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40SS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018 | THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE SOUTHERNERS
PHOTOS BY STACI VANDAGRIFF/THREE RIVERS EDITION
Southside Batesville senior quarterback Koby Rich, left, is chased by junior Kilynn Dugger.
Southerners expectations high, realistic for season
BY SAM PIERCE
STAFF WRITER
The Southside Batesville Southerners are once again coming off a season of firsts. After winning eight games in 2016, Southside finished last year 10-2 and 6-1 in conference. They won their first-ever 4A-2 Conference championship and hosted a state playoff game for the first time in school history.
Head coach Kenny Simpson, who is going into his eighth season, said this group of kids is excited to repeat or maybe even surpass those achievements.
“Our kids are embracing it,” he said. “They don’t fear the expectations. They have set high and realistic expectations.
“But we are trying to not put too much em- phasis on the big picture, but to put the focus on today and the moment. We want every snap to get better — whatever it takes to get better.”
Last year, Southside made it to the second round of the playoffs before losing to Arkadelphia, the eventual state champion.
SOUTHSIDE continued on 41SS
Junior wide receiver Isaac Vanhorn tries to haul in a pass during a practice.