BOONEVILLE BEARCATS

2018 RECORD 16-0, 7-0 3A-1 Conference

COACH Scott Hyatt

RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 5 defense

KEY PLAYERS QB Evan Schlinker (Sr., 5-10, 155), HB/LB Andrew Robertson (Sr., 5-7, 160), FB/LB Cam Brasher (Sr., 5-9, 200), DL Cort Mizell (Sr., 6-1, 230), TE/LB Anthony McKesson (Sr., 6-1, 230), RB/CB Gabe Fennell (Sr., 5-10, 160), OL Ethan Pirraglia (Sr., 6-2, 260), OL Domenic Helms (Sr., 5-10, 260)

THE SKINNY Booneville enters its 100th season of football looking to defend its state championship, the fourth in program history (2018, 2013, 2000, 1986) … Evan Schlinker took over at quarterback Week 1 last season because of an injury and tossed 14 touchdowns, a program-best in a single season … Andrew Robertson had 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground in just 95 carries and will get more touches this year … Cam Brasher leads the defense again and had a teamhigh 97 tackles last year … Gabe Fennell (25 tackles, five interceptions) is the lone returning starter in secondary … Bearcats outscored opponents by 440 points last season … Booneville’s play-making defense had 31 interceptions a year ago … The defense allowed less than 12 points per game on average in 2018 … Booneville graduated more than 12 seniors, including five all-state players, from last year’s team … The Bearcats finished second in Class 3A at the State Weight Meet in April lifting 4,605 pounds, falling just short of Rison’s 4,710 total.

COACH SPEAK “These seniors feel like it is their turn. They feel like whatever happens this year is the legacy they will be leaving. They are focused on that. We lost a lot of seniors from last year’s team. There is no substitute for that experience they had. But the expectations are always high. We want to make another deep playoff run.”

Mizell