2024 NEA Sports Magazine Football Preview 2024 NEA Sports Magazine Football Preview | Page 20

Aug 30 - Brinkley Sept . 6 – Rector Sept . 13- at Rose Bud Sept . 27 - at Rector Oct . 4 – Sublaco academy Oct . 11 - Dermott Oct . 18 – at Marshall
The Corning Bobcats enjoyed a successful season in 8-Man football a year ago . Coach Farrell Shelton ’ s squad finished 6-4 and fell to Mountain View in the Unsanctioned 8-Man championship game . Ending the season that way has made the Bobcats push harder to prepare for this season and get to the next level of winning a championship . Senior quarterback Seth Smith returns to run the Bobcat offense . Smith threw for over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns last season . Senior running back Hayden Cox also returns to the backfield after rushing for over 600 yards and seven touchdowns last year . Fellow senior Josh Jansen also returns , giving Corning a one-two punch at running back . Jansen had 250 yards and three touchdowns in his junior campaign . Senior All-State receiver Jakob Cox hauled in 22 touchdowns last season and will be joined by classmate Seth Green at receiver . Seniors Aaron Qualls and Cole Kemp provide more weapons for Smith to connect with . Up front Casey Jones and Ethan Guthrie lead the way , joined by Bailey Leonard , RJ Petus , Ty Price , and Jacob Brown . Defensively , Peyton Cartwright returns at defensive end after an All-State junior campaign . Lucas Whitworth joins Cartwright up front with Cox , Green , Price , and Brown . Leonard , Kemp , and Connor LeGrand make up the linebacking corps , while Cox , Qualls , and Janson make up the secondary . Carson Dodson will handle punting and kicking duties for the Bobcats . With some much senior leadership and experience back , NEA Sports predicts that the Corning Bobcats will get back to the championship game , and this time , lift the trophy .
A familiar face returns to Mississippi County to lead the Osceola Seminoles . Robert Hooks returns back home to take over as head coach and athletic director . Hooks returns after four years at West Memphis to a school he led to three conference titles and an appearance in the state championship game . The Seminoles finished 4-8 last season including a first round playoff win against Fouke . Coach Hooks and his tribe are hoping to ride that playoff win into this season . It won ’ t be easy in the 3A-3 , which is one of the state ’ s toughest conferences . Eight starters return on offense , so experience is a strength for the Noles . Senior Jeremiah Jacobs returns at tailback , while classmate Zaden Buchannon will see more time of offense this year . Junior Tyler Bell has experience at quarterback and will be leading the Seminole spread attack . Seniors Aiden Haymon , Tyrese James , and Jakavion Williams join junior AJ Brown at receiver , giving Bell plenty of weapons at his disposal . Senior Carlos Vance returns at left tackle , and will be joined on the line with Harris Manning , Gage Bigham , and Keviss Love . Many of those same linemen will line up on the defensive side , too . Manning , Donavan Littleton , and Byron Kirkwood will lead that group . Behind them will be Trinity Williams , Washington , and Long will rotate at outside linebacker , while Jacobs Demarius Hackett , and John Miles will play inside . Bell will start at safety with Washington and Buchanon joining him , while Brown , Kash , Wilkins , and Julius Merrit rotate at corner , completing the secondary . Despite the tough new look conference , Coach Hooks is excited to be back and excited about his guys . He feels that if they stay healthy , they will have a shot at the end . Look for the Osceola Seminoles to battle at the top of the conference and be a tough out come playoff time .
Sep . 6 – at Ensworth Sept . 13 – at Gosnell Sept . 27 – at Hoxie Oct . 4 – Walnut Ridge Oct . 11 – Newport Oct . 18 – at Harrisburg Oct . 25 – Rivercrest Nov . 1 – at Piggott Nov . 8 – at Manila

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