CLASS 3A SUPER SIX: NO. 1 BOONEVILLE

Bearcats drop but still tops

New conference, same expectation

Booneville Coach Scott Hyatt said the Bearcats will be tested in the preseason when they scrimmage Class 7A Springdale and Class 4A Shiloh Christian on Monday.
Booneville Coach Scott Hyatt said the Bearcats will be tested in the preseason when they scrimmage Class 7A Springdale and Class 4A Shiloh Christian on Monday.

The second in a series of articles looking at the top team in each classification going into the high school football season.

Booneville may be dropping down from Class 4A to Class 3A, but Coach Scott Hyatt isn't expecting a drop in the level of competition.

"Just because we're dropping down to 3A doesn't mean our schedule isn't any good," said Hyatt, whose team will play in the 4-3A Conference this season. "The teams that are at the top of 3A are just as good as the teams at the top of 4A."

3A Super Six

TEAM;2013;CONF.

  1. Booneville;15-0;4-3A

  2. Charleston;15-0;4-3A

  3. Harding Academy

  4. Lamar;9-2;4-3A

  5. Smackover;12-2;6-3A

  6. Prescott;6-6;5-3A

Bearcats at a glance

COACH Scott Hyatt

CONFERENCE 4-3A

2013 RECORD 15-0 (Class 4A)

KEY RETURNERS FB Bryson May (Sr.), HB/CB Matt Berry (Sr.), HB/CB Josh Smith (Sr.), NG Justin Shackleford (Sr.)

SCHEDULE

DATE;OPPONENT

Sept. 5;at Ozark

Sept. 12;at Dardanelle

Sept. 19;Arkansas Baptist

Sept. 26;Two Rivers*

Oct. 3;Danville*

Oct. 10;at Lamar*

Oct. 17;at Paris*

Oct. 24;Mansfield*

Oct. 31;at Charleston*

Nov. 7;Lavaca*

*4-3A game

Booneville played in the 4-4A Conference last year and capped a 15-0 season with its third state championship, beating Warren 14-12 in the championship game to close out the season No. 1 in Class 4A.

The Bearcats are expected to pick up right where they left off and will open the 2014 season ranked No. 1 in Class 3A by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

The Bearcats have 42 players in fall camp, and Hyatt said they aren't resting on their laurels.

"Our kids have a lot of pride, and the confidence has carried over to this year," said Hyatt, who was chosen as the All-Arkansas Preps coach of the year last season by the Democrat-Gazette. "You have to walk that fine line of being overconfident, but our kids are handling that well."

Senior fullback Bryson May, 5-10, 215 pounds, leads an offense that returns nine starters. May rushed for 1,394 yards and 27 touchdowns on 200 carries last season, when he averaged 92.9 yards per game. He also caught 2 passes for 71 yards and 1 touchdown.

Seniors Matt Berry, 6-0, 175, and Josh Smith, 5-10, 160, return at halfback. Berry had 739 yards and 8 touchdowns on 81 carries and caught 7 passes for 157 yards and 3 scores. He also returned two kickoff returns for touchdowns. Smith rushed for 637 yards and 8 touchdowns on 65 carries.

Quarterback Cody Harrel, who had 3,705 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2011-2013, graduated last season, so the Bearcats will turn to senior James Ray, 5-9, 190. Ray carried 20 times for 71 yards and 1 touchdown, and his only pass went for a 42-yard touchdown.

Hyatt said Ray's confidence has grown throughout fall camp.

"He's looked sharp," Hyatt said. "He's made the right reads and is throwing the ball well. He's a very coachable kid. He's a smart kid and has a high football IQ."

The Bearcats have four starters back on defense in nose guard Justin Shackleford, May, Berry, Smith and Ray.

Shackleford recorded 77 1/2 tackles, including 23 1/2 for a loss, and 7 1/2 sacks. May had 65 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks and 3 interceptions.

Berry and Smith, two of Booneville's top cornerbacks, had 45 and 49 1/2 tackles, respectively. Berry recorded eight interceptions a year ago. Ray had 50 1/2 tackles and two interceptions at strong safety.

Hyatt also is high on sophomore Caleb Draper, 5-9, 185, who is expected to start at outside linebacker.

Booneville will play Class 7A Springdale and Class 4A Shiloh Christian in a scrimmage Monday at Springdale High School.

"That's going to test our skill kids," Hyatt said. "It will test us in all areas."

The Bearcats open the season at Ozark on Sept. 5 and at Dardanelle on Sept. 12.

They will play at Lamar on Oct. 10 and at Charleston on Oct. 31 in what are expected to be key 4-3A Conference games. Lamar went 9-2 last season and opens the 2014 ranked No. 4 in Class 3A by the Democrat-Gazette. Charleston, the defending Class 3A state champion, is No. 2 in Class 3A and returns Ty Storey, one of the top prospects in the state who has orally committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks.

"It's not going to be just walk out there and you can win," Hyatt said. "You have to fight for everything you can get."

Sports on 08/20/2014

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