Eagles eye winning conference championship
F ourth-year Mayflower coach Todd Langrell said this could be a special year for his Eagles football team.
A year after going 6-5, the Eagles return a strong nucleus that could produce a banner season.
“The sky is the limit,” Langrell said. “The junior class and senior class are really put together. We’ve lost a few sophomores that I wish we wouldn’t have, but our junior and senior classes are really talented.”
During the 2016 campaign, the Eagles started seven sophomores. They started the nonconference season at 2-1 with wins over Perryville and Bigelow. Mayflower opened the 3A-2 Conference action with a thrilling 46-42 win over Barton, then dropped a tough one to Bald Knob before receiving a forfeit win over Rose Bud. The Eagles dropped to 4-3 on the season with a 39-22 loss to Harding Academy, then fell to Cedar Ridge 41-20.
Mayflower bounced back with wins over Little Rock Episcopal and Marianna to close out the regular season. The Eagles lost to Newport 29-8 in the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs.
“My second year here, I had 36 on the team, and for 26 of them, it was their first year to ever play high school football,” Langrell said of the 2015 season. “It was a rebuilding year. Last year, we started seven sophomores on offense and defense and went 6-4 in the regular season and got beat by a good Newport team in the first round of the playoffs.” This year’s squad has 35 players. “Right now, at Mayflower, we’ve got a lot of people specializing,” Langrell said. “I think I’ve got five baseball players on the football team. I think I’ve got two basketball players on the football team. I think I had 10 sophomores quit the first day of spring football. That is something that I have to fix. We’ve got to do a better job of bringing them through the program.”
Langrell said sometimes sophomores will quit, taking a year off because they don’t want to be part of the scout teams.
“They don’t want to bide their time,” he said. “That’s not good for anybody.”
With that said, Langrell thinks his team can make a run for the conference title.
“I think we have enough talent that we ought to compete for the conference championship,” he said. “I really do believe that. I know Bald Knob and Harding Academy are always going to be good. I think we’re to a point where we were during my first stint at Mayflower from 2000-2005. That’s when Harding got off the bus; it wasn’t already a ‘W’ for them.
“Now we’re trying to get where we are not scared. They are believing that we can play with anybody. We put our pants on just like they do.”
Langrell said he hopes the expectations aren’t too high.
“I hope we don’t look past somebody,” he said. “That is my challenge. It’s not that we’re going to go undefeated. but let’s do the little-bitty things right, and let everything take care of itself. I know it’s cliche, but that is the way I believe. Let’s win today, then go to Friday night.”
The Eagles will continue to run the Spread offense, led by junior running back Deon Simmons, who earned all-state honors a year ago.
Simmons (5-6, 155) rushed for 1,591 yards and 18 touchdowns.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete,” Langrell said of Simmons. “He’s got a great attitude. He’s
Senior quarterback Sean Harris (6-0, 200) will be a two-year starter.
“I thought, ‘He’s really come into his own,’” Langrell said of Harris.
Harris completed 101 of 189 passes for 1,172 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also scored two rushing touchdowns.
The slot back will be junior Keon Simmons (5-5, 150). He is the twin brother of Deon Simmons.
“We’ll run some jet sweeps with him,” Langrell said.
Receivers include senior Houston Cochran (5-11, 145) and junior Meshach Cole (6-1, 189).
Cole is a transfer from Conway.
“We want to play as fast as we can,” Langrell said. “It’s a learning curve for him to know what we’re going to do.”
They are backed up by sophomore Tate Langrell, who is the coach’s son, and senior Chase Brock (5-10, 149).
The offensive line will be anchored by senior three-year starting center Austin Butler (6-0, 213).
“We’ve got to have a great year out of him,” coach Todd Langrell said.
Starting tackles include junior Jordan Teas (6-2, 180) and senior Daniel Sutton (5-11, 233). Starting guards are junior Riley Naylor (5-11, 213) and sophomore Josh Christ (6-1, 193).
Langrell said senior newcomer Dalton Beals (6-2, 220) will see time at guard.
“He’s a senior that we got from baseball,” Langrell said. “It will be his first year playing. He’s potentially an all-conference player on defense.”
The Eagles will run a 3-4 alignment on defense this season.
“I think it is easier versus more formations,” Langrell said of his defense. “With the 3-4, we’re able to do some of the same throughout the year in a 3-4 versus a 4-3 or a 4-2-5. You can keep the offense on their toes or their heels.”
With the switch from a 4-2-5 to a 3-4, Langrell said, he’s sought information from Conway coach Clint Ashcraft and Morrilton coach Cody McNabb.
“They are good friends of mine, and they are 3-4 guys,” Langrell said. “They are two of the best in the state. We’re taking bits and pieces of those. That is what we’re trying to do.”
Sutton is set to start at nose guard. Beals and senior Triston Capel (6-2, 295) are set to start at defensive tackle.
The junior class and senior class are really put together. We’ve lost a few sophomores that I wish we wouldn’t have, but our junior and senior classes are really talented.” TODD LANGRELL VILONIA HEAD COACH
Outside linebackers include juniors Tyler Maxwell (6-2, 185) and K.J. Gray (5-9, 150).
Inside linebackers will be senior Turner Hudson (6-2, 157) and junior Josh Sellers (5-9, 180). Hudson is the team’s leading tackler from a year ago with 95 total tackles.
Safeties will be juniors Dylan Burnett (5-10, 178) and Drake Wilkerson.
Cornerbacks will be Keon Simmons, Cochran, Brown or Gray.
Cochran will be the kicker this season. He was 15 for 16 on extra-point attempts. He made one field goal last season.
“He’s come a long way,” Langrell said. “He’s got a little pop on it. He went to a kicking camp this year. That is something I don’t know a whole lot about. We don’t have soccer around here. I think he’ll be a threat when he gets his leg a little bit stronger.”
The Eagles opened the season against Central Arkansas Christian. They also play Bigelow and Perryville in nonconference play before hosting Barton in the conference opener Sept. 22.
Langrell said he’s using the first three games as a way to see where his team is before starting conference play.
“Let’s identify who our No. 1s and No. 2s are, and who we can count on if something happens, and gain some depth in those games,” he said.