Talented 6A-West
Greenwood, El Dorado, Benton and Russellville teams to beat
Arkansas High hopes to make a playoff run in the competitive 6A South conference.
Greenwood, El Dorado, Benton and Russellville look to be in the mix at the top, while Lake Hamilton, Sheridan and Siloam Springs will try to make some upsets and rebuild.
Russellville went 3-0 in the playoffs and won the state championship last season. Greenwood went 2-1 in the playoffs a year ago, Benton was 2-1, Arkansas High was 0-1, and Lake Hamilton went 0-1. Siloam Springs and Sheridan did not make the playoffs.
ARKANSAS HIGH
The Hogs have a new coach in veteran Barry Norton, who comes over from Texas High.
Norton has yet to name a starting quarterback but in the mix are junior Drake Browning (5-10, 170), senior Wes Kift (5-10, 180), and sophomore Sean Foreback (5-10, 180).
The Razorbacks averaged 21 points per contest last season.
Browning threw for 742 yards a year ago but missed about the first half of the season with a hand injury.
Senior Austin Nix (6-2, 263) anchors the offensive line, while junior Rico Thomas (6-1, 237) and senior Christian Johnson (6-4, 248) hold it down at the tackle positions.
Junior all-conference running back Jordan Hall (5-9, 210) rushed for 859 yards in five games with 11 TDs in 2016.
Cameron Collier (5-9, 180) and Tyree Black (5-9, 176) will also get playing time at running back.
The speedy DeJordan Mask (6-1, 176), a senior, starts at receiver and will see a lot of playing time along with Irijah Price (5-11, 183), Browning, and senior Javarious Bullock (5-8, 175).
Arkansas High’s defense is the biggest question mark of the 2017 season.
Junior Demetris Charles (5-11, 195), junior Isiah Gray (5-10, 185) and senior Wren Williams (5-8, 205) will lead the Razorback defensive unit.
GREENWOOD
The Bulldogs went four rounds deep into the playoffs last season before falling to Russellville, 37-23.
Greenwood averaged 44 points per game last year and scored seven touchdowns or more in five of its last 10 contests.
Senior Connor Noland (6-2, 194) leads the offense and passed for 2,095 yards with 18 TDs last season as he earned all-state honors.
Running back Kenny Wood (5-11, 177), a senior, was an allleague selection last year, run for 1,164 yards and scored 18 touchdowns.
Senior John Womack (6-1, 283) anchors the defensive line, made 106 tackles last season (16 went for a loss, and was named to the all-state team.
Against 6A-West opponents, the Bulldog defense gave up an average of 14.7 points per game.
EL DORADO
The Wildcats went two rounds deep into the playoffs a year ago before falling to Greenwood, 20-3.
Quarterback Darius Holly (5-11, 175) is the leader of the offense and missed four games due to injury last season. Holly does well throwing and running the football.
The defense is led by senior tackle Terry Hampton (6-1, 265) and senior Jerric Jefferson (5-9, 225). Jefferson totaled over 70 tackles a year ago.
BENTON
The Panthers went three rounds deep into the playoffs last season before a 45-15 loss against Russellville.
The offense is led by quarterbacks junior Colen Morrow (6-0, 160) and sophomore Peyton Hudgins (5-10, 160).
Junior running back Zaketian Wallace (6-0, 185) gets the bulk of the totes and ran for 556 yards with eight touchdowns in 2016.
Senior defensive end Blake Edwards (6-5, 235) made 45 tackles, had three sacks, and hurried
the quarterback 10 times last year.
Benton has a lot of inexperience players on defense.
RUSSELLVILLE
The Cyclones rolled four rounds deep in the playoffs before losing to Greenwood 37-23 last season.
Three quarterbacks are expected to split time behind center: junior Rhett Adkins (6-4, 185), Ryan Talley (6-0, 175) and junior Johnny Bucher (5-10, 155).
Russellville’s best playmaker on offense is dual threat player Josiah Woodard (6-0, 165). Woodard is a running back and receiver, and last season he ran for 665 yards on just 95 carries. Woodard caught 11 passes for 79 yards, and earned all-state honors.
Rasheed Robinson (5-11, 280), a junior defensive lineman, anchors the line inside. Helping out is strong, speedy lineman Cameron Matchett (5-10, 220).
SHERIDAN
The Yellow Jackets went 1-9 last season and look to rebuild.
Justin Pruitt (5-11, 180), a senior, is back at quarterback after making all 10 starts last year.
Senior A.J. Allen (5-9, 150) and junior Montana Korte (5-11, 185) play running back and will get most of the carries.
Sheridan lacks experience on defense and gave up 31 points per game a year ago.
LAKE HAMILTON
The Wolves earned a playoff spot in 2016 but bowed out early in a 25-16 loss to Searcy.
Lake Hamilton is expected to split time between three quarterbacks in senior Jackson Davis (5-9, 165), senior Keaton Hixon (6-2, 190) and sophomore Zachary Bradley (6-0, 180).
Senior Jacob Nichols (5-9, 170) and sophomore Braden Braughton (5-9, 165) will get most of the totes at running back.
Senior Hunter Hughes (6-1, 270) makes the transition from nose guard to tackle and anchors the defensive line.
Junior Ra’quan Hamp (6-3, 225) is difficult to block and returns at outside linebacker.
SILOAM SPRINGS
The Panthers had a rough season last year and went 1-9.
Junior quarterback J.T. Ellis (5-10, 160) is an athletic, threesport player. Ellis also plays basketball and baseball.
Kaiden Thrailkill (5-10, 190) is a junior running back and will see a lot of playing time along with senior Kevin Canales (5-7, 195).
Siloam Springs will have inexperienced lineman and will probably run a 3-4 defense.