Colts to host Warriors in benefit scrimmage

Separated by only about 12 miles, East Poinsett County and Rivercrest haven’t met in a regular season game in nearly a decade. However, the Class 2A Warriors and Class 4A Colts will meet for the second consecutive season in the Arkansas Activities Association Benefit Game scrimmage Thursday at Cortez Kennedy Field in Wilson.

Coach Brandon Powell’s Warriors return the state’s leading rusher from a year ago in senior Dennis Gaines, Jr. while the Colts return senior athlete Michael Rainer, Jr. Gaines had 3,232 yards rushing and scored 44 touchdowns on the ground. Rainer scored 10 touchdowns on the ground and picked up nearly 900 yards rushing, Rainer also hauled in 16 touchdowns receiving and accounted for more than 1,050 yards through the air.

EPC hopes to go a step farther than last season when the Warriors made it to the state semifinals where they fell to eventual champion Hazen. The Colts lost in the Class 4A quarterfinals at Arkadelphia and hope to make it to the state finals in December.

Koby Turner

Powell’s squad is picked to win the loaded 2A-2 and the Colts are the odds on favorite in the 4A-3.

EPC will have a new quarterback running their high powered show as sophomore Eli Black and senior Cooper Argo will compete for the starting quarterback position. Argo will also move outside to the slot receiver position where he excelled in 2022. Gaines and his younger brother sophomore Jacob Gaines will line up in the Warriors backfield. The elder Gaines could break the state record for touchdowns in a career with 37 this season. In addition to Argo, Omar McCuiston will be a threat on the outside with sure hands and speed.

The Warriors offensive line will be tested as they have some new faces along the line of scrimmage. Led by senior Michael Collins, a three-year starter and senior Moises Penaloza, three sophomores are projected to start on the o-line.

Marcus Slayton

On defense, the Warriors will hope to improve on their points surrendered per game this season after giving up more than 28 per game in 2022.

Collins is the leading tackler and Dennis Gaines is a beast as outside line-backer chasing down opposing runners. The Warriors will be young up front but will have playmakers in the secondary in Argo, McCuiston (5 interceptions in 2022) and Tyrus Reel in the secondary.

Rivercrest averaged just over 40 points per game in 2022 and there is no reason to believe the Colts offense will be any less potent this season. In addition to the dangerous Rainer, running bank Koby Turner returns after rushing for more than 1,150 yards and scoring 21 touchdowns on the ground last season. Punishing full-back Marcus Slayton will also get the ball as well. Slayton is tough to bring down and has good speed as well.

Wyatt Lancaster

Triggering the offense will be junior Cavonta Washington who will be backed up by fellow junior Joe Louis Ralph. In addition to Rainer on the outside, look for the Morris brothers (Kevin and Keiron) to be big contributors in the passing game. The Colts offensive line will be experienced with lots of seniors such as Jared Robertson, Ian McClain, Wesley Gray, Josh Johnson, Jeb Brigance and Quinshunn Perry.

On defense, the Colts return defensive end Wyatt Lancaster, who is a sack machine, hurrying the opponents passing game and bringing down quarterbacks and ball carriers in the backfield. Three-year starter Slayton returns at linebacker where he amassed 141 stops a year ago while earning all-conference honors.

Lofton will be key contributors on the d-line, as will Brigance who lines up on the nose. Turner also returns at linebacker, while Kevin Morris will man a spot in the secondary along with Rainer.

Cooper Argo

The Colts will look to have another solid season and hope last year’s 9-4 mark and eight-game win streak will push them deeper into the post-season in 2023. Rivercrest opens the regular season, Aug. 25 at home against the Manila Lions.