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Weekly UpdatesJunction City won the 2A state title last season and, with mega-recruit Byran Jones back as well as a slew of other talented players, the Dragons look like the team to beat again in 2009. However, 2A has a handful of teams that could spoil Junction City's run to a repeat crown.
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2A-3
East Poinsett County gets the preseason nod as conference favorite. Six starters are back for coach Bryan Harris' team. Running back/ defensive back Dustin Beatty leads the way for the Warriors. The senior rushed for 1,345 yards in 2008 and also had five interceptions. Junior Byron Ford had 726 yards rushing and recorded six interceptions. Senior John Roach (6-foot-3, 340) anchors a defensive line that gave up less than 100 yards rushing per game in 2008, while senior Hayden Weathers lines up at linebacker and tight end.
Coach Gary Moody has 19 letter winners back at McCrory, including senior running back/defensive back Boyd Williams. He finished with 1,300 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns in 2008. Senior quarterback Paul Keen is back, too. He finished with 900 yards passing with 13 touchdowns and rushed for five scores. Senior receiver/linebacker Jadiren Holiday had 30 receptions for 500 yards and five touchdowns last fall.
Cross County lost leading rusher Michael Bowles when he transferred during the summer, but coach Steve Williams has defensive lineman Dillion Euriga back. The 6-2 senior had 76 tackles and six sacks in 2008. Senior Blake Strickin (6-2, 285) plays on both lines and graded out at 98 percent in blocking a year ago. Junior back Blake Veasley should get the bulk of carries after gaining 550 yards as a sophomore.
Bennett Dudley was an all-conference receiver last season for coach Larry Treadway's Walnut Ridge Bobcats. The senior will be throwing the passes this season. Dudley will have big tight end Derek Medlock (6-3, 210) and senior receiver Logan Gaither to throw the ball to.
Roosevelt Turner takes over at Augusta. He'll have returning seniors Matt Brown (receiver), Zach Martin (linebacker) and Brandon Briscoe (quarterback) back.
Marked Tree returns four starters on offense and six on defense, including senior T.J. Laster, tight end Richie Tate and junior Carlos Matos returning.
Sam Weir returns for his second season at Salem. The Greyhounds will count on senior fullback/linebacker Dylan Smith, senior receiver/defensive back Jason Huff and two-way lineman Cody Harlow.
Thirteen lettermen are back at Rector for coach Bob Alberson. Senior running back Seth Parsley had 1,407 all-purpose yards in 2008, while senior Clinton Haley had 79 tackles a season ago.
Cedar Ridge is still searching for its first varsity win. Coach Todd Lovell has senior lineman Trey George and Eric Guinnip to help accomplish that.
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2A-4
Union Christian returns 12 starters and earns the preseason pick as conference favorite. Coach Bob Hattabaugh will look to senior tailback Mike Matthews a lot in 2009 after Matthews rushed for 369 yards in 2008. Senior tight end Michael Wilkerson (6-3, 245) had 15 receptions last fall. Senior quarterback Aaron Collins and junior lineman Daniel Belve will also be counted on.
Magazine won seven games last season under coach Josh Jones. Senior quarterback Michael Corbitt is back after rushing for 935 yards and passing for 362 in 2008. Senior Jon Williams had 387 yards rushing and senior Dakota Kholar had 53 tackles and three interceptions from his cornerback position.
The defending conference champion, Johnson County Westside, returns five starters on both sides of the ball, including senior wingbacks Dylan Jackson and Chris Foster. Junior Corey Yarbrough mans the line.
Hackett earned a playoff bid under Eddie Ray last season. The Hornets will look to make another run at postseason play behind junior quarterback Evan Ray, junior running back Justin Robbins and senior tight end Jacob Knox.
Western Yell County was close to breaking through last season under former Russellville coach Phil Collins. The Wolverines, winless in 2008, return six starters, including senior quarterback/cornerback Mark Vilavanh, junior tight end/linebacker Lucas Tracy and junior wide receiver/ linebacker Brian Buckman.
Coach Bill Brockert's Decatur team returns four starters on both sides of the football. Seniors quarterback Trent Arnold, running back Shelby Ellison and lineman Aurthur Lor return for the final year as Bulldogs.
Hartford canceled its upcoming season due to low player numbers, leaving many schools with a hole to fill in their schedule.
5A-2
Mountain Pine enters as the favorite in the 5A-2 conference with nine starters back on offense and eight on defense. Senior quarterback Ryan Herron is back after passing for 12 touchdowns in 2008. Junior fullback Jacob Crawford also returns along with running back De Andre Jenkins and receiver Brannon Wiles. Center Chris Rice anchors the line.
