Gentry looks to build on 2010 success

Coach Brian Little believes program has turned the corner

— Having gone through losing seasons in its first three years under head coach Brian Little, Gentry appeared to turn the corner in Little’s fourth year.

The Pioneers went 6-5 overall in 2010, advancing to the Class 4A state playoffs, where they were defeated by Nashville in the opening round.

Included in the season were victories against traditional powers such as Class 3A Charleston, Class 4A schools Farmington and Prairie Grove.

The Pioneers were an eyelash from beating 1-4A Conference powers Gravette and Ozark as well.

Little said the goal was to reach a level of competitiveness year in and year out.

“The first two or three years we were working to obtain that,” Little said, “and I think last year with some signature wins and being able to get back in the playoffs, certainly helped us turn the corner.”

Little then paused before adding, “Now if we just maintain that we’ll be all right.”

Certainly the hard part for Gentry will be to sustain their momentum in the rugged 1-4A Conference, which features teams like Shiloh Christian, Ozark, Gravette, Farmington, Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge and Berryville.

The Pioneers have 39 players on their roster, which has seen quite a bit of turnover from last year.

Senior Dylan Ochs (5-foot-10, 141 pounds) assumes the role of starting quarterback after being the backup and junior varsity quarterback in 2010.

GENTRY PIONEERS

2011 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 1 Colcord, OK 7 p.m. Away

Sept. 9 Charleston 7 p.m. HOME

Sept. 16 Siloam Springs 7 p.m. HOME

Sept. 23 Farmington* 7 p.m. Away

Sept. 30 Gravette* 7 p.m. HOME

Oct. 7 Pea Ridge* 7 p.m. Away

Oct. 14 Shiloh Christian* 7 p.m. Away

Oct. 21 Berryville* (Homecoming) 7 p.m. HOME

Oct. 28 Prairie Grove* 7 p.m. HOME

Nov. 4 Ozark* (Parent Night) 7 p.m. Away

  • Denotes 1-4A Conference Game

“(Ochs has) done a great job,” Little said. “I was real pleased with him in thespring. He’s got a good grasp of our system, having played receiver for us last year.

Fundamentally he’s doing a real good job mechanics-wise. The kids believe in him.

He’s beginning to believe in himself. We feel real good about that.”

Ochs will have some help behind him in the backfield in senior running back Tanner Coy (5-8, 164), who rushed for 789 yards on 157 carries a year ago in what was a crowded Gentry backfield.

“That was spreading the ball around to several other people,” Little said.

“We feel good from an experience standpoint there.”

Coy will be the feature back this year, though Little expects senior Kolby Rankin (5-8, 156) to havean expanded role on offense at both running back and receiver.

At wide receiver, the Pioneers will start some fresh faces.

Seniors Jordan Cousins (5-10, 166) and Tyler Morgan (5-11, 171) have been in the program and know the system, their coach says.

The Pioneers are excited about sophomore Jarod Cousins (6-0, 177), who was a standout receiver for the freshman team last fall.

“He’ll start for us as a receiver on offense,” Little said of the sophomore. “I feel pretty good about us on offense. We’re not as big as we were last year.

We’ll probably have to balance our attack a little more with the spread and the power game.We’re still capable of doing both.”

Up front, the Pioneers return three offensive linemen with starting experience in senior offensive tackles Ricky Hernandez (6-1, 249) and Trae Wilkins (6-0, 219) andsenior center Dock Hudson (5-10, 186).

Gentry will insert some size at the guards with juniors Bryar Preuss (6-3, 285) and Austin Cochran (6-0, 249) and sophomore Taylor Harvey (5-11, 229).

Defensively, Hernandez and Wilkins are capable of playing inthe trenches at defensive tackle or on the ends.

“We’ll mix that up back and forth,” Little said.

Hudson also will play on the defensive lineas well as linebacker, and sophomore Alec Nelson (6-0, 200) is being counted on to provide another body on the defensive line.

Defensive coordinator Daniel Ramsey runs a multiple schemeset that gives opposition a lot of looks to prepare for, Little said.

“(Ramsey) does a great job with it,” LIttle said. “We think our system and how we teach it helps our kids learn it. They do a great job with it as well.”

Coy and Rankin will man the outside linebacker spots, while senior Nelson Watson (6-2, 174) and junior Elijah Ramsey (6-1, 163) play the inside linebackers.

“Watson and Ramsey are not going to be the monsters we hadback there last year, but I tell you what both of those kids read (offenses) really, really well,” Little said. “They know how to play in our system. Of course returning Rankin and Coy at the outside backer position really helps.”

Morgan, the Cousins brothers, senior Leo Martin (6-0, 181) and junior Clay Norman (5-11, 162) will all play in the secondary.

Ochs also plays in the secondary, though Little said he would like to limit his snaps on defense.

Sports, Pages 46 on 08/31/2011