Both sides have more to think about than what happened when Hot Springs and Lake Hamilton played last year.
When the local teams open their seasons tonight at Wolf Stadium, it will be hard to match last year's drama. The lead changed hands five times, twice on field goals in the final four minutes and Lake Hamilton winning 27-26 on Ethan Johnson's 20-yard boot with 28.2 seconds left.
Hot Springs, which rebounded from 0-3 nonconference to claim 5A-South and win a playoff game, figures to have that outcome more in mind.
"Obviously, our kids have a bad taste in their mouth," coach Chris Vereen said. "They feel like we could have won that ballgame; I feel like we could have won that ballgame. The bottom line is we didn't."
Despite having a flock of key players back, led by running back/safety Cleo Floyd, Vereen stopped short of saying his team is bent on a payback.
"Yes, it is a crosstown rivalry. Yes, our kids are going to be fired up to play them," he said, "but we're trying to keep in perspective our ultimate goal, which is to win another conference championship and go farther than we did last year. We'd love to play for a state champi0nship, and that's one of our goals."
Before complementing the Trojans' effort, Lake Hamilton coach Jerry Clay played down the effect of last year's outcome.
"I don't think it has any bearing on this year," Clay said. "I haven't really thought about it."
Hot Springs led 20-14 on Floyd's 61-yard run in the second quarter and 26-24 on Alex Tobar's 25-yard field goal with 3:55 to play.
"They were good. I think they're going to be good again," Clay said. "They did a good job; they had a good plan. It was a pretty evenly matched game."
Floyd had only 64 of his season-total of 2,010 rushing yards but scored the first touchdown by returning an interception out of the Trojan end zone.
"He's a playmaker," Clay said. "He can make plays. I'm very impressed with him."
But Clay said he has no special defensive plan to contain the prolific Floyd, object of opponents' attention once he began piling up yardage a year ago.
Little Rock Christian keyed on Floyd in a scrimmage last week, giving fellow running back Kayvon Ward and first-year quarterback Ethan O'Riley chances to make opponents think twice.
"With people keying on Cleo, we're going to have to relieve the pressure and find some other ways to move the ball," Vereen said. "Between Ethan and Kayvon I think we're starting to find some answers there."
Lake Hamilton's defense, led by returning linebackers Eli Jackson and Noah Rengstorf, was solid in a scrimmage at Cabot. A dysfunctional offense, particularly botched snaps, caused concern.
"Our problem against Cabot was turnovers," Clay said. "We've definitely focused on that -- daily, hourly."
The snap issues could lead Clay to play Jackson, last year's starting fullback, at guard. The senior has worked at both positions since spring practice.
"Because of our snapping problems we've been working different centers," Clay said.
Lake Hamilton lost all of its original 2014 starting linemen to graduation, although tackle Austin Alexander made several starts because of injuries.
"Even though they are huge up front, we've got a lot of guys with experience coming back from last year," Vereen said. "That's definitely going to be a concern for them, bringing in a lot of guys who don't have a lot of Friday-night experience. But again, the tools are there."
Like every other Garland County team, the Wolves will have a new quarterback. In their case, two -- seniors Bryce Briggs and Noah Teague.
"Both are going to play," Clay said. "They may be splitting playing time. Right now, that's the plan."
Teague has been slowed by a sore knee since a summer seven-on-seven game.
O'Riley is Hot Springs' new No. 1 quarterback. The junior had only one scrimmage completion, but teammates dropped three potential touchdown tosses.
"We're tickled to death with Ethan," Vereen said. "That was one of our big question marks coming into spring football. We saw some good things out of Ethan in JV games and the few snaps he did get in varsity last year. In my opinion, Ethan has gone above and beyond what we thought he was going to do. ... Even in the scrimmage, offensively I thought Ethan was the brightest spot we had out there. Obviously we have to catch the ball more."
"He looks like he can run their offense," Clay said. "The thing you have to guard against, since they run the ball so well, is the play-action pass."
Junior Johnathan Buss takes over for the graduated Donnel West as Lake Hamilton's No. 1 tailback. Clay said junior Ramar Easter and sophomores Randall Nichols, Jacob Nichols (no relation) and Juan Jackson also could get carries.
Vereen's primary target is the hard-charging Buss.
"The Buss kid is a straight-nose runner. He's fast," Vereen said. "I really feel like it's going to turn into the same kind of game it was last year. I think it's going to be a run affair on both sides of the football."
But, he added, "I think our secondary is going to get tested deep several times, so we've got to be ready for that. I think you know how I feel about our front seven. I feel really good about out offensive and defense fronts."
Said Clay,"It's just going to come down to execution, and how we match up up front."
Sports on 09/04/2015