Offensive line key to Sand Lizards’ success
The Dardanelle Sand Lizards’ greatest weakness could be their key to success this year.
Coach Phil Vega said the offensive line is unproven, but figuring out a combination that works could propel the team deep into the playoffs.
The 4A-4 team went 10-3 last year and was conference champion, getting beat in the third round of the playoffs by Shiloh Christian.
“We lost three starters up front on the offensive line; we’re replacing them with a guy who was a backup and sophomores here and there,” Vega said.
His returning starters are strong, he said. Those include senior quarterback Elyas Carter, a three-year starter.
“He’s only getting better with maturity and experience both; I really look forward to him having a big year this year. … He’s always one of our team captains that’s elected by our players,” Vega said.
Another weapon in the Sand Lizards’ arsenal is 5-6, 200-pound senior Tate Vestal, an all-state linebacker and team captain.
“Tate is maybe the hardest-working kid in the state of Arkansas. He is very undersized for what we ask him to do, but he plays with tremendous effort and heart,” Vega said.
Junior Caynan Taylor is back on the field as a free safety and wide receiver.
“He’s probably our biggest playmaker,” Vega said. “He’s our fastest football player; he’s got very good hands, elusive speed. He’s good on both sides of the ball.”
Senior Carter Chandler plays receiver and outside linebacker, and he was also voted a team captain.
“He’s a very smart football player — he’s my most heady defensive football player,” the coach said. “I ask a lot out of that position.” Senior Temo Martinez is back as kicker. “He is, in my opinion — of course, I’m biased — one of the top kickers in the state,” Vega said. “Martinez has converted 66 of 66 extra points and is 10 of 16 on field goals with a long of 49 yards.
“He’s pretty good. He’s an outstanding soccer player.”
Other starters include seniors Jose Perez, returning receiver and defensive back; Chase Hickey, who plays offensive and defensive line; and junior Brock Finkenbinder, who plays defensive end and tight end. The team has 13 seniors this year, after having 14 on the squad in 2016.
The Sand Lizards run a multiple offense and a 5-2-4 defensive formation.
Vega, who is in his 13th season with the Sand Lizards — his second year as head coach — said the team beat expectations last year.
“I thought for sure last season we overachieved. I believe that group was not expected to do as well as they did, especially having lost as many good football players the previous two years. That group last year really played the whole season with a chip on their shoulder and was set to prove everybody wrong and did that with flying colors,” the coach said.
Dardanelle lost “right out of the gate” to Charleston at Charleston.
“We turned around and beat Paris and Clarksville handily,” Vega said. “Then we go to Dover, first conference game, our only conference loss, 41-36.”
Some people lost faith, he said, but the players gained perspective.
“The kids learned they weren’t invincible,” Vega said. “After that game, we rallied the troops. We went to Pottsville and beat them.”
The Sand Lizards kept winning. In Week 8, the team had a home game with Booneville, typically one of the better teams in the conference.
“We beat them 17-7, and everyone realized at that point, ‘ Hey, this group is a pretty good football team.’ I was very proud of this group and pleased with their efforts. That’s why they won — because of effort,” he said.
Vega expects to see that kind of effort this season, too. He said a key game is the Dover game Sept. 22.
“It’s our first conference game. When you start conference play, you always want to sit in the driver’s seat and be 1-0,” he said.
The team’s strength is “our skill kids.” “We return all our skill kids, except our tailback, from last year. We replaced that tailback with a sophomore, Blake Chambers, a pretty good little football player,” the coach said. He said Chambers scored five touchdowns the last four games of the season.
“He got experience last year,” Vega said. And that untried offensive line?
“I feel like if we can figure out our offensive line … and get that straightened out, the sky’s the limit as far as being conference champion again and making a deep run in the playoffs,” he said.