Bobcats consider options at QB

Replacing 13 seniors from last season’s team that went 2-8 overall and 1-6 in conference play was a tough enough challenge for the Berryville Bobcats.

Starting over at quarterback only adds to the degree of difficulty.

Bryan Hutson

Berryville coach Bryan Hutson said Douryon Dobron, who started the final few games of last season as a sophomore quarterback, has transferred out of state. That leaves Berryville without an established QB and Hutson said he isn’t yet sure who will assume that role.

“We’re trying to convert some running backs to quarterback,” he said. “It may be a committee thing.”

One possibility, Hutson said, is moving junior Zane Gentry from wide receiver to quarterback. Gentry also started as a defensive back as a sophomore and intercepted two passes in the Bobcats’ 3-0 win over Green Forest in Berryville’s final game of the season.

“He’s one of the three we’ve been working,” Hutson said. “Zane’s a good athlete, and he’s a really good receiver so it’s just a matter of, is it worth it to put him at quarterback and lose him as a receiver? But we’re giving about three guys reps and we’ll see what happens there.”

Preparing for his second season at Berryville, Hutson said the Bobcats are more comfortable after a year in his system.

“The kids were all ahead of where we were at this point last year, just because they’ve been in it a year,” he said of the Bobcats’ spring practice sessions. “It’s going to be tough to replace 13 seniors that we lost. But, you know, it’s next man up. That’s that’s the way it is with high school football. You have seniors that graduate and it’s just next man up. The kids are practicing hard. It’s been really good.”

Among those who’ve stood out in practice, Hutson said, are senior linebackers Chet Hudgens and Ivan Maliska and senior two-way lineman Kole Coatney.

“Chet Hudgens is a returning starter,” Hutson said. “He’s doing well. Kole Coatney started on both sides of the ball last year. He was a big surprise and he is really stepping up. And Ivan Maliska has really done well, especially on the defensive side of the ball lining up and being a leader. So those three guys as far as guys that are going to be seniors, they’ve really stepped up and hopefully will take a leadership role. It’s just tough when you graduate 13 seniors. We’re just really young.”

Berryville will open the season on the road Sept. 2 at West Fork.

Berryville Bobcats

2022 Schedule

Sept. 2 at West Fork

Sept. 9 Greenland

Sept. 16 Decatur

Sept. 23 at Ozark

Sept. 30 Gentry

Oct. 7 at Elkins

Oct. 14 Gravette

Oct. 21 at Huntsville

Oct. 28 at Lincoln

Nov. 4 Green Forest