BAUXITE MINERS: Bauxite works to rekindle winning tradition

Wayne Bryan
August 26, 2012

After only two victories in the last two years and no conference wins, coach Shane Clancy is looking for the return of several players to help the Miners return to the traditions of winning that the fans of the Black and Gray remember.

“I’ve had a tough two years, and we need to get back to where we used to be,” Clancy said.

He said some of the players remember their days in junior high school, where the Miners used to be a dominating team in Arkansas high school football.

“We felt good coming out of the spring, “Clancy said. “I have been pleased with the work we did this summer, and I’m excited.”

The coach said he hopes running back Dylan Herron will emerge from his injury-plagued past to gain all-state status.

“He broke his ankle his sophomore year, and last year he broke the other ankle, and we didn’t him back until week seven,” the coach said. “He had a limp, but he was effective. This year, his senior year, we expect big things. This is his time.”

Another player for whom Clancy has high expectations is Jacob Page, a 6-2 tight end who hadn’t played football until the ninth grade, the coach said.

“He really came into his own this spring,” the coach said. “He can be a player who can dominate a game.”

Senior Garret Wilcox will return as a veteran running back after a successful season last year as the secondary running back in the Miner’s split-back offense.

Clancy said junior Jordan Branson was the team’s best wide receiver last year, but has to step in and become the quarterback last season.

“He has become the leader of the team, but he injured his shoulder in game eight and was out for the rest of the year,” Clancy said.

The coach said Branson has worked hard in the weight room in the offseason and is ready to set up again as the field general of the team.

“He is strong, smart and coachable,” Clancy said. “Now we need to have a line that can give him enough time to operate.”

The coach said Trent Taylor, a junior, has proven he can catch the ball, and he will be going down the field with senior Preston Barnes, whom Clancy described as “sure handed.”

On defense, Clancy said, Page will anchor the line as the defensive end. Junior Hayden Vocque will return for his second year as linebacker. He was impressive as a sophomore, and Clancy said he was “tough.” The coach said senior Patrick Nooner and junior DJ. Watson will also be a big part of the linebacker corps.

Clancy said his linemen are unproven and could be the team’s weakness, but as the team continues to work, he believes the linemen are turning things around for the Miners.