Arkansas high school football playoffs: Class 4A outlook
Editor's note: This is the third in a series of stories previewing the Arkansas high school football playoffs from Class 2A-7A.
Going into the season, the Malvern Leopards appeared to be the favorites to repeat in the Class 4A.
And with good reason, the Leopards were returning 15 starters including running back Jalen Dupree, who committed to Colorado State after a junior season in which he rushed for 2,828 yards and 41 touchdowns and was named MVP of the Class 4A state championship where he rushed for 287 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 64-39 victory over Harding Academy.
However, the Leopards, who lost 57-54 to Prosper Texas) Walnut Grove (in the season opener, also lost 27-14 to Desoto (Miss.), fell 55-35 to Arkadelphia in the season finale Friday night which cost the Leopards the No. 1 seed from the conference and could set up a potential second-round rematch with Harding Academy.
That brings up the question, who is the team to beat in Class 4A? There are several candidates including three teams that went undefeated in Harding Academy, Elkins and Warren. Arkadelphia overcame an 0-3 start to win the 4A-7 Conference. A year ago, Malvern overcame a 49-13 loss to Arkadelphia in the regular-season finale to win the state championship. Rivercrest (8-2) won the 4A-3. Bauxite (7-3) and Central Arkansas Christian (8-2) shared the 4A-4 Conference title with CAC defeating Bauxite 50-45 on Sept. 8.
FAVORITES
Elkins (10-0) has been dominant in the 4A-1 Conference, outscoring the opposition 536-64 and posting four shutouts, including its last three opponents, Ozark, Lincoln and Gentry by a combined 146-0.
Dizzy Dean has thrown for 1,836 yards with 27 touchdowns. His top targets are Landon Martin, who has caught 37 passes for 575 yards and 7 touchdowns, James Townsend has caught 33 passes for 396 yards and 6 touchdowns and John Townsend has caught 20 passes for 441 yards and 7 touchdowns. Da’Shawn Chairs has rushed for 869 yards and 16 touchdowns. On defense, Landon Neal and Gunner Casebolt have 4 sacks. Elijah Mangan has 5 interceptions and Ja Quae Walden has 54 tackles with 13 for losses.
The Elks have homefield through the first two rounds. A potential quarterfinal matchup against Central Arkansas Christian would be played at CAC, but if they win, they would host a semifinal game.
HARDING ACADEMY
Harding Academy (10-0) won Class 3A state titles in 2019-2021 and reached the 4A finals a year ago, returning 12 starters. The Wildcats outscored the opposition 388-278 with 5A champion Valley View scoring 40 and 3A-1 Champion Booneville scoring 27.
Quarterback Owen Miller has thrown for 23 touchdowns and 1,806 yards. He’s also rushed for 438 yards and 6 touchdowns. Miller’s top targets are Kyler Hoover catching 42 passes for 529 yards and 6 touchdowns and Isaac Baker catching 29 for 479 yards and 7 touchdowns. Baker has also rushed for 777 yards and 10 touchdowns. Griffin Thomas has replaced Kyle Ferrie, who signed with Mississippi State and has made 44-of-46 extra point and 5-of-6 field goals. On defense, linebacker Wyatt Simmons leads with 50 tackles and 8 for losses.
The Wildcats have home field through the quarterfinals and have a potential second-round matchup with Malvern. A potential semifinal against Central Arkansas Christian or Elkins would be on the road.
ARKADELPHIA
The Badgers (6-3) overcame non-conference losses to 5A-South teams Camden Fairview (43-27), Hot Springs (24-7) and Texarkana (36-14) to go undefeated in the 4A-7 Conference, culminating with a 55-35 victory over Malvern. The Badgers outscored its five conference opponents 295-81.
Quarterback Clark McBride threw for 219 yards and 3 touchdowns and rushed for 154 yards and scored 3 times in the win over Malvern. Evan Bailey caught 4 passes for 98 yards and 3 touchdowns in the victory.
The win put the Badgers on the top of the bracket with a first-round bye against either Mayflower or Bald Knob and home field through the semifinals. A potential quarterfinal matchup exists against Rivercrest.
Head coach Trey Schucker said over the summer that watching Malvern win the state championship was “bittersweet” especially since the Badgers won the regular-season matchup. This year, with a win over the Leopards, a favorable seed and momentum, the Badgers are a team not to sleep on.
WARREN
The Lumberjacks (10-0) have outscored the opposition 438-175 on the season with its closest victories being a 34-27 non-conference victory over White Hall and a 49-42 victory over Crossett in the 4A-8 Conference.
