Scrappers prepare to defend their title

NASHVILLE, ARK.-How do you top that?

Last year, new coach Mike Volarvich, who had built score-at-will, gun-slinging offenses as an assistant coach at four college stops, led the Scrappers to their fifth state title and first 15-0 season, just the fourth Class 4A team to reach that mark.

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But replace him, the Scrappers must. When you are one of the most storied teams in Arkansas, you know what to expect when the Friday Night Lights come on.

"Every week, we're somebody's Super Bowl," Volarvich said. "We have no down weeks. Every week, if a team can beat us, there's going to be a big celebration right there in the middle of the field. It just gets tougher when you're Nashville. Every week, you have to come to play."

On the other hand, that cuts two ways. With quality depth on both sides of the ball, Volarvich's no-huddle, three-plays-a-minute spread offense, backed by an athletic, speedy defense, makes the Scrappers one tough team to play.

The heart of a Scrappers' practice looks like chaos. Neither the offense nor defense huddle, some coaches bark out instructions while others run around giving hand signals. When the ball is snapped, the offensive skill players scatter in at least three directions. Moments later, like the skies clearing in the middle of a massive storm, a clear passing or throwing lane opens up.

On defense, bodies fly everywhere and even the most perfectly thrown pass is subjected to being intercepted. As soon as the whistle blows, players on both sides of the ball sprint back to their positions, and the process begins anew.

They do that approximately three times a minute. How do you prepare for that? More important, how do you keep it up for four quarters?

Volarvich's plan is that you don't.

In the third round of the playoffs, the Scrappers were on the road in Warren and down, 8-7, at the half. They came out and scored 28 unanswered points. In the state championship game, Nashville was down to Prairie Grove, 20-19, at the half, and came out and scored 20 unanswered points-the last score on an unstoppable, 94-yard drive that chewed up most of the fourth quarter.

Last year, the Scrappers offense ran over and slashed through opponents, averaging nearly 45 minutes a game while executing a run-oriented game more suited to the talent of the upperclassmen that Volarvich inherited than to the coach's playbook.

"We have a good nucleus of guys coming back," Volarvich said. "Day 1 into fall football camp, we're a lot better football team than we were last year."

Three quarterbacks are competing for the starting job, and Volarvich said he doesn't expect to name a starter until the end of fall camp.

Senior Gabe Moorer, who led the junior varsity to an unbeaten season last year and was Snell's backup, is the veteran of the group. Junior Tyler Hanson was an outside linebacker a year ago. Sophomore Jake Moorer, Gabe's brother, led the 9th-grade team to an undefeated season a year ago.

"They's all good players. None of them has ever lost a game as a starting quarterback," Volarvich said. "They all did a good job in 7-on-7 this summer and in the offseason conditioning program. They have different skill sets, but they all bring a lot to the table. We're just going to let them compete. That's the fair thing to do.

"We're going to see who can complete passes when the bullets are flying, who can get the offense moving."

Whoever wins the job will have quality running backs behind him and what looks to be a first-rate offensive line in front.

Tailback Darius Hopkins, who rushed for 27 TDs a year ago, and Trent Harris, who rushed for 14, will be joined in the backfield by talented sophomore T.K. Hopkins.

"We have three very talented backs," the coach said. "We're probably one of the deeper teams in the state at running back. I feel really good about playing any of them at any time."

Arkansas committed, senior left tackle Kirby Adcock, is a 4.0 student and on track to be class valedictorian. He was the Scrappers' lineman of the year as a sophomore and junior. Senior Triston Rhodes (6-3, 215) is another returning starter, as is Justin Beam, who started 14 of 15 games in the championship campaign.

The center and right guard have to be replaced, and there are plenty of candidates pushing for playing time. Junior Shun Childress (5-10, 285, 300-lb. bench press) was in the rotation last year. Junior Antonio Haney, and sophomores Savion Coburn and Robert Dunham also impressed the coaches in the off-season.

The receiving corps is talented and experienced, too. Hunter White missed six games with an injury, but came back to haul in 7 passes for 91 yards and a pair of TDs. Junior Ty Pettway (6-2, 190) was a late bloomer in 2015, grabbing two passes for TDs against Shiloh Christian in round two of the playoffs. Slot receiver Dominick Knight, a junior, has receiving skills, as do seniors Sam Cogburn and Ja'Coree Walker.

On defense, the Scrappers lost two talented tight ends who played key roles in Nashville's 3-4 defense. Senior noseguard Jarvis Holmes (5-9, 160) is back to anchor the line. Adcock added valuable reps on the DL during the playoffs.. Senior Mace Green moved from linebacker to DE last year. Senior noseguard Marquell McFalls was a quality backup in 2015.

The linebackers will be anchored by a pair of returning starters. Senior Garrett Gordon had 105 tackles and forced three fumbles from his inside spot and senior Michael Bevill had 59 stops, 9 for a loss, from the outside.

"Both are very solid players," Volarvich said. "They did a good job, made a bunch of tackles and were great leaders. They work very hard and lead by example."

The secondary will be manned by a lot of the same players from the receiving corps. Darius Hopkins can go both ways, starting every playoff game at safety. White also plays on both sides of the ball, and made nine solo tackles in the state championship game. Junior Davion Holmes is speedy and can play cornerback or safety. Senior Austin Gibbs started nine games at safety last year.

So can the Scrappers go 15-0 again?

"All I'm worried about right now is getting to 16-0," Volarvich said.