Bauxite keeps going full tilt in hot weather
Monday, August 14th 2006
It’s been another positive week of football practice for the Bauxite Miners.
Going every morning from 7:30 a.m. to around noon, the Miners have shown that they are learning what head coach Jon Watson is teaching them – and doing it quickly. The Miners have three weeks left to prepare for the season-opener at McGehee on Sept. 1.
”We’ve looked good in practices this week,” Watson said. ”They’re looking strong and continuing to improve.”
Despite temperatures well into the upper 90s by midmorning, the Miners have sweated out the heat by fine tuning their conditioning process.
The Miners are led by senior quarterback Neely Sullivent, who won all-6AAA conference honors last year and has started for the offense under center since the third game of his sophomore season. Also in the back field for Bauxite is junior halfbacks Tommy Wimberly and Ryan Dunlap. Wimberly is a two-year starter and has a large frame that makes it hard for defenses to wrap around him. Dunlap is the quickest on the team, according to Watson. He is remembered from last year for catching a 43-yard touchdown pass from Sullivent to beat Little Rock Christian 21-14.
Senior Justin Metzger, who led the Miners in tackles last year lines up with junior Nate Lyttle, and both can run the football. Junior Peter Whitfield, who is also the place kicker for the team, is a receiver along with senior Chad Baxley and junior tight end Max Boshears.
On the offensive line, senior center Jason Beck returns to be along side junior Travis Keener, Justin Newcomb, JorreMcMahan and senior Shane Reed. Senior Pat Harrell has also be touted by his coaches for his added strength on the line during the hot practices.
Junior Johnathan Crone, along with seniors Casey Richards and Corey Mills have been contributing to the offensive line on a regular basis to provide the Miners with added depth at their respective positions.
Most all of the Miners will play on both sides of the ball at times, but the defense has been highlighted by the play of senior Matt Spann and senior noseguard Ray Shelton.
The Miners will continue practice on Monday morning at ”˜The Pit’.
