Summer work paying off for prep football teams

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For every high school football coach in Faulkner County, 7-on-7 summer leagues and performance camps played an important part in developing their respective teams.

Everyone from Greenbrier's first-year coach Randy Tribble to Conway's Kenny Smith, who has spent well more than a decade as the Wampus Cats' head guy, saw some noticeable improvements in their student-athletes this summer.

"Hopefully, we're heading in the right direction," Tribble said. "We're getting better and better each week."

Faulkner County's five high schools, which have football programs focused on making their players bigger, stronger and faster by using their summer workout programs and by attending team camps. By playing in 7-on-7 summer leagues, the schools have also improved the knowledge of those participating players. Even Conway Christian's players have been going full-blown in team camps. There's been a large number of players who are privately working out with trainers and are using programs to build and maintain power and speed, such as going through Conway's Parissi Performance School training. The Eagles will be playing their inaugural season in the Arkansas Activities Association this fall. They'll be in the 2-5A and competition will include Bigelow, Cutter Morning Star, Ola, Mountain Pine and Quitman.

The Vilonia Eagles found some role players in 7-on-7 this summer, but coach Jim Stanley said one of the team's major focuses was attending team camps. The team went to Troy, Ala., for a camp, and they also work out in Conway at the Parissi Performance School.

"Our guys have been working hard," Stanley said. "We're getting to look at some guys at different spots."

Stanley was also impressed with Tyler Head, who is listed as the starting quarterback this fall. Head will have tough shoes to fill this fall following behind last year's all-state performer Kevin Puckett. Head played running back last fall, but Stanley said his hard work at quarterback started in February.

According to Smith, 7-on-7 football helped bring along his players, especially the incoming sophomores such as players like Desmond Cox. The Cats also had 15 morning workouts this summer, and they had good turnouts for those practices that started at 6 a.m.

"Our heads just went through the roof," Smith said, referring to the first day that the coaches walked in and saw the number of players that attended.

The Mayflower Eagles finished the 7-on-7 season with a better record than anyone in the county. Mayflower coach Jed Davis said his relationship with starting quarterback Jordan Dycus has grown over that span, during extra film and training sessions. Davis said the defense also made big strides during this summer.

With the work the various teams have been putting in, the fall could hold excitement in store for Faulkner County.