FOUNTAIN LAKE -- Fountain Lake freshman offensive lineman Nicholas Soileau was one of just four Arkansas players to take to the field at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas, to play in the USA Football Middle School Bowl Game at the Dallas Cowboys practice facility.
Two of the remaining Arkansans, offensive lineman Eli Hill of Mabelvale and running back Nicholas Huett of Greenbrier, joined Soileau on the Stripes team. Lakeside receiver Pierce Smalley played against them on the Stars as four of the 96 athletes playing in last month's game.
"It was awesome," Soileau said, noting Texas A&M-Commerce offensive line coach Desmund Farris worked with the line. "There were a lot of good coaches from all over. They had DI coaches to DIII coaches. They had some schools that I really liked. They had Baylor, Ohio, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Monroe, a bunch of good schools that I like coaching us."
Soileau was one of seven offensive linemen chosen to play in the game for the Stripes, lining up at left tackle. The Stripes fell behind early as the Stars took a 15-0 lead with 3:18 left in the third quarter, but the team managed to bounce back to tie the game with 4:46 left in the game after a 49-yard pass set up the successful conversion play. Unfortunately for the Stripes, the Stars hit a 37-yard field goal to win the game, 18-15, as time expired.
Despite the fact that two Garland County athletes were playing in the game, neither Smalley nor Soileau had any idea the other was there until their fathers, Nick Smalley and Anthony Soileau, bumped into each other before the game.
"They met at a Subway," Soileau said. "It was pretty neat. I knew there was a kid from the same area, but I didn't know what school or who he was until the end of the game. We met him; he was on the opposing team."
This was not the first time Soileau played for USA Football. In January, Soileau played in the U15 International Bowl at AT&T Stadium for the Stripes.
Following a pair of tryouts in Texas and Georgia, Soileau was invited to play in the game in January as the only athlete playing on both sides of the ball.
Soileau started playing football in 2009 in Pearl River, La., which is northeast of New Orleans across Lake Ponchartrain. Due to his father's job, Soileau has moved to several different states, playing for teams in Tennessee and Virginia. He played for the Cobras two years ago before playing last year for the Central Virginia Hurricanes, which went 20-3.
His father said being able to see his son play in both the International Bowl and the Middle School Bowl Game made him proud.
"Both times, I was very proud of him to know that his hard work has paid off," he said. "It was just an honor, especially when the other parents came up and said, 'Man, I'm so glad he's protecting my son.' Either the quarterback's dad or the running back.
"It's great to hear those coaches, when they come back to speak on him, 'Superb work ethic, very humble and always doing what was asked of him.' To see him on the Jumbotron was unbelievable."
While football is a passion for Soileau, he is also involved in the community.
"He does lawn care," his father said. "I think that's what helps with his stamina. He volunteers. He knew an elder lady who is handicapped ... and in about two weeks, he built a handicap (ramp) for her. He didn't ask for money or anything."
Fountain Lake head coach J.D. Plumlee said he is also impressed with Soileau.
"This will be the first year I get to coach him," he said. "He moved away last year, and now they're back. He obviously brings good size (at 6-3, 330), and he's got a good football IQ. We're excited about getting him in there with that junior high offensive line.
"He's here every day. He works extremely hard. He's going to get stronger, and his feet are only going to get better. I think he's got a bright, bright future ahead of him."
Plumlee said Soileau has emerged as a leader on the offensive line.
"He'll be our left tackle," Plumlee said. "You can really tell that he loves playing the game of football. He'll only excel at that position. He can also play center.
"He can play anywhere on the offensive line, and obviously being a d-tackle for us, he's obviously going to require a double-team as strong as he is. We've just got to continue to get his feet better. He'll learn as he plays the game to play with his pads better."
Plumlee said Soileau's experiences this summer will help him to improve as a player.
"It's an honor to have him be a part of our program to be selected to do that," Plumlee said. "And that goes for any sport. I know -- there's no doubt -- he went down there and represented us well. He can use those experiences and come back and apply it here to what we're trying to get done."
Sports on 08/12/2018