Leopards work hard to improve, move toward successful season

DE QUEEN, Ark.-De Queen cleaned up its play on both sides of the football last week, and it resulted in victory.

The Leopards (2-2, 1-0) were solid on offense and defense in their 35-7 win over Hope in their Conference 5A-South opener.

"I thought we eliminated little mistakes that we had the week before," De Queen head coach Justin Kramer said. "We did a good job of minimizing those errors. Defensively I thought we played really well and did a good job of keeping their speed in front of us.

"We covered their receivers well. Hope throws the ball about 80 percent of the time. The main thing for us was to not let them make big plays with their speed."

Cornerbacks Javier Gomez and Sedrick Bell along with safeties Mack Carver and Logan Hall kept the Bobcat's passing game in check.

"Those four guys kept everyone pinned up and kept everything in front," Kramer said.

Middle linebacker Rolando Sotelo, who had his most productive game so far this season, led De Queen with 16 tackles. It was Sotelo's first game at middle linebacker.

"Sotelo is a smart football player and makes good reads," Kramer said. "He flies to the football, plays fast and is a high motor type kid."

Hunter Earney, who is usually a receiver for De Queen, played running back last Friday. Earney totaled 182 yards and three touchdowns. Kramer said that Earney was the Leopards' player of the game.

"Earney is a football savvy kind of guy," Kramer said. "He is not lightning fast, but he's real quick and elusive. He makes quick decisions and gets into holes quick. Earney is shifty and once he decides to get up field, he takes off."

Center Tristan Snider, right guard Lucas Dorsey, left guard Jace Sims, left tackle Carter Faulkenberry and right tackle Jose Lagunas on the Leopards' offensive line opened running lanes for Earne. Quinton Thornton and Malik Beasley, two linemen who regularly rotate in, helped out on the line as well.

"We have a lot of guys back on the offensive line and that is really nice," Kramer said. "We can lean on them, and we can run the ball more than we have in the past. Having the experience on the offensive line really helps."

Quarterback Drew Dykes and tight end Maurice Moore worked together often to help De Queen get out of tight situations on third down.

"Dykes completed many passes in third down, pressure-type situations and a lot of those completions went to Moore," Kramer said.

The Leopards opened the season with a 25-21 home win against Mena. Two weeks ago, De Queen lost a heart breaker to Poteau, Okla., 30-26.

Kramer said that there is something unique about this year's squad.

"We have felt pretty good about this group, and it's a special group," he said. "I hope we can continue to have success. The guys deserve it and have worked really hard."

De Queen faces one of its biggest test of the season Friday as it travels to Pine Bluff, Ark., to take on Watson Chapel (2-2, 1-0). The Wildcats are coming off a 42-14 win last week over Hot Springs.

"I think a lot of what we did offensively against Hope, as far as eliminating mistakes and executing the offense, will be key to our success," Kramer said. "Defensively, if we can keep them in front of us and make tackles, I feel like we have a pretty good shot."