Page 11 - Demo

THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018
11SS
BEEBE BADGERS
BEEBE continued from 10SS
In the past, Beebe has run the Dead-T offense. Shannon is calling it the Spread-T this year.
“We’re spreading it out more,” he said. “We’re taking the halfbacks and putting them out wide at receiver spots. We’re still running the same type of plays, just out of a spread package instead of compacting it in there.”
The quarterback will go out of the shotgun or under center, Shannon said.
“We want to control the ball, control the game and make the other team try to hurry and catch up,” Shannon said. “And hopefully, the other team will make some mistakes.”
Returning starters on defense include senior outside linebacker Luke Oakley (5-9, 160), senior tackle Cade Harlin (6-0, 235), senior tackle Wade King (5-10, 235), junior tackle Logan Bowman (6-1, 220), Neal at inside linebacker, senior inside linebacker Braden Healy (5-7, 180), House at cornerback and Taylor Boyce at safety.
“We feel like we’ve got a chance if we can stay healthy,” Shannon said. “We still don’t have a lot of depth, but we feel like we’ve got a chance to be a pretty good football team.”
Beebe opened the season Friday at Greenbrier in a Week 0 game. They have off Week 1 before playing Lonoke at home Sept. 7. The Badgers’ final nonconference game is Sept. 14 at Vilonia.
“Greenbrier has turned into a pretty good
rivalry,” Shannon said. “In the 12 years I’ve been here, I think we’re 6-6 against them. If we can get off to a good start and build some confidence, hopefully, we can keep it going, as well as roll into the conference schedule.”
The 5A-Central will be different this year, as three teams left the conference. Mills dropped to Class 4A. McClellan moved to the 5A-South, while Sylvan Hills moved up to Class 6A. Re- placing them are Watson Chapel, Maumelle and White Hall.
“I think the conference got a whole lot tougher this year,” Shannon said. “You’ve still Pulaski Academy, who is the four-time defend- ing state champions. Then you’ve got Little Rock Christian, who has got everybody back. You’ve got Parkview. This year will be their second year under coach Brad Bolding. You’d think they are going to be better.”
Shannon said Watson Chapel will be tough because they have 16 returning starers.
“They won the South last year,” Shannon said as the Wildcats finished 8-4 overall and 7-0 in league play.
“White Hall usually has a pretty solid foot- ball team,” Shannon said. “Then you’ve got Maumelle, and everyone I’ve talked to said they probably have the best athletes in the entire conference.
“I think the conference got tougher than it was last year, and it was the best conference in the state last year.”
PHOTOS BY MARK BUFFALO/THREE RIVERS EDITION
Beebe junior offensive lineman Mavrick Payne, left, pushes senior wide receiver Jonathan Turner out of the way during a practice earlier this summer.
CARLISLE BISON
AUG. 31 ........................................ @LONOKE SEPT. 7 ............................................. DEWITT SEPT. 14 ................................. BAPTIST PREP SEPT.21 ..........................................HAZEN* SEPT. 28 .................................... @DES ARC* OCT. 5 ........................................@MARVELL* OCT. 12 ...................................... MARIANNA* OCT. 19 ....................................CLARENDON* OCT. 26 .....................................@BRINKLEY* NOV. 2 ...............................................EARLE*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
HIGHLAND REBELS
AUG. 24 ................................. @VALLEY VIEW AUG. 31 .......................... HARDING ACADEMY SEPT. 7 ..................................... @RIVERVIEW SEPT. 21 ............... @WESTSIDE JONESBORO* SEPT. 28 .................................. @CAVE CITY* OCT. 5 ................................... @RIVERCREST* OCT. 12 ....................................... TRUMANN* OCT. 19 ........................................ GOSNELL* OCT. 26 ....................................BROOKLAND* NOV. 2 .................................... POCAHONTAS*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
CEDAR RIDGE TIMBERWOLVES
AUG. 31
SEPT. 7 .................................... HARRISBURG SEPT. 14 ......................................@MIDLAND SEPT. 21 ......................... @MOUNTAIN VIEW* SEPT. 28 .................................... MARSHALL* OCT. 5 .........................................@CLINTON* OCT. 19 ........................@YELLVILLE-SUMMIT* OCT. 26 ................................... MELBOURNE* NOV. 2 ........................ @HARDING ACADEMY*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
HOXIE MUSTANGS
AUG. 24 ........................................ CAVE CITY AUG. 31 ........................................ TRUMANN SEPT. 7 ................... @WESTSIDE JONESBORO SEPT. 21 ................................... @OSCEOLA* SEPT. 28 ..................................... NEWPORT* OCT. 5 ........................................@CORNING* OCT. 12 .......................................@PIGGOTT* OCT. 19 ........................................... MANILA* OCT. 26 .................................. HARRISBURG* NOV. 1 ............................... @WALNUT RIDGE*
..................................... JESSIEVILLE
Beebe senior quarterback Alex Boyce, from left, hands off the ball to senior Taylor Boyce while junior Mavrick Payne tries to make room.
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES