STORYLINES TO WATCH AS FOOTBALL APPROACHES

High school football practices are already underway for several teams, and the rest will begin its workouts next week. The kickoff to the regular season is now less than a month away. In fact for several Oklahoma teams, it will be less than three weeks due to the option of starting the season on Zero Week, an option Arkansas schools will have starting in 2018. There will be several storylines to follow as the months progress leading up to what teams throughout the River Valley hope stretches into December and a chance to play for a state title. In no particular order, here are 10 top storylines to watch for the 2017 season. 1. Can Northside be able to reload on defense? The Grizzlies underwent a massive overhaul on defense during the off-season. Eight graduated starters on defense signed to play college football, so it will be essentially a brand-new defense for Northside in 2017. Northside does return several talented players like junior cornerback Elijah Tabut and senior linebacker Locke Stubblefield. There will also be several seniors to fill other spots, but they don’t have significant varsity experience yet. The schedule also does the Grizzlies no favors, as they play two of the top 6A teams in their non-conference portion, Greenwood and Pine Bluff. They also open 7A-Central play against Bryant, considered a contender for the conference title, so the inexperienced defense will have to grow up in a hurry in order for the Grizzlies to have a chance to at least equal last season’s success. 2. Can Southside bounce back? The Mavericks had an uncharacteristic 2016, winning just three games and missing the playoffs. A strong off-season regimen may help ensure a repeat doesn’t happen again. Southside also has several returning players coming back, notably junior quarterback Taye Gatewood, senior lineman Wesley Schwartz, senior safety Garrett Gordon and junior linebacker Darrin Davenport, who missed the second half of last season with an ACL injury. The Mavericks will also need to start strong in 7A-Central play, as they begin the conference slate with back-to-back road trips to Conway and Cabot before returning home to face defending conference champion North Little Rock. 3. Is the third time the charm for Greenwood? The Bulldogs have reached the 6A title game each of the past two seasons before coming up short each time, the latter to 6A-West foe Russellville. But Greenwood once again has a great chance to make it back to Little Rock and this time, finish the job. Especially with the return of senior quarterback and University of Arkansas commit Connor Noland, who threw for more than 2,000 yards as a junior. Senior tailback Kenny Wood, who ran for more than 1,100 yards last season, also returns along with several receivers. Defense may decide if the Bulldogs finally hoist the state title trophy. They return six starters, including all-state tackle Jon Womack and senior safety Dylan Vota, and if the Bulldogs can shore up things at linebacker, the third time may indeed be the charm. 4. Can Alma take the next step in 5A? Coach Doug Loughridge has restored the Airedales among the contenders in 5A. But they have lost in the quarterfinals each of the past two seasons, the latter coming at home to Watson Chapel. Finding a quarterback may help determine whether the Airedales can play for a spot in the final four. Senior Garrison Jensen is the likely candidate to take the reins from departed all-stater Noah Dotson and will have weapons, most notably all-state senior receiver Brayden Johnson, who caught 81 passes last season for 1,153 yards. Alma also returns six starters on defense, though Jensen, who had nearly 100 tackles a season ago at linebacker, may focus more on playing quarterback. 5. Who might have the most favorable schedule in 2017? The Muldrow Bulldogs won’t have too far to travel, at least in the regular season. They will play eight of their 10 ballgames within the confines of Sequoyah County, five at home along with trips to Vian, Central and Roland. Muldrow’s other two road games are one county away, at Stilwell and at Stigler, which will be the regular-season finale and, at 43 miles, the Bulldogs’ longest road trip of the season. They will also play four consecutive games at home in a stretch that goes from Sept. 22 to Oct. 20. 6. What may be the most interesting conference? It could be 4A-4 in Oklahoma, featuring two teams ranked in the preseason top 10 (Hilldale and Metro Christian), along with perennial contenders Sallisaw and Poteau. Fort Gibson and Broken Bow are also expected to improve, as well as Stilwell, which possesses a senior-laden squad. The fight to fill the four playoff spots in 4A-4 will be interesting, though the bad news for whomever draws the fourth and final seed from the district will more than likely have to open up the playoffs at Wagoner, the defending three-time 4A champions. 7. Can Charleston go the distance in 3A? The Tigers took a 13-0 record into last season’s 3A title game, only to fall to Prescott. That loss has left a bad taste in the Tigers’ mouths all off-season. Although they graduated 19 seniors, the Tigers appear poised for another trip to Little Rock. They return most of their offensive skill players, most notably senior receiver and Arkansas commit Sean Michael Flanagan, fellow senior receiver Mason Wisdom and with senior tailback Bradyn Ketter. One area of concern coach Greg Kendrick expressed during the off-season was depth on both lines. Kendrick said he likes the nucleus of both the offensive and defensive lines, but it will be imperative for them to stay healthy all season long. 8. Who could be this year’s surprise team? It might be Mansfield, entering its second season under coach Craig Bentley. The Tigers won two ballgames in 2016, but barely missed out on a playoff spot. They could break through and make the postseason in 2017. The Tigers have had an increase in numbers. Back-to-back home games against Perryville (Oct. 20) and Atkins (Oct. 27) may help determine if Mansfield can be playoff-bound. 9. Is there an unsung player in the area to watch? Connor Rogers, a senior at Mountainburg, is one to keep an eye on. Rogers, a tight end, caught nine passes last season, four going for touchdowns. He also recorded 76 tackles at linebacker, and Rogers could be a main reason the Dragons can improve on last season’s 7-4 finish and contend for the 4-2A title. 10. What team needs to start strong in conference play? Van Buren opens the 7A-West slate by playing three of its first four games at home. The Pointers are at home on Sept. 22 against Bentonville West, home again Sept. 29 against Bentonville and go to Rogers Heritage the following week before returning to Blakemore Field on Oct. 13 against Rogers. If the Pointers can win at least two of those four games, that will put them in good shape to get a playoff spot. Van Buren also can’t afford to be on the playoff bubble down the stretch as they close the regular season with back-to-back road trips to Springdale and Springdale Har-Ber before returning home against defending 7A champion Fayetteville.

STORYLINES TO WATCH AS FOOTBALL APPROACHES

BUCK RINGGOLD

Times Record | 8/5/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Northside Athletics