Aug. 29 – Wynne Sept. 5-at Harding Academy Sept. 12- Conway Sept. 26 – at Sylvan Hills Oct. 3 – El Dorado Oct. 10 – at West Memphis Oct. 17 – Jonesboro Oct. 24 – at Sheridan Oct 31 – LR Catholic Nov. 7 – at Benton
The Marion Patriots have been knocking on the door in the 6A East— and 2025 might be the year they bust it wide open. Coming off a 7-4 season( 5-2 in league play), veteran Head Coach Lance Clark returns with a roster loaded with Division I talent, a retooled staff, and one of the most dangerous backfields in Arkansas. It starts with the running game. Jeremiah Dent, a bruising, electrifying back, has racked up 17 Division I offers, including interest from every Power Four conference. He’ ll share the load with Rico Ward, a shifty playmaker already drawing offers from UCA, UNA, and more. Add in quarterback Zayden Walker, and Marion’ s zone-run spread attack has the makings of a nightmare for defensive coordinators. The offensive line does face questions with inexperience, but new offensive coordinator Dylan Mussleman— fresh off stints in Alabama and Iowa— is tailoring creative formations to keep defenses guessing. With speed and depth at wide receiver, the Patriots plan to spread the field and let their playmakers thrive. Defensively, Marion boasts proven talent at every level. All-State edge rusher Ryan Blackwell returns to terrorize quarterbacks, while Chris Byrd( 89 tackles) and Zadean Wilson( offers from Harding, Kennesaw State, and more) form a rock-solid linebacker corp. In the secondary, Kajeris Hill( 6 INTs, All-Conference) is back as the team’ s ball-hawking anchor. New defensive coordinator Tate Benton, formerly at Beebe, will oversee a multiple 4-2-5 scheme that emphasizes versatility and aggressiveness. Two games define the season. Week 6 brings the annual showdown with bitter rival West Memphis, one of the most heated rivalries in the state. Then, in Week 10, a possible conference championship and No. 1 playoff seed could be on the line when the Patriots face perennial power Benton.“ This group is connected and experienced,” Clark said.“ We’ re not looking past anyone. It’ s one game at a time. Just play football.” With Dent and Ward leading a high-octane backfield, a defense full of returning stars, and a senior class hungry to cement its legacy, the Patriots may have all the pieces to climb to the top of 6A East in 2025.
Aug. 29 –@ Walnut Ridge Sept. 12 – Rivercrest Sept. 19 – Manila Sept. 26- Izard Co Oct 3 – at McCrory oct. 10 – at Cross County Oct. 17 – Earle Oct. 24 –@ Marianna Lee Oct 31 – Des Arc Nov. 6- Marked Tree
The East Poinsett County Warriors put the state on notice in 2024, storming to the 2A state championship game before finishing as runner-up. With 19 starters returning and the state’ s most explosive backfield duo, Head Coach Brandon Powell believes 2025 could be even bigger for the defending 2-2A conference champions. The Warriors finished 10-4 overall and 6-1 in conference play a year ago, and they’ ll once again lean on their powerful ground attack. The two-headed monster of Jacob Gaines and Dee Buchanan gives EPC an offensive identity no one wants to line up against. Gaines, an All-State selection, pounded out 1,422 yards and 18 touchdowns on 193 carries, while Buchanan, also All-State, added 1,392
yards and 18 touchdowns on just 108 carries. Together, they form perhaps the most dangerous running back tandem in Arkansas high school football. The Warriors are far from a two-man show, however. Key returners like Eli Blagg, Doug Reel, Quincy Perry, and Devin Magee provide experience and leadership across both sides of the ball. And with so much production back from last season, EPC will again be a physical, disciplined team built to make deep playoff runs. The road through the 2- 2A will test the Warriors. Powell’ s squad faces three massive matchups that could determine the league crown and playoff seeding: at Cross County, at Des Arc, and at home against Marked Tree in back-to-back weeks nine and ten. If EPC can navigate that gauntlet, they’ ll be in prime position to defend their conference title and push for another December trip to War Memorial Stadium. Powell knows expectations are high, but with a roster loaded with experience and star power, he welcomes the challenge. With the thunder-and-lightning combo of Gaines and Buchanan leading the charge, and 19 starters ready to finish what they started last season, the Warriors enter 2025 as not just contenders in 2-2A— but as legitimate state championship threats once again.
Aug. 29- Barton Sept. 12- West Helena Sept. 19- at Walnut Ridge Sept. 26- at Des Arc Oct 3- at Marked Tree Oct. 10- Marianna Oct. 17- at EPC Oct. 24- McCrory Oct 31- ICC Nov. 6- at Cross County
The future is now in Earle. After finishing 4-6 in 2024, the Bulldogs are reloaded with young talent and a revamped coaching staff that could make waves in the 2-2A race this fall. Head coach Albert Coleman returns to lead the program, but he’ s surrounded himself with fresh energy on the staff, including new offensive coordinator Odell Brown, who will be tasked with unleashing one of the most exciting sophomore trios in the state. At quarterback, Aiden Davis steps in as a poised field general, while the backfield features the explosive one-two punch of Tarreze and Taravion Baker, both dangerous every time they touch the football. On the outside, the Bulldogs boast serious size with Derrick Lately Jr.( 6’ 1”) and Dante Bell( 6’ 4”), giving Davis big targets to stretch
the field. Defensively, Earle will lean on Joshua James, Malachi Dorsey, and Darrion Maples to set the tone. Their physicality and leadership will be key if the Bulldogs want to slow down the power run games that dominate the conference. The schedule offers plenty of challenges, with Marked Tree and EPC looming as critical midseason tests. And circle Week 10 vs. Cross County— that matchup could very well determine a playoff berth. Earle is young, hungry, and armed with playmakers. If the sophomores rise quickly under Coach Coleman’ s guidance, the Bulldogs could surprise in 2025 and find themselves right in the thick of the postseason chase.