 BENTONVILLE TIGERS Conference: 7A-West Head coach: Barry Lunney Record last year: 7-4, 5-2 Points scored, points allowed: 375-287 Playoff appearances since 1968: 7 Last playoff appearance: 2006 Playoff record: 8-6 Key returning starters: WR Keon Rucker, WR Nathan Hughes, OT Tyler Barnes, C Patrick Mirch, OG Andrew Tackett, RT Cameron Phillips, LB Josh Isabell, LB Ty Lewis, LB Erick Ragsdale, S A.J. Exner, LB Anthony Blackman, CB Will Pannell. Outlook: The Tigers earned their first playoff berth last year since the state championship season of 2001. The stay in the post-season was short-lived as Bentonville, which finished second in the rugged 7A-West, lost to North Little Rock, 24-14. Gone off an offense that scored 375 points is quarterback Ryan Isabell. Senior Micah Gregory and J.C. King will battle to step in at the position in Lunney's one-back attack. He be surrounded by two of the top returning receivers in the conference in Keon Rucker and Nathan Hughes. Gregory will also be protected by an experienced line that is anchored by tackles, Cameron Phillips and Tyler Barnes, guard Andrew Tackett and center Patrick Mirch. Linebackers Josh Isabell, Ty Lewis, Erik Ragsdale and Anthony Blackman return on defense as does safety A.J. Exner and cornerback Will Pannell. Bentonville will have new faces all along the front in the Tiger's 3-3 alignment but Austin Taylor, Nick Stewart and Ivan Gaeigus. Comments from Lunney: "We are returning four starting offensive linemen from last year. They combined to start 44 games last year. We also return two starting receivers. We are returning a good nucleus of our defense backfield and linebackers. We will have to replace our defensive line with some great prospects. We will have to find some defensive linemen, a quarterback and a running back. But we feel like we have those people in place to make those positions as good or better than we have been. We feel that we are going to be in the mix of the conference race but as usual it will be a tough conference race. We will have to play our best game each Friday night in order to be successful in this league."
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