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RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FOOTBALL PREVIEW |
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018
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RUSSELLVILLE CYCLONES
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will be bigger and stronger in that area, and we should have seven to eight guys who can make up a solid unit.”
A statewide publication picked the Cyclones to finish fourth in the 6A-West, according to its preseason poll of league coaches, behind eight-time state champion Greenwood (13-0 last year), Benton and El Dorado. Lake Hamilton was picked fifth, followed by Siloam Springs, Sheridan and Little Rock Hall, which moves into the league from the 6A-East after the Arkansas Activities Association’s realignment.
After playing its benefit game at Rogers on Aug. 21, Russellville will open the season at home against Morrilton on Aug. 31. The Cyclones will play host to Springdale Har-Ber on Sept. 7 and finish nonconference play at Alma on Sept. 14.
They’ll open league play at home against Benton on Sept. 21, visit Sheridan on Sept. 28, play host to Lake Hamilton on Oct. 5, visit Greenwood on Oct. 12, play host to Little Rock Hall on Oct. 19 and finish the regular season with back-to-back road trips — to El Dorado on Oct. 26 and Siloam Springs on Nov. 2.
Junior defensive lineman Ryan Cude hits a tackling dummy during fall camp.
DANVILLE LITTLE JOHNS
Little Johns move up to 3A, looking to play well early on
BY TAMMY KEITH
SENIOR WRITER
The Danville Little Johns will have familiar names on the field this year, which bodes well for the season.
“We got pretty much everybody back from last year, 10 on both sides of the ball,” coach D.J. Crane said.
Last season, the team was 11-2 and made it to the third round in the state playoffs, fall- ing to Foreman in the quarterfinals, he said.
“We were young; we had to play a lot of young kids [last season]. We got some expe- rience; we look good,” Crane said.
The Little Johns have moved up a clas- sification this year, from 2A to 3A, but that doesn’t concern the coach, who is starting his 15th year leading the team. He’s been there, done that, and so have the kids.
DANVILLE LITTLE JOHNS
AUG. 31 .............................................LAMAR SEPT. 7 ........................................... @DOVER SEPT. 14 ....................................... WALDRON SEPT. 21 ............................... @MAYFLOWER* SEPT. 28 ..................................TWO RIVERS* OCT. 5 .................................... @GLEN ROSE* OCT. 12 ........................................... ATKINS* OCT. 19 ...............................@BAPTIST PREP* OCT. 26 .................................... JESSIEVILLE* NOV. 1 ....................................@PERRYVILLE*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
and ’17. We were 3A in ’12, ’13, ’14 and ’15,” he said.
He said a statewide publication ranked Danville in the top 15 in the 3A.
“We went 2A for two years, in 2016
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