DECATUR BULLDOGS
2015 RECORD 1-8
COACH Shane Holland
RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 5 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB/DB Leng Lee (Sr., 5-6, 150), RB Alex Lee (Jr, 5-5, 160), OL/DL Brandon Coker (Sr., 5-9, 220), WR/LB Wyatt Bingham (Sr., 6-1, 150).
THE SKINNY Decatur was threatened by low numbers in the offseason but enters the season with more than 20 players on the roster. … Senior Leng Lee is a run threat at quarterback and junior Alex Lee (5-5, 160) emerged late last season at tailback. … Coker, a senior, returns to anchor the offensive line. … Defensively, the Bulldogs will rely on Coker to lead up front and Alex Lee in the middle at linebacker. Bingham (6-1, 150) , the team’s top receiver last season, will also be counted on to help pace the back side of the defense.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^at Berryville^Oct. 7^Hackett*
Sept. 9^Gentry^Oct. 14^at Johnson County Westside*
Sept. 19^at Grove, Okla. JV^Oct. 21^Western Yell County*
Sept. 23^at Mountainburg^Oct. 28^at Danville
Sept. 30^Magazine^Nov. 3^Lavaca
*— Denotes 2A-4 Conference game
HACKETT HORNETS
2015 RECORD 10-2
COACH Lonnie Lester
RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 6 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB/DB Eli Stormes (Sr., 6-1, 170), RB Cooper Shipman (So., 5-10, 155), WR/DB Robert Collins (Sr., 5-11, 150), C/DL Matt Anderson (Sr., 6-0, 250), OL/DL Kody Hodge (Sr., 6-2, 245).
THE SKINNY Hackett won at least 10 games for the first time since 1995, when the Hornets started 10-0 and finished 11-1 with a playoff win. … Hester, who previously coached at Hartford for five years, is 18-5 at Hackett. … The Hornets have 35 varsity players this season, including four from Hartford, which discontinued football three years ago. … Hackett’s ninth-grade team went 9-0. last year … Shipman will likely start at running back after he was promoted to varsity and rushed for 100 yards in a 34-14 playoff victory over Parkers Chapel.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^at Pocola, Okla.^Oct. 7^at Decatur*
Sept. 9^Mountainburg^Oct. 14^Danville*
Sept. 16^OPEN^Oct. 21^at Mountainburg*
Sept. 23^at Magazine^Oct. 28^at Lavaca
Sept. 30^W. Yell CountyNov. 3^at JC Westside
*— Denotes 2A-4 Conference game
JOHNSON COUNTY WESTSIDE REBELS
2015 RECORD 5-5
COACH Jeff Stewart
RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 6 defense
KEY PLAYERS RB/CB Alan Rice (Sr., 5-9, 150), QB/LB Gunner Williams (Jr., 5-11, 170), OT/DE Sam Willems (Sr., 6-4, 200), TE/DT Jordan Hilton (Sr., 6-2, 250), S Lane Houston (Jr., 5-9, 155).
THE SKINNY: Westside made its first playoff appearance in three seasons in 2015. The Rebels might have a difficult time repeating the postseason trip this fall, as just four seniors dot the roster. … All-conference quarterback Seth Stewart has graduated, but three of Westside’s four returning starters on offensive are on the offensive line — led by senior tackle Willems. … Defensively, Lucas Hilton is an anchor on the defensive line. … Rice will also be key for the Rebels, as he steps into a bigger role at running back this season along with his duties as a starting cornerback.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^at Woodlawn^Oct. 7^Mountainburg*
Sept. 9^Western Yell County^Oct. 14^Decatur*
Sept. 20^at Dardanelle JV^Oct. 21^at Magazine*
Sept. 23^Lavaca^Oct. 28^at Western Yell County*
Sept. 30^at Danville^Nov. 3^Hackett
*— Denotes 2A-4 Conference game
LAVACA GOLDEN ARROWS
2015 RECORD 4-6
COACH Brian Schlinker
RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 5 defense
KEY PLAYERS FB Cody Harris (Sr., 5-11, 240), WR Janson Graves (Sr., 5-9, 170), OL/DL Ashton Chronister (Sr., 6-1, 250), RB/LB Shelton Sutterfield (Sr., 5-9, 180), QB/DB Garrett Eck (Jr., 5-11, 170)
THE SKINNY Lavaca should benefit from a drop in classification as the Golden Arrows transition down from Class 3A to Class 2A. …. The defensive line is experienced and physical, led by seniors Chronister, Logan Chosy (6-0, 250) and juniors Tripp Lile (5-10, 200) and Kyler Wilkerson. … Eck should take over at quarterback and Harris (5-11, 240) will be hard to stop both at fullback and linebacker. … Lavaca will also have weapons in the passing game, led by all-conference senior Graves (5-9, 170).
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^Gentry^Oct. 7^at Western Yell County*
Sept. 9^Danville^Oct. 14^Magazine
Sept. 16^at Dover^Oct. 21^at Palestine-Wheatley
Sept. 23^at Johnson County Westside^Oct. 28^Hackett
Sept. 30^Mountainburg^Nov. 3^at Decatur
*— Denotes 2A-4 Conference game
MOUNTAINBURG DRAGONS
2015 RECORD 8-3
COACH Tom Harrell
RETURNING STARTERS: 6 offense, 9 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB Quency Pixley (Sr., 5-11, 150), RB/CB Robert Roxin (Jr., 5-10, 190), WR Elisha Vanourny (Sr., 6-1, 170), OT Shawn Hattabaugh (Sr., 5-11, 260), WR/S Melvin Dutton (Sr., 5-11, 170).
THE SKINNY Harrell enters his 30th season as Mountainburg coach and believes this year’s defense has a chance to be one of the best he’s ever coached. … The secondary returns starter’s experience at every position, while defensive line will also be a strength with senior Colton Fletcher (5-10, 175) leading the way. … Pixley, a two-time all-conference quarterback whose father was an all-state QB for the Dragons in the 1990s, is back for a third season. … Pixley passed for 1,176 yards and 22 TDs as a junior and has good quickness. … Vanourney should be one of the top receivers in the 2A-4 Conference, and the offensive line is a veteran group with three returning starters.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^Cedarville^Oct. 7^at Johnson County Westside*
Sept. 9^at Hackett^Oct. 14^Western Yell County*
Sept. 16^at Danville^Oct. 21^Hackett
Sept. 23^Decatur^Oct. 28^Magazine*
Sept. 30^at Lavaca*^Nov. 4^OPEN
*— Denotes 2A-4 Conference game