Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
WEST FORK TIGERS
2018 RECORD 1-9, 1-6 3A-1 Conference COACH Justin Smith
RETURNING PLAYERS 7 offense, 7 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB Wayne Boyd (Sr., 6-0, 175), RB Xavier Hernandez (Sr., 5-8, 160), OL Kelton Center (Sr., 6-1 175), OL Connor McAdoo (Jr., 6-1 205), LB/RB Brennan Cash (Jr., 5-7 180), LB Dylan Byrum (Jr., 6-0 190), WR/DB Trent Hardeson (Sr., 5-6 160), OL Mason Allen (Soph., 6-1 215), OL Gage Torrey (Jr., 6-3 275),
THE SKINNY The Tigers return 14 starters from a team that snapped a 22-game losing streak with a 14-13 win over Paris in week eight last year. … But with only 22 players on the roster, depth is an issue. … There could be as many as five or six players going on both sides of ball. … Coach Justin Smith begins his second season with a program that’s won only two games in the last three years after an eight-win season in 2015. … Quarterback Wayne Boyd brings some experience, along with running back Xavier Hernandez and receiver Trent Hardeson. … Kelton Center will be a two-way guy on the line, while junior Brennan Cash, an all-conference selection, will play some tailback and linebacker. … Numbers are good in grades 7-9, and the junior high team experienced some success which could lead to a brighter future, Smith said.
COACH SPEAK “More than anything we just came into this offseason and the kids have done a great job of buying into what we’re trying to do,” Smith said. “They worked hard. They knew there was gonna be some lumps. We just had to get things fixed in the weight room, the way we practice, the way we carry ourselves. Kudos to these seniors because they’ve been on the front end of this stuff. They’re ready for a change and kinda rallied the troops and said ‘let’s go in and get this thing going.’”