SPRINGDALE -- Springdale Har-Ber will switch to a 4-3 defense after losing three senior starters on the defensive line.
That means more responsibility for linebackers like Zach Ownbey, who played in four games last year as a backup. Owney and his teammates returned to work Monday in the Northwest Arkansas Passing League.
Profile
Zach Ownbey
SCHOOL: Springdale Har-Ber
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Outside linebacker
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 218
NOTABLE: Projected starter at outside linebacker for Har-Ber, which finished 8-4 last season… Played sparingly as a junior and finished with nine tackles, including five against Rogers… Quit baseball team to concentrate on football his senior year.
"Zach is a great kid and he's going to do anything you ask of him," Har-Ber linebackers coach Brannon Haney said. "We've asked him to drop some weight and get quicker so he can play that outside linebacker position. His work ethic is great and we're expecting good things from him."
Ownbey (6-foot, 218 pounds) is projected as a starter after backing up Logan Carmean and Hunter Banks at outside linebacker last season as a junior. He's already dropped 17 pounds from last year and he worked recently on his speed and quickness with former Razorback Richard Brothers.
"I hope to be one of the leaders on defense and make a lot of tackles," said Ownbey, who had a season-high five tackles against Rogers High. "I have to keep working on my speed and quickness so I'll be able to cover the receivers on those 10-yard hitches and things."
Ownbey and his teammates are learning the 4-3 system under Michael Johnson, the Wildcats' new defensive coordinator. Har-Ber gave up 36.8 points per game last year despite a defensive front that included Josh Frazier (Alabama) and Jake Hall (Arkansas), who both signed with SEC schools.
"Coach Johnson is a pretty hard-nosed guy," Ownbey said. "We've done a lot of tacking drills and our defense is fast-paced where everyone is moving around. He gets us going."
Har-Ber's defense will have to carry the team early with six returning starters and only one returning stater on offense. Ownbey said his unit can do that, even with a non-conference schedule that includes Webb City, Mo., Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst, and Conway. The Wildcats finished 8-4 last season after losing 52-42 to Conway in the second round of the Class 7A state playoffs.
"We'll carry the team and make a bunch of plays," Ownbey said. "We'll play with a chip on our shoulder, especially after last year."
Har-Ber hopes to make a deep run in the playoffs after being eliminated in the second round for third consecutive year. The Wildcats could be in better position to do that with the completion of an on-campus stadium. The facility is supposed to be ready on Sept. 19 against Conway.
"We're honored to be getting this stadium," Ownbey said. "We plan to do a lot of good things here."
Sports on 07/10/2014