Experience on every level strengthens Leopards’ prospects
M alvern’s Mike Scarbrough isn’t making any excuses for the way his team finished off 2014, but the third-year coach knows just how close his team was to doing something no group of Leopards had done in two decades.
The Leopards were 48 minutes away from playing for their first state title since 2011, but 4A-7 league foe Mena ended Malvern’s season with a grueling 26-7 victory in the Class 4A
semifinals. A week before, the Leopards lost several players to injury in a 13-point, quarterfinal victory over Clinton, which may or may not have changed the Leopards’ outcome against Mena. But Scarbrough believes this year’s team has what it takes to win the program’s first state championship since 1993.
“If you’re good enough to compete for a league title in our conference, you’re good enough to compete for a state title,” Scarbrough said. “And I truly believe that this team will compete for a conference title. The kids have looked pretty good during practices.
“We saw some positives on both sides of the ball during our team scrimmage, so we’re where we want to be during this time of year.”
Malvern finished tied for second in the conference last season with Mena, going 10-4 in Scarbrough’s second year. The Leopards have six starters back on offense and defense, but the biggest asset the team has going for it may be its depth.
“We’ve got very few going both ways, which is an advantage for us,” Scarbrough said. “In Class 4A, that’s huge. Late in games, I’d much rather have fresh bodies in there than tired ones, so we’re in a pretty good spot right now.”
Quarterback Trace Collie (5-11, 160) will lead the way for the Leopards, who have reached the postseason in each of the past seven seasons. The senior passed for 2,679 yards and 29 touchdowns while also running for five scores last season.
“He’s a three-year starter for us back there,”
Scarbrough said. “He really stepped up for us last year. He made a big jump from his sophomore year to his junior year, and it showed.”
The Leopards do have to replenish their some skill positions after losing their top bigplay threats from last season, most notably running back Monte Hernandez and wide receiver Devin Bradford. Hernandez, who signed with Harding University in Searcy, had over 1,300 yards rushing last year, while Bradford, an Arkansas Baptist College signee, caught nearly 60 passes for 958 yards. Malvern also lost wide receiver Kiedrick Dickens, a Southern Arkansas University signee who hauled in 41 passes for 665 yards. The three combined for 32 touchdowns.
Scarbrough, though, has a deep stable of standouts he can rely on to help Malvern continue its consistency on offense. Senior tailback Jamari McCollum (5-6, 200) ran for 724 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014, while junior Devin Shaw (5-11, 160) added 295 yards rushing and seven scores.
“There really wasn’t a big difference between Hernandez and McCollum,” Scarbrough said. “Both of them got a ton of carries. McCollum is very explosive.”
Senior receivers Amari Reed (5-9, 175) and Derek Womack (5-6, 180) should give the Leopards the ability to stretch the field. Reed averaged 23 yards per catch last year, while Womack caught 43 passes for 454 yards and five touchdowns.
Senior two-year starter Bo Gray (6-4, 240) and junior Lacedric Ruth (6-2, 265) headline an active offensive line that helped Malvern average nearly 36 points per outing in 2014.
The Leopards’ defense should again be stout, thanks to the return of senior tackle Wendell Cooper (5-10, 235) and senior end Darien Smith (6-2, 190). Scarbrough is also high on sophomore linebacker Jordan Hart (6-0, 190), whose role will be expanded after junior Damien Blasche (5-8, 180) recently tore his ACL. Junior Brice Freer (5-10, 180) is expected to help out as well.
Juniors Jaquez Lock (5-10, 180) and Shaw return to patrol the secondary at defensive back and safety, respectively.
“We’ve got some experience at every level back,” Scarbrough said. “We’re going to count on some young guys, too. But no matter what, we’re going to have to come out and bring it every Friday night.
“In this conference, that’s a must.”