Page 4 - TR Football Preview Sept 2016

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 | THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
JACKSONVILLE TITANS
New Jacksonville Titans hope to get better, make playoffs
BY MARK BUFFALO
STAFF WRITER
The 2016 Jacksonville High School football team will be a new one.
After the city of Jacksonville left the Pulaski County Special School Dis- trict and formed the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District, a new mascot was chosen.
The former Red Devils are now the Titans.
“We’re taking that as a new step, a new approach with a new attitude,” Jacksonville football coach and Red Devil alumnus Barry Hickingbotham said. “I think the kids are buying into the fact that it’s going to be a new, fresh start.
“It’s one of those things when you’re a for- mer Red Devil. You’re a little sad to see the mascot go, but you understand the theory be- hind starting new for a new image for a new school district.”
Hickingbotham said the team is
JACKSONVILLE TITANS
SEPT. 2 ...............................................MILLS SEPT. 9 .................................. @LR CATHOLIC SEPT. 16 ..................................SYLVAN HILLS SEPT. 23 ......................................@SEARCY* SEPT. 30 ..................................JONESBORO* OCT. 7 ............................@MOUNTAIN HOME* OCT. 14 ..........................................LR HALL* OCT. 21 .............................. WEST MEMPHIS* OCT. 28 ....................................... @MARION* NOV. 3 .................................... @PINE BLUFF*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
excited about the changes that are coming. “We’re getting things done that we haven’t been able to do in the past for our program,” he said. “Equipmentwise, we’re able to get things done quicker. It’s a little different process. We
JACKSONVILLE continued on 5SS
MARK BUFFALO/THREE RIVERS EDITION
Jacksonville junior Quintarrius Caldwell, left, takes on junior blocker Shawn Ellis during practice.