Class 7A, Week 1, 2016
Copyright Hooten Publishing, Inc.
1. Fayetteville
2. Springdale Har-Ber
3. Cabot
4. FS Southside
5. North LR
6. Bentonville
7. FS Northside
8. Bryant
9. Conway
10. LR Catholic
11. Springdale
12. LR Central
13. Van Buren
14. Rogers
15. Rogers Heritage
16. Bentonville West

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 4 FS Southside at No. 2 Springdale Har-Ber.
Both teams have solid lines on both sides of the ball. Southside returns seven offensive linemen, including Arkansas State commit Hunter Moreton (6-2, 260), Landers Super Teamer Austin Geis and Ouachita Baptist recruit Jordan Dawson (6-2, 275). Maverick sophomore linebacker Darin Davenport (6-1, 205) is a D-1 college prospect, Southside coach Jeff Williams says.
Har-Ber guard Damon Nelson (6-3, 331) leads the Wildcat front. Nelson (350-pound bench press) started at right tackle the past two seasons. On defense, Har-Ber junior Alejandro Ramirez (6-2, 310) earned all-state honors last fall. “This may be the most athletic Har-Ber team I've seen,” Williams says. “I kinda thought they were the best team in the state last year.”

7A CENTRAL
FS Southside at SPRINGDALE HAR-BER (1): See Class 7A Game of the Week.

Pine Bluff at CABOT (9): Two-time defending 6A state champ Pine Bluff meets what could be Coach Mike Malham’s best team in 36 seasons at Cabot. The Panthers have won it all twice under Malham (1983 & 2000). Senior quarterback Jarrod Barnes (5-11, 170) is the “best athlete to ever walk the halls” of Cabot High, Malham says. Barnes committed Feb. 18 (as a receiver/athlete) to the Arkansas Razorbacks. Pine Bluff graduated 23 seniors, including 17 two-year and eight three-year starters. The Zebras reload on offense with senior QB Simeon Blair, senior TB Dalvin Smith (5-10, 229) and senior receiver Xavier Smith.
For more on Pine Bluff click here: http://katv.com/sports/high-school/31-teams-in-31-days-pine-bluff-zebras
For more on Cabot click here: http://katv.com/sports/high-school/31-teams-in-31-days-cabot-panthers
Bryant vs. BENTON (1): Bryant owns its county rival, winning nine of the past 10 meetings (tied in 2014) by an average score of 37-13. Benton leads the overall series 24-17-2 but last beat the Hornets in 2005. Both have new coaches. Benton promoted defensive coordinator and former Arkadelphia and Lincoln head coach Brad Harris in the spring. Harris inherits a veteran squad that has won 20 games over the past two seasons. Harris’ son, Brayden leads the Panther defense at linebacker. Senior Brandon Hunter rushed for 1,049 yards and nine TDs for Benton last fall. Bryant hired veteran Buck James, who coached Camden Fairview to the 2012 Class 5A state championship. James coached Fairview to a 91-24 record and seven conference titles from 2006-13. Bryant lacks size and could play as many as nine sophomores. All-state senior RB DeAmonte Terry rushed for 1,054 yards and four TDs in 2015.
For more on Bryant click here: http://katv.com/sports/high-school/31-teams-in-31-days-bryant-hornets
For more on Benton click here: http://katv.com/sports/high-school/31-teams-in-31-days-benton-panthers
Springdale at CONWAY (11): Springdale allowed 59.5 points its past two season-openers against Class 6A power Greenwood. The Bulldogs could improve on last year’s 2-8 finish with more than half their starters returning for second-year Coach Zak Clark. Springdale won a state title in 2005 but has posted just two winning seasons (6-5 in 2006 and 2010) since Har-Ber High opened across town. Conway last played for a state title in 1993. League coaches voted the Wampus Cats to finish fourth this fall in the new eight-team 7A Central. Conway graduated two-time all-state QB Breylin Smith but returns its top rusher McCall Dail (5-9, 180; 270-pound bench press), top receiver Marquise Pleasant (47 catches for 874 yards as a junior) and top tackler Nick Fletcher (6-2, 200), who made 113 stops at linebacker.
For more on Conway click here: http://katv.com/sports/high-school/31-teams-in-31-days-conway-wampus-cat
LR CATHOLIC (3) at Sylvan Hills: These teams were members of the former AAAA-Central from 1991-1995 and played non-conference games from 2002-2007, with LR Catholic winning the last meeting 28-12 in 2007. Sylvan Hills has won nine of its past 12 non-conference games. Sylvan Hills senior QB Jordan Washington gained more than 2,600 yards last fall.
For more on LR Catholic click here: http://katv.com/sports/high-school/31-teams-in-31-days-lr-catholic-rockets
For more on Sylvan Hills click here: http://katv.com/sports/high-school/31-teams-in-31-days-sylvan-hills-bears
LR Central at ROGERS HERITAGE (4): Heritage was forced to forfeit its only win last year, a 35-33 decision at Olathe-North, Kan., in the season opener. Heritage hired Tony Travis in March from nearby Pea Ridge as its new coach. Travis guided Pea Ridge to a record 11 wins in 2015 and the school’s first playoff semifinal appearance. LR Central won three games a year ago and was voted by conference coaches to finish next to last in the 7A Central this fall. Tiger standout sophomore tailback Oscar Adaway (5-10, 200; 4.6 speed) is out after a motorcycling wreck this summer.
GREENWOOD (8) at FS Northside: Northside dropped its long series and drive (402 miles round trip) with Pine Bluff to open with its neighbor, Class 6A No. 1 Greenwood (35 miles). Northside will rely a formidable defense early this fall. The Grizzlies gutted Greenwood 42-17 in 2014, but Greenwood finished 7-0 against Class 7A schools last fall. Greenwood junior QB Connor Noland (872 yards and nine TDs in 2015) committed in July to Arkansas. Greenwood won by 10 last year at Northside.
Maumelle at NORTH LR (35): 7A North LR reverses last season’s 0-4 start and the Charging Wildcats get top league contenders FS Southside (Oct. 7) and Cabot (Nov. 4) at home the second half of the schedule. A strong defensive front and talented running backs boost North LR to a 9-plus win season for the sixth time in eight years. Senior all-state running back Alex Day gained 1,847 yards and 24 TDs last season. Class 5A Maumelle was voted by coaches to finish fifth in the 5A West conference this fall. Maumelle opened with dominating victories over Jacksonville the past two years, but participation shrank in summer workouts.

