The Prep Report

Gus Malzahn
Springdale (AR)

Located along U.S. Highway 71 just north of Fayetteville with a population of about 50,000, Springdale is already on just about any map of Arkansas you can pick up. But putting Springdale on the national high school football map is the goal of Bulldogs head coach Gus Malzahn and staff.

Malzahn has one of the nation’s top-rated quarterback prospects back in Mitch Mustain to orchestrate his two-minute style, no-huddle offense. Last season Mustain completed 139 of 222 passes (63 percent) for 2,169 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also rushed for 14 scores before breaking his arm in the Bulldogs’ state semifinal loss to Little Rock Central. “He’s the most talented quarterback to come through this state,” Malzahn says.

Malzahn, 39, is a native of Fort Smith, Ark., and a graduate of Henderson State University. He’s entering his fifth season at Springdale after coaching across town at Shiloh Christian, where he led the Saints to three consecutive Class AA state titles and a 44-game unbeaten streak. In 1998, Shiloh Christian had 7,399 yards of total offense, the seventh best total in the national record books.

Springdale’s 2005 roadmap to national prominence could be paved with a tough non-conference schedule that includes national poll regulars Evangel Christian (Shreveport, La.) and Jenks (Okla.). “This is the year we’ve been waiting on,” Malzahn says. “We’ve been trying to get to this point, to be on the national level.”