Eagles try to keep roll going
The eighth in a series previewing Pulaski County football teams for the 2019 season. Read previous stories at arkansasonline.com/arpreps/2019preview
Among the biggest turnarounds in the state last season was Baptist Prep, which snapped a 22-game losing streak in the opener and finished 4-6-1 overall to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
The 180-degree turn coincided with promoting Zach Welchman, previously the school’s defensive coordinator, to head coach and moving from 4A to 3A for the 2018-2020 classification cycle.
“It was very good for our kids’ mentality,” Welchman said of the classification drop. “Seeing that they could compete, that encouraged them to grow. Whereas before, I really think they were struggling with believing in themselves. Whenever you struggle with that, you tend to not grow. We’ve seen a lot of fruit this year.”
The west Little Rock private school could be back in the postseason business this fall since 17 starters return. Depth, however, is an issue with only 23 players on the roster.
“Staying healthy is a big deal,” Welchman said.
Welchman said the Eagles could be better offensively because they’re running the same Spread scheme for the second consecutive season. Baptist Prep had been a ground-heavy Flexbone team under Welchman’s predecessor,
Morgan Cruce, who left after two seasons to coach running backs at Bethel University in Tennessee.
“We were not 90 percent run,” Welchman said of 2018. “We were definitely more balanced than in the past. The kids have taken it well. The kids have really responded for two years in the same system. We’ve had a really good spring, really good summer and fall camp has been a breeze. We have pretty much everything installed offensively.”
Baptist Prep’s top returnee is senior offensive guard/outside linebacker Drake Avery (6-4, 275 pounds). Avery has been offered a scholarship by NCAA Division II power Harding University, Welchman said.
“He runs well,” Welchman said. “He moves well.”
Also returning are senior offensive guard/nose guard/defensive end Nick Long (5-10, 220); senior center/middle linebacker Landon Sandage (5-11, 175); senior running back/middle linebacker Hunter Teaster (6-0, 188); and senior wide receiver/safety Jax Coleman (6-1, 165).
Junior running back Hayden Brent (5-4, 125) is a big-play threat, Welchman said.
“He will be fun to watch,” Welchman said. “He will be electric. He’s very quick.”
Senior David Park (6-1, 165) shifts from wide receiver to quarterback. He also plays linebacker.
Baptist Prep opens Sept. 6 at Class 3A Bismarck. The Eagles won last year’s meeting 35-29, their first victory since Oct. 30, 2015. They were 0-10 in 2016 and 2017.
“Beating Bismarck was very big for us,” Welchman said. “You don’t win that game, there’s a lot of question marks in the boys’ minds, I think. Being able to pull that game out in the last minute, last seconds, was huge for them.”