There will be no shortage of outstanding quarterbacks in the 4A-1 Conference this season, and that should make for an exciting race for the playoffs all the way to the end of the regular season.
Three quarterbacks in the league each accounted for more that 1,700 yards of offense in 2015, and a fourth likely would have as well if he’d not split time.
Shiloh Christian three-year starter Connor Reece headlines the list after accounting for more than 2,900 yards last season in leading the Saints to a 7-4 record. The 5-foot-10 senior was 154 of 254 passing for 2,622 yards and 22 touchdowns, and ran for 283 yards and seven scores.
The Saints return 10 offensive starters in what likely is the program’s strongest team since 2010.
“Our goal is for us to go out every night and play to the best of our ability,” Shiloh Christian coach Jeff Conaway said. “At Shiloh, of course, we are going to strive to win championships. We want to win the conference, and we want to win the state championship.
“Those goals are certainly there, like they are for everybody and they are there for us every year, but we know we play in a tough conference. We know we have to play hard every Friday night if we want a chance to win because our conference is very competitive again this year.”
The 4A-1 Conference is widely regarded as one of the classification’s toughest. Last season two teams from the 4A-1 advanced to the state semifinals. Both Shiloh Christian and Pea Ridge open this season ranked in the Top 10 of Hooten’s Arkansas Football Magazine, and Prairie Grove is No. 13.
Gentry coach Paul Ernest has coached in both the 4A-1, and the 4A-7, which is widely regarded as the toughest conference in the state regardless of classification. Ernest coached in Nashville before getting the head coaching job at Gentry last season.
“I think if you were to look at it from the stands, you would say (the 4A-1) nowhere near athletically from what I saw where I came from,” Ernest said. “And you’d probably be right athletically. But from a standpoint of the scheme and the coaching and the technique that is played, I think (4A-1) is probably the best conference. There’s a reason Prairie Grove played in the finals, and there’s a reason Pea Ridge played in the semifinals.”
Lincoln senior Harrison Swayne (6-3, 195) is another quarterback to watch this season after compiling 2,300 yards a year ago in leading the Wolves to just the fourth playoff appearance in program history.
Gentry junior Jon Faulkenberry (6-1,
200) is another talented quarterback, accounting for more than 1,700 yards last season. And Pea Ridge junior Jakota Sainsbury (5-11, 180), who split time last season with Cole Wright, will have the job to himself and is poised to have a breakout season for the Blackhawks.
The 4A-4 Conference will have a little different look this season as three new teams move into the league. Boone- ville, which spent two seasons in Class 3A, moves back up to 4A and are joined by newcomers West Fork and Waldron into the conference.
“Booneville has always been a rivalry game for us,” said Ozark coach Jeremie Burns. “It’s been a few years since we played West Fork.”
Booneville was an uncharacteristic 4-7 last season, but the Bearcats are always a playoff threat. Booneville went 15-0 and won the 4A state title in 2013. The Bearcats return seven starters each way, but the team is still young with 16 sophomores who did not lose a junior high game in two seasons.
“You want to get somewhere and stay,” Bearcats coach Scott Hyatt said of the move back to 4A. “Going back and forth makes it difficult, The 3A conference we were in was tough, but in 4A there are more kids on the teams. We matched up with the 3A teams, and our numbers will be tough in 4A.
“We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
Dardanelle is the favorite in the 4A-4 coming off a 12-1 season in 2015. The Sand Lizards — with Phil Vega being promoted to head coach after Josh Price left for Stuttgart — return just two offensive and three defense starters but are still the team to beat for the conference title. West Fork, also making the move up from 3A, is predicted for the middle-of-the-pack finish.
Chip Souza can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAChip.
2015 Final 4A-1 Standings
TEAM CONF. OVERALL
Prairie Grove .......................7-0 ................13-2 Pea Ridge ...........................5-2 .................11-3 Shiloh Christian ..................5-2 ..................9-4 Gravette ...............................5-2 .................. 7-4 lincoln .................................3-4 ..................4-7 Huntsville .............................2-5 ..................4-6 Gentry .................................1-6 ..................3-7 Berryville .............................0-7 ..................2-8
2015 Final 4A-4 Standings
TEAM CONF. OVERALL Dardanelle ...........................7-0 ................12-1 Pulaski Robinson ................5-2 ..................9-3 Dover ...................................5-2 ..................8-3 Pottsville ..............................5-2 ..................8-4 Baptist Prep.........................3-4 ..................3-8 ozark...................................2-5 ..................3-7 Clinton .................................1-6 ..................2-8 Subiaco Academy ...............0-7 ..................2-8
Hooten’s Coaches Poll 4A-1 Conference
Shiloh Christian
Prairie Grove
Pea Ridge
Gravette
Gentry
lincoln
Huntsville
Berryville
4A-4 Conference
Dardanelle
Booneville
Pottsville
ozark
Dover
West Fork
Waldron
Subiaco Academy