Class 7A
Bryant (11-2)
North Little Rock (12-1)
Fayetteville (9-3)
Bentonville West (7-5)
FS Northside (8-5)
Conway (9-3)
Bentonville (7-4)
FS Southside (6-6)
Springdale (7-4)
LR Catholic (5-6)
Cabot (3-7)
Springdale Har-Ber (2-8)
Van Buren (4-7)
Rogers (3-7)
LR Central (1-8)
Rogers Heritage (0-10)
Class 6A
Greenwood (12-1)
Benton (10-3)
West Memphis (11-1)
Jonesboro (7-5)
Marion (8-3)
Searcy (9-3)
Pine Bluff (5-6-1)
El Dorado (5-6)
Sylvan Hills (4-8)
Russellville (7-4)
Siloam Springs (5-6)
Lake Hamilton (5-6)
Sheridan (2-8)
Jacksonville (3-7)
LR Hall (1-9)
Mountain Home (0-10)
Class 5A
LR Christian (13-1)
Pulaski Academy (12-2)
Harrison (12-1)
Morrilton (8-5)
Texarkana (10-2)
LR McClellan (10-2)
Blytheville (7-5)
Wynne (7-5)
LR Parkview (5-6)
Greenbrier (7-4)
Camden Fairview (6-5)
HS Lakeside (5-6)
Valley View (7-4)
Alma (5-6)
Nettleton (8-3)
White Hall (5-5)
Batesville (4-6)
Magnolia (6-4)
Forrest City (4-6)
Beebe (4-6)
Watson Chapel (3-6-1)
Vilonia (3-6)
Farmington (4-6)
Maumelle (4-6)
Paragould (1-9)
Greene County Tech (3-7)
Clarksville (2-8)
Huntsville (2-8)
Hot Springs (1-9)
De Queen (1-9)
Hope (1-9)
LR Fair (1-9)
Class 4A
Joe T. Robinson (12-2)
Arkadelphia (9-5)
Shiloh Christian (12-2)
Dumas (12-2)
Rivercrest (11-2)
Nashville (10-3)
Ozark (9-3)
Stuttgart (10-2)
Warren (9-2)
Bauxite (9-3)
Helena (9-3)
Mena (8-4)
Dardanelle (9-3)
Heber Springs (7-5)
Hamburg (8-4)
Lonoke (6-6)
Trumann (7-4)
Elkins (7-4)
Pea Ridge (7-4)
Lincoln (8-3)
Prairie Grove (5-6)
Gosnell (5-6)
Pottsville (5-6)
Jonesboro Westside (7-4)
CAC (5-6)
Southside Batesville (6-5)
Fountain Lake (6-5)
Star City (4-7)
Pocahontas (4-7)
Gentry (3-8)
Harmony Grove Haskell (5-5)
Bald Knob (4-6)
Crossett (2-8)
De Witt (4-6)
Ashdown (3-7)
Berryville (4-6)
Riverview (2-8)
Brookland (2-8)
Dover (2-8)
Gravette (1-9)
Waldron (2-8)
Cave City (1-9)
Highland (1-9)
Subiaco Academy (1-9)
Monticello (0-10)
Malvern (0-10)
Mills (0-10)
Green Forest (1-9)
ARKADELPHIA (1) vs. Joe T. Robinson
A rematch from Week 5, when Joe T. Robinson swelled a 13-7 halftime advantage into a 42-14 decision. Arkadelphia hasn't lost since, winning nine straight games after a disastrous 0-5 start. The Badgers, relegated to the No. 3 seed after the rocky start, have bounced Warren, Stuttgart and Shiloh Christian the past three weeks, and they try to become the first team in state history to beat four No. 1 seeds in the playoffs.
The Badgers' turnaround coincides with defensive improvement. The Badgers give up just 6.8 points during the streak. Arkadelphia's swarming defensive front constantly harassed Shiloh Christian's quarterbacks in last week's 30-17 semifinal victory.
