Conway Christian faces tough football foe in Danville

By Charlie Livingston
UCA sportswriting

Every game is a big one, but Friday's game against Danville will be especially interesting for the Conway Christian Eagles.

“They'll probably be the best coached team we'll face all year,” Conway Christian Coach Chuck Speer said.

Be that as it may, it is a game that could very well decide the 2A-5 conference championship. Danville, Conway Christian and Mountain Pine were all identified in the preseason as the teams to beat, and nothing has happened through the first three weeks to change that opinion.

Conway Christian (2-1, 1-0) faces Danville (2-1, 1-0) at Conway Christian at 7 p.m., and Speer knows what his team is up against. Conway Christian is one of the smallest schools in its classification, and Danville is one of the biggest.

“I think they're going to dress 17 seniors and we're going to only have about 20 guys total that night,” he said.

Conway Christian will be led by junior quarterback Kirby Powell and the twin rushing attack of Bates Isom, a junior with 389 rushing yards and Adam “Fuzzy” Ragland, also a junior with 399 rushing yards. Danville will feature Justin Roy at quarterback and Ossie Appalategui at receiver.

Conway Christian does not have a lot of depth in the first place, and will have even less on Friday night. The Eagles will be without receiver Jordan Legree. Legree's brother, Landon, usually a two-way player on the offensive line and at linebacker, will not see action on offense, but will play Friday. Fuzzy Ragland is questionable, but will likely split time at running back and play at linebacker. Sophomore Tyler Ratliff will be back from finger surgery.

Danville employs a kind of pistol power I formation with the quarterback lined up behind center but still in front of a tailback and a blocking back in the backfield. Conway Christian uses the traditional pistol.