Northside, Southside Return To 7A-West

Can a conference that's produced nine consecutive state champions get any stronger?

The answer is yes for the 7A-West.

7A-West Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Bentonville

Fayetteville

Springdale Har-Ber

Fort Smith Southside

Fort Smith Northside

Rogers High

Springdale High

Rogers Heritage

Fort Smith Southside and Fort Smith Northside return to the league after two years in the 7A/6A-Central. The two Fort Smith schools replace Van Buren and Siloam Springs, who were a combined 7-35-1 the past two seasons.

The 7A-West coaches' poll in Hooten's Arkansas Football magazine picks Bentonville at No. 1 followed by Fayetteville, Springdale Har-Ber, Southside and Northside. Rogers High is picked sixth in the league, ahead of Springdale High and Rogers Heritage.

Hooten's Arkansas Football also picks Bentonville No. 1 overall followed by Fayetteville and North Little Rock.

Bentonville remains loaded after winning its third state championship in the past six years. Fayetteville is on the upswing again after winning the state championship in 2012 and Springdale Har-Ber should benefit by a new on-campus stadium.

Southside finished 8-4 last season after being eliminated 45-13 by Bentonville in the second round of the playoffs. The Rebels open 7A-West Conference play at home against Bentonville on Sept. 26.

"You want to be part of the West because of its mystique," Southside coach Jeff Williams told Hooten's. "Traditionwise, no other conference in the state compares. The West is a step up in competition, but it prepares you for the playoffs."

The Rebels are led by D'erek Fernandez, who rushed for 1,100 yards as a sophomore.

Northside has one of the state's top players in senior Daytrieon Dean, a defensive end who committed to Arkansas in the spring. Dean is listed by Hooten's as the No. 4 recruit in Arkansas behind quarterback Ty Storey of Charleston, receiver K.J. Hill of North Little Rock and tight end Will Gragg of Dumas.

Northside finished 3-6-1 last year under Mike Falleur, who replaced Darrell Henry as coach. Falleur, a Northside graduate, returned to Fort Smith after coaching for 22 years in Georgia.

The Grizzlies open 7A-West Conference play Sept. 26 at Fayetteville.

Sports on 07/08/2014

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