A pair of defending state champions and three conference champions headline the 16th annual Hootens.com Kickoff Week. The eight participants won a combined 78 games last fall.

SMACKOVER SENIOR WR & FUTURE HOG JORDAN JONES

The season kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31 at Golden Lion Stadium in Pine Bluff with a Class 2A battle, Lafayette County vs. Bearden, followed by a heavyweight clash between Smackover and Warren. Lafayette County won seven games last season behind all-state running Tre'Darius Burks (1,976 yards and 26 touchdowns).

Bearden finished third in the 8-2A last season, and its only losses were at quarterfinalist Rison and twice to state champ Junction City. Bearden features one of the top Class 2A offensive lines with Sam Williams (6-7, 280) and Jesse Clark (5-11, 285). Louisiana-Monroe offered Williams a scholarship in the off-season.

Smackover won consecutive league titles and the Buckaroos lost a heartbreaker in last year's state title game. They return all-state receiver and Arkansas Razorback commit Jordan Jones (6-4, 200), who caught nine TD passes last season. Warren played in consecutive state title games, and last fall captured its third state championship since 2002. Most opposing coaches say Warren's defense was the fastest in the state.

Hootens.com Kickoff Week shifts to Reynolds Razorback Stadium at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1 when tradition-rich Alma takes on defending 7A West co-champion Fort Smith Southside. Alma advanced to the Class 6A quarterfinals last season before losing at Jonesboro 32-27. The Airedales lost three games in 2014 by three points or less. The Fort Smith Southside Rebels won four games by a TD or less last year, propelling them to their first conference title since 2003.

Hootens.com Kickoff Week concludes with two-time defending Class 3A champion Charleston against Class 4A power Shiloh Christian. Charleston won 29 games over the past two seasons, and captured five state titles over the past 10 years. Shiloh Christian won three straight state titles from 2008-2010, and the Saints advanced to the quarterfinals last fall for the first time since 2010.

In the event's 15-year history, 22 teams started runs to the state finals during Hootens.com Kickoff Week, including Class 3A champion Charleston and Class 4A champ Warren last year. Four teams that played in the 2009 Kickoff Week reached the state title game.

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