Gentry, Decatur and Gravette gear up for football season

 Decatur's Kyler Murray breaks through the defense during the Aug. 10 practice.
Decatur's Kyler Murray breaks through the defense during the Aug. 10 practice.

Mobley ready to return

GRAVETTE — Two weeks after suffering a heart attack, Gravette assistant football coach Duke Mobley is ready to return to the Lions' preseason workouts.

Coach Bill Harrelson said Friday that Mobley has received clearance from his doctor and can participate in practices beginning Monday.

"We're excited to have him back," Harrelson said. "He's a huge part of our program, and we'll let him help in any capacity he can.

"It's amazing that he's coming back to work so soon. It's because of the passion he has for this program and these kids."

Mobley was found by trainers in the equipment room near the end of an Aug. 2 practice and taken to Gravette Medical Center. He later was moved to Mercy Medical Center in Rogers, where doctors placed a stent in his heart after they discovered 90 percent blockage in his arteries.

Mobley was on hand for Friday's afternoon workout but didn't participate. Instead, he watched from the shade for a short time, but players made sure to give Mobley high-fives after completing drills.

Harrelson and other assistant coaches have filled Mobley's role in his absence, but Harrelson made it clear that Mobley's job is his again on Monday.

"He is our defensive coordinator, and he is in charge of our defense," he said. "We know his time will be limited out there because of the heat, but we're going to make the adjustments and work with him until he can resume the job at full capacity."

Little Likes Defensive Ends

GENTRY — Kevin Scherer and Tre Porter could form a potent 1-2 punch on the defensive line for the Gentry Pioneers this season.

Gentry coach Brian Little said the two should give a "stability" to the Pioneers defensive line.

Little hopes Scherer (6-5, 231) can stay healthy this season. He missed much of last season with a concussion and also missed part of his sophomore season with a knee injury.

"Kevin has some experience on Friday night, it's just the injuries have kept him from being able to play a full season for us," Little said.

Porter (6-2, 216) moved into the district from the Chicago area during the winter and went through spring drills with the Pioneers.

The two seniors bring different strengths to the table to try to help the Pioneers improve upon last year's 4-6 finish.

"Kevin's so tall, his wingspan is around seven feet," Little said. "That makes him hard to throw over. Tre's not short, but he has a strength in his core. That makes him tough to move. He really anchors his side really well."

The Pioneers have been trying to find ways to beat the extreme heat this fall, but Little said his players have proved to be better acclimated because of almost year-round work. Gentry also shifted its practices to evening last week, going from 6-8 p.m.

— PAUL BOYD

Decatur Has Favorable Schedule

DECATUR — A year away from football has the Decatur Bulldogs hungry for action this fall.

Although the numbers are still low, first-year senior high coach Stanley Ellis said he expects about 21 players on the roster for the start of the season.

Decatur will not play the opening week of the season, but is scheduled to travel to Hartford on Sept. 10. That is, if Hartford fields a team. The Hustlers were another team in the 2A-4 Conference that did not field a team last season because of low player turnout.

"I sure hope they have a team," Ellis said, "because if they don't, we won't play a game until the middle of September."

The rest of the Bulldogs' schedule is very favorable, with six home games in the final seven weeks. The lone road trip will be a doozy, however, with a three-plus hour jaunt to Danville on Oct. 22.

"That's going to be a long ride, but it's the only one like that we have," Ellis said.

Hartford and Mountainburg are the only other road trips for Decatur, with Mountainburg joining the conference this year from Class 3A.

— CHIP SOUZA