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The Berryville Bobcats will be running a new offense this fall, and second-year coach Macklin Chermak said the Bobcats also could have a new starting quarterback.
Sophomore CT Hicks started at quarterback for Berryville in a scrimmage at Lamar on Thursday, Aug. 22. Berryville will open the season Sept. 6, hosting Mountain View at Bobcat Stadium.
Chermak said Berryville will operate a Spread offense this fall.
“It’s based a little more on movement and motion,” Chermak said. “The base plays will be inside and outside zones, with wide receiver screens.”
One reason for the change, Chermak said, was that many of Berryville’s 4A-1 conference opponents operate out of “20” personnel offensively — with two running backs and no tight ends. The switch means the Bobcats will be giving their opponents a different look than they are accustomed to seeing.
Berryville will continue to rely primarily on its running game, Chermak said.
“We’ll be a run-first team, inside zone and outside zone,” Chermak said. “If (opponents) are stacking the box, which is what they’ve done against us in the past, then we need to find ways to get on the perimeter better than we have.”
Junior Andre Esparza rushed for almost 400 yards last season. Junior Kale Smith gives the Bobcats some speed on the outside as a receiver. And Berryville’s running game could get a boost from senior Decimus Ruiz, who moved to running back against Lamar after two seasons as the Bobcats’ starting quarterback. Ruiz ran for almost 500 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
Chermak said Monday, Aug. 26, that Hicks at quarterback and Ruiz at running back is “the direction we’re leaning toward right now.”
Berryville was without three starting offensive linemen for a scrimmage last week at Lamar but all are expected to return in time for the season opener.
“We had a chance to put a lot of points on the board,” Chermak said of the scrimmage. “We just didn’t capitalize on some big plays that we had. Defensively, we did some good stuff. Overall, it was a good start.”
Chermak said Hicks “handled the spotlight pretty well.”
“There’s definitely some sophomore mistakes, but he handled it pretty well,” Chermak said. “He’s very coachable. He listens.”
Berryville Bobcats 2024 Schedule
Sept. 6 Mountain View Sept. 13 Greenland Sept. 20 at Yellville-Summit Sept. 27 Huntsville** Oct. 4 at Elkins Oct. 11 at Prairie Grove Oct. 18 Gravette Oct. 25 at Gentry Nov. 1 Lincoln Nov. 8 Green Forest * Benefit game ** Homecoming
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