Page 19 - Demo

THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018
19SS
HARDING ACADEMY WILDCATS
Harding Academy focuses on player development
BY SAM PIERCE
STAFF WRITER
Harding Academy has spent this past
offseason working on player devel- opment. Head football coach Neil Evans, who is in his third season at
Harding, said the Wildcats are focusing less on scheme and are more concerned about devel- oping players for their positions.
“We have been a little more intentional than we have been in the past with the way we han- dle our summer stuff,” Evans said. “Once we leave the weight room, we have done a lot more player development to develop better football players and enhance a set of skills ....
“... It is a lot of hands stuff, and it has been across the board for everybody. It is a lot of learning how to play that position. We are being very intentional as coaches with what we are looking for.”
HARDING ACADEMY WILDCATS
best for me. There has been a tradition here, for a long time, playing a brand of football that has proven to be successful, and we will continue to do what it is that gives our guys a chance.
“Throwing the ball as effectively and effi- ciently as we have been able to and continue to be able to do — it is a great equalizer when we are a little less talented.”
Evans said his offensive line was one of the bright spots after a week of camp. Pro- tecting Morgan are returning starters junior left tackle Aaron Snow, senior left guard Dylan James, senior center Caden Burks and senior right guard Lawson Talley. In the second round of the playoffs, Burks got the call at center.
“We thought one of [Junction City’s] best defensive players was their nose, and I think
HARDING ACADEMY continued on 20SS
AUG. 31 .................................. @HIGHLAND SEPT.7..................................@BALDKNOB SEPT. 14 ............................ HEBER SPRINGS SEPT. 21 ..................................... CLINTON* SEPT. 28 .................... @YELLVILLE-SUMMIT*
Harding Academy finished 7-5 last year, making it to the second round of the Class 3A state playoffs before losing 31-30 to Junction City. The Wildcats return six starters on offense and six on defense.
“The people we lost are just insurmount- able,” Evans said, “but there is reason for opti- mism. It is just unproven.
“There will be many guys that we will be counting on that we have not counted on be- fore. It is just unknown.”
One of the keys for the Wildcats is this year’s Three Rivers Edition Player to Watch senior
OCT. 5 ...........................@MOUNTAIN VIEW* OCT. 12 ................................ MELBOURNE* OCT. 19 ................................ @MARSHALL* NOV. 2 ................................. CEDAR RIDGE*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
quarterback Davis Morgan. Morgan, a two-year starter, finished last season with 209 comple- tions out of 323 passes for 3,089 yards with 36 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
“He is very physically impressive when you first look at him,” Evans said. “He is becoming like so many quarterbacks like him before, and he’s got above-average arm strength.
“He has the intangibles of a winner.”
Harding is a big-time pass-heavy team, Evans said.
“I am a defensive guy, so it is my nature to run the ball,” he said. “But I can’t do what’s