27 Aug 2011 Players selected for first 501 Football Team

Forrest Been
Classification: Sr.
Position: WR
Team: Morrilton
Coach: Cody McNabb
On the field: Works hard, catches the ball well, smart football player, runs good routes.
Off the field: Great teammate, high character, good attitude.
Giving back: Involved at Morrilton First Baptist Church.
Sportsmanship qualities: Works hard and plays hard. Constantly encourages teammates and is a good example.
Classroom qualities: Good personality, gets along with everyone.
Expectations: Be a good leader and positive influence on the team.
Last season: Had a great attitude and played hard.

Chase Boyles
Classification: Sr.
Position: LB
Team: Cabot
Coach: Michael Malham
On the field: Defensive leader on the field – 105 tackles last year. Calls the defenses. Also leads by example. Never loafs, always goes full speed.
Off the field: Great student (3.79 GPA), great character, well mannered.
Sportsmanship qualities: Plays hard, great character.
Expectations: To lead by example and have a better year than last year.
Additional info: Great kid, works hard on the field and in the classroom.

Blake Bratton
Classification: Sr.
Position: OT/DT
Team: Magnet Cove
Coach: Ronnie Efird
On the field: Very coachable, knows his assignments and technique, football smart and loves the game.
Off the field: Respects his fellow students and teachers (‘yes sir’ type). Very strong in academics (32 ACT). Dependable. Rarely misses class or practice. Silent leader – leads by example.
Giving back: BETA club member, films junior high football games, runs clock for pee-wee football.
Sportsmanship qualities: Plays by the rules. He’s a gentle giant until the lights come on. Will knock the opposing player down, then help them up.
Expectations: I expect him to make All-State in class 2A and lead our team to a conference championship.
Last season: Made All-District. A force on the offensive line. Could not be blocked on the defensive line. Led our team to a state semi-final game.
Additional info: All the adjectives for the perfect student-athlete fit this kid.

Lonnie Curtis
Classification: Sr.
Position: WR/DB
Team: Bigelow
Coach: Jeff Starks
On the field: Lonnie’s work ethic is unmatched on the field. If you ask him to do something, he gives 110 percent.
Off the field: He is a good friend and classmate. Lonnie is very friendly and very giving.
Giving back: Lonnie sings in a praise and worship band. He volunteers for all school fundraisers.
Sportsmanship qualities: He’s always there to lift up his teammates. Lonnie never misses practice, and he’s always working to make his team and teammates better.
Expectations: Lonnie will excel on special teams (three-year starter). He will also contribute at cornerback and receiver.
Last season: Lonnie was great on kickoff and punt coverage and also helped at linebacker.
Additional info: Lonnie was the 2A state champion in 2010 in the mile run. He was the runner-up in 2011.

Bradley Gann
Classification: Sr.
Position: LB/TE
Team: Beebe
Coach: John Shannon
On the field: Good work ethic, good attitude, tries to lead by setting good examples, listens and learns well.
Off the field: Good attitude, good work ethic, smart, good grades, is open to meeting and talking to people to help them out in school. Honest and trustworthy.
Giving back: Helped community clean damage from tornadoes.
Sportsmanship qualities: Responsible, supportive, can be counted on, trustworthy, leader, good teammate, listens to others, sets good examples.
Classroom qualities: Helps other students with problems, makes good decisions, works hard and completes work. Friendly and accepts everyone as a friend.
Last season: Started at linebacker and on special teams.
Additional info: Team elected him as a leader for the team’s leadership program.

Garrett Gurkin
Classification: Sr.
Position: OT
Team: Bald Knob
Coach: Paul Johnston
On the field: Great work ethic and will to win.
Off the field: Good person, helps community, volunteers to help younger kids.
Sportsmanship qualities: Very respectful, good attitude on the field, constant encouragement and work ethic.
Classroom qualities: Expects teammates to represent our school well.
Expectations: To be a very important part of our team and to anchor our offensive line.
Last season: Was the leader of our line as a junior and set the tone of practice with his work ethic.

Kevin Johnson
Classification: Sr.
Position: OT
Team: Fountain Lake
Coach: Thomas Gilleran
On the field: Good leader, smart, talks to everybody.
Off the field: Does a lot of things with his church, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the community.
Giving back: He is always out giving back any way he can.
Sportsmanship qualities: Always helps his teammates and other people. He wants everybody else to succeed first.
Expectations: To start at offensive tackle and be a vital part of our team.

Dallas Martin
Classification: Sr.
Position: LB
Team: Lonoke
Coach: Doug Bost
On the field: Senior leadership, hustler, hard worker, dependable, encourages other teammates.
Off the field: Excellent student in the classroom – always shows good character.
Sportsmanship qualities: Always has a positive attitude on and off the field, pushes other teammates to always do their best. Always goes above and beyond and is respected by all teammates.
Expectations: Expecting a great senior year. He will be one of our leading tacklers and our vocal leader.
Last season: Was a defensive starter and led our off-season every day in warm-ups.

Austin Oberlag
Classification: Sr.
Position: DB/WR
Team: Central Ark. Christian
Coach: Tommy Shoemaker
On the field: Austin is a very hard worker, and he knows his assignments. He is going to give his best effort, and he’s very dependable.
Off the field: Austin is a young man of tremendous character. He is someone that his teammates and coaches can depend on and trust. He displays a positive attitude and is an encourager.
Giving back: Austin is very active in his youth group and church. He often leads worship and is involved in leadership. Every summer, Austin goes on a mission trip to serve others in different parts of the world.
Sportsmanship qualities: Because of the character that Austin possesses, he also displays the qualities of sportsmanship. He will praise good play by his teammates and opponents. He’s not going to taunt or draw extra attention to himself. Austin is a team player. His willingness to serve, to work and to lead are evident to his teammates and his coaches.

