DOVER PIRATES:

Dover hopes for return to playoffs

Caroline Zilk
August 28, 2011

LITTLE ROCK — Dover head coach Chris Taylor uses one word to describe last season: disappointing. The Pirates’ 4-6 finish wasn’t what he

hoped for after the team made it to the play

offs the season before.

“We thought we could get back butthings just didn’t work out ” Taylorsaid. “We expected a little bit more,” And now, in his sixth year at Dover, Taylor said he expects a lot more.

“We want to finish with a winning record and make it to the playoffs again,” he said. “Those are always the goals we’re shooting for.” With 13 seniors, Taylor thinks his goal is possible this year.

He expects his small team to be versatile. Many players will have to play on both sides of the ball this season.

“(Lineman) Corey Scheide will play a lot more defense this year,” Taylor said.

“He looks good at guard.” Quarterback Levi Dale will also play cornerback.

“He hasn’t had a lot of time at quarterback,” Taylor said, “but he played in junior high and a little bit as my backup last year. He had a good spring and summer for us.” To take pressure off Dale, Taylor has been working to strengthen his team’s running game.

“One of our running backs, Victor Whicher, will have to start at corner for us,” Taylor said. “He’s going to have to be on both sides of the ball for us pretty much all the time.” Dale said the team looks smaller this year, but is hopefully a lot better.

“We have a lot of quickness,” he said.

“It’s a good bunch of guys. We’re not doing a whole lot of new stuff, but they do learn fast.” Taylor said he is excited about the offensive line. Along with Scheide, he said, guards like Justin Haynes move well.

Tackles Matt Robinson and J.T. South

erland have proved their consistency for

Taylor over the years.

“They know where to go, and they do

a good job of getting into good position,”

Taylor said.

Dale said he looks forward to playing

nonconference foe Atkins this year.

“And this team has a chance to do

something special,” he said. “This could

be the first class to never lose to Atkins.” But every 4-4A Conference game will

be important to the team as it strives to

make it back to the playoffs.

“We’ll just take it one game at a time,”

Taylor said.

DOVER PIRATES

SEPT. 2 ....................... TWO RIVERS

SEPT. 9 ........................... @ ATKINS

SEPT. 16 ......................... @ LAMAR

SEPT. 23 ......................... @ MENA*

SEPT. 30 .......... SUBIACO ACADEMY*

OCT. 7 ................... @ BOONEVILLE*

OCT. 14 ....................... POTTSVILLE*

OCT. 21 .....................CLARKSVILLE*

OCT. 28 .....................@ WALDRON*

NOV. 3 ......................DARDANELLE*

River Valley Ozark, Pages 115 on 08/28/2011

River Valley & Ozark 115