Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
CLARKSVILLE PANTHERS
2018 RECORD 2-8, 1-6 5A-West Conference COACH Khris Buckner
RETURNING STARTERS 9 offense, 8 defense
KEY PLAYERS HB Nick Buckner (Sr., 6-2, 200), HB Bryce Buckner (So., 6-0, 230), HB Jamie White (Sr., 5-8, 170), OL Michael Powell (Sr., 6-4, 310), WR Jace Donaldson (Sr., 5-10, 160), LB Eduardo Almaraz (Sr., 6-2, 190), OL Joseph Ayers (Sr., 6-3, 310).
THE SKINNY This is the season fourth-year coach Khris Buckner has been pointing toward with almost two dozen seniors and an infusion of younger players from a successful junior high program. … Senior Nick Buckner is healthy after missing time last season with a leg injury. The halfback triggerman in Clarksville’s single-wing attack is a playmaker. … Sophomore Bryce Buckner was thrust into the lineup last season after injuries hampered the Panthers. It was baptism by fire as he learned on the run. … Senior Jamie White is another backfield threat who accounted for more than 800 yards of offense last season. … Michael Powell is a dominating presence on the offensive line at 6-4, 310 pounds. … Senior linebacker Eduardo Almaraz powers the defense after piling up 91 tackles a year ago. He also had almost a dozen tackles-for-loss. … The Panthers will find out quickly if they are ready to make a move as defending Class 3A state champion Booneville makes a trip up to Johnson County to start the season.
COACH SPEAK “We’re excited. We’ve got 20 seniors, which is the most we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Buckner said. “A lot of this group has started since they were sophomores, and it’s a really good core group that has been working hard all offseason and in the spring. Our freshman team last year was solid, and they are moving up and will give us some depth that we have not had. We’re just a lot stronger.”