CLASS 6A preseason Super Six rankings.
No. 1 Greenwood
COACH Rick Jones
CONFERENCE 6A-West
2018 RECORD 12-1
KEY RETURNERS RB Hunter Wilkinson (Jr., 5-9, 178); WR Lazaro Angel (Sr., 5-10, 165); S Logan Workman (Sr., 5-7, 141)
NOTEWORTHY Greenwood has played in the past four Class 6A state championship games and has won the past two, against Pine Bluff in 2017 and Benton in 2018. … Bulldogs Coach Rick Jones leads all active coaches with eight state championships. … Senior QB Jace Presley will be the Bulldogs’ second consecutive new starting signal-caller, joining Peyton Holt in 2018.
SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 6 Fort Smith Northside
Sept. 13 Fort Smith Southside
Sept. 20 at Sand Springs (Okla.) Page
Sept. 27 at LR Hall*
Oct. 4 El Dorado*
Oct. 11 Siloam Springs*
Oct. 18 at Russellville*
Oct. 25 at Benton*
Nov. 1 Sheridan*
Nov. 8 at Lake Hamilton*
*6A-West game
No. 2 Benton
COACH Brad Harris
CONFERENCE 6A-West
2018 RECORD 10-3
KEY RETURNERS RB D’Anthony Harper (Sr., 5-8, 200); WR Gavin Wells (Sr., 5-8, 165); DL Trae Maxwell (Sr., 6-0, 230)
NOTEWORTHY Benton has been one of the most consistent programs in Class 6A over the past five seasons, making two state championship game appearances. But the Panthers are still searching for their first championship since 1977. … The Panthers must replace Zak Wallace at running back, but they are confident in senior D’Anthony Harper, who was Wallace’s backup a year ago.
SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Aug. 30 Bryant^
Sept. 6 Arkadelphia
Sept. 20 at Cabot
Sept. 27 Russellville*
Oct. 4 at Siloam Springs*
Oct. 11 LR Hall*
Oct. 18 El Dorado*
Oct. 25 Greenwood*
Nov. 1 at Lake Hamilton*
Nov. 8 Sheridan*
^At War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock
*6A-West game
No. 3 West Memphis
COACH Billy Elmore
CONFERENCE 6A-East
2018 RECORD 11-1
KEY RETURNERS QB Owens McConnell (Sr., 6-1, 235); OL Oshae Carlock (Sr., 5-8, 320); LB Kendarrius Moore (Sr., 6-1, 215)
NOTEWORTHY West Memphis has won 21 games the past two seasons, but fell short of the Class 6A state championship both years, losing in the semifinals at Greenwood in 2017 and to Benton at home in 2018. … Senior LB Kendarrius Moore finished with 69 tackles, including 171/2 for a loss, 4 sacks and 4 interceptions last season. … The Blue Devils’ 6A-East Conference championship a year ago was their first since 2011.
SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Aug. 27 LR Central^
Sept. 13 Blytheville
Sept. 20 at Wynne
Sept. 27 Marion*
Oct. 4 at Searcy*
Oct. 11 Sylvan Hills*
Oct. 18 at Jonesboro*
Oct. 25 Jacksonville*
Nov. 1 at Pine Bluff*
Nov. 7 Mountain Home*
^At War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock
*6A-East game
No. 4 Marion
COACH Keith Houston
CONFERENCE 6A-East
2018 RECORD 8-3
KEY RETURNERS QB Daedrick Cail (Jr., 6-1, 205); RB Anthony Price (Sr., 5-10, 195); WR Markell Wynn (Jr., 6-1, 185)
NOTEWORTHY Marion was one of the biggest surprises in 2018, winning eight games and advancing to the Class 6A quarterfinals under first-year Coach Keith Houston. … Junior QB Daedrick Cail, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s All-Arkansas Preps sophomore of the year in 2018, passed for 2,336 yards and 24 touchdowns a year ago. … The Patriots had not won more than five games in the previous six years before last season.
SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Aug. 30 Blytheville
Sept. 6 Wynne
Sept. 13 at LR Parkview
Sept. 27 at West Memphis*
Oct. 4 at Sylvan Hills*
Oct. 11 Searcy*
Oct. 18 at Mountain Home*
Oct. 25 Pine Bluff*
Nov. 1 at Jacksonville*
Nov. 7 Jonesboro*
*6A-East game
No. 5 Jonesboro
COACH Randy Coleman
CONFERENCE 6A-East
2018 RECORD 7-5
KEY RETURNERS QB Cross Jumper (Jr., 6-2, 195); RB Albert George (Jr., 6-0, 210); DL Jashaud Stewart (Sr., 6-2, 216)
NOTEWORTHY Jonesboro had one of the youngest quarterback/running back duos in the state in 2018 in juniors Cross Jumper and Albert George. Jumper passed for 2,413 yards and 28 touchdowns, while George rushed for 811 yards and 10 scores. … Senior DL Jashaud Stewart (89 tackles, including 24 for a loss, 6 sacks) has orally committed to the University of Arkansas. … Coach Randy Coleman is 89-40 in 11 seasons at Jonesboro.
SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Aug. 30 LR Catholic
Sept. 6 at Batesville
Sept. 13 at Conway
Sept. 27 Mountain Home*
Oct. 4 Jacksonville*
Oct. 11 at Pine Bluff*
Oct. 18 West Memphis*
Oct. 25 at Searcy*
Nov. 1 Sylvan Hills*
Nov. 7 at Marion*
*6A-East game
No. 6 Russellville
COACH Jeff Weaver
CONFERENCE 6A-West
2018 RECORD 7-4
KEY RETURNERS WR T.J. Holt (Sr., 6-1, 175); OL Jayvien Franklin (Sr., 6-1, 220); DL Kobe Curtis (Sr., 6-1, 220)
NOTEWORTHY Coach Jeff Weaver enters his third season at Russellville after coaching at Little Rock Christian. … The Cyclones finished third in the 6A-West Conference in 2018, but lost to Sylvan Hills in two overtimes in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs. … Senior DL Kobe Curtis had 65 tackles and two sacks last season.
SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 6 at Morrilton Sept.
13 at Springdale Har-Ber
Sept. 20 Alma
Sept. 27 at Benton*
Oct. 4 Sheridan*
Oct. 11 at Lake Hamilton*
Oct. 18 Greenwood*
Oct. 25 at LR Hall*
Nov. 1 El Dorado*
Nov. 8 Siloam Springs*
*6A-West game