ELKINS ELKS
2015 RECORD 5-6
COACH Chad Harbison
RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 8 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB Jake Strode (Sr., 5-10, 180), RB Colten Vaught (Sr., 5-10, 170), OL Denton Foster (Sr., 6-2, 240), OL/DL Weston /Ralston (Sr., 5-11, 250), OL/DL Zack Hood (Sr., 6-0, 205), LB Bo Ketcher (Sr., 6-0, 180),
THE SKINNY Harbison was hired after school was out in the spring, but said summer work has been good and numbers have increased. … Strode, an all-conference selection last year, accounted for 1,243 yards and 11 touchdowns while Vaught rushed for 744 yards and five touchowns. … Ketcher, an all-conference linebacker, has racked up 194 tackles over the past two seasons combined.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^Shiloh Christian^Oct. 7^Marshall*
Sept. 9^at West Fork^Oct. 14^at Clinton*
Sept. 16^Huntsville^Oct. 21^Melbourne*
Sept. 23^Yellville-Summit^Oct. 28^at Greenland
Sept. 30^at Mountain View^Nov. 4^at Green Forest
*— Denotes 3A-1 Conference game
GREEN FOREST TIGERS
2015 RECORD 3-7
COACH Bobby Bishop
RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 5 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB Cory Brewer (Sr., 5-6, 145), LB Creel Roberts (Jr., 5-8, 180), DL Jason Vasquez (5-10, 175), FB Kyle Allen (Sr., 5-9, 180)
THE SKINNY Bishop begins his second year at Green Forest, which runs a Power I offense. …. Bryant returns at quarterback after rushing for more than 600 yards last season. … Junior Kyle Allen moves from tight end to fullback this season. …. The Tigers ended last season with four consecutive defeats.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^at Huntsville^Oct. 7^Yellville-Summit*
Sept. 9^at Pea Ridge^Oct. 14^at Mountain View*
Sept. 16^Berryville^Oct. 21^Greenland*
Sept. 23^Marshall^Oct. 28^at Melbourne
Sept. 30^at Clinton^Nov. 4^Elkins
*— Denotes 3A-1 Conference games
GREENLAND PIRATES
2015 RECORD 10-2
COACH Lee Larkan
RETURNING STARTERS 2 offense, 4 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB Austin Anderson (Jr., 5-9, 160), RB/DB Michael McAdoo (Sr., 5-10, 170), WR/DB Tyler Tolbert (Sr., 6-4, 170), WR Paycen Dennis (Sr., 5-9, 175), OL/DL Jared Caudle (Sr., 6-2, 195), OL/LB Dustin Thomason (Sr., 5-9, 190).
THE SKINNY The Pirates will need to regroup after graduating a group of 14 seniors, who lost in the second round of the playoffs last year and averaged eight wins over the last three season. … McAdoo saw some action at tailback last season, but will be the full-time starter. … Anderson and sophomore Levi Vaughn are vying for the starting quarterback position. … Thomason will be a key two-way starter.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^at West Fork^Oct. 7^Mountain View*
Sept. 9^Mansfield^Oct. 14^at Marshall*
Sept. 16^at Gentry^Oct. 21^at Green Forest*
Sept. 23^Clinton^Oct. 28^Elkins
Sept. 30^at Yellville-Summit^Nov. 4^at Melbourne
*— Denotes 3A-1 Conference game
CEDARVILLE PIRATES
2015 RECORD 1-9
COACH Max Washausen
RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 6 defense
KEY PLAYERS RB Caleb Stockton (Sr., 5-7, 145), DT, Jacob Coleman (Sr., 6-0, 320), QB Keaton Crowley (Jr., 6-1, 170), RB Damian Adams (Sr., 5-11, 180)
THE SKINNY Washausen takes over full-time as head coach after being promoted from defensive coordinator last October. … Washausen is the fifth head coach in the last seven years at Cedarville. … Crowley takes over at quarterback after not playing football last season. … The Pirates have won three games or less in five of the past seven seasons.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^at Mountainburg^Oct. 7^at Mansfield*
Sept. 9^Waldron^Oct. 14^Atkins*
Sept. 16^at Pocola, Okla.^Oct. 21^at Lamar*
Sept. 23^Charleston^Oct. 28^at Paris*
Sept. 30^at Perryville^Nov. 4^Two Rivers
*— Denotes 3A-4 Conference game
CHARLESTON TIGERS
2015 RECORD 7-5
COACH Greg Kendrick
RETURNING STARTERS 9 offense, 6 defense
KEY PLAYERS WR Mason Wisdom (Jr., 6-0, 165), QB Jackson Rowland (Sr., 6-1, 195), RB Brayden Ketter (Jr., 5-9, 185), WR Michael Flanagan (Jr., 6-2, 190), DT Jeremiah Cadena (Sr., 5-11, 230), DT Clinton Lewelling (6-3, 280)
THE SKINNY Matt Stewart takes over as defensive coordinator for Brett Hobbs, who left for Springdale. Stewart was the quarterback on Charleston’s state championship team in 2005. … Charleston has 36 varsity players, including 18 seniors. … The Tigers’ season opener Tuesday against Dardanelle is not part of the annual Hootens.com Kickoff Classic. … Little Rock Episcopal replaces Prairie Grove as the Tigers’ Week 2 nonconference opponent. … Charleston quarterback Jackson Rowland is the grandson of former Fort Smith athletic director Jim Rowland.
