LITTLE ROCK — Glen Rose won its first state championship in 2007 and first outright conference championship in 2010.
Now, the Beavers open No. 1 in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Super Six Class 3A rankings for the first time.
The message from Coach Mark Kehner to his team in August? Stay grounded.
“We practice so hard, we feel like that if you think you’re going to be good, we’re going to pop your head in practice,” Kehner said. “We feel like we’ve done that with this group.”
Still, Kehner said he believes the Beavers have the potential — if everything comes together — to reach the same heights they did in 2007.
“We knew that if everybody stayed out, and everybody developed, then we would have a chance,” Kehner said of the 2012 season. “I’m not lying to anybody.”
Glen Rose returns 17 starters, including 10 offensively, from an 8-4 second-round playoff team.
Kehner said the 2012 Beavers are much better in the offensive line than 2010, but lack a game-changer at running back.
Kehner’s son, Steven, ran for 2,488 yards to earn All-Arkansas honors that season as a senior.
“The biggest difference between ’07 and this team remains to be seen,” Mark Kehner said. “It’s defensively. That ’07 team was pretty salty on the defensive side of the ball. We do feel real good offensively and think we compare to that team.”
Glen Rose averaged 31.5 points per game last fall, which, with 10 returning starters, means fine-tuning rather than overhauling.
Senior quarterback Collin Hunter, 6-0, 190 pounds, is a third-year starter.
Hunter completed 125 of 249 passes for 2,032 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. He ran 84 times for 469 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Senior tailback Dillon Coney (636 rushing yards last fall) and senior wide receiver Lane Ballard (32 receptions for 550 yards and 6 touchdowns) return, along with wide receiver Kyle Petersen, who had 40 receptions with 12 touchdowns.
The line is anchored by senior tackle Skyler Hix, 6-4, 290.
“We expect our kids to execute and put points on the board,” Kehner said. “We haven’t tried to shy away from that. If we’re going to have that experience back, then we fully expect to go out there and get it done.”
Glen Rose allowed 15.1 points per game last fall, recording three consecutive shutouts (Benton Harmony Grove, Jessieville and Bismarck) in conference play.
Petersen, a linebacker, had 67 tackles last season.
A nonconference schedule that features 2011 Class 4A runner-up Malvern and Class 2A power Mineral Springs will challenge Glen Rose.
Perennial power Fountain Lake should be Glen Rose’s toughest conference roadblock.
“We feel like by the end of the year, if we can stay healthy, we’ll be a pretty good football team,” Kehner said.
Glen Rose at a glance
MASCOT Beavers CONFERENCE 5-3A ENROLLMENT 248 (based on 2012-2014 classification cycle; 20th among 48 Class 3A football-playing schools) HEAD COACH Mark Kehner (fifth season, 36-13) ASSISTANTS Darrell Ellis, offensive coordinator; Bryan Weatherford, defensive coordinator; Chase Meyers, offensive linemen, linebackers 2011 RECORD 8-4, 5-2 5-3A, third PLAYOFF RESULTS Beat Rivercrest 35-3 in first round, lost 24-21 to Rison in second round PLAYERS TO WATCH QB Collin Hunter, 6-0, 190, Sr.; OT Skyler Hix, 6-4, 290, Sr.; WR Lane Ballard, 6-2, 180, Sr. RETURNING OFF./DEF.STARTERS 10/7 OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE FORMATION Spread/4-2-5
Sports, Pages 19 on 08/22/2012