BENTONVILLE HIGH TIGERS
2015 RECORD 10-2
COACH Jody Grant
RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 2 defense
KEY PLAYERS RB Jacob Clark (Sr., 5-11, 195); WR Kam’ron Mays-Hunt (Jr., 6-2, 170); WR Clay Barganier (Sr., 5-9, 170); OL Jack Short (Sr., 6-4, 235); LB Destyn Adkins (Sr., 6-1, 190); DB Aaron Estrada (Sr., 5-10, 175); PK Hayden Moehring (Sr., 5-10, 185)
THE SKINNY The Tigers enter the season with a bitter taste in their mouths after having their string of consecutive conference championships (nine) and consecutive state championship appearances (five) end last fall. … Clark finished the season with 900 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns … The duo of Barganier and Mays-Hunt combined for 121 pass receptions for more than 1,500 yards and nine touchdowns. … Short has already made a verbal commitment to Central Arkansas. … Adkins, who had 79 tackles last fall, had shoulder surgery in the spring and was cleared just before preseason workouts earlier this month. … Moehring already has offers from Army and Navy, where his brother Bennett plays. … Senior Canaan Ross appears to be the likely replacement for three-year starting quarterback Kasey Ford.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^KC (Mo.) Rockhurst^Oct. 7^at Springdale Har-Ber*
Sept. 9^Bixby, Okla.^Oct. 14^at Springdale High*
Sept. 16^at Conway^Oct. 21^Rogers High*
Sept. 23^at Fayetteville^Oct. 28^at Rogers Heritage
Sept. 30^Van Buren^Nov. 4^Bentonville West
*— Denotes 7A-West Conference game
BENTONVILLE WEST WOLVERINES
2015 RECORD First season
COACH Bryan Pratt
RETURNING STARTERS N/A
KEY PLAYERS RB/LB Sebastian Canigila (Jr., 6-0, 185); Jackson Prince QB Will Jarrett (So., 5-10, 150); WR/DB Stefan Banda (Jr., 5-9, 160); WR/DB Jason Gloeckler (Jr., 5-11, 150); OL Anthony Boettner (Jr., 6-2, 240); OL Michael Toney (Jr., 6-2, 305); WR Jadon Jackson (So., 6-0, 165)
THE SKINNY: It’s the inaugural season for West, which will play with only juniors and sophomores this season. … The sophomores are already to accustomed to Pratt and his no-huddle offense, having played for him with Bentonville Gold’s ninth-grade team last fall. … The Wolverines will play their home games at Tiger Stadium, but they will be the visitors when they play there against Bentonville High in the Nov. 4 season finale. … When West plays its season opener, it will be the only game a 7A-West team will play on a natural grass surface this season. … Toney saw some playing time last season with Bentonville.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^at Pryor, Okla.^Oct. 7^Springdale High*
Sept. 9^at LR Central^Oct. 14^Springdale Har-Ber*
Sept. 16^Muskogee, Okla.^Oct. 21^at Rogers Heritage*
Sept. 23^Van Buren^Oct. 28^Rogers High
Sept. 30^at Fayetteville^Nov. 4^at Bentonville High
*— Denotes 7A-West Conference game
FAYETTEVILLE BULLDOGS
2015 RECORD 12-2
COACH Bill Blankenship
RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 6 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB Taylor Powell (Sr., 6-2, 210), RB Terrance Rock (Sr., 6-0, 185), WR Barrett Banister (Sr., 6-2, 195), OG Spencer Stone (Sr., 6-4, 320), OT Ty Clary (Sr., 6-5, 280), DT Akial Byers (Sr., 6-4, 275), LB Nick Scalise (Sr., 6-2, 200), S Luke Waller (Sr., 5-11, 195).
