2023 Team Preview: Batesville Pioneers

One of the most storied programs in the state thanks to the tenured success of recent hall-of-fame inductee Dave King, the Batesville Pioneers are headed into the 2023 season after a successful first season under Coach Ryan Morrow. In 2022, Coach Morrow took over a program that went 3-7 with a strong nucleus of young players returning. Led by a core of senior leadership, Morrow and the staff led the Pioneers back to the playoffs with a first-round win at Prairie Grove and an 8-4 record, righting the ship and laying the expectations going forward for a proud program.    Graduating an immense amount of experience this past sesason, Morrow is confident in his senior leadership heading into 2023 with the help of guys like [player_tooltip player_id='713061' first='Conner' last='Foree'], Mike Townsley, Beau Baxter, and Ty Fairchild. Morrow calls this group the “heartbeat” of the team and a group that leads both by example and by their voice. Morrow recalls having conversations with his seniors insinuating the need for leadership from the group to drive the ship for a successful season.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defensive Line</h2>   When asked about his stout group of linebackers, Morrow points attention to the group that allows those guys to have success at the second level of the defense.   “Conner (Foree), Mike (Townsley), and Beau (Baxter) are going to make plays. But for them to be able to fly around and do what they do we need our defensive line to make it possible for others to have success. Our defensive and offensive lines are the backbone of our team. We are going to need our d-lineman to demand those double-teams to let our guys behind them be free and make those plays”   The defensive line will include [player_tooltip player_id='1321435' first='Cale' last='Glasgow'] (6-3, 230, Jr.) and Jacob Pollett (6-1, 210, Jr.) as difference makers paired with Tristian Martin (5-10, 235, Jr.) at his nose guard position. Morrow says Martin is a guy he expects to outwork people and “for our defense to be successful overall the team needs Martin to demand those double-team assignments off the snap.”   Glasgow may be a player who draws some attention this fall with his size, strength, and sheer love for contact he has. The Pioneer head coach sees top notch potential in his versatile junior, “He is also going to split time on the offensive side of the ball at the fullback position, I can see him having college potential with an H-back position”   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Linebacker</h2>   Senior [player_tooltip player_id='713061' first='Conner' last='Foree'] (6-0, 215, 4.8 40) might be one of the most versatile linebackers in 5A. His abilities of covering in zone and man, not including making plays off shedded blocks behind the line of scrimmage make him a total package player.    Mike Townsley (5-11, 215, Sr.) is a bruiser of a defender who packs a punch with big hits and great lateral movements through traffic. According to Morrow, we can expect Townsley to be a major player in the running game this season for the Pioneers also.   Beau Baxter (6-1, 200, Sr.) is another senior linebacker for Batesville who fills a good frame and is a very physical player in the way he sheds blocks. Baxter finds his way through traffic well and plays with an aggressiveness that cannot be coached.   Another notable name in the linebacker corps is Ty Fairchild (5-10, 160, Sr.). Morrow praises Fairchild's acceptance of whatever is asked of him and the attitude he goes about his business with.    “Ty is a program guy. He always does things the right way for our program. He is going to help us tremendously on the defensive side of the ball”   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Secondary</h2>   In the defensive backfield, Morrow immediately notes Hayden Huckaba (5-10, 165, Sr.) as a main contributor from his hero (strong safety) position. Morrow also isn't skeptical of potentially playing Huckaba in the box when needed.   Transfer Dameion Nelson (6-2, 220, Sr.) is expected to be a major jolt of talent to help out on the backend of the Pioneer defense. Moving from Allen, Texas, a nationally ranked powerhouse, Nelson was expected to draw snaps as a junior for the star-studded program from which the likes of Kyler Murray graduated.   Jaiden Henderson (5-8, 150, Sr.) is notable in the secondary this upcoming season and made state-wide waves last season because of his <a href="https://www.kait8.com/2022/12/23/batesville-wins-2022-yarnells-sweetest-play-year/">Yarnells Ice Cream “Sweetest Play of the Year</a>” against Nettleton when he returned a blocked field goal attempt for a touchdown for a Pioneer win. Henderson is going into the 2023 season as the Pioneer's best cornerback with great ball skills and speed. Morrow is looking for Henderson to be that shut-down guy who can lock up man-to-man throughout the year to provide an “alpha” presence out wide.   Other solid cornerbacks to note are [player_tooltip player_id='1353145' first='Camden' last='Cline'] (5-11, 170, Jr.) and [player_tooltip player_id='1152116' first='Owen' last='McLaughlin'] (So.).    