Joe T. Robinson plays in its second state title game (beat De Queen 26-6 in 1980) after rallying past Dumas 24-20 a week ago. The Senators trailed 14-7 at intermission but surrendered less than 100 yards in the second half. The Senator defense has allowed just one first-half TD since Week 9. Senior safety Isaac Dubose paces Joe T. Robinson with 120 tackles, including 16 against Dumas. Dubose posted stops against run-heavy Harmony Grove Haskell and 20 tackles against Bauxite. Senior Mekel Kentel has 71 tackles, while senior ends Zach Williams (97 tackles, 17 sacks) and Davis Wofford (90 tackles, five sacks) are hard to handle up front. Williams will play next season at Arkansas, while Wofford plans to play at Army.
Kentel and senior Tyler Jones are the workhorses for a Joe T. Robinson offense that averages 39 points and 370 yards weekly. Kentle ran 21 times for 144 yards and Jones had 133 yards against Dumas.
Class 3A
Booneville (14-0)
Osceola (13-1)
Rison (13-1)
Prescott (12-2)
Smackover (10-2)
C. Harmony Grove (9-3)
McGehee (9-3)
Clinton (11-1)
Lamar (10-2)
Mayflower (10-2)
Newport (9-3)
Glen Rose (9-2)
Danville (8-4)
Walnut Ridge (9-3)
Mansfield (8-4)
Harding Academy (8-4)
Charleston (6-5)
Melbourne (7-4)
Atkins (7-4)
Piggott (6-5)
Centerpoint (6-5)
Barton (4-6)
Greenland (6-5)
Hoxie (5-6)
Baptist Prep (4-6-1)
Harrisburg (4-6)
Cedarville (4-6)
Yellville-Summit (4-7)
Jessieville (4-6)
Lake Village (6-5)
Palestine-Wheatley (4-5)
Fouke (4-7)
Dollarway (3-8)
Mountain View (2-8)
Perryville (2-8)
Manila (3-7)
Drew Central (1-8)
West Fork (1-9)
Bismarck (2-8)
Horatio (3-7)
Genoa Central (1-9)
Marshall (1-9)
Corning (0-10)
Paris (0-10)
Two Rivers (0-10)
Cedar Ridge (1-4)
Rose Bud (0-3)
Osceola vs. BOONEVILLE (2)
This is the first meeting since a 2008 second-round playoff game when 4-3A champion Osceola booted Booneville 34-21. Osceola advanced to that year's semifinals before losing at eventual Class 4A state champion Shiloh Christian.
Osceola makes its first state final appearance since losing the 1998 Class AAAA final to Alma 14-12. The Seminoles won the 1997 Class AA title (28-27 over McGehee) and the 1995 Class AAA (27-0 against Watson Chapel). Outright 3-3A champion Osceola, which scores 44.4 points per game, ripped Rison 37-28 a week ago, dealing the Wildcats their first loss. Dynamic sophomore quarterback Kam Turner (1,550 yards passing and 22 touchdowns, 922 rushing yards and 16 scores) racked up 401 yards and six scores against Rison. Turner has rushed for 108 yards or more four of Osceola's past five outings. Junior running back J.D. Winda (639 rushing yards and seven TDs) averages more than 9 yards per carry. Junior receiver Greg Hooks leads Osceola in receptions (42), yards (812) and TDs (10). The Osceola offensive line is anchored by Jason Ugalde and Jalin Alexander. Defensive whiz Jariq Scales (118 tackles, 18 for losses) sparks the Osceola defense, which allows just 18 points per game.