THE SKINNY The Purple’Dogs return as many key skill position players as any team in the 7A-West Conference and should again possess one of the top offenses in the state, making the transition to new coach Blankenship an easy switch. … With all-state quarterback Powell back for a third year as the starter and plenty of options in the receiving corps, Fayetteville could be hard to stop. The offensive line, with three starters back — including all-conference selections Clary and Stone — will also be a strength. … Defensively, the Bulldogs feature big playmakers from front to back, with Alabama commit Byers leading the way at defensive tackle. … Overall, the secondary could be the biggest plus with four starters returning from last year’s Class 7A state championship team.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^Blue Springs, Mo.^Oct. 7^at Rogers High*
Sept. 9^at Bryant^Oct. 14^Rogers Heritage*
Sept. 16^at Dallas Bishop Dunne^Oct. 21^at Springdale Har-Ber*
Sept. 23^Bentonville^Oct. 28^at Springdale High
Sept. 30^Bentonville West^Nov. 4^Van Buren
*— Denotes 7A-West Conference game
ROGERS HERITAGE WAR EAGLES
2015 RECORD 0-10
COACH Tony Travis
RETURNING STARTERS 3 offense, 4 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB Trey Kitterman (Jr., 6-1, 226), RB/WR Dylan Qualls (Jr., 6-0, 191), RB Hayden Garrett (Jr., 5-10, 171), WR Roberto Palacios (Sr., 6-0 187), TE/DE Mason Gray (Sr., 6-2, 243), DL/FB DeAndrea Mendez (Jr., 5-7, 250), DB Josh Palacios (Sr., 6-0, 195) OL Jerry Pollock (Sr., 6-1, 274).
THE SKINNY Travis, who helped build a strong program at Pea Ridge, was hired in May and was able to go through spring practice with the War Eagles. … Heritage finished winless a year ago, after having to forfeit a season-opening win at Olathe (Kan.) North because it used an ineligible player. … Kitterman saw some playing time a year ago, but was slowed by a knee injury late in the season. … Qualls rushed for 225 yards and also had 21 receptions for 157 yards as a sophomore.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^LR Central^Oct. 7^at Van Buren*
Sept. 9^at Russellville^Oct. 14^at Fayetteville*
Sept. 16^FS Southside^Oct. 21^Bentonville West
Sept. 23^at Springdale High^Oct. 28^at Bentonville High
Sept. 30^Rogers High^Nov. 4^at Springdale Har-Ber
*— Denotes 7A-West Conference game
ROGERS HIGH MOUNTIES
2015 RECORD 1-9
COACH Mike Loyd
RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 6 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB Max Horton (Sr., 6-1 220), RB/WR Jeb Brain (Sr., 6-0, 170), RB Grayson Lee (Sr., 5-11, 185), LB Aaron Jones (6-2, 215), DE Phillip Necessary (Sr., 6-0, 215), DL Alex Dillman (Sr., 6-2, 265), OL Jackson Bray (Sr., 6-0, 240), OL Derek Baxter (Sr., 6-1, 270).
THE SKINNY The Mounties are switching from a run-based flexbone offense to the spread under Loyd, who was hired prior to spring practice. … Rogers earned back-to-back playoff berths in 2012 and 2013, but haven’t been back since, winning just three games combined over the past two seasons. … Jones started for Little Rock McClellan in the Class 5A state title game as a sophomore. … Brain and Lee give the Mounties some speed on offense, while Necessary and Bray anchor the offensive and defensive lines.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^Siloam Springs^Oct. 7^Fayetteville*
Sept. 9^at Claremore, Okla.^Oct. 14^Van Buren*
Sept. 16^St. Louis Normandy^Oct. 21^at Bentonville High*
Sept. 23^at Springdale Har-Ber^Oct. 28^at Bentonville West
Sept. 30^at Rogers Heritage^Nov. 4^Springdale High
*— Denotes 7A-West Conference game
SPRINGDALE HAR-BER WILDCATS
2015 RECORD 11-2
COACH Chris Wood
RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 6 defense
KEY PLAYERS WR Trey Smith (Sr., 5-9, 175), OL Damon Nelson (Sr., 6-3, 330), G/TE Kyle Guthrie (Sr., 6-2, 230), DB Blaze Brothers (Jr., 5-9, 159), DB Bryton Cook (Jr., 5-9, 172), LB Oliver Nasilai (Jr., 6-2, 236).
