A new head coach in Stephen Neal and a new opponent in the Booneville Bearcats will usher in the 2016 varsity football season as the kickoff is set to take place two days hence.
Replacing the Paris Eagles on the Blackhawks' non-conference schedule, the Bearcats bring a rich tradition of winning football. Booneville claimed a 4A state championship a scant three years ago and has the enviable record of averaging more than 10 victories a year from 2009 through 2014. In contrast, the 'Hawks have won 10 games or more just three times in school history, albeit those seasons were recently recorded in 2012, 2014 and 2015.
Booneville head coach Scott Hyatt has a remarkable record of 84-26 as the Bearcats' head coach. Booneville has recorded 61 victories in playoff games in their history with Pea Ridge having only eight such wins in their ledger.
Of course, while history is interesting and can be used sometimes to project future success, the most recent football outcomes would seem to heavily favor the Blackhawks in this encounter.
The Bearcats are coming off one of their worst seasons ever, winning just four games in 2015. During that same time, Pea Ridge had their best season ever, picking up 11 wins on their way to a third place final state ranking in the 4A classification.
Defensive stats from a year ago also paint a rosy picture for the gridiron 'Hawks in their first meeting with the 4A-4 squad. Pea Ridge allowed 17 points per game in 2015 with Booneville uncharacteristically surrendering more than 35 points per game. Both teams return the same number of starters overall but the size factor will also favor the home boys.
The Booneville boys can be referred to as the attack of the 5-9ers with most of the their skill players being 5'9" in height. Veteran quarterback Hayden Fennell is 5'9", 140 lbs., with their fullback Caleb Draper coming in at 5'9", 195 lbs., and the likely tailback Grant Rodantz checking in at 5'9", 215 lbs. Fennell will be taking snaps from center Sammy Haynes, 5'9", 230 lbs., and Fennell's top passing target is likely to be receiver Brady Brasher, 5'9", 215 lbs.
There is a senior lineman, Isaiah Hattabaugh who checks in at 6'3" and 275 pounds, and their tight end Justin Moore is 6'1" and 180 but the vast majority of the squad is under 6 feet.
However short in stature Booneville may be, they might make up for it in sheer strength. The squad prides itself in upper body strength and quite a few of the Bearcats can bench press 300 pounds or more. Recalling the 5-9 running attack the Kansas City Chiefs successfully employed in the NFL a few years ago, being short isn't necessarily a hopeless situation.
Booneville has coming up players who have won the last two junior high district championships. Last year's 4-7 season may prove to be just an aberration on their long-standing resume.
However, after going through all the stats and opinions of others, I have to give the 'Hawks a heavy edge to open the 2016 season with a victory.
The class of 2017 has been gearing up for this year since they were in junior high. Up to now, they have been the most athletic class to come through Pea Ridge in terms of numbers of talented athletes. The junior class has quite a few talented athletes as does the sophomore group, so not only do the 'Hawks have a big roster, there is a depth of talent that is impressive as well.
The biggest statistic that might play out in the game Friday is depth. Pea Ridge is enjoying their deepest squad ever with more than 80 going through drills at one time. The Bearcats have a 36-man roster and quite a few of their offensive skill players will have to stay on the field playing defense when they don't have the ball. Often a rested good player can beat a tired star.
You know, sometimes the best teams don't win, especially if the best team doesn't prepare or doesn't take its opponent seriously. With the deeper, success oriented coaching staff the 'Hawks have in place this year, that pitfall likely won't be an issue.
Kickoff comes at 7 p.m. Friday. Come and see what might be the beginning of a whale of a season.
Sports on 08/31/2016