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SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018 | THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
BATESVILLE PIONEERS
Junior quarterback Tanner Pollett throws a pass off his back foot during a practice earlier this summer.
Batesville senior Bradyn Gammill moved from safety to outside linebacker this season.
PHOTOS BY STACI VANDAGRIFF/THREE RIVERS EDITION
Batesville head coach Dave King works with a group of Pioneers during a practice. Batesville finished 7-4 last season, ending the year in a three-way tie for the 5A East Conference championship.
Sophomores to play ‘big role’ for Batesville
BY SAM PIERCE
STAFF WRITER
Batesville Pioneers head football coach Dave King is not sure how many of his sophomores will start this sea- son, but having the option, thanks to
a large class, gives him hope for not only this year but the years to come.
“We have a really good sophomore class,” King said. “There are really too many to name, in fear of leaving out someone, but we have a lot of kids in our sophomore class.”
Expected to receive playing time for the Pioneers is sophomore Jarrett Vickers, who will start at inside linebacker, and twin brothers Jace and Taylor Daugherty. King said they will play on defense, and Taylor Daugherty will split time at running back as well.
Sophomore Will Storlie will play defensive back for the Pioneers, and John Todd Stalker has looked at inside linebacker and full back, the coach said.
“It is a good-size class, and it is a pretty tal- ented class,” King said. “There are probably going to be eight to 10 sophomores who are going to help us this year and in the future that we are really excited about.
BATESVILLE PIONEERS
AUG. 24 ................ @LR CHRISTIAN ACADEMY AUG. 31 .................................. @JONESBORO SEPT. 7 ............................................ SEARCY SEPT.21 ...................................NETTLETON* SEPT. 28 ................................@PARAGOULD* OCT. 5 ...................................FORREST CITY* OCT. 12 .........................................@WYNNE* OCT. 19 ................................... BLYTHEVILLE* OCT. 26 ................. @GREENE COUNTY TECH* NOV. 2 ..................................... VALLEY VIEW*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
“Maybe not many of them will start, but they will play a big role this year.”
Batesville finished 7-4 last season, ending the year in a three-way tie for the 5A East Con- ference championship between Wynne and Nettleton. The Pioneers made it to the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round by Little Rock McClellan.
King said it was the first time in a long time that Batesville had lost in the first round of the
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