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Offensive Line</h2>   Morrow applauded his offensive line this year as a whole as being a group who has waited and worked in the weight room through their years in the program and has completely earned their opportunities to start for the Pioneers this season. Seniors Tye Needham (6-2, 240), Ethan Nephew (5-10, 230), center AJ Holliday (5-10, 230), Kyle Satterfield (6-2, 280), and Carlos Espericueta (5-10, 235) are expected to lock down the o-line for the 2023 season. Junior Landon McSpadden who has the size to play at the next level, will also be in the mix in trying to win a starting job.   Morrow notes Nephew will outfight and work anyone who lines up against and Expericueta is the “junkyard dog” of the group with his tenacity and how he goes about his approach.   Paired with the offensive line is senior tight end Weston Jeffery (5-11, 185). Jeffery is a willing blocker for his squad but also has the ability for the Pioneers to sneak off on routes and snag passes with his soft hands.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Running Back</h2>   Batesville will lean on a running back by committee approach but is expecting production from across the board. Mike Townsley and [player_tooltip player_id='993024' first='Damieon' last='Nelson'] will handle the majority of the work.   Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1152116' first='Owen' last='McLaughlin'] will be expected to see carries here and there and according to Coach Morrow, the future is bright for the young player going forward.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wide Receiver</h2>   Expect [player_tooltip player_id='713061' first='Conner' last='Foree'] to be busy for Batesville this fall on both sides of the football, as he was last year's leading receiver (5 TDs last season) and will provide the offense with a great route runner and abilities for plays to be called to put him in 1-on-1 situations with his 4.8 speed and 30+ in. vertical.   Pairing with his older brother, junior Talan Foree will be seeing the field on the offensive side this year for Batesville. Morrow says his qualities mimic his brothers in abilities and speed and each should be looked at quite often when the ball is in the air.    At flanker, Jace Jeffery (5-8, 170, Sr.) will be looked at to lead the position paired with help from Hayden Huckaba. Versatile names that will see the field for the offensive staff are Grant McDonald (5-10, 150, Jr.) who will be used both in the slot and out wide, and Andrew Sharp (6-1, 175, Sr.).    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quarterback</h2>   Riley Gregg (5-10, 165, Sr.) has earned the confidence of his coach in successfully leading the offense this season. Gregg has also started in the secondary for Batesville the past two seasons.    “I am fully committed to Riley playing the quarterback position for us this season. I know he has the tools with the amount of time he has put into this.”   Cole Bentz, the backup quarterback, is going to be great according to his head coach   “Cole is going to be great. He is a great learner and already shows curiosity in asking questions regarding why we are calling certain plays and formations. He has the arm and the mindset, his future is going to be bright.”   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Special Teams</h2>   Batesville has long been known for having supreme threats at kicker and 2023 will only be slightly different because instead of one threat, Batesville has two players who are kicking successfully from 45-plus yards.    [player_tooltip player_id='1261701' first='Aldo' last='Gallardo'] (5-8, 140, Jr.) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='731120' first='Jackson' last='Elam'] have both impressed throughout the spring and summer. Morrow says Elam has been attending kicking camps all summer, while both of his kickers are deserving of collegiate attention because of their sheer accuracy and abilities to hit from deep.    When discussing special teams, Morrow focused on the need for a consistent deep snapper to set the tone for the rest of the unit and mentioned Josh Keener (5-10, 160, Jr.) as fitting the need with his performances heading into this season.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Overview</h2>   Beginning this season, the Pioneers are expected to suit up anywhere from 60 to 65 players suiting up on Friday nights. With the staff consisting of six former Pioneer players the tradition is still in place of what it takes to be successful for such a proud program. Trust, hard work, and discipline are three main factors he wants to make sure are implemented into the program, after all, according to Morrow “Trust on Friday nights is earned with the hard work in the summer”   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Batesville Pioneers 2023 Schedule</h2>   8/25 @ Searcy   9/1 vs Maumelle   9/8 @ Harrison   9/15 BYE   9/22 @ Nettleton*   9/29 vs Paragould*   10/6 @ Forrest City*   10/13 vs Wynne*   10/20 @ Brookland*   10/27 vs Southside*   11/3 @ Valley View*   * Designates 5A East Conference game

One of the most storied programs in the state thanks to the tenured success of recent hall-of-fame inductee Dave King, the Batesville Pioneers are headed into the 2023 season after a successful first season under Coach Ryan Morrow. In 2022, Coach Morrow took over a program that went 3-7 with a strong nucleus of young players returning. Led by a core of senior leadership, Morrow and the staff led the Pioneers back to the playoffs with a first-round win at Prairie Grove and an 8-4 record, righting the ship and laying the expectations going forward for a proud program.