THE SKINNY Har-Ber won just three games in 2014, but bounced back in a big way last season, playing its way into the school’s third conference championship and the 7A state title game. … All-Conference WR Smith returns to head the Wildcats’ receivers group after catching 38 passes for 570 yards and nine scores. Smith helped hand Fayetteville its first loss of 2015, catching the game-winning 6-yard touchdown pass with just seconds remaining. … Wood has five quarterbacks vying for the starting job following Fuller Chandler’s (1,928 yards, 26 TD) departure. Senior Aaron Henington and junior Payton Copher entered fall practices as the frontrunners for the position. … Wood sees offensive line and secondary play as the strength of his team entering the season. The offensive line is spearheaded by seniors Nelson, Guthrie and Cade Chastain. On the back end of the defense, playmakers Brothers, the 7A-West Newcomer of the Year, and Cook hold down the cornerback spots. The Wildcats owned the 7A-West’s top defense last season, allowing 245 yards per game.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^FS Southside^Oct 7^Bentonville High*
Sept. 9^Jefferson City (Mo.)^Oct. 14^at Bentonville West*
Sept. 16^at Jenks (Okla.)^Oct. 21^Fayetteville*
Sept. 23^at Rogers High^Oct. 28^at Van Buren
Sept. 30^Springdale High^Nov. 4^Rogers Heritage
*— Denotes 7A-West Conference game
SPRINGDALE HIGH BULLDOGS
2015 RECORD 2-9
COACH Zak Clark
RETURNING STARTERS 7 Offense, 7 Defense
KEY PLAYERS WR Kyler Williams (Sr., 5-9, 165), WR/FS Jayden Minchew (Sr., 6-1, 175), QB Layne Hutchins (Jr., 6-0, 180), RB Erick Mendez (Sr., 5-7, 180), DE/LB Mason Hutchins (Jr., 6-0, 217), LB Dylan Sisemore (Jr., 6-0, 210).
THE SKINNY Springdale, following an 0-10 2014 season, played its way into the first round of the 7A playoffs last season. … All-State WR Williams leads the receiving corps entering his senior season. He caught a league-high 68 passes for 933 yards and five scores as a junior. … The Bulldogs will look to replace all-conference QB Jack Lindsey (2,226 yards, 16 TD) with junior Layne Hutchins. … Springdale’s defensive unit appeared much improved during the spring under new defensive coordinator Brett Hobbs. Clark brings in Hobbs, a former Bulldog, to take over a defense that gave up nearly 40 points and more than 400 yards per contest in 2015. The former Charleston defensive coordinator plans to run a 4-3 scheme in 2016.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^at Conway^Oct 7^at Bentonville West*
Sept. 9^at Alma^Oct. 14^Bentonville High*
Sept. 16^Russellville^Oct. 21^at Van Buren*
Sept. 23^Rogers Heritage^Oct. 28^Fayetteville
Sept. 30^at Springdale Har-Ber^Nov. 4^at Rogers High
*— Denotes 7A-West Conference game
VAN BUREN POINTERS
2015 RECORD 2-8
COACH Greg Werner
RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 6 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB Caleb Salisbury (Jr., 6-2, 175), RB/DL Josh Aden (Sr., 6-2, 220), WR/CB Kameron Collins (Sr., 5-9, 175), SS Greg Gladden (Sr., 5-10, 170), DL Alex Espinosa (Sr., 5-10, 260), DL Jayden Mendez (Jr., 6-1, 265).
