Q & A with Rivercrest Colt Buddah Harris By: Easton Fletcher
1. You enter your senior season as one of the top returning receivers in the state. What expectations have you set for yourself going into the final year? Personal goal I have I want to have 2,000 receiving yards( 1500 at the least) and show the young guys the way.
2. What goals do you guys have set for this football season? What will you have to do to help your team win? The main goal has always been state championship since I got to Rivercrest. Push the guys and be a vocal leader.
3. Talk about the team’ s current quarterback situation. Who do you think you will see the most passes from and are you good with taking catches from more than one QB? Got junior quarterback Jayden Ralph and Jayden Young battling for the starting spot but I think Jayden Ralph will take the starting spot. I’ m confident in both quarterbacks. I feel we’ re blessed to have more than one. I’ m grateful to catch passes from more than one
4. Jayden is another talented receiver. How important is it for you and for him to have one another so defenses can’ t double team you both leaving the other guy open? Jayden Is a great athlete. I think he can play any skill position on the field having him on the same field as me gives me an extra confidence boost knowing if they try to double me we can always give it to him.
5. Give us your thoughts on the rivalry between Osceola and Rivercrest. Do you think it’ s the biggest in the state? What makes it so special? I feel it’ s another game on the way to the main goal, but the rivalry runs deep since before I was even born. So, growing up in Osceola, going against Rivercrest you hate losing to them and when I transferred to Rivercrest in ninth grade I feel it spiced the rivalry up more. The rivalry is so special because most of all of the guys grew up playing AAU basketball with each other playing on teams in our community league and sometimes even flag football together. It’ s just always been competitive when we step on the court or football field.
6. You are also a great basketball player. How has your game improved going into your final season and what do you think you need to work on? My basketball skills translate to the football field. Before the season I analyzed all my weaknesses & worked every day this offseason to try to perfect them.
7. What expectations do you guys have this year in basketball? Just like every year we’ re trying to win a state championship. It means a little more knowing it’ s my last year of high school sports
8. A late change was made at the head coaching position in football as Coach Brett Hardin takes over for Johnny Fleming. What has that been like so far? What were your thoughts when you found out? Coach Hardin let us know Coach Fleming was in the hospital maybe a week before we found out he was the head coach. Like Coach Hardin would say“ Coach Fleming was a good coach we’ re just trying to continue his legacy.”
9. What are you plans beyond high school. Would you like to play at the next level? I plan to commit to a school later on this year if god says the same. I have some D1 offers and a couple of D2 offers. I’ m looking for a place like home & with coach to grow me not just as a player as a man too.
10. Rivercrest is almost always good in football, basketball and baseball. What is it about Rivercrest that has allowed them to have one of the biggest and best sports traditions in Northeast Arkansas? The work we put in as a whole most of the athletes that play one sport plays the other. It is just a school that has a lot of culture and tradition. We don’ t want to let the community down because they’ re not used to losing and they will let you hear it if you aren’ t good.