Hot Springs is 0-3 for the second consecutive year but with renewed hopes going into its 5A-South opener tonight at Watson Chapel.
The Trojans get a fresh start, so to speak, after a 115-yard effort in last week's 49-0 road loss to Arkadelphia.
"That was one of our things going in last week," said Hot Springs coach Chris Vereen. "We just kept putting ourselves behind the 8-ball. We started the game off with a penalty on offense. ... Right now, our game plan, especially against teams like Arkadelphia and Watson Chapel, is to slow it down and practice some ball control. What we can't do is put ourselves behind the sticks."
Senior running back Kenny Byrd is out up to three weeks, perhaps longer, with a dislocated elbow.
"That's the best-case scenario," Vereen said. "Worst-case scenario, he could have to have surgery.
"We've still got Damien Walker back there who's had a good year," the coach said. "Of course, Coby Wallace, the last two games, has provided us a spark at fullback. Deante Sanders will be filling Kenny's shoes this week. Deante's just a sophomore, but he's a talented sophomore. The other night, he had two big runs; one of them got called back for a block in the back, and then he had about a 40-yard run and gets the ball stripped out as he crossed midfield. Deante definitely has tools to do it. We need him to go out and get some ball security and continue doing what he's been doing."
Watson Chapel runs a Spread offense but the Wildcats "like to run the ball more than they throw it," Vereen said.
Sophomore quarterback Devin Curry totaled 172 yards, connecting on seven of 14 passes for 84 yards, last week against defending Class 4A champion Warren.
"They run a lot of zone reads with the quarterback," Vereen said. "He's just a sophomore, but he can run. Definitely, if I had to pick a strong suit between running and throwing, we would rather him be throwing the football. He is a definite threat to run."
Berkarian Black returned two kickoffs for 102 yards. Senior Omar Allen is a solid returning starter for a team that reached the state semifinals last year.
While the Wildcats have a tough defense, Vereen expects it to be less potent than the one his team faced last week.
"We knew going in, Arkadelphia, even though they've been putting up a lot of points, it's coming from their defense. They have not given up a point all year long to anybody, and their defense really, really put their offense in some good situations. Plus, they had a defensive score. The teams I've seen on film and what I've seen, I really think Arkadelphia may be the best defense we see all year long, definitely the best defense we've seen up to this point."
Sports on 09/22/2017