GENTRY -- Jake Faulkenberry made a good impression on new Gentry football coach Paul Ernest even before school started this year.
Ernest had heard some seniors weren't as committed as they needed to be, but he figured out Faulkenberry wasn't one of those pretty quickly.
"He was a big surprise," Ernest said. "He's got a great body, great build. But his work ethic is what's been impressive. The kid made every lift all summer and he's been phenomenal in the locker room."
Faulkenberry is a two-way returning starter, one of only a handful for the Pioneers. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound receiver has also spent the spring and summer getting used to a different quarterback since his brother, Stone, graduated in the spring.
However, Jake knows this one pretty well, too. Sophomore Jon Faulkenberry will step into his older brother's shoes to assume the duties under center this fall for the Pioneers. Jake Faulkenberry said his brother Jon has worked especially hard in the offseason and it's paid off.
"He's developed into an all-around quarterback," Jake Faulkenberry said. "The 7-on-7 over the summer has really helped us get on the same page, and we've worked out a lot at home, too."
Ernest said the two definitely have good chemistry already.
"Sometimes I wonder if it's not big brother slapping little brother around at home and saying, 'Feed me the ball,'" Ernest joked. "But you can see their timing is pretty good, and they trust each other. We have some plays and concepts that rely heavily on timing, and they are almost always on the same page."
Faulkenberry finished with 22 receptions for 276 yards and three touchdowns last year. He also was in on 48 tackles and forced a fumble from his safety position on defense.
In addition to his intangibles, Faulkenberry has some gifts that serve him well on the football field, Ernest said.
"He's got great eyes and trusts them," Ernest said. "He's an intelligent football player, picks everything up quickly and applies it, and that's a big plus. He's more of a competitor than anything else and he's a good athlete. Put those two things together, it's a good deal."
Gentry Pioneers
COACH: Paul Ernest
LAST SEASON 3-8
OFFENSE Spread
DEFENSE: 3-4
RETURNING STARTERS Offense 3, Defense 3
POINTS SCORED PER GAME: 13.0
POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 29.4
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH Jon Faulkenberry (Soph., QB, 6-1, 175), C.J. Taylor (Sr., RB, 6-1, 180), Jake Faulkenberry (Sr., WR, 6-1, 185), Cole Cripps (Jr., RB, 5-10, 165), Kaven Flesner (Sr., OL, 5-11, 205), Seth Franzen (Soph., FB, 5-11, 190).
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH: Chance Cooper (Soph., DL, 6-2, 280), Myles McFerron (Soph., OLB, 6-1, 205), Bryan Harris (Sr., DB, 5-11, 165), Dillon Matthews (Sr., DB, 5-6, 145), Seth Franzen (Soph., OLB, 5-10, 190).
KEEP AN EYE ON Kaven Flesner. The senior center left the program at some point last season, but is back and making a good impression on the new coach. The 5-11, 205-pounder is the leader of the offensive line and makes all the calls on blocking assignments.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK:The Pioneers have some gifted players at the skill positions. But they will be working behind an inexperienced offensive line, which Ernest admits can be a scary proposition. Sophomore quarterback Jon Faulkenberry will be at the controls, but he'll have at least one familiar face to throw to in older brother Jake. Ernest said he will rotate a trio of running backs, but could get a boost from athletic C.J. Taylor, who moved from Kansas, Okla.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK Gentry gave up points in bunches at times last season But a few talented sophomores should help solidify the defense. Ernest likes his secondary group and calls them the strength of that group. Seniors Bryant Harris, Dillon Matthews and Jake Faulkenberry are the anchors. But Faulkenberry could move to an outside linebacker spot in some situations.
SEASON OUTLOOK Ernest talks a lot about changing the culture on a team that has been to the playoffs a couple of times recently, but six wins is its high water mark in the past seven years. A lack of numbers has hurt the Pioneers, but a few more have come out with the new coach and he hopes to utilize as many as possible even in smaller roles to keep top players fresh. Early success will be key with an inexperienced offensive line and a sophomore quarterback.
KEY GAME All three nonconference games are against teams from smaller classifications, which could give the Pioneers to chance to gain some much-needed confidence early. Class 3A West Fork won their conference a year ago and is picked to win it again, but both Decatur and Greenland have struggled with smaller numbers on their roster.
QUOTING COACH ERNEST: "I think we have the ingredients to be a good, competitive football team. We have to get past some things that come with not having success. We have to keep the focus on us and our execution."
SCHEDULE
Sept. 4 West Fork^7 p.m.
Sept. 11 Decatur^7 p.m.
Sept, 18^at Greenland^7 p.m.
Sept. 25^at Pea Ridge*^7 p.m.
Oct. 2^Berryville*^7 p.m.
Oct. 9^at Huntsville*^7 p.m.
Oct. 16^Shiloh Christian*^7 p.m.
Oct. 23^at Prairie Grove*^7 p.m.
Oct. 30^at Lincoln*^7 p.m.
Nov. 6^Gravette*^7 p.m.
Denotes 4A-1 Conference game
At A Glance
Jake Faulkenberry
Gentry
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Class: Senior
Notable: Started on both offense and defense for the Pioneers. ... Caught 22 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns. ... Completed a reverse pass for 43 yards against West Fork last season. ... Recorded 48 tackles and forced a fumble from his safety spot as a junior. ... Will also play some linebacker this season in certain situations.
Sports on 09/02/2015