Arkansas Class 7A high school football team previews: Northside first-year head coach looking to fill holes

Felix Curry was promoted to head coach in the offseason after serving as the Northside defensive coordinator since 2013

SBLive is previewing the Arkansas high school football teams from the three largest classifications. Today, we feature the Fort Smith Northside Grizzlies from the 7A-Central Conference. 

By Jeff Halpern | Photo by Karen Schwartz

FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE GRIZZLIES

HEAD COACH

Felix Curry, first season

2021 AT A GLANCE

Overall record: 7-5

Conference record: 3-4

Playoffs: Def. Bentonville West, 42-10; Lost to Bryant, 42-10

KEY DEPARTURES

RB Sundquist Church, all-state

RB Ty Massey, all-state

QB Walker Castavas

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Senior G Jamoni Benton

Returning starter, the 6-3, 340-pound senior has drawn the attention of Louisiana Tech.

Senior T Erick Barrientos

Returning starter, the 6-3, 265-pound senior is also drawing the attention of Louisiana Tech.

Senior C Adrian Falcon

Returning starter, the 5-11, 230-pound senior is one of the best centers is the state, said Curry.

Junior G Mason Medlock

Started as a sophomore, the 6-3, 280-pound junior is described by Curry as “super athlete.”

Senior QB Demarius Savoy

The 6-2, 185-pound senior started in the secondary and is battling for the starting quarterback job.

Sophomore QB McLain Moody

The 6-4, 175-pound sophomore is a baseball player, who possesses a 93 mph fastball, also runs the 40 in 4.6 seconds, is competing for time at quarterback. Curry said Moody has a big arm.

Junior RB Brian Hasley

The 5-10, 185-pound junior has 4.6 speed in the 40-yard dash.

Junior RB Tavarious King

A 5-9, 190-pound junior has 4.6 speed in the 40-yard dash.

Sophomore RB Isaac Wright

A 5-10, 175-pound sophomore with 4.6 speed in the 40-yard dash.

Senior WR Damari Smith

A 6-0, 155-pound senior, who runs the 40 in 4.3 seconds has drawn the attention of Texas-San Antonio, Tulsa and Murray State.

Senior CB R.J. Lester

The 6-3, 180-pound senior has drawn the attention of Tulsa, Tulane and Kansas State.

Senior S Ky Perkins

The 5-11, 175-pound senior has offers from UTSA, Tulane and Kansas State

Senior CB Josh Hardwick

The 5-11, 175-pound senior was the backup quarterback a year ago. He also caught 14 passes for 178 yards.

Senior LB Sebastian Garcia

The 6-0, 235 pound senior has played the past two years.

Senior LB Julius Thomas

The 5-10, 220-pound senior, who started on the defensive line, moves to linebacker.

Senior DL Josh Nolan

The 6-2, 250-pound senior is the lone returning starter on the defensive line.

OUTLOOK

Northside is an intriguing team in the 7A-Central.

The Grizzlies have two great running backs to replace in Church, who rushed for 1,281 yards and 12 touchdowns and Massey, who had 1,209 yards and 16 touchdowns and quarterback Castavis, who threw for 1,423 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 210 yards and 3 touchdowns, but the Grizzlies have plenty of speed with four players who run the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds and faster and four returning starters on the offensive line.

The quarterback job is up for grabs between the senior Savoy, who has experience on defense and the sophomore Moody, who has a ton of potential.

Defensively, the Grizzlies, have four returning starters with three in the secondary and how well the rest of the lineup comes together, could determine how how they finish in the 7A-Central.

“The main thing is, we have to be in good condition because we might have some players going both ways,” said Curry, who is in his first year as the coach of Grizzlies after being their defensive coordinator since 2013. “We have to be good with our schemes and we’re going have to have to stay healthy.”

COACH SAID

“There’s always a transition when you change coaches, but we’ve kept the structure the same. We’ve lost two great running backs and our quarterback, but the biggest thing is being able to solidify the quarterback position and find one who leads the team.” - Felix Curry