27 Aug 2024 501 Football Team 2024: Ryan Ballard – Lakeside

The year 2023 was one to remember for Hot Springs Lakeside. In one of their best seasons in recent memory, the Rams knocked off crosstown rivals Lake Hamilton and Hot Springs en route to a second-place finish in Class 5A South conference play and a dominant playoff win over Harrison.

This summer, the Rams have already proven that last season’s success was no fluke. 

In June, Lakeside won back-to-back seven-on-seven team camps, including the Shootout of the South, and appears to be in the driver’s seat heading toward its goals.

Senior playmaker Ryan Ballard said the Rams are just getting started in what appears to be a changing of the guard in Garland County.

“As a team, we want to go to the state championship,” he said. “With our amazing coaches and players, I think we can meet that goal.”

Despite facing injuries during his junior campaign, Ballard was critical for the resurgent Rams, averaging 20.8 yards per catch with blazing speed.

“Our expectations for Ryan this year are to stay healthy and run fast,” Head Coach Garren Rockwell said. “He ran a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash this spring. He makes everyone around him feel good about themselves and is always willing to help others.”

“I’m always competing, no matter what,” Ballard said. “I always want my teammates and coaches to be able to count on me. After high school, I would like to be remembered as reliable, and I hope to play college football after high school.”