MALVERN -- A year after going 0-10 in the toughest conference in Class 4A, the Malvern Leopards have a new, yet familiar, coach in J.D. Plumlee, and he has high hopes for the team.
The winless season was the first for the Leopards, who previously had 1-9 seasons in 1974 and 1998, but Plumlee hopes to bring the team back to the days when the team was consistently spoken about around the state. He has brought in many who helped the team win championships -- from coach David Alpe to defensive back Harold Harris to three-time NFL nose tackle Keith Traylor.
"The tradition back when Madre [Hill] and Harold Harris ... and Keith Traylor and Isaac Davis, they expected to win," Plumlee said. "That's what coach Alpe said. Back when the tradition was rich and live, we got on the bus expecting to go win. When they got beat, everybody was shocked.
"But it's also the tradition on Friday nights there not being a seat left in the stadium after kickoff, the excitement of teh community. We've got to dust all that off and get the excitement back and get back to that rich tradition where the expectation is that we're going to win, no matter who we're playing. And it takes time to build that back."
Plumlee comes back to Malvern after working as an assistant under John Fogleman, and he spent the last two years at the helm of the Fountain Lake Cobras.
Offense
Plumlee installed his own version of the Spread, but he intends to use multiple looks on the offense -- from looks with two receivers and running backs and a tight end to a five wide receiver package.
"We're going to we're going to put our kids in the best situation to be successful," he said. "So if that means getting in 21 personnel and trying to run the ball downhill, we're going to do it. If that means getting five wide and trying to spread you out and put kids in space, we're going to do that as well. So we're going to fit our kids into a scheme that puts them in the best situation to be successful and then move the ball."
Seniors Jason Lambel (6-4, 328) and Daniel Luton (5-10, 240) return to secure the offensive line with size and strength. Lambel started the last two years at tackle and has multiple colleges interested while Luton has some quickness to offer at the guard position. Senior Colby Bergan (5-7, 190) will also see time at the guard spot.
Junior Dante Reed (5-10, 155) will line up as a slot receiver with a 4.8 speed. While inexperienced, he had impressive performances during 7-on-7 in the summer, making big plays when needed.
Senior Christian Warren (6-2, 205) returns as an outside receiver that, while not the fastest, "understands how to use his body." Classmate Dallas Lewis (6-1, 155) is a three-sport athlete (basketball, soccer) who will also be a big part of the receivers corps.
Plumlee said early in August that the quarterback position was wide open with junior Braxton Allen (6-3, 160) returning after generating just under 900 yards starting in 10 games last season, but freshman Cedrick Simmons (6-2, 180) led the undefeated junior high squad last year and could see snaps. Simmons is a dual-threat with a 4.7 speed and also trained at receiver in the spring and summer.
"I will probably not name a starter for Week 1 until Week 1," Plumlee said, noting that he has considered a two-QB system. "We'll go through all our fall camp and benefit game and split snaps. Those guys know that's what we've been doing all summer and what we'll continue to do."
The Leopards running backs will be a committee affair with juniors Jacobe Hart (5-6, 155) and Kieth Carradine (5-6, 175) as well as sophomores Marquez Johnson (5-7, 16) and Braylon Watson (6-1, 165) taking turns starting.
Defense
Plumlee and defensive coordinator Nick Brumfield have installed a 4-3 defense that is new to Leopard Country.
"It's a brand new scheme we've got," Plumlee said. "Guys are playing positions they've never played before."
Daniel Luton will anchor the defensive line, and junior Easton West (6-2, 190) will line up at defensive end.
Tre'sean Morman is experienced at linebacker, but he showed promise at middle linebacker during the spring and summer. Carradine, who did not play football last year, could start at outside linebacker, and Bergan will also be among the team's linebackers.
Several juniors will help to secure the secondary with Daylan Ross (5-11, 160) and Malique Reliford (5-9, 170) at cornerback. Lewis will split time at safety and corner on the defensive side of the ball.
Special Teams
Juniors Jesus Rodea (5-8, 135) and Isaiah Beard (6-1, 215), sophomore Kevin Cardona (6-1, 150) and Lewis can all kick, giving the Leopards plenty of options for kickoffs and point-after attempts.
The team will use a quarterback quick-kick for punting duties, and the receivers corps will step up to return the ball.
Opponents
As part of the 4A-7 conference, the Leopards have a tough schedule ahead of them, and Plumlee is starting that early with a Class 5A and a Class 6A opponent in addition to cross-county rival Glen Rose in Week 1.
While the Beavers are a 3A team, they are a consistent top-tier team in one of the top leagues in the division and have won the last three meetings of the schools. The Leopards host Class 6A Lake Hamilton in Week 2 before taking on Lakeside, who have made the Class 5A state playoffs the last five years.
The Leopards open their conference season on the road at Bauxite before alternating between home and away each week for the rest of the season with Haskell Harmony Grove, 4A state runner-up Joe T. Robinson and Nashville at home in Weeks 5, 7 and 9 with Ashdown, Fountain Lake and back-to-back 4A state champion Arkadelphia on the road.
"It's as tough as it's been the last five or six years," Plumlee said. "Arkadelphia, in my opinion, is the team to beat. Then you've got Joe T. Robinson that's going to be fighting for the [No.] 1 along with Nashville. ... Then you've got us, and a lot of people aren't sinking a lot into us, coming off an 0-10 season and playing a bunch of young kids. I think that a lot of people are going to write us off."
Sports on 08/30/2019