STAMPS, Ark.-Eleven years ago Lafayette County hired Bobby Clark as an assistant football coach and the Cougars made it to the quarter-finals of the state playoffs.
Clark is now the head coach for the Cougars and he's boldly claiming "the sky is the limit" in 2016.
Photo Gallery
Way Back Wednesday at Underground Pub
Underground Pub is hoppin' for the Way Back Wednesday Party sponsored by KOKY.
"We feel like if we're ever going to have a shot at the title, it's this year. We've got seventeen seniors, and for 2A football that's a big number."
It's certainly not a done deal. The Cougars must stay healthy, and Clark must find replacements for quarterback Laderrick Lemay and tailback Tredarius Burks, one of the state's best all-time backs statistically with more than 6,000 yards rushing.
"Losing Burks is huge, but the graduation of Lemay might be even bigger," Clark said. "He always put us in the right spot. There was one time when he audibled us right down the field. He was our field general.
"We've got a sophomore (Martavious Miller) coming in this season who has earned the spot. Hopefully he can see those same reads and put us in good spots on the field. If we get good play at the quarterback position I really believe we'll have a great year."
The Cougars have more than numbers on their side, they're loaded with talented athletes. Lafayette County won a state championship in track last spring, momentum that Clark believes will carry over to football.
QUICK FACTS
SCHOOL: Lafayette County 2015 RECORD: 8-4 HEAD COACH: Bobby Clark YEARS AT SCHOOL: 11 (2nd as head coach) COACHING STAFF: Eryc Mccaslin, DC, Michael Coffee, DL, Frank Kenny, LB LETTERMEN LOST/BACK: 13/18 STARTERS BACK: 8 offense, 7 defense PLAYERS TO WATCH: WR-DB Dewayne Cornish, WR-S Cualan Williams, SB-DB Kleavius Johnson, SB-DB Lepatrick Miller, RB-MLB Stephon Cooper, G-LB Matt Fenske, DE Kelvin Henderson TOP NEWCOMERS: QB-CB Martavious Miller, LB Trey Smith, DE Eric Samuel, SB Antonio Peterson, L Sam Crisp, L Nate Brady"This year we're loaded with weapons on offense. College coaches have taken notice and are visiting our campus. The kids see these guys around school and they're getting excited about it."
Senior receiver Cualan Williams (6-3, 205) has committed to Louisiana Tech, and DeWayne Cornish (6-2, 170) is also back at receiver. Stephon Cooper (6-0, 195) adds to the Cougars' depth. Williams caught 23 passes for 673 yards and 13 TDs in 2015.
Slotbacks Kleavius Johnson (5-10, 150) and Lepatrick Miller (6-1, 180) combined for 30 touchdowns last season.
Lepatrick Miller is Martavious' older brother, and will back up his younger sibling at quarterback.
Clark said Burks' replacements will be by committee. Cooper will get time in the backfield and play middle linebacker on defense. Lepatrick Miller rushed for 541 yards and 10 TDs last season, while Johnson had 312 yards and 11 TDs.
Lafayette County has four starters returning up front on offense with senior center Jesse Adams (6-0, 230), senior guard Matt Fenske (6-0, 200), junior guard Justin Brown (5-10, 220) and junior tackle Seth Glass (5-10, 220).
Sophomores Sam Crisp (5-9, 250) and Nate Brady (6-0, 235) look to fill the void at the other tackle.
It's no secret that linebacker will be the strength of the Cougars' defense.
Fenske and junior Russel (5-10, 195) will line up outside Cooper, who had 95 tackles last season. Fenske led the group with 98 stops.
"We lost two defensive ends that made a lot of plays for us," Clark said. "Senior Kelvin Henderson will take over at left end, and we feel like he's got a chance to play college ball. Eric Samuel is on the other side. The thing about them is that they're long and fast."
The secondary will feature the two Millers switching out at one corner, with Caleb Johnson (5-11, 180) on the other side. The safeties will be Cornish and Williams.
"We have a lot of speed back there," Clark said.
The kicking game frustrated Clark a year ago and Lafayette County went for two extra points often. This year, the coach boasts junior Hunter Leonard worked hard in the spring and summer to improve.
Unseating Mount Ida will be one of the Cougars' first goals, one they almost accomplished in 2015.
"We had Mount Ida at our place in the last game with a chance to tie for first place," he said. "I think they were getting tired in the fourth quarter because they had a bunch going both ways. We had a 30-minute rain delay and that game them a spark as they went on to beat us by seven."
If the Cougars jell this fall, Mount Ida's dominance the last couple of years could end.
"Losing Gurdon for Mountain Pine was a good swap for us in district," Clark said. "Still, it's a battle every Friday night in our district. If you don't come ready to play you can get upset for sure.
"I've got all my assistants (Eryc Mccaslin, Michael Coffee and Frank Kenny) back. It's the first time in my eleven years at Lafayette County that we didn't have a coach leave. This gives us some stability that we haven't had and is good for the kids."
Clark believes his Cougars can play with anyone in 2A.