GENTRY -- For the second straight season, the Gentry Pioneers have been picked by the 1-4A Conference coaches to finish last in the league.
The Pioneers had the last laugh in 2013 -- rolling to a 6-5 overall record and fourth place finish in the conference.
Gentry will try and prove its naysayers wrong again in 2014.
"To be returning as many kids as I am, especially on offense, it makes you wonder how you could be picked so far down," said Brian Little, who is entering his eighth season as head coach. "We've been picked last many times, but I don't think we've ever finished there."
The Pioneers are once again battling a lack of depth with only 28 players on the roster. That was a problem last year as well, but Gentry became the surprise team of the conference. The Pioneers won four conference games, including their first victory against Benton County rival Gravette (21-19) in 10 years and wins at Pea Ridge (43-30), against Berryville (34-12) and at Ozark (28-20) in the final week of the regular season.
The Pioneers were bounced from the Class 4A playoffs in the opening round with a 56-24 loss at Star City.
Numbers may be low, but Little said the ones he does have are good football players.
"We have talented kids returning," Little said. "Depth is always an issue at Gentry. It is this year. Last year we were fortunate to stay healthy. If we can stay healthy this year, we've got a chance to be a good football team."
First and foremost, the Pioneers must find a way to fill the shoes of graduated senior quarterback Jarod Cousins, who was a multiple threat running and passing.
Senior Stone Faulkenberry (6-foot, 180) seems to be the heir apparent at the position after leading Gentry at wide receiver last year with 34 catches for 552 yards and five touchdowns.
"Stone is capable of throwing the ball as well as running it," Little said.
Faulkenberry and senior Kevin Easter (6-2, 170) are both competing at the position. Easter has also been a wide receiver in the Pioneers system but worked in the spring and summer at quarterback.
"He's a big kid who can throw the ball," Little said.
"The thing we're trying to figure out is what combination is going to give us the best chance to be successful most often. We're not there yet with an answer."
Little said Faulkenberry would definitely return to wide receiver if the Pioneers go with Easter at quarterback. The same is true for Easter if Faulkenberry is taking the snaps.
"We're going to have to develop and let this thing evolve for us," Little said. "It's good to know we've got some capable hands there either way."
Stone Faulkenberry's brother, Jake (6-1, 175), also returns at wide receiver after catching 33 passes for 415 yards a year ago.
"Jake is very versatile," Little said. "He's got good height, good speed and can catch the ball and run. He can also throw it a little bit.
"We go into a game thinking of ways to get him touches."
Jake Faulkenberry would be the No. 3 quarterback, Little said.
The Pioneers also return senior tight end Dustin Stoufflet (6-0, 210), who caught 22 passes for 190 yards last year.
"We threw to him down on the goal line," Little said, "but he also made a couple of plays down the field."
Easter would also be a tight end in the Pioneers offense.
"What a blessing it is to have those kinds of kids," Little said. "Those two guys will be in the backfield a lot with (running back) Jon Brown."
Brown (6-0, 185) rushed for more than 500 yards last season and will line up at running back in the Pioneers' full-house pistol formation.
"Jon was definitely effective for us out of the backfield and complimentary to Cousins in the running game," Little said. "I applauded him for being so effective faking runs to open up Jarod. The first two or three ball games our camera guy couldn't find the football and that was because Jon was doing such a good job of making people think he had the football."
Junior running back Bryan Harris (5-10, 150) will also figure into the mix.
The Gentry offensive line is anchored by senior center Zach Ellis (6-2, 285), who recently received a scholarship offer to play at Arkansas-Monticello.
"Obviously, Zach is biggest of the five linemen," Little said. "We moved him to center to start last year. We were a little too one-dimensional with him at left tackle. We felt like having Zach in middle would give us more balance in both directions. He's very athletic for a big guy."
Junior Kaven Flesner (5-10, 195) and senior Trystan Handy (5-7, 195) also return on the offensive line at the guard positions. Flesner will play left guard and Handy will line up at right guard.
"The two guards are smaller in terms of Zach and smaller in our conference," Little said. "But they're quick, strong, aggressive, got good feet, can get up under linebackers and move really well. That's an advantage."
Senior Cody Watson (5-11, 185) was injured and missed all of last season. He's projected to start at left tackle. Right tackle will be Cruze Flesner, Kaven's younger brother, who did not play as a sophomore but decided to come back out for football.
Sophomore Ashton Lockhart (6-3, 185) is a younger player that could help eventually on the offensive line, Little said.
"He's the kind of kid developing into a prototypical offensive tackle, " he said. "Just young and inexperienced, and he may have to get that experience."
Little said the Pioneer coaches would have to get creative if any injuries are suffered on the offensive line.
"That's where depth starts causing us some problems," he said.
On the defensive line, the Pioneers will move to a four-man front to take advantage of personnel.
Watson and Ellis will man the defensive end positions, while Kaven Flesner and Handy will handle the defensive tackle spots.
"Not a lot of depth there either, but on defense you can get away with a few things," Little said.
The Pioneers lost four starters at linebacker, and if there is a weakness on the team besides depth, the linebacker positions would be it.
"The thing about linebacking is experience," Little said. "There's no substitute for experience. Linebacking is a tough gig. It's a tough deal. You have kids that you're putting in there that lack game experience."
The Pioneers are working Brown and Easter at the inside linebacker spots.
The outside linebackers will be Dakota Smith and Jake Faulkenberry.
"You line them up and they look good," Little said. "Experience is really critical. We may have to get on the job training."
Stone Faulkenberry will start at one cornerback position for Gentry, while Harris will likely play the other cornerback.
Stoufflet will play safety, while Jake Faulkenberry also has some experience at the safety position.
"Dustin back there has good experience," Little said, "and his knowledge of our scheme and what we do will benefit us there."
The Pioneers would like to keep their offensive personnel on the field for punts. Easter and Stoufflet will both get a crack at the job.
"Whoever has the best foot when it's time to go, we'll line them up and go with it," Little said.
Stoufflet and several others have been working at placekicker.
Sports on 08/27/2014