Page 39 - Demo

THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018
39SS
HEBER SPRINGS PANTHERS
PHOTOS BY STACI VANDAGRIFF/THREE RIVERS EDITION
Junior quarterback Adam Martin, left, throws a pass under pressure during a practice.
HEBER SPRINGS continued from 38SS
started 14 consecutive games, Gowen said. Last season, Martin hit 121 of 196 passes (62 per- cent) for 1,752 yards and 12 touchdowns and ran for 343 yards and 6 TDs.
Junior running back/linebacker Landon Johnson is the leading returning tackler, after notching more than 100 as a sophomore. The coach said junior offensive lineman Harley Hannah (6-2, 250) started every game at center last year, and junior linebacker Fate Berry (6-1, 160) returns at outside linebacker after starting every game there as a sophomore.
Gowen said he expects senior running back/defensive back Alex Bryant (5-10, 185) to provide depth on offense and in the secondary after missing his junior year. Sophomore wide receiver/defensive back Matthew Cook (5-9, 145) will compete for a starting spot in the secondary, the coach said.
Gowen said he expects the same triumvirate atop the 4A-2 this fall, with Stuttgart, Southside
Batesville and Heber Springs to contend for the title and reach the playoffs again. The Panthers are predicted to finish third in the league, ac- cording to a statewide publication’s preseason poll of league coaches.
After the Arkansas Activities Association’s reclassification and realignment cycle, the conference looks a bit different this fall. Lonoke, Stuttgart, CAC, Southside Batesville and Riverview join Heber Springs again, but Helena-West Helena and Baptist Prep move, the Cougars to the 4A-8 and the Eagles to the 3A-4. Replacing them will be Little Rock Mills, which drops from the 5A-Central, and Bald Knob, which moves up from the 3A-2.
The Panthers will open the season at Clinton on Aug. 31. Their nonconference schedule also includes Greenbrier and a road trip to Harding Academy.
After a 1-5 nonconference record the past two seasons, they’ll be aiming for improvement there, but it’s hard to argue with the way they’ve finished.
Junior running back Julio Rubio tries to avoid being tackled.
Heber Springs junior Landon Johnson makes a catch during a practice.
Heber Springs head coach Darren Gowen watches his team during a light scrimmage.
Heber Springs senior wide receiver and running back Dalton Hall, No. 23, gets a key block from junior Cameron Blalock, No. 16, and senior Blaze Nelson.