Prep Football: Arkansas High explosive in Red-White game, looking forward to season

TEXARKANA, Ark. -- Arkansas High showed to be in a good bill of health Wednesday afternoon as they held its red and white spring football game at Razorback Stadium in front of the sparse, but excited, crowd while beginning preparations for the upcoming 2023 varsity football season.

Second-year head coach Trey Outlaw was hired by TASD this time a year ago, making the scrimmage a first for he as well with the Razorbacks.

Losing just three seniors from the 2022 squad, Coach Outlaw now has 22 seniors on this year's roster that look to help guide the Razorbacks to a promising fall campaign. The Razorbacks have big plans to build on their 4-6 record from last season that saw them come up one win short of qualifying for the postseason.

"We are going to go as far as our seniors take us," Outlaw said. "I've never been a part of a great program that didn't have great senior leaders. We have some seniors on this team who are big-time contributors, and we expect for them to step up and be great leaders for us going into next season."

Among the upperclassmen expected to lead the way is quarterback Nate Wall, also in his second year as the signal caller for the Porkers. From the very first snap of the game Wednesday, Wall gave the Razorback faithful plenty to cheer about with his first pass to fellow senior, and newcomer, Telly Wells deep down the left side for an 70-yard touchdown strike to get the offense flowing early. Wall and Wells would hook up twice more in the first half on scoring strikes from both 10 and 20 yards out during the seventh and tenth series.

Wells will be an added bonus to an already senior-laden wide receiver core with Marcus Floyd, Quevy Ross, Javen Davis, and Makel Watson. Wells was also recently named as an all-state track and field selection for class 5A, while Ross and Watson also starred on the varsity basketball team during the winter. Davis was the recipient of Wall's two final touchdown tosses in the second half, as he hauled in impressive grabs of 30 and 50 yards each on the first and fourth series.

Other seniors with big shoes to fill that also have high praise from Outlaw are defensive lineman Kence Griffin, cornerback Cam Sanders, and center Brandon Nguyen. Nguyen returns to his duties from last season starting all ten contests, while Griffin is a transfer student and in his first season with the Razorbacks.

"We are lightyears better at this point then we were at this time last year," Outlaw said. "The last thing I told our guys is we haven't done anything yet. Until we strap up against another opponent we can't be satisfied. When we go into the first week of the season against Wastson Chapel thinking we've already done something, we're going to be in for rude awakenings."

A few juniors on both sides of the ball have also garnered the attention of the coaching staff as the offense ran 13 series in the opening half, scoring a total of eight times. Only six series were run in the second half. The defense forced six punts from Joshua Sharpe, an interception from Tucker Seal, and one sack from defensive lineman Miquan Traylor. Taylor would tally another sack in the second half, along with a third that came from linebacker Christian Roberts. Sharpe averaged almost 40 yards per punt for his attempts.

Heading up the Razorbacks' backfield as the returning starter, and the likely bell cow, will be Courtland Loudermill. Sparing Loudermill will be Richard Tyous and Ronderrick Burris, as well as sophomore Zephaniah Black at times. Loudermill got his lone score of the game on a 35 yard scamper around the left end on the fourth series, while Tyous later rushed for an 18 yard score on the twelfth series and then nabbed a 10 yard touchdown reception on the final series of the first half.

"There were a lot of bright spots." Outlaw said. "When you start off with offense on the very first play of the game with Nate Walls to Telly Wells, we'll look for that to happen a lot. Courtland Loudermill had a couple of long runs. Defensively, we had a couple of sacks and interceptions, so truly we saw a lot of good stuff today."

The kicking game for the Razorbacks was perfect, as Hayden Moya executed all six of his extra point attempts and a field goal of 37 yards. Fellow kicker Diego Servantes connected on his only field goal attempt from 34 yards, along with one extra point, respectively.

"We have to make sure they're hungry, show up, give great effort and do their best," Outlaw said. "That's the only way to win."

The Razorbacks will begin summer practices next Tuesday as they look ahead for their week one slate home opener against Watson Chapel.