PEARCY -- A year after leading the Wolves to the Class 6A state final, Lake Hamilton head football coach Tommy Gilleran knows that this year will be far from a walk in the park.
The Wolves lost several players to graduation from last year's squad, leaving Gilleran with many questions leading up to the team's season opener against Lakeside Friday.
"You know, we lost three offensive linemen and two tight ends, and so we really need to see those kids live and in action against somebody other than ourselves," he said, referring to the team's Aug. 16 scrimmage at Arkadelphia. "And so that was good for us to see. You know, of course Arkadelphia, I'm sure they're going to, they're going to probably pick fairly high in their conference this year. So we got a good competition out of them. And then defensively, you know, we had to replace one of our corners and a safety and I think one D-lineman."
One of the team's highlights from last season was transfer Alex Hurtz, who provided a huge benefit to the team as a placekicker. The senior (6-0, 160) returns after a year of strength training under the Wolves and is proving better than he was at the end of the season and picks up the team's punting responsibilities.
"I feel like through the strength training and the program we have here, I feel like he's a lot stronger," Gilleran said. "You know, this summer he was kicking it five yards into the end zone. Later in the year, he was kicking it like, right on the goal line, and so we're hoping that because of his strength, that he'll kick in the end zone every time; we won't have to cover, which is a big deal, I think, on kickoff, and then he's going to be our punter this year, too."
Junior Justin Crutchmer (5-10, 170) will be called upon to do most of the kick return work on both punts and kickoffs with classmate Kendrick Martin (6-1, 201) and senior Owen Miller (5-11, 213) also lining up deep on kicks.
"We feel like Justin's a dynamic runner," Gilleran said. "Great vision, got good speed, one of our faster kids. We feel like he's going to be a good one. You know, Owen's going to be back there, too, and, you know, Kendrick Martin. ... Pretty much Crutchmer is the guy we're looking at. We feel like he's got little speed, little savvy on that kind of stuff. So we feel good about those aspects there. He likes that role, so that'll be good for him."
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Offensively, junior Brayden Aitken (6-1, 252) will anchor the line at center with plenty of experience joining him.
Senior three-year starter Chase Jessup (6-4, 286) will line up just to Aitken's left with classmate Blake Merriott (6-0, 259) starting at left tackle after some experience last year. Seniors Dylan Horton (6-4, 252) and Brennan Hudson (5-11, 289) will line up on the right side to finish out the offensive line.
"Chase is a lot better this year; he's more polished," Gilleran said. "Even (last week), he was finishing blocks -- you know, a lot of pancakes and stuff like that. Of course, he's committed to Arkansas State. ... Dylan Horton, we moved him to right guard. We lost our other guard, and Dylan moves really good for a big kid, got really good hands. Dylan's been offered by most Division II schools in Arkansas."
Senior Gavin Robbins (6-1, 232) moves to tight end from outside linebacker.
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Lake Hamilton Wolves at practice
The Lake Hamilton Wolves have plenty to look forward to this season. - Photos by Richard Rasmussen of The Sentinel-Record
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"Gavin played outside linebacker last year," Gilleran said. "He's now our tight end, and Gavin has the best hands on the team. He's a really good receiver. He's a bigger kid. He did a really good job blocking the other night. Now he did drop a ball, but we feel like he's one of our better receivers. We'll look to him a lot to throw the ball."
Seniors Collin Ashcraft (6-0, 160) and Arber Maksuti (5-10, 169) will be joined by junior Riley Harris (5-10, 169) to lead the receivers corps for the Wolves. Senior Jace Joiner (5-9, 188) will line up as the team's other tight end with Harris also seeing time in the position.
Senior Grant Bearden (6-0, 162), who was battlefield promoted to quarterback during the Wolves' scrimmage against Arkadelphia last season after Layne Warrick was injured, returns after completing 33 of 63 for 704 yards and six scores with just two interceptions in 12 starts. Sophomore Easton Hurley (5-11, 167) has been taking some snaps during the summer to back up Bearden in case of injury.
Junior Kendrick Martin (6-1, 201) returns at wing back while seniors Owen Miller (5-11, 200) and Tevin Hughes (5-8, 214) return at halfback and fullback, respectively. Martin had 88 carries for 718 yards and seven scores as a sophomore with six catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Miller's junior year saw the halfback with 239 touches for 1,769 yards and 21 touchdowns with 11 of his 13 games going beyond the century mark with 12 catches for 311 yards and another four TDs. Hughes averaged 148.1 yards per game with 250 carries for 1,925 yards and 22 scores.
Senior Lincoln Pate (5-9, 141), junior Wyatt Wolf (5-6, 125) and classmate Caleb Waller (5-11, 149) could also see time in the backfield.
Defensively, Waller and senior Ethan Watson (6-0, 156) will return at the corners.
"Ethan's an All Conference player, was our best corner last year," Gilleran said. "So we feel good about him. He played pretty good the other night until he busted his chin."
Crutchmer will line up on the weak side at safety while junior transfer Dakota Muncrief (6-0, 165) will line up on the strong side. Senior Noah Tiernan is the team's nickelback, filling in at both safety slots or at outside linebacker while classmate Hunter Hanna (5-8, 161) will see time at rover.
Juniors Jamarrion Byrd (5-10, 218) and Izic Clenney (5-7, 165) secure the interior of the backfield.
Seniors Zach Roberts (5-10, 214) and Ken Dong (5-8, 203) line up at defensive end with Robbins stepping in as needed. Senior Dylan Williams (5-11, 242) and junior Kaleb Williams (5-10, 226) beef up the interior of the defensive line.
As far as the season goes, Gilleran said that Greenwood would be the team to beat this season.
"They'll be the favorite until somebody knocks them off," he said. "But I feel like we have a chance to get them this year. I think if we can continue to get better and work on those things. I feel like we have a chance to get them."
The Wolves open their season Friday at 7 p.m. against Lakeside.