Page 18 - Demo

SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 2, 2018 | TRI-LAKES EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
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LITTLE ROCK MCCLELLAN CRIMSON LIONS
McClellan hungry for state-championship win
BY SAM PIERCE
STAFF WRITER
Little Rock McClellan made it to the Class 5A state-championship game in 2015 and 2017 but came up short both times. Last year, McClellan had a
13-point lead in the second half but ended up losing by a point to Pulaski Academy.
“We didn’t finish that ballgame. We’ve got to finish,” head coach Maurice Moody said. “We want to be hungrier and playing for a state championship.
“It has brought back excitement to this com- munity, and we want to finish that thing off this year.”
Other goals for the Crimson Lions include winning a conference championship, finishing as the top defense in the state and having one of the highest-scoring offenses. Moody said he also wants to be at the top when it comes to forcing turnovers.
“But our No. 1 goal is to win a state cham- pionship,” he said. “That’s what we play for. That’s what we coach for. If we aren’t try- ing to achieve that, then we are in it for the wrong thing.”
McClellan opened the season with a 55-0 win over Class 3A Dollarway on Aug. 31. Moody said the Lions forced at least three turn- overs on defense, including a scoop and score.
“Anytime you can shut out an opponent, it is a good way to start the season,” Moody said. “Dollarway has some good athletes, and they will get better each week.
“I was pleased to get a victory. Dollarway (under first-year head coach Martese Henry) has a good group of guys, and Coach has done a fabulous job with them. They are only going to get better. They have a ton of athletes. He will get it going in the right direction.”
Moody said he was pleased for the most part, but there were still some areas that needed to be cleaned up a little bit.
“We were able to move the ball effectively, but we turned it over a couple of times, too,” Moody said.
Leading the charge offensively for the Li- ons this year at quarterback will be seniors Jaylon Williams and Xavion Morgan, as Moody is implementing a two-quarterback system. He said Morgan is better out of the Spread and has a good arm, while Williams is more of an option-style quarterback and a good downhill runner.
PHOTOS BY JUSTIN MANNING/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Little Rock McClellan running back Xavion Morgan runs the ball against Little Rock Central at Quigley Stadium in Little Rock.
“We want to give both those guys a chance to showcase their talent,” Moody said. “I don’t know if we still stick to it for the whole season. It just depends on who can take control of the team and prove to me which one is better than the other.
“We will run multiple sets until one of those guys can take the lead.”
McClellan, which finished 10-4 last year, will utilize multiple running backs this year, includ- ing junior Jeremiah Aikins, senior Derrick Lloyd and sophomore Josiah Johnson, the coach said. Senior Jamari Edmondson and junior Brandon Williams will start at wide receiver.
Moody said one of the team’s biggest strength this season is the offensive line. He said the Lions are extremely strong up front, and all of them are juniors, so they will be com- ing back for another season.
Junior Kendall Woods (5-9, 260) anchors both sides of the ball, while junior Deshuan Alexander (5-10, 290) starts at right guard, the coach said. Junior Erick Jenkins (6-4, 240) starts at right tackle and plays defense as well. Senior Tarious Morgan (6-11, 295) plays de- fensive tackle and left guard, while junior Caleb Wide starts at left tackle.
Little Rock McClellan head coach Maurice Moody, left, and his fellow coaches talk with his players during a game against Little Rock Central.
LR MCCLELLAN CRIMSON LIONS
AUG. 20 ..................................... DOLLARWAY SEPT. 7 ....................................SYLVAN HILLS SEPT. 14 ........................................ @LR FAIR SEPT. 21 ............................. @HOT SPRINGS* SEPT. 28 .....................................DE QUEEN* OCT. 5 ................................................HOPE* OCT. 12 ................................... @ARKANSAS* OCT. 19 .................................... @MAGNOLIA* OCT. 26 .................. HOT SPRINGS LAKESIDE* NOV. 2 .......................... @CAMDEN FAIRVIEW*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
Defensively, Moody preaches turnovers, running to the football and gang tackling.
“We want to have one of the best defenses in the state, and to do that, we have to have some shutouts and some turnovers and be great open-field tacklers,” Moody said. “We were able to achieve all that against Dollarway.
“We feel really good defensively. We are in a really good spot. This group can make plays. ... We really like this group of kids.”
Little Rock McClellan offensive lineman Tarious Morgan guards against Little Rock Central.