Blackhawks head into conference play, host Alma
The non-conference season is over and the Hawks are headed into 5A West play, taking on the Alma Airedales in the league opener at home. Alma represents the lone team the Hawks defeated in 2021 as the Ridge boys came back from a 28-21 deficit to win 35-28.
The Airedales are fresh off their first win of the season, a 28-27 conquest of Rogers Heritage. The battle at Alma was back and forth throughout the evening with the ’Dales coming back from a 27-14 deficit to post the narrow win.
Alma is sparked by Joe Trusty, an accurate passing quarterback, hitting 90% of his passes last week for 289 yards. Trusty’s favorite target was Connor Stacey, who caught 16 passes for 223 yards. Leading the ground attack for Alma last week last week was Brady Noyer who averaged 5.0 yards per carry, 80 yards on 15 tries. Alma lost their season opener to Van Buren 28-23 in the 2021 opener, then soundly whipped by Poteau 35-12.
Clarksville cruised past Pottsville last week to post a 32-10 victory while Vilonia posted a convincing 40-28 victory over 6A Russellville.
The top half of the league posted perfect 3-0 records in their non-con games with Harrison, Farmington, Greenbrier and Vilonia remaining undefeated. Clarksville, Alma and Morrilton finished their set 1-2 with Pea Ridge currently winless at 0-3. This week, Harrison hosts Farmington, Greenbrier is home against Morrilton while Clarksville is on the road at Vilonia.
5A West to be reconfigured
There are some major changes in store for the 5A West conference next year with the net result being less travel for the local Hawks.
The Arkansas Activities Association announced the latest student count of AAA member schools and if it holds, expect three current members of the 5A West to be exiting next year with three new schools moving up from 4A into the higher classification.
Shiloh, Prairie Grove and Dardanelle will be moving up into 5A football next season with current 5A West members Morrilton and Vilonia moving into the 5A Central district while Greenbrier is slated to be moving up into 6A for next year. The new members would join holdovers Pea Ridge, Harrison, Farmington, Clarksville and Alma.
The old 4A-1 of a few years ago is now half of the current 5A West. With Huntsville, Berryville and Gravette’ enrollments at the top of the 4A count, the old 4A-1 maybe be reconstituted in the not too distant future.
How about them Hawgs!
Ranked just a few short weeks ago as a possible cellar dweller this year in the SEC West, Arkansas has surprised football pundits coast to coast by going 3-0 with their latest game a 4510 smack down of Georgia Southern.
The Hogs are now holding down the No. 16 ranking with a huge game in Dallas looming this Saturday. They are playing in Cowboys
Stadium owned by former Razorback football player Jerry Jones. Their opponent is No. 7th-ranked Texas A&M, undefeated at 3-0 like Arkansas.
State 4A Volleyball poll
1. Valley View
2. Shiloh
3. Batesville Southside
4. Pulaski
5. Mena
6. Westside
7. Brookland
8. Pea Ridge
9. Harrison
10. Magnolia
11. Clarksville
12. Fountain Lake
13. Morrilton
14. Blytheville
15. Farmington
16. Bauxite
17. Huntsville
18. Highland
19. Malvern
20. Pocahontas
21. Clarksville
22. Lonoke
23. Trumann
24. Berryville
25. Gentry
MaxPreps/CBS 5A State poll Top 25
1. Pulaski
2. White Hall
3. LR Christian
4. Vilonia
5. Harrison
6. Greenbrier
7. Camden
8. Nettleton
9. Farmington
10. Maumelle
11. Wynne
12. Valley View
13. Hot Springs
14. Texarkana
15. Lakeside
16. Magnolia
17. GC Tech
18. Alma
19. Watson Chapel
20. Brookland
21. Morrilton
22. Batesville
23. Clarksville
24. Beebe
25. Pea Ridge
•••
Editor’s note: John McGee, an award-winning columnist, sports writer and art teacher at Pea Ridge elementary schools, writes a regular sports column for The Times. The opinions expressed are those of the writer. He can be contacted through The Times at prtnews@nwadg.com.