Farmington Overlooked In Coaches Poll

FARMINGTON -- The move up in classification for a high school sports program always presents a fair share of excitement and plenty of new challenges.

For Farmington football, a switch from its old stomping grounds of the 4A-1 Conference up to the 5A-West Conference also comes with some perhaps overlooking the Cardinals.

Hooten's Arkansas Football, released last week across the state, has Farmington picked to finish seventh in the 5A-West Conference in a poll of league coaches. Ahead of only Clarksville in the preseason predictions, the Cardinals find themselves in unfamiliar territory after years of high expectations and lofty preseason rankings in the 4A-1.

"Moving up in classification is a change and a challenge for all of us," Farmington defensive coordinator Jay Harper said. "But we're going to keep doing what we've been doing.

"We haven't made any mass changes. It's unfamiliar territory and we've talked to coaches at Huntsville and Shiloh Christian about what to expect from the teams in that conference. But for the most part we're just doing the same things we've always done."

Harper admits he doesn't usually pay much attention to the preseason polls published by Hooten's Arkansas Football. But he knows other coaches do. Farmington head coach Mike Adams, who is on vacation this week, is certainly one who keeps a watchful eye on the preseason polls, and Harper believes a low spot in the polls can only help fire up the Cardinals and their staff.

"I can't speak for our kids, but I can speak for our staff," Harper said. "I know coach Adams looks at Hooten's all the time. If we're picked to finish seventh, that can be great motivation."

The 5A-West Conference obviously features a different look from one year ago, with Shiloh Christian and Huntsville moving back down to Class 4A and Farmington moving up to the league. Maumelle also joins the 5A-West for the first time this season from Class 4A.

Defending Class 5A state champion Morrilton is picked by league coaches to win the 5A-West, followed by Greenbrier, Harrison and Vilonia.

Little Rock Christian, Maumelle, Farmington and Clarksville round out the bottom half of the predictions.

"I think there's a different mix in this league, like in all conferences," Harper said. "I do think they throw it a little more.

"But I haven't done a lot of research yet. We've gotten some film of the teams, but until we play these teams it's still an unknown."

Harper said life in the 5A-West will take some getting used, particularly after so many seasons in the 4A-1 Conference.

"We still consider ourselves a 4A school, at least numbers wise," Harper said. "But this is the hand we've been dealt.

"This is probably the biggest challenge we've faced at Farmington in a long time."

Sports on 07/10/2014