Bumps ahead

Road gets tough for Trojans in 5A conference

By Eric Moore

Just when it looked like the Trojans had turned the corner and were ready to go back to winning games consistently, someone had to go and make it even tougher.

This year’s realignment of the football conferences has placed former 4A powers Little Rock Christian and Pulaski Academy in with the Trojans as well as Pulaski Robinson.

“[The strength of the conference] is not even close compared to last year,” head coach Bill Timmons said. “Year in and year out they are all very strong football teams.”

Luckily for Timmons, the Trojans have a strong team coming back as well. Leading the way for Hot Springs offensively will be senior quarterback Dezhe Willis. 2008 will mark the third consecutive year he will begin the game lined up under center.

Willis’ ability to throw and run the ball has made him difficult to defend for nearly every team the Trojans faced the last two years.

“He’s played so well, even as a sophomore,” Timmons said. “I know he can play football in college, but I don’t know what position. He’s probably the best defensive back we have, but we just can’t afford to play him over there.”

Backing up Willis this season will be junior Jonathan Hall (pocket passer) and sophomore D’Andre Hood (scrambler).

Lining up in the backfield again this year will be senior Eric Lenox with help from junior Christian White. Lenox’s ability to see the field and make timely cuts has given Hot Springs a decided advantage in the running game in recent seasons.

When the Trojans take to the air, Willis will have plenty of targets, whether it is to dependable possession receiver Chauncy Foxworth or to speedy big-play potential receivers senior Brandon Turner, senior Ryan Byrd or Willie Izador.

“[Chauncy] has the best hands of anyone I’ve seen,” Timmons said. “He can secure it as quick as anyone I’ve seen.”

A bit of a question for Timmons and the Trojans this season will be the lack of depth and experience on the offensive line. Hot Springs returns just one starter on each side of the line. On offense, they will look to center Andrew Love, and defensively, the one guy with experience, Stefan Loga, might be moving to the offensive side.

As shaky as Timmons feels about his offensive line, he can rest assured that his platoon of linebackers is as solid as any position on the team. With Jacob Flores and Eric Mitchell at middle and White/Lenox at one outside spot and Foxworth/DeMarcus Vaughn at the other, the Trojans will look to plug any holes made in their young defensive line.

In the secondary Timmons once again has plenty of familiar faces. With Lamar Williams, Turner and Jonathan Seymour, passing against this defense will be increasingly difficult as the year progresses.

Just a few years removed from a winless season, Timmons is starting to see a winning attitude throughout his team.

“Our goal is to get to the playoffs,” Timmons said. “We’ d like to go in and not stop there. Our kids need to go on the field expecting to win, and they do.”