Booneville plays for its first state title since beating Warren 14-12 for the the 2013 Class 4A championship. The 14-0 Bearcats have been ranked No. 1 in Class 3A since Hooten's Arkansas Football came out in June. Booneville's stellar defense (allows 13 PPG) forced the game's only turnover in last week's 34-31 semifinal win over Prescott when linebacker Cam Brasher intercepted a pass inside his 3-yard line. The Prescott game featured seven lead changes. Booneville senior fullback Carson Ray, who has rushed for more than 1,400 yards and 20 TDs this year, rambled for 130 yards and four scores against Prescott. Junior running back Andrew Robertson added 147 yards, bouncing outside for long gains. Junior QB Evan Schlinker's 14 TD passes this year is a single-season school record. Senior receiver Ethan Dobbs tests defenses vertically. Senior center Sammy Haynes showcases top technique. Juniors Cort Mizell and Ethan Pirraglia blast open holes in the running game. Senior end Noah Reyes has recorded more than 30 TFL this fall, with 10 sacks. Senior Marcus Nichols logged 19 TFL at tackle and end. Ray and Brasher flock to the ball at linebacker.
Class 2A
Hazen (13-0)
Junction City (11-2)
Foreman (11-2)
Mount Ida (11-3)
Conway Christian (10-3)
Hampton (8-3)
Des Arc (9-4)
Earle (9-4)
Gurdon (9-3)
Fordyce (6-6)
Salem (9-2)
Mineral Springs (9-3)
Mountain Pine (8-4)
Hector (7-4)
Mountainburg (8-3)
E. Poinsett County (6-5)
England (4-7)
Magnet Cove (5-6)
Magazine (6-5)
Quitman (6-5)
Poyen (6-4)
Hackett (4-5)
McCrory (5-5)
Rector (5-5)
Lavaca (4-6)
Bearden (3-7)
Bigelow (4-6)
Carlisle (4-6-1)
Parkers Chapel (2-8)
Clarendon (3-7)
Dierks (3-8)
Murfreesboro (3-7)
Marianna (2-7)
Brinkley (2-8)
Strong (1-9)
Midland (2-7)
Marked Tree (1-8)
J.C. Westside (2-8)
W. Yell County (2-7)
Cross County (3-8)
Lafayette County (1-9)
Spring Hill (1-8)
Cutter M. Star (1-9)
Marvell (0-10)
HAZEN (6) vs. Junction City
These teams met for the 2014 Class 2A championship with Junction City winning 38-6 for its third consecutive state title and its sixth in a 12-year span. Junction City returned to the state title game last year in Class 3A but lost 48-14 to Rivercrest. Hazen is 0-3 all-time in state final appearances.
Junction City's offensive line, spearheaded by senior guard Cody Adkins, averages 295 pounds and clears lanes for senior RB Dhante Gibson (1,580 yards, 22 TDs) and junior RB Jakiron Cook (1,118 yards, 17 TDs). While JC often spreads the field to run, junior QB Brady Hutcheson has bolstered Junction City's passing numbers the past three weeks by completing a combined 19 of 23 attempts for 425 yards in blowouts of Mountainburg (50-14) and Des Arc (55-13) and a dominating 40-20 win last week over defending Class 2A champion Foreman. JC's 5-2 defense has tightened behind senior DL Sema'j Levingston (46 tackles, 6.5 TFL), senior LB Jvacye Cook (74 stops) and sophomore Tanner Barnett (team-high 85 stops). Junction City allowed 103 points in its first three games. It has allowed 94 points (9.4 ppg) in the 10 games since.
Hazen counters with linemen (on both sides) who average 240 pounds. Senior LT Cade Perry and 260-pound center Jackson Shelman spearhead an O-line that has paved the way for 362 (mostly rushing) yards per game. Junior running backs Ay'Jon Green (1,499 yards, 23 TDs) and Tarrell Penn (1,496 yards, 26 TDs) voluntarily split the carries every week. A week ago, Hazen trucked Mount Ida for 351 yards in a 42-0 blowout. An aggressive Hazen defense allows just 136 yards and eight ppg. Perry averages 15 stops a week at middle linebacker, while Shelman, 240-pound Blayne Toll and 230-pound NG Jake Walker anchor the interior line.
Sports on 12/06/2018