Bulldogs get behind Glaser : Springdale quarterback ready to lead turnaround
Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/Sports/64929/
Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of stories previewing 7 A-West Conference opponents for Bentonville, Rogers and Rogers Heritage.
BENTONVILLE — Springdale isn’t used to finishing near the bottom of the 7 A-West Conference standings.
A large group of returning starters want to make sure the Bulldogs don’t end up there again this season.
The Bulldogs return 13 starters from a team that went 4-6 with a smaller senior class left from the split with Har-Ber in 2005. “ If you looked at us on paper, we weren’t expected to do anything with the split, ” third-year coach Kevin Johnson said. “(Last year’s senior class )
was really a class
that was the major hit of the split. “ These kids — the juniors and sophomores that played for us — they have a lot of pride and they know there’s a lot of tradition at Springdale and they were determined to work themselves to get this thing back to where we want to be. They’ve worked extremely hard and done everything we’ve asked them to do. I feel like we’ve kind of turned a corner and are starting to make our way back. ”
Senior quarterback Ashton Glaser appears ready to lead the turnaround after a solid summer. Johnson said the 6-foot-2, 215-pound All-State pick improved his mechanics and studied up on defenses to limit his mistakes this year. A year of experience has also improved his decision making and his leadership.
“ That’s what we’re really tickled about, ” Johnson said. “ He’s really stepped up and taken a leadership role on our team and on our offense. We feel really good about him being in that role. ”
Glaser, who completed 178 of 299 passes for 2, 356 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 758 yards and 12 touchdowns, attracted Division I schools this summer with his dual-threat ability. He verbally committed to Missouri during the offseason.
Protecting Glaser will be an experienced offensive line with three returning starters — Cody Coston, Danny Chavez and Matt Montgomery. The Bulldogs had another returner there but Josh Fisk was lost for the year with an injury. Dakota Evans will take his spot at center and Mitchell Smothers will take over his graduated brother’s spot at right guard.
Seniors Ladarius Eckwood and Kris Watson give the Bulldogs big-play possibilities.
Eckwood (6-3, 160 ) is the lone returning receiver after catching 35 passes for 430 yards and three touchdowns last year.
“ He’s going to be our number one guy, our go-to guy, ” Johnson said. “ He’s improved his strength and his route-running ability and has really made himself into a good receiver. ”
Watson (5-8, 170 ) rushed for about 500 yards last year and will share the backfield with hard-nosed senior running back Jordan Abbott (5-10, 170 ).
The Bulldogs have six returners on defense, which is led up front by senior defensive ends Bryan Cossey and Bryan Jones.
Cossey was an All-Conference selection while recording 40 tackles.
Senior linebackers Bradley Little, who led the team with 87 tackles, and Carlos Negrete return to the middle of the defense while junior Chris Clinard and senior Zach Guilliams return to the secondary. “ We feel really good about our defense, ” Johnson said, after his team allowed 32 points per game last year. “ They’ve made great improvement this spring, summer and fall camp too. ” Johnson expects the experience on both sides of the ball to help the Bulldogs compete this season. “ We played a lot of young kids last year and really took our bumps and bruises but we feel like that’s going to pay off for us this year, ” he said. NOTES: Johnson is 10-10 in his two seasons at Springdale … The Bulldogs play Siloam Springs on Aug. 28 for a benefit game and open the season by hosting Jefferson City, Mo., on Sept. 5.
• • • Thursday: Har-Ber