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RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018
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VILONIA EAGLES
The Vilonia special teams work on drills during the first day of school, Aug. 14.
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Reed Saddler (5-9, 135), senior Luke Berry (5-8, 145), junior Tate Langrell (5-11, 145), junior Tyler Moran (6-1, 170) and senior Trey Ault (5-10, 160).
Koonce is the team’s leading returning receiver. He caught 23 passes for 248 yards and 3 touchdowns.
On the offensive line, Langrell expects to start senior Cyeth Arendall (6-2, 202), junior Riley Rexroat (5-8, 222), junior Nathan Schwulst (6-2, 280), senior Brandon Cox (5-11, 220) and senior Hayden Cooper (6-3, 305).
On defense, Langrell expects to start Clements (6-0, 300), senior Dayton DeBoard (6-0, 210), Rexroat and junior Drew Killough (6-2, 225).
Linebackers include junior Tyler Chance (5-8, 180), Gibson (5-10, 190), senior Jayce Greer (5-11, 200), senior Tanner Loter (5- 10, 180), James (6-2, 200) and senior Kayden Bartlett (6-0, 187).
Defensive backs include Watson, junior Hunter Niece (5-9, 155), Koonce and Smith.
James is the team’s leading returning tackler, as he tallied 18 a year ago.
Langrell said his team’s strengths include team speed, returning quarterback and size on the offensive line. Weaknesses include im- plementation of a new offense and defense, and teaching the players the finer details of the Spread offense.
“I know in the past 10 years, Vilonia has just averaged five wins per season, but I think this is a playoff team,” Langrell said. “I really do. I think we’ll continue to get better as the kids learn the seams a little bit more, especially on offense.”
Langrell said he’s had a goal of his team averaging 42 points per game.
“I think as long as you aren’t playing some- one like Beebe or Cabot that runs the Dead-T, you ought to be able to score 42 points a game,” he said. “I’ve been very fortunate to be
Vilonia assistant coach Andrew Harrison gives encouragement to junior Kyle Vines.
PHOTOS BY MARK BUFFALO/RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION
Vilonia senior Devin James prepares to snap the ball during special-team drills.
able to do that. I think we’ve got the kids, the quarterback, the receivers and the right mix to be able to do that.
“That is something that will be a big change if we’re able to do that here at Vilonia.”
Langrell said coaching in the 5A-West will be a challenge but will help him become a bet- ter coach. All four playoff teams from last year — Alma, Greenbrier, Harrison and Morrilton — won their first-round playoff games.
“I think the 5A-West has some of the best coaches in the state,” Langrell said. “It makes me grow professionally and gets me on a bigger staff. It makes me a better coach. I can coach a position and get really good at that again.”
Langrell is also serving as defensive coordinator.
“I’m calling the defense this year, which is a little bit different role for me, but it’s a role that I think is going to be good for me professionally,” he said. “Everybody is on the same page on the coaching staff, so that makes it so much better.”
Vilonia opens the season Friday at home against Little Rock Christian. The 5A-West opener is Sept. 21 at Alma.
A key game for the Eagles is in Week 10 at Greenbrier.
“It’s a rivalry game,” Langrell said.