16 Aug 2017 CLINTON: Yellow Jackets expect 1-3A title repeat

Conference: 1-3A
Coach: Chris Dufrene
’16 Record:  8-3

A move back down to 3A was kind to the Clinton Yellow Jackets, who stormed to an 8-2 record in the regular season — good enough for a share of the 1-3A title. The Yellow Jackets got off to a good start in Week 1 and never looked back.

“Starting the year beating Heber Springs in the Battle of the Little Red River was big for us,” said Coach Chris Dufrene.

Clinton will go young with sophomore Weston Amos at quarterback. Caleb Bowman (full back), Sky Davidson (running back) and Charlie Sowell (wing back) feature in the Wing T. Senior Nate Lonnon is the top target at receiver. Caleb Kirkpatrick (tackle), Ty Parker (guard), Jayden Exzabe (guard) and Kelley Collins (tackle) start on the offensive line. Mason Dowell and Kade Treadaway rotate at center.

Kirkpatrick and Cort Bagley lead up front on the defensive line at the tackle spots. Collins holds down the nose guard. Dowell, Bryce Brawner, Bowman and Davidson defend the middle at the four linebacker spots in Clinton’s 3-4 defensive scheme. Lonnon (safety), Sowell (safety), Ethan Drake (corner) and Austin Drake (corner) man the secondary.

“We have lots of young skill players,” Dufrene said. “Our goal is to win the conference. We have talented skill guys, but we face a lack of depth in our number of linemen.”