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SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018 | THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
JACKSONVILLE TITANS
Titans look to improve on last year’s playoff spot
BY MARK BUFFALO
STAFF WRITER
While the Jacksonville Titans didn’t have an ideal season in 2017, they still finished sixth in the highly competitive 6A-East and qualified for the state playoffs for the first time in three seasons and the second under fifth-year coach Barry Hickingbotham.
“We’re excited for the opportunity,” Hickingbotham said.
Jacksonville’s three wins, including two confer- ence victories, came over Little Rock Mills 25-21, Mountain Home 14-10 and Little Rock Hall 38-6.
The Titans lost to Benton 42-0 in the first round of the Class 6A state playoffs.
“We were a much-improved football team last year, but we still have a long way to go,” Hickingbotham said. “The kids had a better understanding of what we were asking them to do. Our kids competed week in and week out,
JACKSONVILLE TITANS
AUG. 31 ......................................... LR MILLS SEPT. 7 .................................. @LR CATHOLIC SEPT. 14 .......................................... LR HALL SEPT. 21 ......................................@SEARCY* SEPT. 28 .................................. JONESBORO* OCT. 5 ............................ @MOUNTAIN HOME* OCT. 12 ..................................SYLVAN HILLS* OCT. 19 .............................. WEST MEMPHIS* OCT. 26 ....................................... @MARION* NOV. 1 .................................... @PINE BLUFF*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
and we were in position to win several games in the fourth quarter but fell just short.
“We made the playoffs. That was a step in the right direction for us, but I felt like we got better each Friday night, and that was a positive last year.”
Hickingbotham said the players competed for four quarters in 2017.
“They gave us all they’ve got,” he said. “That’s where we’re trying to get this program to where we can lay it all out there. When you have an effort like that, at the end of the game, you may glance up there at the scoreboard. If you gave it all you’ve got, we’re satisfied.”
Hickingbotham said if his team gets better execution, then things could turn around.
“I feel if we would have executed a few more plays on each side of the ball, we could have won five or six games easily,” he said. “However, we didn’t, and those are the things that we are preaching to our kids now. We definitely have to improve to make the playoffs this year.”
Hickingbotham said he has several key players returning this year, including senior defensive end Marquez Casey (6-3, 240), senior linebacker Tre Newson (5-11, 170), senior receiver Jordan Johnson (6-3, 178), junior receiver Braylon Mosby (5-6, 115) and senior quarterback Shavarris Curley (6-0, 170).
“There are some question marks as far as quarterback play,” Hickingbotham said of Curley.
“He played some last year. This year, he’ll be in the lead role. In making the adjustments to lead the football team, he’s doing great in the early training period. It’s hard to register it all until you get out under those lights on a Friday night.”
Hickingbotham said projected starters on the offensive line include senior tackle Taylor Porter (6-4, 220), sophomore guard Ryan Ready (5-9, 216), sophomore center Keon Logan, senior guard Kalon McCoy (5-10, 230) and sophomore tackle Ty Martin (6-3, 250).
Curley will start at quarterback for the second consecutive season. Receivers include Johnson, Mosby, senior Mason Wallace (5-8, 175), sophomore Webster Banks, sophomore John Van Brocklin (6-0, 160) and Newson.
Hickingbotham lists a host of running backs, including sophomore Devin Fordson (5-10, 185), senior Isaac Johnson (5-9, 174), senior Isaac Whitney, senior Jacob Perry (5-9, 170), senior Andrew Atchley (5-9, 190), junior
JACKSONVILLE continued on 5SS
Senior defensive tackle Jaylin Swain runs at a blocking sled during a practice earlier this month.
PHOTOS BY MARK BUFFALO/THREE RIVERS EDITION
Jacksonville sophomore linebacker Garrett Henderson develops his footwork during a drill. Jacksonville qualified for the state playoffs for the first time in three years last season.