GENTRY -- The Pioneers will have one of the best athletes in the 4A-1 Conference under center as junior Jon Faulkenberry (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) returns to lead Gentry.
Faulkenberry accounted for more than 1,800 yards of total offense last season and is a dual-threat who also excels at track for Gentry.
"We're still trying to find out where our strengths are," said second-year coach Paul Ernest. "We return two offensive linemen from last year, but we have a little bit of a philosophy change on that side of the ball. So we have to find out where they fit and how that fits into what we're trying to do."
The Pioneers were 3-7 last season, with narrow losses to Huntsville and Gravette that kept the team from earning a playoff berth in the 4A-1 Conference.
"Our wide receivers have to get better, and we have to get a little bit more out of our defensive line," Ernest said. "We are a little bit undersized, so we have to play with a motor that other teams have trouble matching."
Ernest said around 35 players were out for fall practice, and that he doesn't see the number moving much with school starting.
"We had a bunch in spring, but I knew we'd have some attrition once summer hit," Ernest said. "But I think we'll be holding steady around the mid-30s."
The Pioneers will participate in a three-team scrimmage on Aug. 26 at Elkins. Green Forest will be the third team in the scrimmage. Gentry opens the regular season on the road at Lavaca on Sept. 2.
Sports on 08/17/2016