SPRINGDALE -- Luke Hannon doesn't want a repeat of his junior season when Springdale Har-Ber fell to 3-8.
That was quite a plunge for a program that won at least 10 games from 2007-2010 and captured the state championship in 2009, four years into its existence.
Springdale Har-Ber Wildcats
Date^Opponent^Time
Sept. 4^Webb City, Mo.^7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11^Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst^7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18^at Conway^7 p.m.
Sept. 25^Rogers High*#^7 p.m.
Oct. 2^at Springdale High*^7 p.m.
Oct. 9^at Bentonville*^7 p.m.
Oct. 16^Fayetteville*7 p.m.
Oct. 23^at Fort Smith Southside*7 p.m.
Oct. 30^Fort Smith Northside*^7 p.m.
Nov. 6^at Rogers Heritage*7 p.m. # Homecoming
*7A-West Conference game
"I'm still a little upset about last year, but that makes us want to win even more," said Hannon, who led the 7A-West Conference in rushing as a junior. "A lot of these guys played last year and we all want to get back to playing Har-Ber football."
Har-Ber took its first step toward recovery during spring practices. The Wildcats didn't hold a spring game but the final practice was upbeat and fast-paced accompanied by music from the loudspeakers at Wildcat Stadium.
Three of Har-Ber's first four games will be at Wildcat Stadium, including the season-opener against Webb City, Mo., on Sept. 4.
"I was pleased with the growth we showed over the 2½ weeks we went this spring," Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. "We're nowhere close to being ready to go for Webb City, but we made the progress we needed to take us into summer."
Har-Ber will return eight offensive starters along with all-conference quarterback Fuller Chandler, who transferred from Springdale High. Chandler showed off his arm during practice and connected repeatedly with receivers downfield, especially with Trey Smith, who started some games at quarterback last season.
Chandler's appearance will enable Har-Ber to be much more balanced on offense after the Wildcats completed only 50 percent of their passes last year.
"We love (Chandler), not just for his arm but he's a good guy," said Hannon, who rushed for 1,498 yards and scored 18 touchdowns last season. "I love catching passes from Fuller. Every pass is right on the money."
Chandler was one of a handful of players Wood cited as having particularly strong practices during the spring. He named Brock Brames and Noah Hayward at linebacker along with running backs Braden Haley and Trevor Dobson, offensive lineman Tim Danehower, receivers Grant Ferguson and Ty Henderson, and quarterbacks Payton Copher, Aaron Henington and Brady Dugger.
"These guys are going to give us depth at a lot of positions," Wood said. "We've got four quarterbacks, and they're all pushing each other really well. It's been a nice competition."
Sports on 05/30/2015