THE SKINNY The Pointers, following a 2-1 start to 2015, lost their final seven games of the season and missed the state playoffs for a fourth consecutive year. … Gone are Van Buren’s top playmakers from last season in QB Jordan Barlow (1,414 yards, 16 TD) and RB/WR Jaylynn Dye (11 total TD in five games). Werner now turns the offense over to Salisbury (led JV to 4-3 record in 2015). … Defensively, Werner feels confident in his line and the leadership of Espinosa and Mendez as well as Aden at linebacker.
SCHEDULE
Aug.30^at Alma^Oct 7^Rogers Heritage*
Sept. 9^FS Northside^Oct. 14^at Rogers High*
Sept. 16^Siloam Springs^Oct. 21^Springdale High*
Sept. 23^at Bentonville West^Oct. 28^Springdale Har-Ber
Sept. 30^at Bentonville High^Nov. 4^at Fayetteville
*— Denotes 7A-West Conference game
FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE GRIZZLIES
2015 RECORD 4-7
COACH Mike Falleur
RETURNING STARTERS 7 offense, 8 defense
KEY PLAYERS WR Kedrick Thomas (Sr., 5-10, 165), RB/WR Derrick Wise (So., 5-10, 170), RB Hunter Pendleton (Sr., 5-9, 160), CB Tre Norwood (Sr., 5-11, 175), LB Tanner Cross (Sr., 6-2, 220), LB Robert Wilkerson (Sr., 6-1, 220).
THE SKINNY Despite having a stout defense at times, offensive woes plagued the Grizzlies in 2015. … Pendleton is back for his senior season after rushing for 483 yards and two scores, but Wise is likely to be a staple in the Northside backfield from the get-go. … The passing game was a struggle last season for Grizzlies QB Max Frazier (666 yards, 3 TD, 8 INT), but appears to have numerous weapons this fall in receivers Thomas, Dearon Robinson, Jamarlon Jones and Wise. … Northside also expects to have one of the state’s top linebacker groups even after losing All-State selection Deontre Hardwick. LBs Cross, Robert Wilkerson, Colby Flemming and Chuy Parga will patrol the middle of the defense as CB Tre Norwood, a Louisville commit, holds down the secondary.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^Greenwood^Oct 7^LR Catholic*
Sept. 9^at Van Buren^Oct. 14^at Conway*
Sept. 16^Pine Bluff^Oct. 21^North Little Rock*
Sept. 23^at Bryant^Oct. 28^at Cabot
Sept. 30^at LR Central^Nov. 4^FS Southside
*— Denotes 7A-Central Conference game
FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE MAVERICKS
2015 RECORD 8-5
COACH Jeff Williams
RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 5 defense
KEY PLAYERS RB Parker Dixon (Sr., 5-8, 160), QB Graves Schmidly (Sr., 6-1, 180), RB Kobe Rogers (Sr., 6-1, 210), OL Austin Geis (Sr., 6-6, 360), DL Hunter Moreton (Sr., 6-1, 275), FS Jaylin Brewer (Sr., 5-10. 155), CB Prince Rhoden (Sr., 5-11, 180).
THE SKINNY In its final season in the 7A-West, Southside made a run to the state semifinals, knocking off a pair of new 7A-Central foes (Little Rock Catholic, Cabot) along the way. … Unproven senior quarterback Graves Schmidly takes over the Mavericks offense with the graduation of all-conference QB Cooper Johnson (2,379 yards, 20 TDs in 2015) and will have reliable Dixon alongside him in the backfield. … Experienced line play will be the Mavericks’ strength. Seven offensive linemen return, including Austin Geis. Defensively, Arkansas State commit Moreton holds down the line at noseguard. Brewer and Rhoden provide experience in the secondary. … Southside has won at least eight games each season since 2008.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 2^at Springdale Har-Ber^Oct 7^at North Little Rock*
Sept. 9^Greenwood^Oct. 14^Bryant*
Sept. 16^at Rogers Heritage^Oct. 21^at LR Catholic*
Sept. 23^Conway^Oct. 28^LR Central
Sept. 30^Cabot^Nov. 4^at FS Northside
*— Denotes 7A-Central Conference game