Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Foltz to play big role
PEA RIDGE — Last season, Cody Foltz scored his only touchdown from a defensive position on a fumble return after a blocked punt, and the Pea Ridge senior wouldn’t mind finding the end zone with the Blackhawks offense this fall.
Foltz, who started on the offensive line as a sophomore, started every game at nose guard last season and was a key part of a Blackhawks defense that gave up just 14 points a game in 2014. Foltz also started five games at fullback last season, and he will again pull double duty when the Blackhawks open the season Friday at Elkins.
Foltz will be a nose guard first, but Pea Ridge coach Tony Travis said Foltz’s strength and his 5-foot-8, 225-pound frame fit in well in the backfield.
“Cody is a powerful kid, one of the strongest kids that I have coached,” Travis said. “He bench presses 340, and his squats are around 485. Cody has a low center of gravity, and that makes it easy for him to lead block a linebacker or defensive end.
“Cody is also very disruptive on the defensive line, and we are going to keep him out there as much as we can. We have depth at fullback, and we feel we can
get him off the field and rest him.”
Foltz accepts his role as lead blocker in the Pea Ridge Pro-I offense, but the senior also enjoys toting the ball.
“We have high expectations this year, and we have the talent to do very well,” Foltz said. “I just want to help the team wherever I can.”
Travis said Foltz approached him after the 2013 season and asked to get a look at fullback.
“Cody bugged me a little bit about moving to fullback that offseason,” Travis said. “We talked about getting his 40 time down to a certain point, and we told him if he did that we would give him a shot. He worked hard on his speed, and we moved him. He hasn’t looked back since.”
Foltz played fullback in seventh and eighth grade and said he thought he could better help the offense at fullback.
“I was feeling spunky after my sophomore year, and I asked Coach Travis if I could play fullback,” Foltz said. “I played back up and I liked it. I hope to start this year.”
Travis said junior Cole Wright and sophomore Jakota Sainsbury are still alternating at quarterback as the Blackhawks prepare for the season opener.
“I’m planning on playing both of them at quarterback on Friday night,” Travis said. “They are both good quarterbacks. If one gets the hot hand, then they may get more snaps.”