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SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018 | THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
CABOT PANTHERS
Cabot defensive coordinator Randy Black talks to his players during a short practice break. The Panthers will open the season Friday against Pine Bluff.
MARK BUFFALO/THREE RIVERS EDITION
game last year. Thurman averaged 39.1 yards per punt on 8 attempts last season.
“He does a good job of putting the ball in the end zone,” Malham said. “He’s got a strong leg.” Senior Mason Martin (5-7, 170) will handle the extra points and shorter field-goal attempts. He was 2 for 3 on field goals last year. His lon- gest was 35 yards. He also made 2 of 3 extra
points in limited duty.
“It should be pretty solid, I hope,”
Malham said.
Cabot will open the season Friday against
Pine Bluff at home. Then Cabot plays at El Dorado and Benton before returning home to host Little Rock Catholic in the 7A-Central opener Sept. 21.
Malham said this is the toughest schedule he’s had in many years, possibly the toughest in his 38 seasons.
“With the conference and the three noncon- ference games, I can’t think of any game there that you can say ‘that is a W,’” he said. “You’ve got to play every Friday night. They are all quality op- ponents. The nonconference is three of the best Class 6A teams in the state. You’ve got to play.
“There are no gimmes on the schedule.”
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them. The only thing they don’t have is that
Friday-night experience, so hopefully, they’ll get that real quick. We’ve got three games be- fore we hit conference.”
Senior Jake Freeman (5-9, 240) will start at guard.
“He was a backup last year,” Malham said.
The rest of the linemen include junior center Beau Ferguson (5-9, 220), junior guard Patrick Shirron (6-2, 245), junior tackles Koby Thompson (6-2, 225) and Forrest Chandler (5-11, 230) and junior tight end Bradley Morrow (5-10, 200).
Malham said senior transfer Lincoln Smith (5-10, 220) will be a backup for most of the interior linemen.
“He’s helped us a lot as far as depth goes,” Malham said of Smith.
“We’ve got six new starters on the offensive line and a new quarterback,” the coach said. “I feel good about where we’re at and what we could do. I think we’ll be better than we were last year, and we weren’t bad, averaging 380 yards a game.”
The Panthers continue to run the 5-2 defense.
They return two defensive tackles in juniors Hunter Horka (6-2, 235) and Hayden Matthews (6-1, 230). They have been slowed by injuries during fall camp, Malham said.
“Hopefully, they will be ready,” he said.
Senior Jack Dixon (5-10, 200) will play some on the interior defensive line, Malham said.
“Those three will probably be the best three we can put on the field,” he said.
Sophomore Chase Gibson (5-9, 210) will play some at nose guard.
Senior Jace Smith (5-9, 266) and junior Chris Swafford (5-6, 280) could figure into the mix as well, Malham said.
Juniors Logan Bell (5-10, 195) and Mason Griffin (5-9, 185) will be the defensive ends.
“Those two got some experience, so they are back,” Malham said. In addition, junior Tanner Wilson (6-1, 195) will play some at defensive end.
Cabot returns senior linebacker Luke Crumbly (6-1, 210). Crumbly led the Panthers with 128 tackles. He also had 9 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions and 3 sacks.
“Crumbly will be the only one on the field in the front seven who is a senior,” Malham said of his three-year starter.
Juniors Preston Keahi (5-10, 173) and Justin Underwood (6-0, 190) are working at the other linebacker position.
Senior Justin Holland (5-9, 171) started at linebacker last year, finishing with 106 tackles. He’s going to play strong safety this season.
“He’s not real big, but we feel he’s a good open-field tackler,” Malham said.
Senior Zhane Harper (6-0, 173) returns at free safety. He had 89 tackles, 4 interceptions and 2 caused fumbles in 2017.
“I think he’s a legitimate college prospect,” Malham said. “He can run, catch, hit. He’ll be a good one.”
Cornerbacks will be junior De’Kairo Rudolph (6-1, 180) and junior Kyle McIntire (6-0, 170).
Malham said juniors Jake Moudy (5-8, 150) and Carson Attaway (5-9, 145) will see time in the secondary.
“We are junior-heavy,” Malham said. “So whoever comes in to coach next year will have about 14 starters back.”
Malham said junior Rhett Thurman (6-1, 160) will handle the punting, kickoffs and longer field-goal attempts. He is coming off a broken leg he sustained in a junior varsity