HEBERSPRINGS
In 2016, Heber Springs overcame a 0-3 start to earn a share of the 4A-2 Conference title, the school’s first since 2011 and just the third conference championship in 37 years. In 2017, the Panthers again started slowly — 0-2 — but won six of their final seven to tie Stuttgart and Southside Batesville for another conference crown. In 2018, with seven starters back to run the Spread offense and six back for the odd-front defensive scheme, a three-peat is possible. A third consecutive conference title would be a school record. “We return four offensive linemen, our quarterback and running backs and our kicker,” said Darren Gowen, 19-15 overall starting his fourth season with the Panthers. “But our weakness will be [lack of] experience on the D-line and at the safety spots.” Last year, the Panthers lost their opener to Clinton, 28-17, then fell at Class 5A Greenbrier, 34-21, before finding their feet for wins over Harding Academy, 35-15; and Lonoke, 41-22, in their 4A-2 Conference opener. They then fell to Stuttgart, 20-7, before reeling off six consecutive wins. They finished the conference schedule with victories over Central Arkansas Christian, 31-28; Baptist Prep, 35-6; Southside Batesville, 17-14; Riverview, 23-14; and HelenaWest Helena Central, 21-6, to clinch the threeway tie for the conference title. As the third seed for the playoffs, the Panthers survived a shootout with Gravette, third from the 4A-1, in the opening round, 49-46, before falling to Gosnell, top seed from the 4A-3, 35-7, in the second round. The Panthers finished the year 8-4, tying their most wins since 11 in 2011. Senior running back/linebacker Blaze Nelson (5-11, 195) leads the returners for 2018. He led the 2017 Panthers in rushing (723 yards on 140 carries) and touchdowns (11), was third in tackles (70-plus) and caught 13 passes for 112 yards. Gowen said Nelson is a college prospect. Another potential college player is senior kicker Julian Cameron (5-11, 175), the coach said. Cameron was perfect on 36 points after touchdown last season and made 8 of 10 fieldgoal attempts, with a long of 40 yards. Senior wide receiver/defensive back Rocky Finney (6-2, 175) averaged 16.9 yards per catch (30 catches for 507 yards and 4 touchdowns) as a junior. Junior Adam Martin (5-11, 180) returns with lots of experience at quarterback, having started 14 consecutive games, Gowen said. Last season, Martin hit 121 of 196 passes (62 percent) for 1,752 yards and 12 touchdowns and ran for 343 yards and 6 TDs. Junior running back/linebacker Landon Johnson is the leading returning tackler, after notching more than 100 as a sophomore. The coach said junior offensive lineman Harley Hannah (6-2, 250) started every game at center last year, and junior linebacker Fate Berry (6-1, 160) returns at outside linebacker after starting every game there as a sophomore. Gowen said he expects senior running back/defensive back Alex Bryant (5-10, 185) to provide depth on offense and in the secondary after missing his junior year. Sophomore wide receiver/defensive back Matthew Cook (5-9, 145) will compete for a starting spot in the secondary, the coach said. Gowen said he expects the same triumvirate atop the 4A-2 this fall, with Stuttgart, Southside Batesville and Heber Springs to contend for the title and reach the playoffs again. The Panthers are predicted to finish third in the league, according to a statewide publication’s preseason poll of league coaches. After the Arkansas Activities Association’s reclassification and realignment cycle, the conference looks a bit different this fall. Lonoke, Stuttgart, CAC, Southside Batesville and Riverview join Heber Springs again, but Helena-West Helena and Baptist Prep move, the Cougars to the 4A-8 and the Eagles to the 3A-4. Replacing them will be Little Rock Mills, which drops from the 5A-Central, and Bald Knob, which moves up from the 3A-2. The Panthers will open the season at Clinton on Aug. 31. Their nonconference schedule also includes Greenbrier and a road trip to Harding Academy. After a 1-5 nonconference record the past two seasons, they’ll be aiming for improvement there, but it’s hard to argue with the way they’ve finished.