Eagles look forward, not at winless season
After going 0-10 last year, Cutter Morning Star is looking ahead rather than behind.
“We’re not talking about last year hardly at all,” coach T.C. Shamel said. “Been there, done that and it’s over with. We’ve got some new players in and (while) our numbers are still low, the guys we have out there are good football players and good students. We’ve put last year behind us and we’re moving forward with 2016.”
Hayden Gray takes over at quarterback after starring at receiver last year, Shamel pleased with the senior’s progress in learning the new position.
“We’re very excited about him this season,” said Shamel. “He had a very efficient and effective summer with 7 on 7 and team practices. He’s finding his targets and he’s starting to get that (comfort zone) that he needs in there. I think it’s going to be a good transition for him.”
Gray will be aided by a stable of playmakers at the skill positions, where the Eagles actually have some depth. Junior Emilio Artega and sophomore Dakota Lepitre give CMS a one-two punch at the running-back position while Tae Blevins, J.D. Mace and Austin McKinney provide multiple options receiving.
Shamel is optimistic that the combination of Gray and the talent on the outside will provide a spark to an offense that averaged just eight points per game last season.
“Hayden doesn’t have to concentrate on just one guy and the opposing defense doesn’t get to focus on just one guy,” he said. “This is the first time since I’ve been here that we’ve been this deep at skill positions. This year we’re going to be able to rotate some guys in and out. The first four that are out there may start the game but then could be out the very next play.”
Losing All-Garland County performers Darren Guillot and Brett Shelton put a dent in the offensive line, although multiple starters return. Senior Daniel Kimpton (5-10, 220) is a two-year starter at guard while juniors Austin Price (6-2, 220) and Lester Menjivar (5-10, 190) also return. Seniors Payton Brewer (6-1, 225) and Cole Sorrells (6-1, 220) round out the offensive line.
Still, Shamel wasn’t prepared to call the O-line a team strength, citing a lack of quality backups and the inability to give the starters a breather.
“We do have multiple returning starters … and we feel great about those guys up front, but we only have five linemen and no backups,” Shamel said. “In a pinch, some of our bigger receivers may have to go in and play guard for us. I would feel much better about our line if we were able to give those guys a break from time to time, but right now we just don’t have the numbers. They’ll do a good job, but they’re going to get winded as the game goes along.”
The offensive linemen also anchor the defensive line for the Eagles. Mejivar returns at noseguard while Daniel Kimpton and Brewer handle the tackle positions along with Sorrells.
Gone is the graduated Shelton, son of defensive coordinator Mark Shelton, who tallied more than 100 tackles last season.
“It will be a huge loss for our defense, but that just means somebody else has to step up like he did,” said Shamel. “He had never played linebacker before last year when we moved him over and he came in and had 100 tackles. We’re hoping we get that same transformation with some of these younger kids this season. We’ve got some guys that we feel capable of doing that for us.”
Artega is the lone returning starter at linebacker while Price takes over in Shelton’s abscence. James Butler and Dakota Lepitre will split time at the other linebacker position.
The secondary will also feature new faces. Gray returns at safety and is surrounded by Mace and Blevins at cornerback while Michael Kimpton and Jason Lepitre should see more playing time after reserve roles last season.
With the addition of Hector, the road back to relevance for CMS has gotten significantly are harder in a conference previously considered one of the weakest in the state. The Wildcats, threetime defending 2A-4 champions, join 2A-5 this season, Mountain Pine moving to 2A-7.
”Hooten’s (Arkansas Football) pegged us as the hardest conference in 2A and I agree with them,” Shamel said. “Even with us being more competitive this year, we have Conway Christian, England, Magnet Cove, Poyen and we added Hector this year. It’s going to be a battle every single Friday in this conference. It feels like the SEC West honestly.”
The Eagles host Mountain Pine in Sept. 9.
“If we can keep everybody healthy, we think we have a chance to do some things and surprise some people,” said Shamel. “We’re a lot more excited right now than we were this time last year.” their season opener on