The high school football season begins Monday, so we’ll take a look at the top questions involving teams in the state for the 2016 season:
Can Pulaski Academy win a fourth consecutive state title?
Pulaski Academy, led by Coach Kevin Kelley, could be the first school since Barton in the late 1980s to win four consecutive state championships. Seven schools have had a shot at winning four consecutive state titles since Barton’s run from 1986 to 1989, but all of them have fallen short. Junction City was the most recent school to win three in a row but lost to Conway Christian in the Class 2A second round in 2015. The Bruins, who have won the past three Class 5A state titles and are 40-2 since 2014, return senior quarterback Layne Hatcher, who passed for 4,656 yards and 58 touchdowns last season. Senior wide receiver Tra Johnson and junior tight end Hudson Henry also come back for Pulaski Academy, which opens the season Friday at Sand Springs (Okla.) Page.
Out of all of the coaching changes, which one is the biggest?
There was plenty of movement in the coaching ranks in Arkansas during the offseason. Tommy Gilleran left Fountain Lake for his alma mater Lake Hamilton, Jeff Weaver departed Little Rock Christian for Russellville, Texarkana snapped up Texarkana, Texas’ Barry Norton and Van Paschal arrived at Wynne from Barton. However, it’s the man that Weaver replaced that qualifies as the most important coaching hiring of the season, Billy Dawson at Fayetteville. Dawson is regarded as one of the state’s top coaches, having led Nashville to three consecutive state championship in 2005-2007 and Russellville to the Class 6A crown in 2016. When Bill Blankenship left after one season to return to his native state of Oklahoma for a position at Owasso, the Bulldogs quickly found their man in Dawson. While Fayetteville, the two-time defending Class 7A champions, lost quarterback Taylor Powell, wide receiver Barrett Bannister and defensive lineman Akial Byers, the Bulldogs will still be solid under Dawson. A third state title in a row is not out of the question, not with Dawson in charge.
Are there any can’t-miss games?
Let’s go with three games here. The top nonconference game pitting in-state teams? How about the Salt Bowl on Sept. 2 between Saline County rivals Bryant and Benton at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock? The Hornets and Panthers will play on a Saturday night for the first time in the series’ history. Organizers expect the game to break the 2015 attendance record of 34,086. Bryant won last year’s game 10-7. When it comes to conference games in 2017, Bryant is in the discussion again, but this game will be at home against North Little Rock on Oct. 27 in what could determine the No. 1 seed in the 7A-Central Conference. North Little Rock defeated Bryant twice in 2016, including in the Class 7A semifinals to advance to the Class 7A state championship game. Another conference game to look forward to is Nashville at Joe T. Robinson on Oct. 6 in Little Rock. The two Class 4A contenders are expected to be near the top of the 7-4A Conference once again in 2017 with the Scrappers and Senators boasting senior wide receivers Ty Pettway and Nathan Page, respectively.
Who are the top college prospects?
Earle quarterback Gerry Bohanon, Greenwood quarterback Connor Noland and Charleston wide receiver Sean Michael Flanagan lead the way. Noland and Flanagan have orally committed to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Bohanon, as of press time, had received scholarship offers from Arkansas, Alabama, Baylor, Louisville and Mississippi, among others. Arkansas’ in-state commitments for the Class of 2018 include Pulaski Academy offensive tackle Luke Jones, Springdale defensive end Isaiah Nichols and Jonesboro offensive tackle Noah Gatlin. Ashdown defensive back LaDarrius Bishop has orally committed to Mississippi State and Jessieville linebacker Oliver Nasilai, who had played the past two seasons at Springdale Har-Ber, has pledged to Brigham Young.