Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Evans hopes to catch more than passes
ELKINS — Layne Evans hopes to one day be an agent for the FBI, deciphering criminal schemes and taking down bad guys. But for the time being Evans (5-foot10, 160-pounds) is relishing in his role as the senior captain of the Elkins Elks football team, deciphering opposing offenses and taking down ball carriers. The FBI aspirations are future goals, whereas leading his team deep into the Class 3A playoffs is priority one now. “It’s been a great season, and it really means a lot to do this our senior year,” Evans said. “We are not ready to let it end right now, so we still have business to take care of. “And being a senior, every game just means a little bit more.” The Elks (8-2) finished second in the 3A-1 Conference. They will host Fordyce (5-5) at 7 tonight at John Bunch Stadium. As the strong safety, Evans leads the team with 78 total tackles this season, including 67 solos, and three tackles for loss. He also has a team-high five fumble recoveries and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions. “Defensively, he is just so important to us because he can make plays sidelineto-sideline,” Elkins coach Chad Harbison said. “He just sees the entire field so well, usually figures out what the opposing offense is doing pretty quickly, and can make a lot of tackles at the line of scrimmage.” Harbison is also quick to point out that Evans’ strengths go much further than his physical attributes. “Above everything he does on the field for us, he is just an outstanding kid off the field, too,” he said. “Great student, great representative of our school, and just one of those guys that’s always doing something to help someone. He really is a special kid all the way around.” Evans, also the team’s leading receiver and has started on both sides of the ball for three years. He has hauled in 47 passes for 807 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has also caught 10 two-point conversions. He’s drawn some college interest with an offer on the table from Culver-Stockton College, an NAIA program in Canton, Mo. “He’s a great offensive player, but he’s even a better defensive player,” Harbison said, “That’s his real strength.” As a sophomore, Evans took the two-way role as a challenge and set out to prove himself as a competitor each game. “I feel like I have grown a lot since my sophomore year and have become a better leader,” Evans said. “I have just learned to be more vocal in getting the team motivated, and helping some of the younger guys understand their responsibilities.” Senior Easton Fields, one of Evans’ closest friends and teammates since second grade, said Evans’ work ethic is undeniable, and a motivator for the entire team. “He is one of the hardest workers on and off the field,” Fields said. “When he does something, he puts everything he has into it.”