7A WEST
FS Southside at SPRINGDALE HAR-BER (1): See Class 7A Game of the Week.
Blue Springs, Mo. at FAYETTEVILLE (7): Defending state champion Fayetteville hasn’t lost a season opener since 2012. Fayetteville named former Tulsa University coach Bill Blankenship as head coach on June 8. Blankenship guided Tulsa Union High to seven state title games in 14 seasons. He inherits six returning starters on both sides of the ball, including Wake Forrest QB Taylor Powell (6-2, 210). Powell completed 71 percent of his passes for 3,594 yards and 49 TDs last season. Blue Springs has already played two games, including a 57-43 win in its season opener.
KC (ROCKHURST), MO. (7) at Bentonville: Bentonville failed to play for a state title last season for the first time in six seasons and didn’t win a conference title for the first time in nine years. And with a new school in town (Bentonville West) playing football this fall, league coaches voted Bentonville to finish third in 7A West. Bentonville and Rockhurst meet for the fifth consecutive season. An average of 3 points has decided the past three matchups, including Bentonville’s only loss in the series (17-16) two years ago at Tiger Stadium.
Van Buren at ALMA (11): They tied in 2009 and Van Buren beat Alma 38-7 in 2010, but Alma won the past five meetings by an average score of 33-14. Van Buren coach Greg Werner was excited to add one coaching position to his staff in the spring.  Alma senior QB Noah Dotson passed for 2,121 yards and 14 TDs last season and ran for 578 yards and three scores.
SILOAM SPRINGS (4) at Rogers: Class 6A Siloam beat Rogers (18-6) last season for the first time since the series began in 2012. Rogers hired Coach Mike Loyd from Grove, Okla. in late March to succeed Shawn Flanagan (18-44 in six seasons at Rogers). Loyd inherits a sold offensive line and installed the Spread in the spring. Siloam senior QB Luke Hampton (4.6 speed) triggers the Panthers’ Spread attack. Siloam senior receiver Dawson Armstrong tore his ACL this summer and will not play.
LR Central at ROGERS HERITAGE (4): Heritage was forced to forfeit it’s only win last year, a 35-33 victory at Olathe-North, Kan. in the opener. Heritage hired Tony Travis from nearby Pea Ridge as its new coach in March. Travis guided Pea Ridge to a record 11 wins in 2015 and the school’s first playoff semifinal appearance. LR Central won three games a year ago and was voted by conference coaches to finish next to last in the 7A Central this fall. Tiger standout sophomore tailback Oscar Adaway (5-10, 200; 4.6 speed) is out after a motorcycle wreck this summer. Heritage won at LR Central 35-26 in the first round of the 2014 playoffs.
For more on LR Central click here: http://katv.com/sports/high-school/31-teams-in-31-days-lr-central-tigers
Springdale at CONWAY (11): Both teams were voted by coaches to finish fourth in their conferences. Springdale allowed 59.5 points its past two season openers against Class 6A power Greenwood. Springdale looks to improve on last year’s 2-8 finish with more than half its starters returning for second-year Coach Zak Clark. Springdale won a state title in 2005 but has posted just two winning seasons (6-5 in 2006 and 2010) since Har-Ber High opened across town. Conway last played for a state title in 1993. Conway graduated two-time all-state QB Breylin Smith but returns its top rusher McCall Dail (5-9, 180; 270-pound bench press), top receiver Marquise Pleasant (47 catches for 874 yards as a junior) and top tackler Nick Fletcher (6-2, 200), who made 113 stops at linebacker.
BENTONVILLE WEST (7) at Pryor, Okla.: First-year program Bentonville West debuts against Pryor (4-7 in 2015). Bentonville West sophomore QB Will Jarrett (5-11, 150) and sophomore receiver Jadon Jackson (6-0, 165) are ones to watch.