Freshman Jackson Denton has dazzled with 2,773 yards passing and 36 touchdowns. Antonio Jordan has caught 51 passes for 914 yards (added added 91 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns). and 16 touchdowns. Neondre Thomas has caught 41 passes for 720 yards and 12 touchdowns. Kam Davis has 31 receptions for 693 yards and 9 touchdowns and Tramond Miller has 37 passes for 455 yards and 7 touchdowns. Treylon Jackson has rushed for 637 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jordyn Ingram has 475 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns.
Warren opens with Trumann and has home field through the quarterfinals.
DARK HORSES
MALVERN
Those wanting to write Malvern (6-3) off, must look back to last year when the Leopards had to win road games at Lamar and Warren in the second round and quarterfinals before hosting a semifinal game against Nashville and winning the championship game against Harding Academy.
This year, the Leopards are looking at a potential second-round rematch with Harding Academy. A win over the Wildcats would mean a home game in the quarterfinals against either Blytheville, Ashdown, DeWitt or Pocahontas. A potential semifinal game could be at CAC or Elkins.
Malvern has playmakers in Dupree (1,805 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns), sophomore quarterback Bishop Allen (1,308 yards passing and 13 touchdowns) and receiver Dyleon Caradine (53 receptions, 1,046 yards and 12 touchdowns). Angel Perez (67 tackles) and Romere Bennett (64 tackles) lead the defense.
RIVERCREST
After nonconference losses to 5A-East champion Valley View and 5A-Central playoff team Mills, Rivercrest (8-2) ran through the 4A-3 Conference outscoring the opposition, 323-99. Cavonta Washington thew for 1,298 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushed for 203 yards and 3 touchdowns. Koby Turner led the Colts in rushing with 764 yards and 12 touchdowns while Michael Ranier had 482 yards and 8 touchdowns. Ranier also caught 31 passes for 521 yards and 10 touchdowns while Buddah Harris caught 28 passes for 434 yards and 5 touchdowns. Defensive Wyatt Lancaster led the Colts with 105 tackles with 19 for losses and 7.5 sacks.
The Colts have a potential quarterfinal matchup at Arkadelphia, but a victory would give them a home game in the semifinals.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS CHRISTIAN
The Mustangs (8-2) went from 2-8 a year ago to sharing the 4A-4 Conference title with Bauxite, but earned the No. 1 seed thanks to a 50-45 victory on Sept. 8.
The Mustangs feature junior quarterback Grayson Wilson, an Arkansas Razorback commitment. CAC has topped 50 points six times during the season, including a season-high 60 in a 60-12 victory over Lamar on Oct. 20.
The Mustangs have a first-round bye before racing either Nashville or Crossett in the second round. They have home field through the semifinals.
BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP
Monticello at Highland
Both teams won their season finales to earn No. 3 seed from their conferences and finish the season with 7-3 records. Monticello defeated 4A-4 co-champion Bauxite 28-16 on Sept. 1 and had losses to Fordyce which made the playoffs in 3A, 4A-8 Conference champion Warren and DeWitt. Highland lost to 28-27 to Walnut Ridge and had conference losses to DeWitt and Rivercrest before winning its last three to get into the playoffs.
Brooks Bowman (1,816 yards passing, 18 touchdowns) leads the Billies offense. Jontavion Lambert (966 yards rushing, 6 touchdowns) is their leading rusher while Ja’quayvius Rhodes (35 receptions, 587 yards and 5 touchdowns) and Tejon Tensley (28 receptions, 499 yards and 7 touchdowns) are the top pass catchers. Blaine Hayden lead the defense with 76 tackles. Tensely and Curtis Barrow both had three interceptions.
Highland is led by Keagan Statler, who rushed for 1,278 yards and 17 touchdowns while quarterback Zac Huckabee had 638 yards and 8 touchdowns. Gabriel Hightower led the defense with 95 tackles, including 8 for losses.
BEST POTENTIAL MATCHUP
Malvern at Harding Academy, second round
Is it possible, the 4A state champion could be decided in the second round of the playoffs? That could happen if Harding Academy and Malvern win their first-round matchups against Gentry and Lonoke. The matchup would be a rematch of last year’s state championship game played in Searcy with the winner facing either Blytheville, Ashdown, DeWitt or Pocahontas in the semifinals before a potential semifinal against either Elkins or Central Arkansas Christian.
--Jeff Halpern
Photo by Jimmy Jones
