Photo by Kevin Nagle
By Rob Patrick
At 7:30 tonight:
— When the pep rallies are in the past,
— The press conferences and media interviews are over,
— The peanut butter and beanie weenies have been gathered,
— The tailgate party concludes,
— 30,000 fans or so have taken their seats,
— The community service awards are handed out,
— The Future Panthers and Future Hornets and cheerleaders have dashed onto the field and off it,
— And the governor has helped toss the special Salt Bowl coin,
When all the things that make this year’s Salt Bowl slogan (More Than Just A Game) so appropriate are concluded, there will be football.
And it should me very interesting.
In the 45th meeting between the Bryant Hornets and the Benton Panthers, the interest from their respective fans may be as much about seeing what changes, what twists, what wrinkles each teams’ new coaches has instigated.
Well, almost. After all, this is the Salt Bowl with a huge trophy on the line for the 17th time.
Buck James, who led Camden Fairview to a Class 5A State championship a few years ago, now leads the Bryant program along with an almost completely revamped staff, drawn from the Bryant freshman staff (quarterbacks coach Kirk Bock and linebackers coach Travis Queck), the Bryant middle school staff (offensive line coach Shane Clancy) and other schools (secondary coach Darrell Burnett from Malvern, receivers coach Robert Hooks from Fort Smith Northside, special teams coach Joe Teague from Little Rock Christian). Defensive line coach Brad Stroud is the lone member of the staff who remains.
At Benton, Brad Harris, who has been the defensive coordinator for the Panthers for the last two years, has taken over as head coach. The only change in his staff is the addition of Garrett Hammons from Heber Springs as linebacker coach, numerically taking the spot of former head coach-turned athletic director Scott Neathery. Harris’ staff includes former Bryant players Bobby Winn, Jason Gentry and Michael McClellan.
Both teams are trying to develop offensively. Both seem to be established on defense. So it could be a low scoring game.
On offense, the Hornets only return 1,000-yard rusher DeAmonte Terry and wide receiver Landon Smith. The entire offensive line is new and, according to James, could have two sophomores starting tonight.
Defensively, the defensive line is bolstered by returning starters in Hayden Knowles and Madre Dixon. Linebacker Marvin Moody is back. In the secondary, Cameron Vail, Mike Jones and Devon Davis each played a lot in 2015. Another returnee, Phillip Isom-Green, injured a knee in a preseason scrimmage at Pulaski Academy and will miss his senior season.
Benton too has fewer starters back on offense but the offensive line is bolstered by senior center Brett Tittle. Quarterback Nate Beck started six games last season and running back Brandon Hunter picked up over 1,000 yards last season. Trey Pepper leads the receiving corps.
On defense, the Panthers have linebackers Brayden Harris and Braylon Alcorn back as starters along with linemen Chandler Clift and Mel Hegwood. Preston Stone and Beau Brewer are back from the 2015 secondary.
Both teams boast experienced kickers. Bryant’s is Hayden Ray who equaled a school mark in field goals in the season with 13 and led the Hornets in scoring in 2015. Matt Warrick returns for Benton.
So the key may very well be, which team’s new starters step up as the Hornets and the Panthers do battle once again.
