High School football report

Wolves not able to repeat

Wolves not able to repeat

Lake Hamilton football Coach Jerry Clay moved around the Shootout of the South slowly over the weekend as his team attempted to repeat as champions of one of Arkansas' top 7-on-7 tournaments.

Clay's right foot was in a walking boot after he broke it in a boating accident before Memorial Day.

The Wolves went 4-1 in pool play Friday and beat Oklahoma City Heritage Hall 30-21 before losing to Pulaski Academy 37-16 in a regional final before championship play.

A quarterfinal loss Saturday to Fayetteville got Clay off his feet, but it stopped the Wolves from repeating as Shootout champions.

Pulaski Academy beat Fayetteville in the final.

"We're not as dominant," said Clay, whose teams are usually a mainstay at top Arkansas 7-on-7 tournaments.

Lake Hamilton has been one of the state's most successful programs over the past decade, led by quarterbacks Phillip Butterfield and Benson Jordan, but the offensive line might be key to Lake Hamilton's success this season.

The Wolves have to replace Nathan Sawrie at quarterback, but have four offensive linemen returning from last year's 8-4 team that lost to Jonesboro in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs, led by all-conference players Riley Goad and Hunter Wallace as well as Josh Graves and Tanner Scott.

Senior Jess Ledbetter has been the Wolves' quarterback this offseason and is expected to start Lake Hamilton's season opener Sept. 5 at Hot Springs.

Clay said Lake Hamilton will compete in two more 7-on-7 tournaments this summer, at Malvern on July 9 and Fountain Lake on July 19.

WYNNE

Back to WR

Quarterback Ross Trail's return to Wynne after a year at Olive Branch, Miss., has last year's starting quarterback Zach Morris returning to wide receiver this season for the Yellowjackets.

Morris led Wynne to the second round of the Class 5A playoffs, losing at Hope.

"He had never taken a snap at quarterback and then he's an All-State quarterback last year," Wynne Coach Chris Hill said. "We're glad to get him back at receiver. He has great hands. We'll use him some on defense, also.

"He's glad to be back at receiver. He'll get some reps at quarterback this year until our other guys get a little more comfortable and they prove they can do what we ask them to do."

The Yellowjackets return 20 starters, including Morris, from last season.

"We've got a good nucleus," Hill said. "But we've got to stay healthy. We've got a good group of seniors here. They understand what it takes to win. It makes my job a lot easier."

HALL OF FAME

Hardman leads class

Former Pine Bluff Dollarway football Coach Lee Hardman leads the 2014 class for the Arkansas High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Hardman, former Junction City baseball coach Al Bolen, former Russellville track and field coach Don Carnahan, former Tuckerman basketball and baseball coach Morgan Gilbert, former Bradley girls' basketball coach Leo Johnson and former Deer boys' basketball coach Darrell Jones will be inducted July 11 in the Hall of Fame ceremony at Hot Springs Convention Center.

Hardman (114-20-1) led the Cardinals to four state championships and nine conference titles at Dollarway. He took Dollarway to the playoffs 10 out of 11 seasons before going to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 1993.

Hardman is now the athletic director at Dollarway.

EXTRA POINTS

Fort Smith Northside beat Alma 32-20 on Saturday to win the Charleston 7-on-7 Showcase championship. ... Bentonville, Charleston, El Dorado, Fayetteville, Springdale Har-Ber, Harrison, Malvern and Wynne are all confirmed to play in the Southwest Elite 7-on-7 Showcase on July 10-12 at Shiloh Christian High School in Springdale. Out-of-state teams in the tournament include Aurora Christian from Illinois, Bishop Kelley from Tulsa and Gibson Southern from Indiana. ... Harrison has hired former Malvern assistant J.D. Plumlee as co-offensive coordinator. Plumlee, who will serve as co-coordinator with Adam DePriest, has also worked at Hot Springs Lakeside.

Sports on 06/22/2014

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