VIDEO: PREP FOOTBALL: Sturdy Stout

Greenland senior back leads Pirates

NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. WAMPLER Greenland senior Hayden Stout runs a drill at practice Tuesday Sept. 25, 2018. Stout rushed for a team-high 555 yards this season with eight touchdowns for the Pirates.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. WAMPLER Greenland senior Hayden Stout runs a drill at practice Tuesday Sept. 25, 2018. Stout rushed for a team-high 555 yards this season with eight touchdowns for the Pirates.

GREENLAND -- Hayden Stout split time at tailback as a junior, but there's no question he's been the main ball-carrier for Greenland this season.

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior has already accumulated 555 rushing yards in only four games this season. But he came up huge two weeks ago with 184 yards on 32 carries and four touchdowns in Greenland's big win over Charleston.

It's been a case where Stout's hard work is being rewarded, Greenland football coach Lee Larkan said.

"He's the kid that you want your kids to be like," Larkan said. "He's a hard worker, a good student, doesn't demand anything. He just comes to play every day and he's the perfect team player.

"He does exactly what you ask of him. Hayden works harder than you can imagine."

The Pirates (3-2, 1-1 3A-1 Conference) play host to unbeaten Booneville (5-0, 2-0) tonight in another big conference game. Greenland will try to bounce back from a tough 36-29 loss at Mansfield last week where Stout came up with 92 yards on the ground.

His big game against Charleston came immediately following a monster 235-yard, three-touchdown performance against Gentry after sitting out the Pirates' 28-17 win over Mountainburg the week before because of a foot problem.

Stout might not have break-away type speed, but he hits the hole hard and is not easy to bring down, Larkan said.

"He's probably 4.7 (in the 40-yard dash)," Larkan said. "But he broke one for 60, 70 yards this year. He's run track the last couple years and once he gets going, he's got that extra quick step and he always falls forward to get that extra yard or two."

Stout has also added 15 pounds from a year ago thanks to off-season work in the weight room to be able to run through tackles, Larkan said. He also runs middle-distance for the track team in the spring and even earned all-state honors as part of the two-mile relay team as a sophomore.

"I think I've improved just by doing the little things coach has taught us to do like carrying out fakes, running past the whistle," Stout said. "All that just helps. If you carry out a fake and you don't have the ball and you draw guys over that can lead to someone else scoring.

"I'm definitely better at reading holes and I'm stronger this year, too."

Despite his success running the ball this season, he's quick to credit the offensive line.

"I mean some of the gaps I run through if you give anyone a ball they could run through them," Stout said with a laugh.

He was the lone two-way starter last year at running back and linebacker. Stout finished with 710 yards and four TDs to go with 40 tackles in 10 games.

The 17-year-old is a leader by example.

"Young players can watch him and say 'That's who I want to be like' because he plays the game the right way," Larkan said.

He's already closing in on that rushing total this season at the halfway point, but Larkan has limited him mainly to offense only this season to keep him healthy. Stout has carried a heavy load offensively as evidenced by 76 carries combined in the wins over Gentry and Charleston.

"He's been toting the mail a lot for us this year," Larkan said. "Down the road we expect him to play some defense for us."

But there no question Stout will be a key to Greenland's continued success this season.

"It's no secret we're gonna run the football and he's gonna get it and he's carried it a lot this year," Larkan said. "People know when they play us that they're fixing to have to stop him."

AT A GLANCE

HAYDEN STOUT

SCHOOL Greenland

POSITION Running back/Linebacker

CLASS Senior

HEIGHT 6-1

WEIGHT 175

NOTABLE Rushed for 555 yards on 112 carries (5.0 avg.) with eight touchdowns in four games this season. … Sat out one game with a foot injury. … Ran for team-high 710 yards on 102 carries (7.0 avg.) in 10 games last season with four touchdowns to go with 40 tackles (21 solos) from his linebacker spot on defense. … Run track in the spring and earned all-state honors as a sophomore on the Pirates’ two-mile relay team.

Sports on 10/05/2018

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