Van Buren seniors see third change in three years

Van Buren’s seniors will undergo their third major change in three years this season, and the biggest change begins up front for the Pointers. “Anytime you’re making a shift from what they’ve done in the past to what we’re doing now, that’s a bigger challenge for those guys up front,” Van Buren head coach Casey Dick said. “Not just pass blocking a little bit more, but some of the schemes we’re doing are a little bit different.” Dick was named the new head coach in April when Greg Werner decided to return to Oklahoma and headed for Muskogee Hilldale. Last year, the Pointers changed back to the spread formation after being in the flexbone run-oriented offense when this group of seniors was sophomores. Van Buren was 0-10 last year, including 0-7 in the 7A-West but lost at Rogers Heritage in overtime and to Rogers the next week just 24-17. Up front, this season, only senior Hunter Gregory (6-0, 220) returns with experience so the Pointers are rebuilding with a lot of new faces along the offensive line. “They’ve come a long way from the spring, and they’ll continue to improve as we come out here and they get more familiar with our terminology and what we’re asking them to do,” said Dick, the former Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback who’s been the offensive coordinator at Bentonville West the last two years. Junior Jackson Hurst (6-1, 210) and senior Josiah Acorn (6-1, 197) are working at the tackle positions up front with senior Garrett Standifird (5-11, 274) and junior Stephen Young (6-1, 215) at guards. Sophomore Jeiden Safonov (5-10, 186) and senior Matthew Maruiri (5-10, 240) are also vying for playing time in the trenches. “There’s some other guys that will fill in there,” Dick said. “They just have to take advantage of the opportunity in fall camp.” Senior quarterback Christian Morrow (5-11, 190) started the three nonconference games last year before a season-ending injury sidelined him. Morrow, also a track standout, made it back in time to compete in the last couple of track meets in the spring. “Anytime you have a quarterback coming back with experience that’s a plus,” Dick said. “To get back there and it’s not the first snap of the first game of the season, we feel comfortable with that. We’ll do some things back there with our personnel and try to move some people around and do some things. It’s always a plus to have a kid like Christian who is mobile and can run. It will be different from traditional teams in how we use him. He’ll be an asset and will should the load. He’s taking it well and has improved every time he comes out here.” Morrow completed 32 of 56 passes for 522 yards and four touchdowns in his three games, which included 237 yards and a touchdown at Siloam Springs before his injury. In addition to working behind an inexperienced line, Morrow will also have a relatively inexperienced receiving corps as well. Senior Logan Humphreys (6-5, 230) led the team in receiving last season and is the lone experienced receiver. He snared 32 passes for 418 yards and two touchdowns, including seven catches for 117 yards and a score against Northside. Sophomore Haden Roark (5-10, 165), Konnor Anawaty (6-0, 160), junior Bobby Theplama (5-5, 130), junior Jude Bartholomew (6-1, 165), sophomore Gary Phillips (6-1, 180), senior Dylan Dye (5-10, 155), senior Presley Kindrix (6-3, 190), and senior Brayden Fimple (6-3, 185) are all possibilities. Several of those players will also see action in the secondary. “We’ll have some defensive guys that will come over and play receiver,” Dick said. Senior Brayden Rivas (5-6, 162) has some experience at running back after rushing for 274 yards on 58 carries last year in spot duty. Senior Isaac Davis (5-10, 180) will also run the ball some in addition to his starting duties at cornerback. The defensive line has been the shining spot for the Pointers throughout off-season drills and practices. Junior Cha’Raun Page (5-11, 260), junior Miles Kuykendall (6-3, 201), junior R.J.Riley (6-1, 210), and sophomore T.J. Dyer (5-11, 170) are working up front and playing time will be dictate a lot on whether the Pointers are in a 3-4 of 4-3 look. “Those guys up front, I feel like that’s an area of strength for us,” Dick said. “They’ve done a good job of grasping what we want to do from the first day until now. They’ve gotten a lot better as far as scheme and overall what we want them to do.” Junior Devin Swearingen (5-11, 190) and senior Laiken Stikeleather (5-11, 225) are experienced players back at linebacker. “We’ve got some guys with experience that we feel good about,” Dick said. “They’re continuing to improve and grasp everything like a lot of the other guys like on their technique and every single day they come out here.” Certainly an important factor of Van Buren’s defense will be the physical play of senior Landrey Wilkerson (6-0, 180), who will roll down from safety and play a striker position at linebacker at times. “A jack of all trades for us,” Dick said. “He’s done a great job ever since we first came out here of being a leader. It’s been awesome to watch him grow and watch him take that defense and be the leader of the defense.” Davis, junior Trent Ball (6-3, 210) and junior David Evans (5-9, 164) are working at corners with Dye and Ball also working at safeties in addition to Wilkerson. “We feel like we have some guys that rotate in and do a good job,” Dick said. Rivas will handle the punting duties while senior Chris Flores taking on the kicking duties. “I like the kids’ attitudes, their work ethic and their approach every day,” Dick said. “They know we’re not where we need to be, but they continue to improve every single day we come out here, and that’s all we can ask for.”

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Van Buren High School Athletics

VAN BUREN SENIORS SEE THIRD CHANGE IN THREE YEARS

LELAND BARCLAY

Times Record | 8/26/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Brian D. Sanderford