Arkansas Sports 360.com - July 2008 - (Page 76) PRESENTED BY 5A OVERVIEW Who’s Favored? Look to Little Rock By Philip Seaton Conference Predictions 5A-EAST Batesville Forrest City Helena-West Helena Central Blytheville Wynne Paragould Nettleton Greene County Tech 5A-SOUTHEAST Monticello Beebe Sylvan Hills White Hall Crossett Little Rock Mills Little Rock McClellan North Pulaski Pulaski Academy Little Rock Christian Hope Camden Fairview Magnolia Hot Springs Lakeside Pulaski Robinson Hot Springs WHILE THE BALANCE OF POWER has rested with the 5A-West conference for years, this season at least it comes to rest in Little Rock – to be more specific, west Little Rock. Both Pulaski Academy and Little Rock Christian are poised for a title run. Little Rock Christian has quarterback Griffin Kuhn and running back Michael Dyer, while Pulaski Academy coach Kevin Kelley has quarterback Spencer Keith, running back D.J. Daniel and receiver Neal Barlow to lead the way. The two teams will meet at Pulaski Academy on Nov. 7 and could meet again in early December at War Memorial Stadium in the 5A final. Favorite: Batesville. Talented running back Tim Hughes is back for coach Dave King, and so are six starters on both sides of the ball. The schedule is favorable with Forrest City, Blytheville and Helena-West Helena Central all making appearances in Independence County. Hot on Batesville’s heels: Forrest City. The Mustangs were a third-place finisher last season in 6A-East in coach Rich Trail’s first season. His second season sees the Mustangs in the 5A-East, where they were 2-0 in nonconference contests last year against future conference foes Wynne and Helena-West Helena Central. Sleeper: Wynne. The Yellowjackets had a down year as long-time assistant coach Ray Shempert took over for Don Campbell. Wynne has some playmaking backs returning, including Okoye Oring, Johnny Lemke and Martarius Moore. 5A-SOUTHWEST 5A-East CATCHING ON: Paragould receiver Hayden Mosley would like to get the Rams into 5A-East contention. 5A-WEST Vilonia Greenwood Central Arkansas Christian Harrison Alma Morrilton Siloam Springs Greenbrier returning on both sides of the football. Paschal will be breaking in a new quarterback, but with backs like Andy Ashcraft, Trey Hawkins and Brishen Mathews, the Billies are loaded. Hot on Monticello’s heels: Beebe. The Badgers move over from the 5A-East conference and bring a wealth of talent, led by senior fullback Sammy Williams. It also will be the second season for the Badgers under John Shannon, who was part of successful runs as an assistant at Cabot. Sleeper: Crossett. Todd Ledford takes over and has six starters back on offense, led by quarterback Dominic Lincoln. Favorite: Pulaski Academy. Quarterback Spencer Keith was an all-stater last year and has four starters returning on the offensive line, including seniors Austin Noonan, Dave Grundfest, Zack Altizer and junior Parker Mack – all are college prospects. Hot on Pulaski Academy’s heels: Little Rock Christian. There are enough playmakers, such as Aaron Rath, Cody Curtis, George Cress, Keaton Curtis, Dakota Mosley and Bud Thomas, around Griffin Kuhn and Michael Dyer to force problems for other teams. Sleeper: With eight starters back on defense, Hot Springs Lakeside could make a strong run. Favorite: Vilonia. The Eagles lose all-state quarterback Kevin Puckett, but running back Aaron Oade is back for coach Jim Stanley’s squad, and the line features college prospect Tyler Stauch, who held scholarship offers from the University of Central Arkansas and Troy before his junior season. Hot on Vilonia’s heels: Greenwood. Only two starters back on offense for coach Rick Jones’ Bulldogs, but Greenwood doesn’t rebuild, it just reloads. Sleeper: Greenbrier. The Panthers could be one of the most surprising teams in the state this season. 5A-West New to 5A 5A-Southwest Central Arkansas Christian Up from 4A Forrest City Down from 6A Sylvan Hills Down from 6A 5A-Southeast TOP TEN Teams 1. Pulaski Academy 2. Little Rock Christian 3. Batesville 4. Vilonia 5. Greenwood 6. Monticello 7. Beebe 8. Forrest City 9. Sylvan Hills 10. Helena-West Helena Central Favorite: Monticello. Seven starters 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. Seth Tripod J.R. Williams Okoye Oring Ty Ferrell Sammy Williams Bentrell Cobbs D.J. Daniel Dezhe Willis Aaron Oade Zach Cole Players To Watch Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. QB RB RB QB RB QB RB QB RB QB Green County Tech Forrest City Wynne Monticello Beebe LR Mills Pulaski Academy Hot Springs Vilonia Central Arkansas Christian Games To Watch Sep. 1 Sep. 12 Sep. 19 Sep. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Vilonia vs. Monticello (in Pine Bluff) Pulaski Academy at CAC Pulaski Academy at Lake Hamilton Hope at LR Christian Helena-West Helena Central at Forrest City Monticello at Beebe Vilonia at Greenwood Blytheville at Batesville Forrest City at Wynne LR Christian at Pulaski Academy 76 ArkansasSports360.com July 2008 http://ArkansasSports360.com http://ArkansasSports360.com http://ArkansasSports360.com
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