Defensive Blackhawk football players will be under the tutelage of Lafe Caton this year.

Caton is no stranger to northwest Arkansas as he spent nine years working with coaches Ronnie Peacock and Rob Bray in Rogers before going to Nashville for one year.

A native of Inola, Okla., Caton graduated high school in 1978, earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Harding University with a minor in Bible and hismaster’s from Harding in physical education in 1983.

Caton worked as a graduate assistantat Harding 1982-1983 and served as a children’s minister 1999-2001.

Caton and his wife, Marla, have four sons- Cade, Zach, Casey and Casi - and are expecting a grandchild in July. One of his daughters-in-law, Ashton Hayes Caton, is from Garfield.

“We’re excited to have him here,” head coach Tony Travis said. “He’ll bring a ton of experience.It’s great he’ll be here for spring ball.”

Caton has taught all levels of physical education and coached both offensive and defensive. He was a defensive back while attending school at Harding and a quarterback in high school. His senior year of high school, Caton was voted offensive player of the year 1978 and was deemed the third leading scorer despite a broken arm that took him out of play. He had 14 rushing touchdowns in seven games and seven passing touchdowns in his senior year, the fall of 1977.

Caton said when he first went to Rogers, there were not many players going out for football just like Travis has faced in Pea Ridge when he had only 24 players his first year. This year, there are 60 players turning out for off-season practice.

“I hope to continue what he (Travis) has started,” Caton said. “In Rogers, the facilities weren’t that good but that came when we started getting success. It can be the same thing here. It builds excitement. Take pride in your team.

“Make the kids believe,”Caton said. “First they have to believe they deserve to win because of the way they work and take pride in the way the play and take care of the facilities, to conduct themselves in the community and become the young men we want them to be.”

Caton said involvement in extracurricular activities develops “intangibles” - learning to work together, selflessness, being part of a team and how to get back up after being knocked down.

He said he is looking forward to working with the Blackhawks.

Sports, Pages 8 on 06/01/2011