SCHEDULE
Aug. 30^Dardanelle^Oct. 7^at Two Rivers*
Sept. 9^at LR Episcopal^Oct. 14^Lamar*
Sept. 16^Ozark^Oct. 21^at Atkins*
Sept. 23^at Cedarville^Oct. 28^Perryville
Sept. 30^Paris^Nov. 4^at Mansfield
*— Denotes 3A-4 Conference games
PARIS EAGLES
2015 RECORD 7-5
COACH Marc Tucker
RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 6 defense
KEY PLAYERS RB Nate Davidson (Sr., 6-0, 175), RB/CB Dakovan Wise (Jr., 5-8, 155), QB Preston Drewry (Jr., 6-1, 155), OL/DL Casey Rice (Sr., 6-2, 345), OL/DL Treverton Bryant (5-10, 200), LB Preston Stinnett (Sr., 5-10, 165).
THE SKINNY Winning 28-21 at Booneville last season “snowballed us into a winning streak,” Tucker said, and “I think you’ve got to do that to have a chance in the conference.” … Davidson earned All-State honors after rushing for 7.8 yards per carry and 18 TDs last season. … Wise assists in the backfield and shines in the defensive secondary where he pulled down a team-leading seven interceptions … Drewry and Davidson can help in the secondary, but the coaching staff hopes to find other defensive options so the duo can stay fresh for offense. … All four starting linebackers return, although Justus Lee moved from outside linebacker to free safety.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^Yellville-Summit^Oct 7^at Atkins*
Sept. 9^at Dardanelle^Oct. 14^Perryville*
Sept. 16^at Hector^Oct. 21^at Two Rivers*
Sept. 23^Mansfield^Oct. 28^Cedarville
Sept. 30^at Charleston^Nov. 4^at Lamar
*— Denotes 3A-4 Conference game
LAMAR WARRIORS
2015 RECORD 10-3
COACH Josh Jones
RETURNING STARTERS 1 offense, 4 defense
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS QB Hunter Davenport (Sr., 6-0, 220), RB Brennan Gilbert (Sr., 6-1, 180), RB Zac Dillard (Sr., 5-10, 160), WR Joe Mueller (Jr., 5-11, 160), WR Zedrick Lee (Sr., 5-9, 150), OL Chase Holland (Sr., 5-10, 195).
THE SKINNY Davenport returns at quarterback and middle linebacker after being injured in the playoffs last season. Davenport is the lone returning starter on offense for the Warriors, who advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2008. … Jones, who begins his fifth year at Lamar, led Magazine to a state championship in 2010.. … Lamar’s 38-20 win over Charleston last season was the first in school history over the Tigers.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^at Clarksville^Oct. 7^Perryville*
Sept. 9^at Subiaco Academy^Oct. 14^at Charleston*
Sept. 16^Mount Ida^Oct. 21^Cedarville*
Sept. 23^at AtkinsOct. 28^at Two Rivers
Sept.30^Mansfield^Nov. 4^Paris
*— Denotes 3A-4 Conference games
MANSFIELD TIGERS
2015 RECORD 3-7
COACH Craig Bentley
RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 5 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB Brennan James (Jr., 5-9, 150), RB/LB Joseff Buccella (Sr., 5-9, 194), WR Spencer Davis (Sr., 6-1, 187), OL Gavin Phoumivong (Sr., 5-8, 240), OL Ethan Moore (Sr., 5-6, 215), OL Grant Ellison (Sr., 6-2, 225).
THE SKINNY Out is Brandon Elmore and in steps Bentley, who is attempting to overhaul the Mansfield program with a new attitude and spread offense. … Skill players Tristen Nason and Joe Mathis’ graduation leaves the offense in the hands of James and Buccella. … Bentley says he has been impressed with the depth and experience along the offensive line, and hopes to have 10 players sliding along both fronts throughout the season. … Mansfield looks to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^Waldron^Oct 7^Cedarville*
Sept. 9^at Greenland^Oct. 14^Two Rivers*
Sept. 16^Lincoln^Oct. 21^at Perryville*
Sept. 23^at Paris^Oct. 28^at Atkins
Sept. 30^at Lamar^Nov. 4^Charleston
*— Denotes 3A-4 Conference game