Arkansas Sports 360.com - July 2008 - (Page 112) PRESENTED BY 2A 2A-6 OVERVIEW Bearden, Junction City Teams to Beat By Philip Seaton Conference Predictions 2A-3 Cross County East Poinsett County Augusta Marked Tree McCrory Rector Walnut Ridge Salem Cedar Ridge Carlisle Des Arc Hazen Clarendon Palestine-Wheatley Marvell Hughes MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Bearden hosts Junction City on Oct. 3 for what could be the 2A-8 conference title, and a preview of the state title game. Both teams appear loaded with college prospects Michael Belin for Bearden and Grantel Kennedy for Junction City leading the way for their respective clubs. Favorite: Cross County. The Thunderbirds went 4-6 last season but return eight starters on offense and nine on defense, including senior quarterback Cody Nickels and senior receiver Craig Davis. Hot on Cross County’s heels: East Poinsett County. Running back Dustin Beatty returns after rushing for almost 800 yards. Sleeper: McCrory. The Jaguars but return 11 starters from a one-win team. Favorite: Fort Smith Union Christian. After two seasons in 4A, the Eagles drop to 2A. The Eagles outscored future 2A-4 conference foes Hartford and Magazine last year by a combined 84-6. Hot on Union Christian’s heels: Hackett. The Hornets went 6-5 last season and return five starters on offense and six on defense. Halloween night should determine the conference title when Union Christian comes to town. Sleeper: Magazine. Ten starters returning on both sides of the football got some playoff experience last season with a first-round loss at Murfreesboro. Favorite: Danville. The Little Johns return five starters on offense and six on 2A-7 2A-4 Fort Smith Union Christian Hackett Johnson County Westside Hartford Western Yell County Magazine Decatur Mount Ida Mineral Springs Murfreesboro Dierks Spring Hill Horatio Foreman 2A-3 2A-8 2A-5 Danville Mountain Pine Ola Hector Bigelow Cutter Morning Star Conway Christian Quitman Little Rock Lutheran Junction City Bearden Woodlawn Strong Smackover Norphlet Hampton Hermitage Dermott BRINGING HIM DOWN: Hector junior Chris Cowell attempts to bring down a back in action last season. 2A-4 New to 2A defense. Hot on Danville’s heels: Mountain Pine. Week 10 should be for the conference crown when the Little Johns invade Mountain Pine. Sleeper: Conway Christian. It will be interesting to see how Conway Christian picks things up after two games of 11-man football in 2007. Both games were against the same Missouri-based team. Favorite: Carlisle. The Bison lost in the 2A state semifinals and six starters return on both sides of the football. Hot on Carlisle’s heels: Des Arc. What separates the Eagles from Carlisle? Not much, and on Oct. 17 Des Arc travels to Carlisle to find out who could be the conference champion. Sleeper: Hazen. The Hornets went 7-3 last season, and return five starters on offense and four on defense. Favorite: Mount Ida. The Lions are Cedar Ridge Conway Christian East Poinsett County Fort Smith Union Christian Hector Horatio Hughes Quitman Salem Smackover First year varsity First year in AAA Down from 3A Down from 4A Down from 3A Down from 3A Down from 3A First year varsity Down from 3A Down from 3A 2A-6 state champions until someone knocks them off. All-stater Troy Thew returns for Michael White’s club, as does allconference performer Jackson Guerra. Hot on Mount Ida’s heels: Mineral Springs. In what should be a very competitive conference race, the Hornets host Mount Ida early [Sept. 26]. Sleeper: Horatio. Coach Paul Ernest’s Lions drop down from 3A, and with 10 starters returning on defense, they could upset someone else’s conference championship plans. Favorite: Junction City. Junction City or Bearden? Take your pick. Both teams are loaded. Hot on Junction City’s heels: Bearden. It could be Junction City hot on Bearden’s heels. Sleeper: Woodlawn. Tough to call the team predicted for third place to be a sleeper, but famed coach Jimmy “Red” Parker takes over and could muddle things up. 2A-8 2A-5 TOP TEN Teams 1. Junction City 2. Bearden 3. Carlisle 4. Mount Ida 5. Des Arc 6. Fort Smith Union Christian 7. Cross County 8. Danville 9. Mineral Springs 10. Woodlawn 2A-7 The ArkansasSports360.com Top 10 Players to Watch is not necessarily the top 10 prospects for each classification, but 10 players that did not make our All-Preseason Team that you should be reading a lot about this Fall. Matt Murray Timothy Hampton Ronald Dunlap J.R. Hart Matt Damon Corey Powell Darius Mosby Chad Wilson Sam Cowling Chase Mitchell Players To Watch Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. WR RB RB QB QB RB/LB RB QB RB WR Hartford Hermitage Des Arc Carlisle Ola Spring Hill Hazen Mount Ida Horatio Dierks Games To Watch Sep. 5 Sep. 12 Sep. 19 Sep. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 6 Harrisburg at Cross County Hector at Ola Augusta at East Poinsett County Mount Ida at Mineral Springs Junction City at Bearden Woodlawn at Carlisle Des Arc at Carlisle Strong at Junction City Fort Smith Union Christian at Hackett Danville at Mountain Pine 112 ArkansasSports360.com July 2008 http://ArkansasSports360.com http://ArkansasSports360.com http://ArkansasSports360.com
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