Talented, experienced Knights start season early

BOB WISENER

After football and basketball seasons beyond their dreams, Centerpoint teams are getting statewide attention.

A football opener on a Monday night in August is new for the Knights, whose matchup with Mount Ida next week in Arkadelphia is part of Arkansas BlueCross Blue Shield’s Kickoff Classic presented by Hootens. com. Centerpoint and Mount Ida square off in the second game of a doubleheader at Cliff Harris Stadium (Ouachita Baptist University), including an interstate pairing of Little Rock McClellan and Dallas Episcopal.

“Four teams that last year combined for 41 wins,” reads the half-page ad in

magazine. Centerpoint received less fanfare statewide than McClellan, which reached the Class 5A final, or Mount Ida, which took a 12-0 record into the Class 2A quarterfinals against eventual state champion McCrory. But in an 8-4 season, the Knights broke new ground with the first playoff victory since Glenwood and Amity schools merged into Centerpoint High in 1997.

A 28-8 road win over Elkins put Centerpoint over the top in postseason after back-to-back playoff defeats by a combined four points. Harding Academy ended the Knights’ season in the second round, 42-20, but the winning state of mind at the Pike County school carried over into basketball, with Centerpoint taking a region title and the school’s first two wins in the state tournament.

Keenan Owens, son of boys basketball coach Kevin Owens, is a key player in both sports for the Knights. The 6-2, 190-pound senior passed for 3,017 yards and 41 touchdowns against eight interceptions last year. In basketball, he was the only junior starter on a team that beat host Jessieville in the state tournament before falling to eventual champion Cedar Ridge in the semifinals.

Seniors figure strongly in the Knights’ offense with Jarrod Graves, a 1,000-yard rusher two years ago, switching to tailback after starting at noseguard last year. All-conference receiver Lance Chambers is Owens’ favorite target after catching 51 passes for 1,068 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. Senior Logan Taylor, who like Chambers is 6-2, is another sure-handed receiver after 43 catches for 534 yards and nine scores at a slot position.

Centerpoint’s offensive line is somewhat undersized but experience with seniors Keith Lynchard (5-7, 150) at center, Cole Weatherford (5-7, 175) at right guard and Valentin Rosa (5-8, 180) at left tackle. Senior Jake Palmer (5-9, 185) has game experience while junior Joe Lopez (5-7, 210) and sophomore Jonah Carey (6-0, 225) provide bulk up front.

The Knights are even more experienced defensively with nine starters back, leading tackler Cameron Clower (5-9, 205) and junior Trace Jackson (5-8, 190) combining for 147 stops last year. Senior ends Jansen Cowart (6-0, 205) and Jared Wright (6-1, 195) totaled 65 tackles while junior outside linebacker Gibson Lybrand (5-8, 175) showed a nose for the football with 45 tackles and five interceptions plus three fumble recoveries for touchdowns. Taylor, an all-conference safety, finished second in tackles with 85 (Clower with 102), while senior rover Matt Baker (5-11, 180) earned all-league honors with 60 stops.

Centerpoint is picked third by Class 3A-5 coaches behind perennial powers Prescott and Glen Rose, both of which visit Knight Stadium in Rosboro. Coach Cary Rogers’ team starts the season on the first playing date for Arkansas high schools, a positive omen for the Knights.