Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE GRIZZLIES
2018 RECORD 8-5, 3-4 7A Central Conference COACH Mike Falleur
RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 7 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB Dreyden Norwood (Jr., 6-1, 180), ATH Jackson King (Sr., 5-9, 180), WR/DB J.T. Thorne (Sr., 5-9, 170), TE James Clayton (Sr., 6-2, 230), LB Stetson Van Metre (Sr., 6-1, 200), LB J.J. Mills (Sr., 6-0, 180), DB Montay Parks (Sr., 6-1, 185), OL Jacob Arnold (Sr., 6-1, 215).
THE SKINNY The Grizzlies enter the season coming off their first deep playoff run in more than a decade after advancing to the state semifinals last season. … Northside graduated a number of outstanding players from last year’s team, but coach Mike Falleur believes there is plenty of talent returning to make another deep run. … Junior Dreyden Norwood takes over at quarterback. Norwood is more of a runner, but his passing has improved, Falleur said. … Northside has plenty of playmakers in Jackson King, J.T. Thorne and Demarion Shepard, and Falleur said they are itching at the chance to show what they can do. … Northside handed Greenwood its only loss last season, and they meet again in the season opener. The Grizzlies open 7A-Central Conference play at home on Sept. 27 against defending state champion Bryant in Mayo-Thompson Stadium.
COACH SPEAK “We lost some really good players last year. Six of them are playing college football,” Falleur said. “So we’ve got young guys ready to step in. You never know until you tee it up and play, but we had a good summer and now we’ve just got to get them in shape and were where we are. We feel good about our quarterback. His skill set is similar to Deuce Wise, but I think Drayden has a little stronger arm. The thing about Deuce is he did everything the right way, and Drayden is still learning that.”