The 1980s era of Heber Springs football was one of consistency at the top with Dennis DeBusk coaching the team through eight seasons of the decade.
The 1980 Panther team finished the season with an 8-2 mark and in a three-way tie for the 1AA-East crown, but missed out on a playoff spot. After opening the season with a 10-7 setback to Joe T. Robinson, Heber Springs would win eight straight setting up a week 10 showdown with Greenbrier for a chance to win back-to-back outright conference crowns. But the Faulkner County Panther squad would come out on top 24-6 to steal the playoff bid from the Panthers.
In 1981, Heber Springs would finished 7-3 and the set-up would be the same as 1980, except with nonconference losses to Beebe and Batesville, with a week 10 showdown with Greenbrier for the 1AA-East crown. Both teams entered the game at 5-0 in the conference, but Greenbrier would claim a 27-0 win, the conference title and the conference’s spot in the playoffs.
The 1982 squad would start the season 0-2 with losses at Beebe and to Harding Academy, but rebounded to win at Bald Knob and at home against Batesville. The Panthers would start conference play with a victories over Clinton and Yellville-Summit, before stumbling at Mountain View on Oct. 15, 20-14. Heber Springs would rebound with wins over Marshall and Vilonia before falling to Greenbrier, 10-6, in week 10. Though the Panthers finished in second place in the conference, Mountain View was the lone representative for the conference in the playoffs.
In 1983, Bald Knob re-joined the newly-named 5AA-North conference and the Panthers would start the season 2-1 in nonconference play. Heber Springs would not leave any doubt about a playoff spot by starting 6-0 and having clinched postseason play by week 10. A week 10 loss to Vilonia meant the Panthers had to share a conference crown with the Eagles. Heber Springs opened the season with a win over Beebe but the Badgers got revenge in the playoffs by knocking off the Panthers, 17-6.
The 1984 Panther team would finish 4-6 and 3-4 in conference play. Heber Springs still had a chance to earn one of the two playoff spots for the conference but those hopes were dashed with losses in weeks 9 and 10 ended those.
The 1985 and 1986 teams each finished at 2-8 with the 1985 squad downing Marshall and Vilonia, and the 1986 team defeating Marshall and Greenbrier.
In 1987, Heber Springs would go 2-3 in nonconference play with wins over Dover and Atkins. The Panthers would open up conference play with a thrilling 19-12 overtime win against Clinton, but would drop their final four contests to finish at 3-7.
Mountain View High School graduate John Richardson would take over as coach for the 1988 season after coming over from Huntsville. Heber Springs would start with nine straight losses before closing the season with a win over Mountain View.
In 1989, Heber Springs would again finished with a 1-9 mark, starting the season with three nonconference losses before downing Yellville-Summit in the conference opener.
The 1980s HSHS All-Decade Football Team
(Position, Player and Last Season Played)
OFFENSE
WR – Lance Perry (1980)
WR – Mark Rezanka (1983)
OL – Jim Bly (1981)
OL – Edward Gleich (1984)
OL – Wayne Hazelwood (1983)
OL – John Hoover (1980)
OL – Aaron Little (1980)
QB – Pat Dudeck (1988)
RB – Bill Mark (1982)
RB – Danny Martin (1980)
RB – Danny Stevenson (1988)
AP – Mark Hoffman (1980)
AP – Reggie Sumpter (1987)
AP – Jonathan Wallace (1984)
AP – Shannon Yates (1987)
DEFENSE
DL – Jeff Garlinghouse (1988)
DL – Brock Loftis (1981)
DL – Peyton Upton (1982)
LB – Dale Cresswell (1984)
LB – Mike Shamburger (1989)
LB – Robert Sparks (1980)
LB/K – Mike Verser (1984)
LB – Paul Reed (1981)
DB – Andy Beam (1981)
DB –Steve Logan (1983)
DB – Bill Wallace (1986)
P – Travis Moss (1984)
AP – Birch Grisso (1983)
AP –Sid Shelton (1982)
AP – Paige Upton (1982)
PREVIOUS DECADES
The 1970s HSHS All-Decade Team
The 1960s HSHS All-Decade Team
The 1950s HSHS All-Decade Team
The 1940s HSHS All-Decade Team