08 Aug 2015 HARDING ACADEMY: Wildcats return 16 starters

Conference: 2-3A
Coach: Roddy Mote
’14 Record: 9-3 (7-0)

It was another banner year for the Harding Academy Wildcats. In 2014, the Wildcats swept 2-3A play for another conference title. Harding Academy fell to conference foe Mayflower in the second round of the playoffs.

“In 2014, we really improved throughout the year,” Coach Roddy Mote said. “Winning the conference was a great achievement for our football team. However, we were disappointed in the way our year ended and our inability to take care of the football down the stretch.”

The Wildcats will be just as dangerous this fall with seven starters returning on offense and nine on defense.

Senior Alex Francis returns at quarterback after throwing for 2,996 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2014. Senior Ryan Harness and junior Parker Harr will both see time at running back. The Wildcats return several capable receivers — seniors Luke Fouts (40 receptions, 767 yards, eight touchdowns), Hunter Gowen and Carson Gentry and juniors Ryan Turley (78 receptions, 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns), Garrison Hendrix, Kage Citty, Carter Sipe and Bryce Wiedower. Seniors Ty Mote, Weston Burks and Miles Clements lead the offensive line.

“We have a seasoned quarterback and a lot of depth at the skill positions who can do some special things with the ball in their hands,” Mote said. “If we can take care of the football and stay healthy on the offensive line, we have the potential to be good on offense.”

Mote (60 tackles), Clements (55 tackles) and Burks (25 tackles) also bring experience to the defensive lines. Harness (27 tackles), Wiedower (24 tackles) and Harr (17 tackles) fill out the linebacker corps. Fouts, Gowen, Turley, Gentry, Hendrix and Citty give the Wildcats depth in the secondary.

“If we can remain healthy and develop some depth at the linebacker positions on defense, we should be a lot better at the end of the year,” Mote said. “We expect to compete for the conference title. More importantly, we want to be in the playoffs and make a deep run.”