RISON - When Hooten’s Arkansas Football conducted its 8-3A coaches poll during the off season, the McGehee Owls were picked to finish third in the conference just ahead of Rison.
Some of those expectations were based on a talented group of sophomores moving up from a successful junior high team to replace some graduating seniors. The Owls had just three offensive and four defensive starters coming back.
Those young players, however, have had a pretty steep learning curve as McGehee will enter Friday night’s 8-3A conference battle against Rison with a 1-3 overall mark and 1-1 record in conference play. The game starts at 7 p.m. in McGehee.
Those young Owls have had a baptism by fire. McGehee’s three losses were to Smackover (38-6), Earle (30-20) and last week at Lake Village (46-14) to open league play. All of losses those came on the road and those teams currently have a combined record of 12-2 so far this season.
McGehee’s lone victory came in their only home game this year, a 20-7 win over Drew Central in the 8-3A conference opener two weeks ago.
Rison Coach Chris Vereen said the young Owls are improving.
“They seem to be getting better every week, offensively. Again, they are young guys,” he said.
However, he pointed out that McGehee has a history of turning it around about the mid-point of the season. “But come mid-season or playoff time, they get there,” Vereen said. “We just don’t want them to get there Friday night.”
Vereen said the Owls have just two seniors starting on offense: running back Ashton Humphries and lineman Braylen Brown. McGehee starts five sophomores.
Humphries, an All-State selection last year, has emerged as McGehee’s offensive leader this year. Vereen said he lines up in the wing as well as fullback.
While the Owls may be young, they certainly aren’t small. “Up front, they don’t look like sophomores - they are huge,” Vereen said.
Brown is listed at 6-4, 300 lbs. while sophomore Trey Cansprat (6-0, 295), sophomore Jonathan Boyd …