Page 5 - Football.2018

Thursday, August 23, 2018 El Dorado News-Times 5 Hicks to give Wildcats different look at quarterback
By Tony Burns
Sports Editor
In El Dorado’s preseason benefit game with Nashville, Alex Hicks pro- duced several big offensive plays, in- cluding a long run which ended with the junior bullying over a defender at the goal line. Hicks had similar runs last year at the running back position.
This season, he’s the Wildcats’ start- ing quarterback.
Coach Scott Reed expects the same play-making ability from Hicks as he showed last season. But, he will have to get the ball out of his hands at times, too.
“Alex is very competitive. He hates to lose. He hates to get tackled. I like his fire. I like his toughness. I think that should set a tone for how our team plays,” said Reed. “He’s got to continue to improve to understand he doesn’t have to make every play, every down. There are times, he’s got to dis- tribute the ball. At the same time, you want somebody who thinks they can make those plays.”
Hicks was El Dorado’s leading rush- er last season, with 593 yards and six touchdowns. As a passer, he complet- ed 4-of-10 passes for 78 yards.
Terrance Armstard/News-Times
Signal callers: El Dorado's quarterbacks this season, from left, include, Coach Scott Reed, Clayton Helm, Jarmel Love, Stuart Bower, Alex Hicks and Eli Shep- herd.
with big passes against the Scrappers last week. But, the Wildcats failed to move the ball in the final two-minute drill.
“I thought he played well and then in two-minute, he got a little antsy,” said Reed. “He made some plays with his feet to keep the ball moving. It’s just his mentality, if it doesn’t happen, right now, what he wants to see, then his instinct is to pull it and go. He’s going to get better at that because he works at it and he cares about being good. He wants to be good.
I think he’s had a very good camp. I really like his toughness and the way he plays the game. That needs to be contagious for our team.”
Reed admitted the Wildcats’ passing game, so far, isn’t where it was last year under Darius Holly. El Dorado also lost three of its top five receivers from a year ago. The coach said he needs improvement from all three ar- eas, receivers, offensive line and quar- terback, for the passing game to click.
See QB, Page 11
“He was very productive last year wherever we put him, whether it was tailback or quarterback,” said Reed. “I’m excited about having him for two years. I think he’s going to do good
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things and I think he’s going to get bet- ter and better. He works at it.”
Hicks showed his arm and accuracy
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