El Dorado set to take on Little Rock Hall
There have been talk of teams limping into the playoffs. El Dorado wishes that could be said this year as the Wildcats go into tonight’s regular-season finale with a lot more question marks than exclamation points on the depth chart.
El Dorado coach Scott Reed rattled off the names of six players who won’t play tonight at Little Rock Hall, including the No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks on the depth chart.
Alex Hicks missed last week’s 21-19 loss to Russellville with a rib injury. Stuart Bower, who started against the Cyclones, injured his knee in a non-contact injury after Monday’s practice.
On Thursday, Reed said both are out for the remainder of the season.
In addition, Reed said receiver Steven Tollette broke his collarbone and is out for the season. Hunter Dear, another receiver, is out along with defensive tackles Braden Cook and Jamal Boone.
Always a glass half-full kind of guy, Reed began the depth chart discussion with, “I think we’re going to get Shun (Levingston) back. He’s been O.K., this week in practice.”
Senior Wanya Frazier, who played quarterback for the Wildcats during a 7-on-7 competition over the summer, will get his first varsity action at the position tonight. Frazier played JV quarterback some as a junior.
Reed described Frazier as more of a passer than runner and said the offense won’t change much from last week. As far as the team is concerned, he said it’s
business as usual
“Honestly, this group is so resilient. I think they’ve been through so much,” said Reed. “They’re happy we’re going to get Shun back and hopefully the defensive ends will be back. Practice was good, very good. Our kids are dealing with it fine. The seniors want a home playoff game. That means we have to go out and take care of business.”
A win over the Warriors should secure a four seed and at least one home playoff game. If Siloam Springs could upset Russellville, a three seed wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility.
But, El Dorado, at 4-5, 3-3, won’t be doing any scoreboard watching around the league. Hall should have the Wildcats’ undivided attention.
The Warriors have struggled to a 1-8 campaign. Hall beat Little Rock Mills 14-7 in Week 2 after opening with a 36-26 loss to J.A. Fair. The other losses were to Jacksonville (6-0 in OT), Greenwood (41-6), Lake Hamilton (42-6), Benton (49-0), Sheridan (48-8), Russellville (480) and Siloam Springs (49-8).
“They have some good athletes. They just don’t have a lot,” Reed said of the Warriors. “Their record is what it is. The main thing is we get ours on track and get into the postseason in the right frame of mind.”
Traditionally a basketball powerhouse, Hall features athletic players at the skill positions.
“They’ll be in the gun, spread you out on offense with four wide. Defensively, they base out of a 4-3, even front. They’re four down on every snap with cover two, two high safeties,” Reed said.
“The new coach there is doing a good job. He’s putting a system in. It just takes awhile. I’m more worried about us. It’s important for us to play well this Friday. We need a boost. I think that will really help us.”
Defensively, the Wildcats played well last week and expect defensive ends Jacoby Hankton and Quentin Frazier to get back on the field.
“After watching Friday, I was pleased with our team. For being shorthanded, I thought we should have won. I thought we outplayed Russellville. We gave up a special teams touchdown, which you can’t do. And, we missed some points we should’ve had in the kicking game,” said Reed. “We were already out our two most productive offensive skill players. And then, we lost Tollette late in the game, too. Yet, they still continued to play hard. Especially after being down 14-0 at the half. I thought the defense played better.”
Without Hicks and Levingston last week, tailback Keonte Larry shouldered a load on offense. Reed said other players will have to follow his lead and grab a little bit extra down the stretch.
“We told him last week his carries were going to go up. He did a tremendous job. He did a good job with the ball. Keonte got tired. We had to rest him some in the second half but that’s normal for a guy that runs and plays as hard as he does. I think his production has been awesome,” said Reed. “And, I thought Yarbrough did, too, when he went in.
“We may have some kids go both ways some in certain situations. That’s just where we are. But, there is not a morale issue at all. I think this group thinks we’ll win every Friday from now on, which is awesome.”