yards and 12 touchdowns last year.
And he's not the only Springdale receiver who will present matchup problems for opposing defenses. Senior Chris Owens (6-foot-3, 180 pounds) and junior Salvador Sandoval (6-2, 156) give the Bulldogs a trio of receivers who have size and can run.
"It's nice," Burton said. "I feel good for Fuller, cause he has three big targets. Cause honestly, I've got confidence in all of us. We can catch any ball and score any touchdown."
The size at receiver will be important for a Springdale team without a clear-cut option at running back for the first time in a few years thanks to all-state performer Deandre Murray's graduation. Junior Hunter Necessary (5-7, 155) will also be in the mix, while sophomore Kyler Williams (5-7, 131) has a shot to break into the rotation.
All the receivers figure to play a bigger role in the offense this year. Chandler won't be able to turn and hand the ball off to Murray, but he will have the luxury of throwing to one of the top receiving trios in the conference in Burton, Owens and Sandoval.
"In what we do offensively, one guy may catch a bunch one night and the next week it might be the other two," offensive coordinator Mark Whatley said. "And that's just the nature of it. And they're handling it well. But they're tall, long and can all run. And that gives you a chance for them to go up and make some plays."
Sports on 08/22/2014