Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

7/12/2010 at 12:00am

Image by Jackie WIlson

An electric Watson Chapel offense will rely heavily on Kyle Coleman to reach the state championship.

Image by Jackie Wilson

Helena-West Helena's Aubrey Garner will start at wide-receiver for his senior season.

Image by Amy Glover Bryant

After finishing as State runner-up in December, Camden Fairview will look for quarterback Brandon Keaton (17) and lineman Catory Robinson (59) to fuel a return trip to War Memorial.

(Click here to read ArkansasSports360.com's Class 5A rankings, top players and games to watch.)

On the surface, Pulaski Academy’s descent to Class 4A would seem a blessing to 5A schools that aspire to state and conference titles. But for the 2010-12 cycle, former 6A power Watson Chapel drops down a class, and 5A schools could find themselves missing the Bruins before it’s all said and done in December.

Chapel, which lost a 6A semifinal rematch with eventual champ El Dorado and was considered by some the best team in the state last season, is our preseason top pick in 5A. The Wildcats return speed, athleticism and perhaps more importantly, an expectation of a state title. What the Wildcats don’t have back is outstanding quarterback C.J. Branch, and Chapel Coach George Shelton will be hoping to find something close before fall.

But, before the rest of 5A hands over the title to Watson Chapel, note that Buck James has been brewing success at Camden Fairview, and the 5A-West always seems to produce a state title contender.

And the color “Green,” as in Greenwood, was a 5A final regular for several years. Could it be Greenbrier, rather than Greenwood, in 2010?

And what about that other “green” in the East? Greene County Tech is upwardly mobile heading into 2010. But is state a realistic expectation for the Golden Eagles?

5A-East
Favorite: Greene County Tech
It’s not often that Greene County Tech is listed as a preseason conference football favorite. In fact, perhaps it’s never happened. But the Golden Eagles have flourished under GCT alum and Shiloh Christian disciple Jeff Conaway, going 9-3 in 2009 and earning their first-ever playoff win. The culture is changing in west Paragould. GCT now expects to win.

Hot on Their Heels: Batesville
The Pioneers missed the playoffs, finishing 3-4 in league play. Very un-Batesville like indeed. But speed is back at the skills positions and eight defensive starters are back from a solid unit. AS360.com had the Pioneers in this spot a year ago; look for them to get back on track this time.

Sleeper: Blytheville
The Chickasaws shouldn’t miss a beat under new coach Maurice Moody, but a fifth straight playoff berth will be tough to get in the balanced East. If the Chicks can build some momentum from a killer opening gauntlet, though, watch out.

5A-Southeast
Favorite: Watson Chapel
The Wildcats are champing at the bit to begin what they believe could be a state title run. Chapel was close to the 6A title the past two seasons. It should be better in 2010 as the Wildcats drop down a class. But not everyone is ready to anoint the Cats, just yet, least of all neighbor…

Hot on Their Heels: White Hall
Any other year, and the Bulldogs would be sitting on top as preseason conference favorites. White Hall is solid year in, year out. But are they ready to take that next step and make some real noise in November?

Sleeper: Little Rock Mills
Yes, Mills. Only the addition of Chapel and Helena to the league keep the Comets from being picked higher. Patrich Russell’s Flexbone system took hold a year ago, and the Comets rode it to a playoff berth. QB Chris Hampton and HB Scott Jones are back. Mills could be more than just a tough out in 2010.

5A-Southwest
Favorite: Camden Fairview
The Cardinals tasted December football at War Memorial Stadium a season ago before powerful Monticello brought them down to earth in a big way. Buck James has been building toward a state title in Camden. Fairview is among the favorites to hoist the hardware in the Rock the first weekend of December.

Hot on Their Heels: Magnolia
The Panthers got a huge win at Pulaski Academy last season that enabled them to earn the league’s No. 2 playoff seed. Robert Day’s program has been solid the past decade, but never a real player in November. Fairview will be a tough mountain to climb in terms of a league title, but the Panthers will look to avoid another first-round playoff collapse.

Sleeper: Hot Springs
Why not? Call it a hunch, but we think the Trojans, under new coach Chris Vereen, may make some noise. Vereen comes over from De Queen, where it took him a couple of years to build a winner, but build a winner he did. Everybody else in Garland County seems to win, and Hot Springs seems like a potential sleeping giant to us. Vereen may be the one to awaken it.

5A-West
Favorite: Greenwood
Until somebody knocks the Bulldogs off their perch, there they will sit. The ’Dogs return 52 lettermen — Greenwood is a football town — and 11 starters off a unit that won the West and reached the state quarters (actually a letdown for GHS these days) in 2009.

Hot on Their Heels: Greenbrier
For years, folks tended to forget about that other league “Green.” But Greenbrier began to realize its potential a year ago, ascending to second in the league, nine wins and a deep playoff run. Randy Tribble’s Spread offense is taking hold, and the Panthers return 13 starters.

Sleeper: Harrison
It’s hard to think of historically strong Harrison as a “sleeper,” but in recent years the Golden Goblins have fallen back into the middle of the West pack. However, 13 starters are back, including stud TE/LB/K John Colliver, and that bodes well up north. In his 28th season on Crooked Creek, Tommy Tice may be poised to return Harrison to its customary playoff run.

Tagged: Greenwood High, Buck James, George Shelton, C.J. Branch, E; Dpradp, Greenbrier High, Greene County Tech, Jeff Conaway, Paragould, Batesville High, Blytheville High, Maurice Moody, White Hall, Little Rock Mills, Helena High, Patrich Russell, Chris Hampton, Scott Jones, Monticello High, Magnolia High, Robert Day, Hot Springs High, Chris Vereen, De Queen High, Randy Tribble, Harrison High, John Colliver, Tommy Tice, Pulaski Academy, Watson Chapel, Camden Fairview, Shiloh Christian