Members of the Bryant Chamber of Commerce attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome Bryant Motors to the business community. Bryant Motors, owned by Jerry Gibson, is located at 1810 No. Reynolds Rd. in Bryant.

This is the third in a series breaking down the personnel in each area of the 2009 Bryant Hornets football team.

By Rob Patrick

In 2008, the Bryant Hornets defensive line pretty much had to be rebuilt. But a number of players stepped up to make it one of the strengths of the team and a trio of them return for this season, seniors Dustin Grimmett (5-9, 205) and Mitchell Wise (5-10, 175) and junior Josh Hampton (6-2, 255).

D-line coach Brad Stroud said he’s been working Hampton and senior Blake Heil (6-2, 215) at the ends along with senior Ryan Cox (6-0, 200). “I’ve got Wise and Grimmett in the middle,” he continued.

As part of the countdown to the 10th Salt Bowl, BryantDaily.com is featuring the game stories published in the Bryant Times about the first nine. New ones are posted each day. Salt Bowl VII was played on Aug. 29, 2006, at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. — Rob

By ROB PATRICK

BRYANT TIMES

There was a press conference held at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock to promote this year’s Salt Bowl football game between the Saline County rivals, Bryant and Benton. Politicians were on hand, school administrators, representatives from both Chambers of Commerce, economic development folks and — oh yeah, players and coaches. And there was some of the Little Rock media, the focus of the event.

And it was a Bryant-Benton love fest, with all this talk about how well the people of the two towns work so well together while being oh-so-friendly rivals.

To anyone that knew better, it was difficult to keep a straight face. And when the two head football coaches, Bryant’s Paul Calley and Benton’s Marc Jones, took their turns at the podium they had a hard time keeping with the theme.

This is the second in a series breaking down the personnel in each area of the 2009 Bryant Hornets football team.

By Rob Patrick

With the departure of three senior starters including solid outside backer Dylan Chism and Austin Humbard, one of the best middle linebackers to ever don the Bryant blue, it’s been retooling time for defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Steve Griffith.

“There’s not a lot of experience this year,” he acknowledged. “Trey Sowell (5-10, 180, senior) had some playing time last year and, of course, he and Hunter Mayall (6-0, 190, junior) and Brennan Bullock (5-10, 180, senior) played in all the JV games last year.

Diamond Sports in Bryant has announced the addition of two new instructors.

Boyd Goodner, a star pitcher for the Benton Panthers from 1998-2000 who led the Benton Legion team to back-to-back State championships will be giving pitching lessons. Goodner, who named the Most Valuable Pitcher at the State Legion tourney and was named the 200 Pitcher of the Year in Arkansas went on to play at Pratt (Kansas) Community College before transferring to the University of Arkansas.

As part of the countdown to the 10th Salt Bowl, BryantDaily.com is featuring the game stories published in the Bryant Times about the first nine. New ones are posted each day. Salt Bowl VI marked the first and only time so far that Benton has taken the trophy home. It was played on Aug. 30, 2005, at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. — Rob

By ROB PATRICK

BRYANT TIMES

LITTLE ROCK — When two evenly matched football teams get after it, the outcome often comes down to special teams play. And such was the case when the seventh-ranked Benton Panthers and the Bryant Hornets tangled at War Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 30, in the season-opener for both teams.

Benton’s Nick Hendrix blocked a punt inside the Bryant 10 and Bryan Vick picked it up and scored what proved to be the winning touchdown as the Panthers ended a six-year drought against the Hornets, 14-7.

By LANA CLIFTON

The Bryant Historical Society met to share two important developments with members and guests, introduce new projects and listen to a guest speaker at a meeting held Thursday, Aug. 27.

The first development announced was a new meeting place. For some months, members had been meeting at the Bryant Hampton Inn. On Thursday, however, they held their first meeting in a new and more permanent location, the building that used to hold the Bryant Library on Mills Park Road. The use of the building was donated by Ted and Joyce Boswell.

Steve Gladden, president of the society, expressed his gratitude toward the Boswell family. “This is going to be a nice home for our historical society,” he said.

By Rob Patrick

PEARCY — Before her team’s season-opening match, new Bryant Lady Hornets head volleyball coach Beth Solomon said her team needed to develop confidence. The first two games of their match against the Lake Hamilton Lady Wolves should’ve provided some.

But confidence, when first taking root, is often fragile.

The Lady Hornets, despite the exhortations of their coach, seemed to lose a little of their intensity in the third game and the tight battles in the first two games that went their way turned around after that as Lake Hamilton rallied to win the match, 23-25, 25-27, 25-16, 25-21, 15-13, spoiling Bryant’s debut.

PINE BLUFF — The Bryant Hornets won three or four varsity matches including the second sweep of the doubles matches in as many outings this season on Thursday, Aug. 27.

In girls action, Alex Hughes notched a win in No. 2 singles for the Lady Hornets, defeating Pine Bluff's Allison Price, 8-4.

Senior Logan Porter earned an 8-6 victory over Pine Bluff’s Nick Bryant at No. 1 singles for the boys. At No. 2, Cody Higgins absorbed an 8-1 loss to Pine Bluff’s Rod Evans.

SHERIDAN — The Bryant Lady Hornets freshman volleyball team improved to 2-0 overall and in the South Division of the Central Arkansas Junior High Conference with a 25-12, 27-25 win at Sheridan on Thursday, Aug. 27.

McKenzie Adams had five kills and three blocks for points for the Lady Hornets. Head coach Monica Parish also had praise for Courtney Davidson, playing setter for the first time.