6-6 last season while competing in Class 6A. The Panthers are led by Enoch Assan, who rushed for over 800 yards as a sophomore.

Morrilton, another newcomer to the league, has no concerns at quarterback with Maddox Berry, who threw for over 1,400 yards and 19 touchdowns last year as a sophomore. The Devil Dogs could surprise with a combined 13 offensive and defensive starters from a team that stood 5-2 before losing its final three games in the 5A-Central.

Harrison won seven games last season and the Goblins return a combined 14 offensive and defensive starters including senior Cayden Long, who tied for the league lead with 89 tackles at linebacker.“ As with each year, we have high expectations for our team,” Harrison Coach

Russell Hodge Farmington File Photo

PREP RALLY: CLASS 5A | 8.18.2024

Chris Keylon said.“ We feel we have an opportunity for success each Friday night.”

Alma finished with a similar 7-4 record as Harrison, and the Airedales return junior standout Samuel Schlegel, who could play some at quarterback after catching 53 passes for 800 yards last season. Twenty-one seniors will lead Alma onto the field this season.

“ We’ re extremely excited about the upcoming year,” Alma Coach Rusty Bush said.“ The biggest thing for us is we have a lot of returners coming back. It’ s a veteran football team.”

Pea Ridge hopes to continue its climb after winning one game in 2021, three games in 2022, then five games in 2023 under Brey Cook, a former starting offensive lineman for the Razorbacks.

“ Obviously, the pattern suggests we

should be playoff-bound this fall,” Cook said.“ Our goal has always been to play in War Memorial( for a state championship). Our expectation is that we line up and play our brand of football every single snap regardless of the situation or result of the previous play.”

Vilonia won only three games last year, and is now under the direction of former Conway and Siloam Springs coach Clint Ashcraft, who left his athletics director job at Conway to return to coaching. Clarksville also is under new leadership after the Panthers failed to win a game for the second consecutive season.

“ We are up to the challenge this year,” said Mitchell Powers, Clarksville’ s first-year coach.“ We might not be up to the numbers of other schools, but we feel we still will be in the games.”

Landon Morris

ALMA AIREDALES

Byron Standridge

2023 RECORD 7-4, 5-2 5A-West COACH Rusty Bush RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS LB Israel Towns-Robinson( Sr., 6-1, 220), OL Easton Daily( Jr., 6-4, 285), DL Jackson Mitchell( Sr., 6-1, 215), FS Cash Farris( Sr., 6-0, 185), LB Byron Standridge( Sr., 6-3, 190), CB Ashton Chanhnouvong( Sr., 5-10, 178), LB Landon Morris( Sr., 6-0, 180) NOTABLE Rusty Bush

Ashton Chanhnouvong begins his fifth season as head coach of the Airedales. … Alma tied for third in the 5A-West last year with Harrison. … The Airedales return eight starters on defense, including their top two tacklers from a year ago in defensive backs Ashton Chanhnouvong, who had 79 stops, and Cash Farris, who was in on 59 with six for loss. … Alma also returns Israel Towns-Robinson, a two-way player, who move from defensive end to linebacker on defense and be the focal point of the offense at running back after rushing for 392 yards and three scores last year. … Junior Sam Schlegel returns after an All-State campaign last year as a sophomore and will see added action on offense after catching 53 passes for 800 yards and four scores. … The Airedales face only three road trips in conference play this season but do have to go to Harrison to open league action. QUOTABLE“ We’ re extremely excited about the upcoming year. It’ s been a great offseason, great spring, and rolling into summer. The biggest thing for us is we have a lot of returners coming back. We’ ve got eight defensively especially and five on offense. It’ s a senior class that has a lot of guys that have a lot of experience. A lot of them have been playing since the 10th grade and contributing. It’ s a veteran football team.”— Rusty Bush, Alma football coach

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