Hornets coach Bennett inherits senior-laden team
MINERAL SPRINGS, Ark.— David Bennett looks to bring over three decades of football head coaching experience to Mineral Springs in his first year. Bennett will implement his version of the spread offense as well as coming out of the I-formation.
“We have a big senior group and there is some potential with those guys,” Mineral Springs head football coach David Bennett. “We’ve had a busy summer, so if the guys are able to gel and mesh once the season is here, the sky is the limit.”
“We’ve improved week to week. Mineral Springs has traditionally had some good teams and I don’t think this year will be any different. The kids have really responded well to the different offenses that we’ve put them in, so we’re going to go with what we have to play to our strengths.”
Senior Octavion Ceasar (5-11, 150) and junior Peyton Haddan (6-1, 170) will handle the quarterbacking duties, with the competition so close, Bennett was unable to name a Week 1 starter.
“Both of those guys have played quarterback for us here in the past. Octavion has more experience in the game but both have responded well with everything that was thrown at them this summer,” Bennett said.
“Whoever has the hot hand is the one we will probably go with. We try to divide up our spread and I-formations, so it’ll be 50-50 or 60-40 this season for us.”
The Hornets possess depth at the runningback position as well.
Seniors Rickey Walker (6-0, 225) and Deshawn Compton will tote the rock for Mineral Springs this fall.
“All of our backs have decent speed,” Bennett said. “We feel like we have some backs that we can run right at people or also get outside if we have to. In the past few years, we haven’t been a heavy threat running. It’s been full on spread, so it’s a change of pace for the kids.”
“We have speed to where we can spread people out if we need to during the course of a ballgame.”
Senior Raheem Brown will play tight-end for Mineral Springs.
“Raheem does a lot for us offensively. He does a great job of run blocking and pass catching for us. You can also spread him out in the formation, because he has such great speed,” Bennett said.
Seniors Jammey Reese (6-3, 230), Donterrius Alexander (6-1, 200) and junior Clayon Spigner (5-8) will return with varsity experience to lead the Hornets offensive line this season.
“Our numbers up front are thin, but our guys really play well,” Bennett said. ““We’ve been going through phases with our offensive line this summer because they are being asked to trap and pull from the guard position for the first time.”
“They have caught on really quick. At first, we were having some bumps but the kids have really responded well to the new terminology and understanding what we want them to do.”
Brown, Walker, Alexander will have to go both ways for the Hornets in 2017.
“Our defensive line could possibly be one of the best,”Bennett said. We have a bunch of speed and quickness coming off the ball, which should give opponents fits this upcoming season.”
Antonio Alexander, Tahji Beal, Ceasar and Compton will handle the linebacking duties for Bennett on the Hornets defense.
Cameron Lee, Brayden Wilson, Traylin Thomas, William Dixon and Khalil Williams will roam the Mineral Springs secondary in 2017.
“We’ll probably have to play a bunch of kids both ways but we have some kids that can come in and substitute,” Bennett said. “Technique wise, we should be fine. We have put together an extremely athletic defensive lineup. The key is to play tougher competition, to get us better for our conference play.
“As the season goes along, I think these guys are going to be pretty good.”