Winning a single game against nine losses in 2018 could be discouraging, but for the Genoa Central Dragons, the focus is on going about the process the right way. The victorious results will come later.
Coach Buddy Ray continues the work he started a season ago when he took the Genoa Central job. Spending time at DeKalb, Queen City, and James Bowie on the other side of the state line, Ray returned to Arkansas, where he had not coached in 24 years, to give the Dragons athletic program the proper liftoff, starting with the football program.
Things started off well for Genoa Central and Ray in 2018. Though they dropped the opener at Gurdon, they bounced back with a 17-0 shutout at Lafayette County. Then, the heartbreak set in with eight consecutive losses to finish the season.
If football is a game won in the trenches, then Genoa Central should have a decent shot with their offensive line that features two seniors as bookends and a senior at center. Joe Hinds is expected to play left tackle, Dylan Dabney the man in the middle, and Jayden Dawson playing right tackle. At guard, the Dragons could have two sophomores in Dalton Moore and Hilton Hackey, or they could go full senior across the offensive line with Austin Wheat and Hunter Parmer at the two guard spots.
The objective will be to keep quarterback Drew Mason upright, and open up running lanes for Dalton Savell and Ethan Cowart. If Mason has time, he can find a lanky target in Colby Thompson and a speedster in Elias Gawrieh.
Genoa Central’s defense is anchored by senior Matthew Pressnell at nose tackle. Thompson plays both ways as a middle linebacker along with Savell at cornerback and Gawrieh at safety.
SCHEDULE
Fri., 9/6 — at Foreman — 7:00 p.m.
Fri., 9/13 — Lafayette County — 7:00 p.m.
Fri., 9/20 — at Spring Hill — 7:00 p.m.
Fri., 9/27 — at Horatio* — 7:00 p.m.
Fri., 10/4 — Camden Harmony Grove* — 7:00 p.m.
Fri., 10/11 — at Centerpoint* — 7:00 p.m.
Fri., 10/18 — Prescott* — 7:00 p.m.
Fri., 10/25 — at Smackover* — 7:00 p.m.
Fri., 11/1 — Fouke* — 7:00 p.m.
Thu., 11/7 — Bismarck* — 7:00 p.m.
* denotes conference game
