“It’s a different football team with new kids and new year,” said Warren Lumberjack Head Coach Bo Hembree about the upcoming football season. “Some of them are the same but you’re playing with different kids as far as different people in different positions. But we are excited to get started and see where we’re at.”
With the scrimmage game against Little Rock Central, Coach Hembree said it’ll help them know where the team is at and what they need to work on for the upcoming football season.
Coach Hembree said he’s excited about the sophomore players coming in.
“They are very talented, but they don’t have much experience [playing] at the high school level. They’re going to have to gain it on the run,” said Coach Hembree, “Hopefully they’ll get better each week, that’s what we want, and we hope by mid-year they won’t play like sophomores.”
Maddox Lassiter, a senior and the starting quarterback, has a lot of experience in the position. He is a three-year starter, being a quarterback since he was a sophomore. Last year, he played a lot of snaps while quarterback Riley Cornish recovered from injury.
Treylon Jackson is another quarterback for the Lumberjacks this season. He is also the running back. He played some snaps last season when Cedric Calbert was injured. Coach Hembree said Jackson did a really good job last season.
Coach Hembree commented they were focusing on finding some depth in the runningback.
Coach Hembree said they are playing a lot of sophomores as wide receivers. Antonio Jordan, a sophomore, is wide receiver. Neon’dre Thomas is another sophomore wide receiver for the Lumberjacks. Tayshawn Johnson, a senior, is also wide receiver. Johnson is a three-year starter. Coach Hembree said he feels good about the wide receivers this season.
“We just got to keep playing and get [the sophomores] some experience,” said Coach Hembree.
Ervin Rivera, a junior, is full back this season. Rivera started last season.
Coach Hembree admitted the offense was a work in progress with new faces and new starters.
“Defensively, I feel really good about where we’re at right now defensively,” said Coach Hembree.
Coach Hembree said a lot of the starters returned this season.
Landon Wolfe, a senior, is on defensive end.
Marcus Greene, a senior, is also a starting offensive lineman and is defensive tackle.
Weston Gavin, a senior, is a three starter. He is a defensive lineman.
Bryson Harris, a sophomore, played some snaps last season as a freshman and is also defensive lineman.
Dawson Harton, a senior, plays both offensive and defensive line.
Neeyo Harding, a junior, plays on the defensive line.
Tyrone Grays, a senior, is on the defensive line.
Terence Roberson, a junior, is playing on the defensive line. Coach Hembree said Roberson has gotten a lot better during the off season.
“I feel really good about where we’re at up front,” said Coach Hembree, “We got a lot of depth upfront. I feel good about the offensive and defensive line. They can rotate in on both sides and give each other a break.”
Lassiter will play linebacker for the Lumberjacks.
Delfino Rivera, a senior, is another linebacker for the Lumberjacks this season. He is also a three-year starter.
Ervin Rivera is also a linebacker. Coach Hembree said Ervin Rivera started some last year on offense and will try out playing defense.
Coach Hembree said they have a lot of experience on secondary.
Jackson started every game last year.
Malik Day, a senior, also started every game last year.
Jalin Lee, a senior, is a three-year starter.
Lee Johnson, a senior, started every game last year.
Jose Jacinto, a senior, is the kicker. Coach Hembree said he feels really good about their kicking game with Jacinto and Lassiter doing their punting.
Coach Hembree said his hope is for the Lumberjacks to win a semi-final game.
“Hopefully we can make another run [at the semi-finals] and if we do get there, we’re able to win that game,” said Coach Hembree, “These seniors have made it to the semi-finals twice. They have not been able to get over that hump, but hopefully with their leadership, we can do that.”
