Seminoles take on Raiders in scrimmage

Osceola will open the 2023 season with its annual Arkansas Activities Association Benefit game Thursday at Class 5A Nettleton.

This will be a matchup of both the junior and senior high teams. The junior boys will kick things off at 5:30 p.m. against the junior Raiders followed by the senior high squads at 7 p.m.

Both teams come in to the 2023 campaign after recording solid records in 2022. The Seminoles rode an eight-game winning streak to the Class 3A quarterfinals, where they lost to eventual state runners-up Booneville. The Raiders dropped their final three games in 2022, including a loss at Shiloh Christian in first round of the 5A playoffs.

Jeremiah Jacobs

Both teams are tapped to finish second in their respective conferences this season.

Nettleton, which won the 5A East in 2021, looks to battle Valley View for the top spot this season.

The Raiders return seven starters on offense and eight on defense. Junior quarterback Maddox Hampton returns to run the Nettleton Spread offense. Hampton, the coaches son, completed 58% of his passes last season for nearly 1,900 yards and 22 scores.

Harris Manning

A trio of sophomores compete for time in the backfield as TJ Brown, TJ Hodges and Xavier Harrell, are all a threat to go to the house on every carry.

The versatile Curtez Smith returns as well. Smith had 501 yards rushing and scored 10 touch-downs on the ground. He also had over 900 receiving yards and added 11 scores.

The Raiders will operate behind a deep and experienced offensive line. Defensively, the Raiders must improve on stopping their opponents from scoring after surrendering 26.5 points per game last season. Senior JT Stallings returns on the defensive line after recording 55 stops and six sacks in 2022. Kylan Shelton returns at one outside linebacker spot. Shelton records 57 tackles a year ago.

Keviss Love

Coach Hampton hopes his 4-3 defense makes significant improvement this season. Should they do so, the Raiders could give the Blazers a run for their money this season.

Nettleton opens the regular season Week Zero, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. at home against Mountain Home.

Osceola looks to return a boat load of starters in 2023 including the quarterback spot where there will still be a Bell at the helm, although it will be sophomore Tyler Bell. Bell competed well in team camps and has the athletic ability to make things happen with his legs or his arm.

C a t c h i n g passes will be D1 prospect receiver Keenan Jackson who hauled in 42 passes for 725 yards and 11 scores last season. Jackson already holds offers from more than 10 colleges and universities. Sophomore AJ Brown will also be a threat at receiver after leading the Seminoles junior high squad in receiving a year ago.

Leading the running game will be junior Jeremiah Jacobs. The versatile Jacobs can also catch the ball out of the backfield and as one opposing coach said last season, “just make his opponents miserable.”

Senior Chris James will also log carries in the back-field after being named the Seminoles Special Teams Player of the Year in 2022.

The Seminoles will also feature a big and physical offensive line with junior Donovan Littleton and senior Keviss Love leading the way.

The Osceola defensive line will be led by junior Harris Manning. Manning can go low with power and disrupt opposing schemes. Sophomore MJ Washington will patrol the middle at linebacker and is also in the mix at quarterback on offense. Washington spent the entire 2022 season as the starter at linebacker. James will also return at linebacker where he makes plays. Bell will also play in the secondary where he uses his athleticism to jump opposing passing routes.

Coach Jamie Carter enters his fourth season at Osceola looking to see just what he has. The Seminoles will be athletic and physical, but depth will be a factor with the roster in the low 30s. Carter will use the scrimmage to see where his team is eight days ahead of the regular season opener at Newport.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Greyhound Stadium.