The River Valley Report 2024 Football preview | Page 28

28 THE RIVER VALLEY REPORT FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 8.11.2024

Carter expecting big season at Spiro

LELAND BARCLAY
SPECIAL TO RIVER VALLEY DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Before Davis Carter embarks on his Electrical Engineering degree at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and takes Calculus and Differential Equations, he wants, and expects, a big season for the Spiro( Okla.) Bulldogs.
“ I want to give it all I’ ve got,” said Carter, who’ s ranked No. 1 in his class academically and has already earned 18 college credit hours through Carl Albert State College.
He started all 11 games for the Bulldogs last year at tight end and defensive end and rotated in at linebacker and tight end as a sophomore. This year, he will play slot receiver and linebacker. Carter likes both positions.“ You love catching the ball on offense, so I like the ball in my hands,” Carter said.“ I also like hitting people, too.”
Spiro was 6-5 last year and earned a playoff berth, but Carter expects more this year.
“ Obviously, we want to do better than last year,” Carter said.“ I think we have a
legitimate shot at going deep in the playoffs, playing two or three games and playing on Thanksgiving.”
Carter is one of just a few returning starters for the Bulldogs and has taken on a leadership role, especially in the weight room where he bench presses 175 and squats 350.
“ We started in spring and the goal is to get everybody there for summer pride, 7-on-7 and team camps,” Carter said.“ We wanted to get everybody there and make sure they’ re giving 100 percent. That’ s what makes a good team. It’ s really worked good for us. We’ ve had almost everybody there. We took everybody to the Pittsburg State camp. We went to a 7-on-7 in Sallisaw and had a couple of our place. It’ s been really good for us.”
Carter started the basketball team last year after being one of the first players off the bench as a sophomore. He also started for the baseball team last year, pitching and playing first and third base.
He also golfs, but doesn’ t really have a favorite.
“ Whichever one I’ m playing currently,”
Carter said.“ One hundred percent on that sport and then it’ s on to the next one, and it’ s 100 percent in that one.”
The Bulldogs will get tested right from the start of the season, playing LeFlore County rival Panama.“ That’ s a big one,” Carter said.“ It’ s a rivalry game, it’ s very important. We’ ve been looking at this one since the end of last season. We want to go out and beat them pretty good.”
That opener for both teams will be impactful one. Spiro has a lot of tradition, and Panama is supposed to have one of its best teams in a while.
“ That’ s what the talk is,” Carter said.“ We’ ll see on the field.”
LeFlore County, OKLA.
Carter also hunts, fishes and was the president of the Future Farmers of America at the school last year and operates a lawn care company.
Davis Carter
Sam Tecla Rylan Waddell Tyler Fassio
Hunter Sparks Justice Barnes Kadon Craig
Brayden Hardwick Cash Jerrell Dakota Terrell
Talan Fairless Tyler Simkins Jay Skelton
Kingston Farrar Jimmy Culbreath Scout Smith
POTEAU( OKLA.) PIRATES
SPIRO( OKLA.) BULLDOGS
POCOLA( OKLA.) INDIANS
PANAMA( OKLA.) RAZORBACKS
ARKOMA( OKLA.) MUSTANGS
2023 RECORD 12-1, 7-0 4A-4 COACH Greg Werner( 36th year, 254-145) RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 6 defense KEY PLAYERS LB Rylan David Waddell( Sr., 6-0, 180), LB Tyler Fassio( Sr. 6-1, 215), OL Hunter Myers( Sr., 5-10, 180), QB Sam Tecla( Jr. 5-8, 170), OL Westin Archey( Sr. 6-2, 215).
SCHEDULE
2023 RECORD 6-5, 4-3 2A-6 COACH David Hogan( 1st year) RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Brycen Graham( Sr. 6-6, 210), DL Tyson Covey( Sr. 5-10, 240), CB Preston Darneal( Sr., 5-10, 150), OL Jacob Locke( Sr., 6-1, 220), LB Davis Carter( Sr. 6-0, 190)
SCHEDULE
2023 RECORD 7-4, 5-2 A-8 COACH Jason Parker( 6th year, 22-30) RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 6 defense KEY PLAYERS OL Caden Colbert( Sr., 5-8, 180), WR Cash Jerrell( Sr., 6-3, 155), Kotah Terrell( Sr., 6-9, 210), WR A. J. Lyons-Jerrell( Sr., 6-1, 220), OL Hayden Chaffey( Sr., 6-4, 240)
SCHEDULE
2023 RECORD 6-5, 5-2 A-8 COACH Chris Ford( 3rd year, 11-10) RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS DB Talan Fairless( Sr. 5-9, 160), QB Tyler Simkins( Sr. 5-9, 180), RB Caleb Brewer( Sr., 5-8, 175), LB Brody Clark( Sr., 6-2, OL 220), Jay Skelton( Sr., 6-0, 250)
SCHEDULE
2023 RECORD 2-8, 1-4 B-6 COACH Kathen Funburg( 2nd year, 2-8) RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS WR Jimmy Culbreath( Sr., 6-1, 155), CB Scout Smith( Jr., 5-11, 150), WR Kingston Farrar( Jr., 5-9, 140), WR Cody Morales( Sr., 5-10, 200).
SCHEDULE
Aug. 30 at Booneville Oct. 11 Glenpool *
Sept. 5 at Panama Oct. 11 Wilburton *
Aug. 30 Antlers Oct. 11 Hulbert *
Sept. 5 Spiro Oct. 11 Rejoice Christian *
Sept. 6 at Bluejacket Oct. 10 Wilson-Henryetta *
Sept. 6 McAlester Oct. 18 Tulsa McLain *
Sept. 13 Pocola Oct. 17 at Morris *
Sept. 13 at Spiro Oct. 17 at Chouteau-Mazie *
Sept. 13 at Heavener Oct. 17 at Warner *
Sept. 13 at Canadian Oct. 17 Gans *
Sept. 13 Tulsa NOAH Oct. 25 at Sallisaw *
Sept. 20 Muldrow Oct. 25 Atoka *
Sept. 20 Vian Oct. 25 Hartshorne *
Sept. 20 Wilburton Oct. 25 at Haskell *
Sept. 20 Maud Oct. 25 Cave Springs
Sept. 27 at Stilwell * Nov. 1 Hilldale *
Sept. 27 Vian * Nov. 1 at Henryetta *
Sept. 27 Warner * Nov. 1 at Panama *
Sept. 27 Chouteau * Nov. 1 Pocola *
Sept. 27 at Bowlegs Nov. 1 at Webbers Falls *
Oct. 4 at Ada * Nov. 8 at Broken Bow *
Oct. 4 at Valliant * Nov. 8 at Antlers *
Oct. 4 at Rejoice Christian * Nov. 8 Haskell *
Oct. 4 at Hulburt * Nov. 8 Hartshorne *
Oct. 4 Quinton Nov. 8 Keota
*— Denotes 4A-4 District game. All kickoffs 7 p. m. unless noted.
*— Denotes 2-II-4 District game. All kickoffs 7 p. m. unless noted.
*— Denotes A-I-4 District game. All kickoffs 7 p. m. unless noted.
*— Denotes A-I-4 District game. All kickoffs 7 p. m. unless noted.
*— Denotes B-II-4 District game. All kickoffs 7 p. m. unless noted.
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