NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — 4A-1 gets reshuffled
For the past few years, you could almost recite by memory who the top four teams in the leaguer will be. Of course, Shiloh with its transplanted cast of stars will always be seeded the top spot with Farmington, Prairie Grove and Gravette almost always jockeying for the other three spots for the district’s upper tier teams.
Things they are a-changin’. First off is the seeming resurgence of Gentry Pioneer football. While the Pioneers have lost a game, it was to 5A school Siloam Springs who just upset the state’s top ranked 5A team Greenwood. Gentry knocked off the state’s No.
1 3A school in Charleston two weeks ago and this week the Pioneers drove 96 yards in the game’s final second to beat Farmington.
Meanwhile, lowly regarded Ozark beat Prairie Grove 14-8. Longtime league doormat Berryville has been surprising, losing some close games before crushing Green Forest in the last non-conference game the week before last.
While the Bobcats did lose to Shiloh this week 48-14, the outlook at Berryville is probably is as good as it has been in a long time. Gentry is thinking playoffs and if they can build on their success, that goal is beginning to look realistic.
The state rankings have really changed with now only Shiloh in the top 10. Ozark is surprisingly ranked 17th on the Hooten’s Ranking System with only a 2-2 mark, but a rank that places them second in the district.
Cross country team ranks No. 4 in state
John King’s cross country boys hold down a No. 4 spot in the top five rankings among 4A cross country teams in the latest published rankings. Shiloh leads the state as their transfers last season tookthem to a state title, even though they didn’t participate in a lot of meets. The second and third ranked teams were Heber Springs and DeQueen followed by Pea Ridge and the state’s No. 5 team, Berryville.
This season has an extra bonus to it as the state meet will be held on the Mountie course in Rogers.
It has alternated between the Oaklawn course in Hot Springs and the Razorback course in Fayetteville. For some reason, neither site was available this year so Coach Efurd at Rogers managed to get the hosting duties this year. The closest small school team to the course is our Blackhawks. This would be a great year to get some fans to go support the running ’Hawks.
Area teams do well
Benton County teams did well last week as Bentonville took a nail-biting overtime 38-34 win against the Fayetteville Bulldogs.
The Rogers Heritage team proved last year’s run tothe playoffs was no fluke as they whupped Fort Smith Northside 51-27.
While not being familiar with the new high school in Rogers, I do happen to be acquainted with a few players and I was impressed with their team sportsmanship. The players I talked to were not starters and usually only got to play when their team wins big.
I asked one of them if they would have rather attended a smaller school where they could have gotten more playing time, and the replay was “No way! We are helping our team in our practicing and pushing them. It takes a lot more than 11 guys or even 22 guys to have a great team. We are all indispensable.”
Siloam Springs which inexplicably sank to the bottom of the 5A-West last year after several years as a top playoff contender, have served notice that they are back by defeating state favorite Greenwoodlast week. The Panthers sport a 3-1 overall mark.
Though it didn’t get much media notice, Decatur won their opening high school game this year after not even fielding a team in 2009. It was their first victory for some time on the gridiron. They are currently tied for fourth in the 4-2A with JHC Westside and Union Christian.
The league is led by 4-0-Mountainburg, newly arrived in the 2A after many years in 3A.
The three teams that Pea Ridge played in the pre-district games are the top 3 teams in the 1-3A, the Hawks old conference.
Those teams are Elkins, Green Forest, and Green Forest.
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Editor’s note: John McGee is the art teacher at Pea Ridge elementary schools, coaches elementary track and writes a regular sports column for The TIMES. He can be contacted through The Times at prtnews@ nwaonline.com.
State and district rankings among the eight district schools and 48 state schools are:
District State School
1st 1st Shiloh (3-1)
2nd 17th Ozark (2-2)
3rd 18th Gravette (4-0)
4th 25th Gentry (3-1)
5th 27th Farmington (1-3)
6th 31st Prairie Grove (2-2)
7th 38th Berryville (1-3)
8th 40th Pea Ridge (1-3)
Sports, Pages 10 on 09/29/2010