AAA names All-State players for football

Forty- three high school football players from Northeast Arkansas were named to Arkansas’ all- state teams released recently by the Arkansas Activities Association.

Jonesboro placed four players on the 6A- East all- state team – wide receiver Will Barre’, tight end Connor Clark, defensive tackle Nate Light and free safety John Paul Pickens.

Six area schools placed players on the 5A-East all-state team. Selections from league champion Wynne included linebacker Cam’Ron Holmes, safety Devin Holmes, linebacker Tre’Von Holmes, guard/defensive end Tyrell Johnson, quarterback/linebacker Marterius Ross and running back Carl Washington.

Forrest City senior quarterback/ tailback/ receiver Kendall Akins was the lone Mustang player to make the Class 5A- East All- State football team. Akins had 84 carries for just over 600 yards and four touchdowns for the Mustangs while hauling in three receptions for 51 yards. At quarterback, Akins completed 20 of 56 passes for 276 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Other area selections on the 5A all- state team include linebacker James Davis and defensive end/ offensive lineman Bentley Hart of Brookland; defensive end Devon Hensley, defensive back

Matthew Wells and running back/ defensive back David Williams of Greene County Tech; quarterback Cameron Scarlett and offensive lineman Moses Williams of Nettleton; linebacker Darion Norris of Paragould; and wide receiver Aedan Huntsman, defensive lineman Eli Lassiter and linebacker Cooper Lutz of Valley View.

Class 4A state runner- up Rivercrest led the 4A-3 all-state selections with three in Kam Turner, Keshawn Scott and Gunner McCullar. Other area 4A all-state selections included Tru Walker, Gosnell; Connor Baker and Dawson Chester, Pocahontas; and River Engle and Tyler Ray, Westside.

In Class 3A, PalestineWheatley did not place anyone on the Class 3A All-State team.

Class 3A state semifinalist Hoxie had three all- state selections in Jace Benesch, Daylon Powell and ShunDerrick Powell. Other area 3A all- state selections included Tharon Davis and Tyler Johnson, Newport; Gary Comstock, Corning; Jacob Wallace, Harrisburg; Dontavion Littleton, Osceola; and Kyson Conley and Tanner Dixon, Piggott.

East Poinsett County’s Preston Rains and Deuce Moore earned Class 2A all-state honors along with Cross County’s Matthew Newby and Marked Tree’s B.J. Marshall.