Badgers hungry after semifinal appearance
ZACH PARKER
ARKADELPHIA — With seven straight postseason appearances, including a semifinal berth last season, Arkadelphia has become accustomed to playoff success. This year, the Badgers have their sights set on an even deeper run.
“I’m not predicting anything, but I am excited about the way our guys are getting better each day,” Arkadelphia coach J.R. Eldridge said. “I think it helps to have experience in the playoffs, but every year is a new year and we’re constantly trying to get better. I feel like we have some of the mentalities in place to be able to do well, but it still comes down to our players playing hard, executing and making the fewest mistakes. I look forward to seeing them get out there and compete every Friday night and hopefully we do make that next step.”
Arkadelphia struggled early last season, losing three of its first four games before closing the year on a two-game winning streak to finish 5-5. The Badgers then reeled off three straight playoff victories (West Helena, Fountain Lake and Dardanelle) before falling to Prairie Grove in the semifinals.
Eldridge credited the rigorous Class 4A-7 schedule for toughening the Badgers.
“I think our conference schedule had a huge part to play in our success toward the end of the year,” he said. “We ended up finishing fourth in our conference last year and we were still able to make it to the semifinals and be one of the top four teams in the state at the end of the season. Every single week it seems like we’re facing a test. You really can’t relax any week and I think that always prepares our guys for the playoffs.”
Logan Lucas takes over at quarterback after throwing two touchdown passes last year in relief of all-conference starter and Henderson State signee Jeff Blake. Eldridge expects freshman Cannon Turner to see time at quarterback as well.
“We’re looking good at quarterback,” said Eldridge. “I’m really excited about both Logan Lucas and Cannon Turner. Both of those guys have done well in training camp. Cannon’s really young but he’s got a lot of tools and he’s just a class act. They have a lot of physical tools, so we’re really excited to see what they can do this season.”
All-conference running back Tajhan McKenzie racked up 900 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground last season. Sophomore Zion Hatley joins McKenzie in the backfield after leading the junior Badgers in rushing last season.
“I feel really good about our depth at running back right now,” Eldridge said. “Tajhan is coming back and he had a great season last year and then Zion had a really good ninth-grade year as well. If we’re able to keep people healthy, I think we’ll be able to distribute the ball between those guys this year.”
Senior Shemar Dickens hauled in four touchdowns last season on just 18 catches. Senior Tunner Pentecost, junior Maddux Breashears and sophomore Javonte Brown will also see time at receiver.
The offensive line will feature some moving parts this season following the graduation of allstate guard Brannon Rodgers, a Southern Arkansas signee. Trent Keeling (5-11, 205) at center and Seth Willmon (5-11, 225) at guard return at their natural positions while Tanner Smith (6-0, 255) moves from guard to tackle and Gage Yelverton (5-11, 255) slides from tackle to guard.
JaJuan Gentry (6-3, 290), Carson Almond (5-10, 200) and Waylon Cargile (5-10, 210) split time at guard and tackle for the Badgers. Backups Cameron Porshia (5-6, 215), Christo Rivera (5-6, 210) and Richard Thomas (6-2, 265) give Eldridge one of the deepest offensive lines in the conference.
On defense, the Badgers look to continue a late-season trend of forcing turnovers, including four fumbles at Fountain Lake in the second round of the playoffs.
“We were minus 11 in the turnover margin going into week six last season, but we were able to turn that around and it really started to help us in the end,” said Eldridge. “I hope that trend