Park Parish
Classification: Sr.
Position: QB
Team: Clinton
Coach: Chris Dufrene
On the field: Makes good decisions on when to run or pass – only two interceptions last year.
Off the field: Leader in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and youth group.
Sportsmanship qualities: Great competitor, always respects opponents, makes other players play better.
Expectations: Run and throw for 1,000 yards each.
Additional info: First quarterback to win our Ironman Competition in the spring. Also plays basketball and baseball (all-conference).

Kevin Peterson
Classification: Sr.
Position: LB/RB
Team: Quitman
Coach: Fritz Heidenreich
On the field: Kevin is tenacious on the field. His motor is running at top speed all the time. He NEVER takes a play off.
Off the field: Kevin is a hard worker in the classroom also and a leader among the students at school.
Giving back: Kevin is willing to help fellow teammates and students. He often transports other players that may not have a ride.
Sportsmanship qualities: Kevin is a good teammate because no one ever questions his desire to be the best. He will do everything possible to succeed.
Expectations: His tenacious attitude is contagious to other players. He will set the tone for us defensively.
Additional info: Kevin is an unbelievable worker whose goal is to play college football. He stays after and works in the weight room. His work ethic inspires others to work harder. He is definitely a very important key to our success.

Tyler Plezia
Classification: Sr.
Position: DT/OT
Team: Mayflower
Coach: Jed Davis
On the field: Very aggressive player. He never quits, and his motor is always going. Never takes a play off.
Off the field: He is always willing to help out. He will pick up the locker room without being asked, or he will help a teacher with something they need. He is also an active leader in his local youth group.
Giving back: He has volunteered his time cleaning up after the tornado. Spent time working with the pee-wee teams and also volunteered at people’s house to help with yard work.
Sportsmanship qualities: Very aggressive player during the play, but as soon as the whistle blows, he will help his opponent up.
Expectations: I expect him to be a two-way starter and a leader of our team. I expect him to be one of our leading tacklers and offensive linemen.

Kipley Powell
Classification: Sr.
Position: DB
Team: Conway
Coach: Clint Ashcraft
On the field: Very intelligent – football smart; hard worker – gives his all every snap; dependable – he’s a guy our team can count on.
Off the field: Intelligent, always has a positive attitude and a smile on his face.
Giving back: National Honor Society, member of CHS Caring Cat Club, active in his youth group at Central Baptist Church.
Sportsmanship qualities: Kipley plays all out from whistle to whistle. When a play is over, he’ll help his opponent up or give them a pat on the back. He just loves to compete. He’s a leader on the field, in the locker room and in the classroom.
Classroom qualities: Helpful to other students – just like in football. Polite and courteous.
Expectations: To be an all-conference and all-state defensive back.
Last season: He started all 12 games for us last year as a junior and did a great job.
Additional info: He’s a very mature young man and just a pleasure to coach. I wish we had a dozen more of him!
Chase Roberts
Classification: Sr.
Position: QB
Team: Greenbrier
Coach: Randy Tribble
On the field: Team player – studies, prepares; unselfish player – makes the team better by the way he practices; helps everyone else – like having another coach on the field.
Off the field: Unselfish, encourager, work ethic – will give time to kids.
Giving back: Volunteers with youth camps, helps coach youth football, leader in his youth group.
Sportsmanship qualities: Fair, honest, encourager, cares more about others, will do anything for the team.
Expectations: He will be a great teammate and will help others be better prepared. He backs up our starting quarterback, Neal Burcham. When Chase plays, he will play very well and help his team win.

James Sax
Classification: Jr.
Position: RB/DB
Team: Vilonia
Coach: Jim Stanley
On the field: Speed and strength.
Off the field: Good moral character.
Giving back: Very well liked in the community because of his kindness and compassion to others.
Sportsmanship qualities: Hard worker and a person who truly cares for each of his teammates.
Expectations: I expect James to have a great year. He has worked very hard to be physically prepared.
Last season: James will be a three-year starter this year. He is a very important part to our team.
Tanner Stevenson
Classification: Jr.
Position: QB/WR
Team: Conway Christian
Coach: Michael Carter
On the field: Always positive, great encourager, he lifts people up, very good leader.
Off the field: High character, puts God first in all he does. Leads by example.
Giving back: Works with his church in doing service projects and also through school.
Sportsmanship qualities: Encourages, always gives credit to others, makes the people around him better players.
Expectations: To give it his all, all the time. To be a team leader on and off the field.
Last season: Played and started as a sophomore on defense and offense.

Dillion Winfrey
Classification: Sr.
Position: WR/CB/KR/PR
Team: Bryant
Coach: Paul Calley
On the field: Dillion plays with a tremendous amount of heart and intensity. He is one of few players in 7A that plays almost every snap during a game. He starts at receiver and corner and excels on every special team.
Off the field: He is a very polite and humble young man that leads by example. An honest and caring person that wants to help others and has a great attitude to go along with a tremendous work ethic.
Giving back: Dillion recently helped set up, serve and clean up for the Bryant Boys and Girls Club Hometown Hero Banquet. He is also a volunteer mentor at the club and very active at his church.
Sportsmanship qualities: He is a fierce competitor but always conducts himself with class. He is one that makes a lot of big plays without all the “showboating” we often see. He sacrifices what could be gaudy stats on offense to help his team on defense and special teams. I categorize him as one of the most unselfish players I’ve ever coached.
Classroom qualities: His willingness to tutor teammates that may be struggling in subjects that he is strong in.
Expectations: I fully expect him to contribute in every phase of the game with every ounce of energy he has to help his team be successful.
Additional info: Dillion never complains about being spread so thin. He just continues to work hard. A sheer joy to be around each day.