Making history: Cossatot River JV football program launches this fall

By Patrick Massey

WICKES - It’s been a busy summer for the Cossatot River Eagles as they prepare to launch their inaugural junior varsity football program this fall.

Under head football coach Dakota Barrett, the team has been practicing for weeks to build the program from the ground level ahead of the Eagle’s first game against Centerpoint on Sept. 5.

Cossatot River School District announced last year it would launch its first-ever football program. The program is starting this upcoming school year at the junior high for seventh through ninth grade. The district hopes to organize a high school team in the future once the new program gets a few years at the junior varsity level.

Barrett said his boys are shaping up and ready to compete this fall.

“We’ve attended a team camp this summer, going on workouts for a month and a half,” Barrett said. “We’re like everybody else. August is here, it’s national football days. To be honest with you, it’s all clicking here and we’re hoping to put on a good season.”

It’s not every day an Arkansas coach is tasked with creating an athletic program from scratch — let alone one as involved as football. Barrett is leading the new team after serving as a coach for the Mount Ida football program — a community well-known in the region as a football town. While the experience hasn’t been short on challenges, Barrett said he’s proud of how the program has come together over the summer.

“It’s been an experience of a lifetime, good and bad,” Barrett said, laughing. “It’s been stressful at times for all of us, but also so rewarding. We started with absolutely nothing but to get to see these kids come out here with zero knowledge, see them learn the game and come to love it the way we who played football loved it. Well, that’s what it’s all about.”

Barrett said one player who’s really taken to the new program is the Eagle’s first-ever quarterback, Noah Brandon.

“He stepped in at the starting spot over the summer, took hold of it and never looked back,” said Barrett.

Brandon said he’s ready to get out on the field this fall and help lead the Eagles for their first season. He played football at his old school but said this is his first chance to play on a real team.

“I’m pretty stoked for it,” said Brandon. “I like being on the first team, the whole team is liking the opportunity to be the first. I used to play a little football but never on a team.”

The team’s star running back, Skylar Velez, looks forward to the opportunities the new program will provide its players.

“I really think this could open up some opportunities for me, for everyone on the team,” said Velez.

One fact Barrett is focusing on this year is the history his team is making for Cossatot River School District. He said the Eagles are creating a legacy future teams can build on for years to come.

“This is a unique opportunity for us, for these kids,” said Barrett. “Not many people get the opportunity to say they started a sports program, especially not football. That’s what we keep pounding in these kids’ heads: history, well, they’re writing it right now for Cossatot River School District and that’s something pretty special.”

It’s an effort, said Barrett, that’s going to make a big impact for the school district and the students who participate in the program - and an effort the entire Cossatot River community can be proud of.

“We want to end up with a rich football program here in Southern Polk County, a program like Mena and De Queen has,” said Barrett. “We’re not just suiting out a team, we want to win and build a legacy and we want to start this year. We’re just ready to go.”

Eagles fans are invited to see a full schedule of this fall’s season, as well as other updates from the program, by checking out Cossatot River Eagles Football on Facebook.

Large Yard Sale, 175 Polk Rd. 17, Old cabin just before Provence’s Recycle, Just past the new Cossatot School, Vandervoort. Just off of Hwy. 71.

August 4th-5th. Because of heat will open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 12:30. We will have cold water and cold drinks available. The sale will be under shade of 3 huge oak trees. Come and browse before it gets too hot. BRASS! BRASS!! BRASS!!!

The ordinary for sale, Clothes, lots of baby boys, little boys, men’s leather coats, fur coat, small petite clothes, skirts, pants for teens, jewelry, Western books, clown collection, toy slot machine, heirloom pictures.

Not so ordinary, Ark. Turquoise, rock specimens, old wood stove, (old tiller, n/w) dog house, fishing boat

MEN’S very unusual sale!! SMALL AMT’s, old mining supplies, cupels, crucibles, 3 large crucibles, orange flagging tape, hip chain string, sample bags, old scales, Mining books, old shovels, tools, wrenches, hammers, hand saws, crosscut saws. All this mining supplies belonged to a man who would be about 100 now.

Brass collectors!!! Brass, Brass, Brass!! A 40-year-old brass collection, buy one piece or box full. 100’s and 100’s of pieces.

T0802

Back-to-School Yard Sale, Wednesday, Aug. 2 - Friday, Aug. 4, 2708 Doris Lane off West Boundary Road in Mena. T0802