Bigelow lost a lot off an 11-win conference champion squad, but coach Jeff Starks has built a nice program in Perry County. Junior quarterback Spencer Langston, who passed for 1,674 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2008, leads the way on offense. Junior De'Andre Grider will be the workhorse in the backfield, while juniors Anthony Oiles and Ty Kibbons are the beasts on the line.
The Little Johns of Danville have receiver Ossie Apalategui (6-foot-3, 170) to lead the offense while senior quarterback Justin Roy takes over tinder center. Seniors Eddie Ventura and Jacob Gates will do the protecting up front.
Conway Christian made the playoffs in its first season as an Arkansas Activities Association member. Coach Chuck Speer's Eagles return athletic junior quarterback Kirby Powell and talented junior running backs Adam Ragland and Bates Isom, son of former University of Central Arkansas coach Mike Isom.
Ola is no more. Enter Two Rivers under first-year coach Josh Harrison. The Gators will rely on senior running back Clay Damon and senior offensive lineman Brock Wald. Toby Robinson will anchor the defense from his noseguard position.
Cutter Morning Star has starters back on offense and defense for coach Rich Colananni. The Garland County school will rely on junior quarterback Zach Newton, junior tailback Ryan Gillham and senior lineman Cody Howell.
Andy Cheney's Hector Wildcats have nine starters back on both sides of the football. Junior Derec Gumpenberger is back at quarterback and senior twins Adam and Alex Clancy provide help at the skill positions. Senior Lance Riley (6-5) anchors both lines.
Little Rock Lutheran went 1-9 in 2008 and returns four starters on both sides of the ball for coach Josh Oberg. Sophomore Alex Becker will get the nod at quarterback after playing as a freshman. He'll have receivers Patrick Anderson, a senior, and junior Markham Roberson as targets, or can hand the ball off to running back William Betzner.
Former assistant coach Fritz Heidenreich takes over the head coaching duties this fall in Quitman. The Bulldogs return talented senior quarterback Tim Smith (6-1, 155) and he'll have protection up front from seniors Austin Coates and Travis Mize.
6A-2
Des Arc played for the 2A state title in December and lost on a last-second field goal to Junction City. The Eagles also lost their coach, too, as Tim Harper took the job in Searcy in December. Former assistant coach Nick Hill takes over and he'll have four starters back on offense and five on defense. The Eagles will win up front with big linemen Brent Calhoun and Zach Hamric. The seniors will be blocking for junior quarterback Justin Hollis, who takes over under center. Senior cornerback Zach Hill provides experience in the secondary on defense.
Senior Darius Mosby should have a breakout season for Hazen coach Joe Besancon's squad. Seniors Kendall Cook and Brody Goode will be blocking up front and opening up the holes for Mosby. The Hornets return six starters on offense and eight on defense.
Carlisle won 11 games in 2008 under Scotty Waymire. The Bison return four starters on defense and will look to win some close games that way, as senior tight end/ defensive lineman Alex Reid leads the way up front. Junior D.J. Miller will be under center on offense as well as play cornerback. Senior Chris Larkin (6-5, 260) has good size for both lines.
Clarendon has four starters back on offense, including senior quarter back Chase Julian, who passed for more than 700 yards in 2008. He'll look to get the ball to talented receivers Connor James and Darius Eason.
Marvell had a strong showing in the playoffs last year, defeating Union Christian in a first-round game. Former Forrest City and Mountain View coach Wayne Mayer will have the team for a full season in 2009 and he has eight starters back on offense and defense. Senior receivers Quinzel Thomas, Jeffrey Jones and Corey Gage provide good size and athletic ability for the Mustangs.
Hughes went winless in 2008 but will have a good chance for some wins this season with seen starters back on both sides of the ball. Junior quarterback Chris Wilson (6-3, 200) has good size and a good arm. He'll look to get the ball to senior receiver Matthew Zachary. Senior D'Aundre Robinson anchors the line.
The Patriots of Palestine-Wheatley have a new coach in former Forrest City assistant Charles Sartin. Junior Deand're Leak provides athletic ability in the backfield, while seniors Dillon Anderson and Eli Wall contribute experience on the line.
7A-2
Mineral Springs welcomes back quarterback Shawn Richardson and junior tailback Rodrae Jones to give coach Gary Segrest an explosive backfield. Jones rushed for more than 1,000 last fall. The Hornets have good size on the line and experience as seniors Kevin Heard, Dante Maxwell and Malcolm Lampkins are all back and are taller than 6-foot.
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