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THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018
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BALD KNOB BULLDOGS
New conference offers new challenges for Bulldogs
BY KOLTON RUTHERFORD
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The 2017 Bald Knob Bulldogs experienced a mixed season in their final year as members of the Class 3A Conference, finishing 5-5 before losing to Rivercrest 34-21 in the first round of the state playoffs. Their season, characterized by impressive wins at Episcopal (44-14), Lee (44-8) and versus Rose Bud (49-6), also brought disappointing losses versus Riverview (49-13) and Mayflower (54-14). With the team moving up to the 4A-2 Conference, the pressure will be on head coach Randy Johnston and his players to cope with the increase in competition.
Johnston, a member of the Bulldogs coaching staff since 2006, has tallied a 32-23 record as the school’s head coach the past five years, with his most successful year coming in 2016. The team finished 11-2 (7-0 conference) and made it to the second round of the state playoffs.
Johnston’s experience will be critical for the Bulldogs to navigate their new conference.
“Moving up to 4A will be tough,” Johnston said. “We have a strong senior class, and if they lead the way they should, we could be very competitive this year.”
As Johnston mentioned, the team is anchored by 11 returning starters, six on offense and five on defense. Bulldogs senior quarterback Johnson Capps will run the team’s Spread offense, with the help of his senior wide receivers Blain Willard and Elias Mean. To protect Capps, the Bulldogs have two senior offensive linemen in Conner Vanoven and Austin Fisher. Johnston thinks Capps, Willard, Mean, Vanoven and Fisher can make
BALD KNOB BULLDOGS
AUG. 31 ....................................VALLEY VIEW SEPT. 7 ...........................HARDING ACADEMY SEPT. 14 ........... @HASKELL HARMONY GROVE SEPT. 21 ....................................@LR MILLS* SEPT. 28 ........................................ LONOKE* OCT. 5 .................................... @STUTTGART* OCT. 12 ...........................@HEBER SPRINGS* OCT. 19 ......................................RIVERVIEW* OCT. 26 ....... CENTRAL ARKANSAS CHRISTIAN* NOV. 2 .................. @SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
all-conference, while Willard, Vanoven and Fisher have the potential to make all-state.
Bald Knob senior linebacker Jeremy Tharp will lead the team’s 3-4 defense, while fellow senior Nick Harrell will partner with Tharp at linebacker. When Vanoven’s not on the offensive line, he’s a member of the team’s defensive line.
Despite the high number of returning start- ers, Johnston is also excited about a few new- comers, specifically sophomore running backs/ linebackers Josh Clark and Bradyn Cline, as well as fellow sophomore linebacker Michael Wingo. Johnston thinks Clark could be a po- tential all-conference pick.
In the classroom, Austin Fisher and Nick Harrell are on top, with Fisher sporting a 4.02 grade-point average.
Johnston highlighted Tharp and Fisher as potential college prospects.
While two seniors anchor Johnston’s offensive line, he noted his concern with their lack of
PHOTOS BY STACI VANDAGRIFF/THREE RIVERS EDITION
Bald Knob senior quarterback Johnson Capps, far left, looks for an angle to run during a practice.
depth across the front. Further, the unknown of playing in a new conference adds interest for the Bulldogs, but Johnston said his hope is that the team’s experience will mitigate this concern.
Bald Knob has several games to watch, including a tough early test at Harmony Grove in Week 3. The Cardinals finished 8-4 last year and appeared in the second round of the Class 3A state playoffs. In Week 6, the Bulldogs will face another tough test in a trip to Stuttgart. Like Harmony Grove, the Ricebirds finished 8-4 last
year and made an appearance in the second round of the 4A playoffs. Bald Knob rounds off the season with perhaps its toughest test. The Bulldogs will play an away game against the Batesville Southside Southerners, a team that finished 10-2 last year and made an appearance in the second round of the 4A playoffs.
Assuming that the team’s leaders do their part, Johnston said he believes the 2018 Bulldogs can be very competitive and show out in their first season in the 4A-2 Conference.
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