Malham expects Panthers defense to be ready

Cabot football coach Mike Malham said his defense should be good this fall when it takes the field in August. Malham, who is entering his 38th season as Cabot coach, said six of his front seven players will be upperclassmen. “About half of those played as sophomores,” he said. Returning at tackle are Hayden Matthews and Hunter Horka. Hunter Griffin and Logan Bell both play defensive end for the Panthers. Dalton Crumbly, the leading tackler for Cabot in 2017, returns at linebacker. “He’s really the only senior on the front seven,” Malham said. The other linebacker will probably be junior Justin Underwood or junior Preston Keahi, according to Malham. “We’re looking at a lot of youth but still some experience across the defensive line,” Malham said. “Four of those sophomores got a lot of playing time last year.” Senior Zhane Harper returns in the secondary. Senior Justin Holland, who started at linebacker last season, is moving to strong safety. Jessie Windemaker moved from the secondary to quarterback. “That leaves four or five others working for those two other spots,” Malham said. Junior De’Kairo Rudolph, junior Carson Attaway, junior Kyle McIntire and junior Make Moudy are working at defensive back, Malham said. “We’re going to be kind of young on defense ... it could be eight of the 11 are underclassmen,” he said. “But about half of those got experience as sophomores. “If you look at the experience we got back on defense, there are about seven kids who played there last year. I feel like we’ve got a pretty good group coming back.” Cabot opens the season Aug. 31 against Pine Bluff at Panther Stadium. Other non-conference games are Sept. 7 at El Dorado and Sept. 14 at Benton. Cabot opens 7A-Central play Sept. 21 against Little Rock Catholic

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MALHAM EXPECTS PANTHERS DEFENSE TO BE READY

JEREMY PEPPAS

Lonoke Democrate | 5/29/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Lonoke Democrate