Depth an issue for rebounding Leopards
MALVERN — Needing only a 2-5 conference record to make the state playoffs, Malvern ended the 2016 season with a crushing 63-21 loss to rival Arkadelphia.
One thing after another went against the 4-6 Leopards. Losing running back Devin Shaw in the first quarter of the season opener and quarterback Demias Jimmerson in the first half against Mena in Week 5, Malvern constantly battled injuries and encountered disappointments.
“Last year was very disappointing,” said coach Mike Scarbrough. “It was one of those seasons that I really don’t know how to explain other than if something could go wrong, it did. Murphy’s Law was in effect the whole season.”
Scarbrough is happy to flip the page on the calendar, look ahead.
“We’ve worked really hard in the offseason, talked about finishing, playing better at the end of the season, all those things that you work on,” he said. “We were just a real unlucky team last year. Some people say you make your own luck, but I’ve been on teams that have won state championships and I’ve coached teams that have won state championships, and you’ve gotta have some luck.”
Scarbrough is looking to Jimmerson (5-11, 170), who passed for more 1,500 yards and ran for more than 1,000, to create much of the success this season.
“He’s got to have a great year for us to be successful,” he said. “There’s no reason, in my opinion, why he couldn’t and why he shouldn’t. We’re going to tailor the offense around him. We’ve got some other guys to give the ball to, but he’s going to be the man.”
Blocking for Jimmerson will be a new offensive line, many rotating onto the unit last season.
Senior Tre Smith (5-10, 215) moves from tight end and parttime lineman to the O-line fulltime, working at center and tackle, and classmate Khalil Brownlee (5-8, 200) also moves to the line as guard.
Juniors Cameron Davidson
(5-11, 190) and Colton Jenkins (511, 235) join the line with Jenkins looking to play some at center. Sophomores Jason Campbell (64, 315) and Perry Allen (6-0, 240) will help anchor the line while fellow sophomore Colby Bergen
(5-9, 180) splits time at offensive line and linebacker.
Junior London Florence (510) joins classmate JaQuarrion Thomas (5-6, 165), who moved in from Tallulah, La., at running back.
“London’s a big kid, a
205-pound back,” said Scarbrough. “If London decides to run and get three yards at a whack, he’s going to be a good back for us. JaQuarrion is a little more speed guy.”
Junior Brandon Scott (5-9,
170), who did not play last year, steps in at H-back while sophomore Dallas Lewis (6-0,150) and senior Latron Matlock (5-7, 120) are Jimmerson’s key receiving targets.
Senior Wesley Murdock (511, 245) moves from the offensive line to nose guard.
One area with some depth is defensive tackle with about six rotating starters, Scarbrough said. Senior Jayden Smith (6-2,
260) and juniors Jarvis Owens
(5-10, 230), Delvin Culp (6-0,
185) and Amias Hunter (6-0, 185) are some names to remember.
Senior Jordan Hart (6-0, 210) moves from outside linebacker to middle linebacker while junior Braedon Kenney (5-11, 175), senior Hayden Whitlow (6-0,
190) and junior Alex Nobles (5-5,
155) rotate with Hart in all three linebacker positions.
Seniors Whit Jones (6-1, 180) and Devin Langston (5-8, 150) return as safeties, and classmate Jashon Dawn (5-11, 180) shifts from outside linebacker to Tiger, another safety slot.
Senior Greg Ross (5-11, 140), junior Michael Cervantes (5-10,
150) and Thomas will all see time at cornerback.
In addition, Cervantes returns as the kicker.
“Michael’s a really good kicker, does a great job kicking off,” Scarbrough said. “He’s an excellent onside kicker, which is an art. As far as PATs and extra points go, we feel really confident in Michael. He had a big field goal for us against Robinson. We’re going to probably have to use Michael a little more in the field-goal department this year.”
Cervantes will also be the primary punter, though we’ll line up and will short-kick with Demias, too, like we have in the past.”
Scarbrough goes to battle with an inexperienced, though not especially young team.
“It’s their turn to shine,” he said. “They’ve kinda set behind guys and played some but not a whole lot. We’re going to be a work in progress as the season goes on. I feel like we’ll get better and better and better as the season goes on. We’re going to have growing pains.”
Scarbrough hopes to allow players to specialize on offense or defense with only a handful, like Thomas, on both sides of the ball.
“We’ve got 10 games that you’d better be ready to play,” he said. “I feel like Game 1, I don’t think there’s any doubt we’ll go out and play hard and give ourselves a chance to win. I feel like we’ll be better in Game 2 and Game 3, and that’s what we’re going to use those games for. We’ve bought into two platooning; we did it all spring and all summer. I firmly believe that if you don’t put those guys on the field, obviously they’re not going to get any better. It makes for a much better team chemistry, team atmosphere, when you’ve got 35 guys playing a lot of football as opposed to 14-15.”
Even though Scarbrough looks to have about 50 players in action, there’s not much depth beyond the starters.
“The numbers have been consistent here the last 8-10 years,” he said. “Depth-wise we’re about as thin as you can get. We can play 22, and right now, we’re doing that. We need to be a very lucky team as far as injuries go and try to stay healthy because that is an issue this year.”