25 Aug 2010 501 Football Extra: Glen Rose Beavers
But Mark Kehner returns just three starters from that squad to run the Spread offense and four for the 4-2 defense, so the Beavers face a bit of rebuilding work in 2010.
“We lost four out of five on the offensive line, so that’s going to be tough,” Kehner said. “And having to start a sophomore quarterback will be extremely tough.”
Collin Hunter (5-11, 175) gets the starting nod at quarterback. A revamped line is needed to protect him and to block for senior running back Steven Kehner, the coach’s son, who earned more than 2,000 yards as a junior.
After falling in the first two games to larger schools Ashdown and Hot Springs, Glen Rose finished 5-2 in the 5-3A with losses to Fountain Lake, the eventual state champion, and Bauxite. The Beavers advanced to the Class 3A state playoffs as the third seed from the league. They beat Cedarville in the first round, 55-47; and Barton, in the second, 28-14, before falling to Prescott, the eventual state runner-up, 45-25 in the quarterfinals.
“It ended up an outstanding year,” Kehner said. “We had to replace a lot of seniors from the previous season. After we started 0-2, the kids picked it up and finished strong in the conference and made the third round (of the playoffs), which was pretty impressive for that team.”
The 0-2 start turned out to work in the Beavers’ favor.
“Ashdown and Hot Springs were extremely fast, and that made us play faster,” Kehner said. “We got some experience in a hurry.”
Hunter doesn’t look to be the typical sophomore quarterback. He led the junior Beavers to a 5-2 record last year, so he’s used to winning.
“He’s a good-sized kid, too, 5-11 and probably 175 pounds,” Kehner said.
The leading candidates to start on the offensive line include senior Michael Thomas (6-1, 200) at center, senior Tanner Glenn (5-10, 240) and sophomore Tyler Southworth at the guards; and seniors Justin Moreland (5-10, 250) and Seth Matlock (6-2, 250) at the tackles.
Receivers include seniors Dylan Scroggins (6-0, 180), Shane Tuggle (5-10, 165) and Cameron Hixon (6-0, 170) and junior Dustin Moore (5-10, 160).
“Tuggle is speedy,” Kehner said. “He’s probably the fastest guy on our team.”
Defensively, seniors Ryan Taylor (5-10, 190), Kyle Porter (5-10, 175) and Chad House (6-1, 220) are set for the line, with seniors Dylan Ray (5-8, 175), Jonathan Lackey (6-0, 185) and Thomas and junior Dalton Furman (5-9, 175) to man the linebacker spots. The secondary will include Tuggle and Kehner at the defensive backs and Moore at free safety.
The Beavers will face a stiff non-conference schedule again, with Bauxite, Hot Springs and Mayflower.
“We’ll know where we are early,” Kehner said. “We’re replacing a lot of kids on both sides of the ball, but they’ll be replaced with older kids. They just don’t have as much experience as the ones before.”
The new 5-3A champion will again go through Fountain Lake. But now with realignment, Prescott has been added, so the top two teams from Class 3A will be in the same division.
“And I’m putting Jessieville there too, with all they’ve got returning,” Kehner said. “We should be in there somewhere in the middle of the pack with Bismarck.”
So a return to the playoffs is the goal again for the Beavers.
5 Players to Watch: Steven Kehner (Sr. RB/DB), Shane Tuggle (Sr. WR/DB), Dylan Scroggins (Sr. WR), Tanner Glenn (Sr. OG) and Collin Hunter (So. QB).
0
1 Must-see Game: “Jessieville is our second conference game, and they’ve got so many players returning, that will determine where we stand real fast.” – Kehner
2010 Schedule
Sept. 3 Bauxite
Sept. 10 Hot Springs
Sept. 17 at Mayflower
Sept. 24 at Benton Harmony Grove*
Oct. 1 Jessieville*
Oct. 8 Bismarck*
Oct. 15 at Fountain Lake*
Oct. 22 at Centerpoint*
Oct. 29 Cutter Morning Star*
Nov. 5 at Prescott*
