Football playoffs in full gear

Fourteen teams felt the joy of a first round playoff victory last week in Class 4A with the same number of teams feeling the sting of a season ending on a cold November evening.

The 4A-1 District held serve, winning the two games they were hosting while losing the two they were serving as the guests.

Prairie Grove came roaring from behind to overtake and defeat Lonoke 41-24. Lonoke led at the half 16-14 and ran second half kickoff back to go ahead 24-14, but it was all Tigers after that as Prairie Grove scored four touchdowns to win going away. They will play on the road Friday against Nashville, a team ranked best in the state by some services.

Shiloh played a weak Jonesboro Westside team and actually trailed 7-6 until scoring at the end of the first quarter. However, the Springdale folks poured 29 points across during the second period and the game was over.

To no one's surprise, Gravette was blown out by Warren 45-7 while Gentry was getting hammered by Dollarway to the tune of 47-0. Warren will play Heber Springs this week and then it could play Shiloh should the Springdale school prove victorious against Pocahontas.

As has been my suspicion all season, the 4A-7 and 4A-8 districts may prove to be the power conferences this season.

Of the five qualifiers each league sent to the playoffs, the 4A-7 and the 4A-8 have four of their five teams still in the mix. Seven of the top 10 ranked teams are from those two districts.

On the other hand, the 4A-2 district has about been wiped out. Only one 4A-2 team (Heber Springs) has survived the first round and they have to travel to Warren this week, likely ending the 4A-2's involvement in the playoffs this year.

The third best league is the 4A-1 which has three representatives still in it. (Pea Ridge, Shiloh, and Prairie Grove)

Arkansas Super Six status unchanged

While Nashville and Pea Ridge had the week off, the other four members of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's 4A Super Six had opening round victories with the result that the lineup is the same as the previous week, the first time this has happened this season.

I believe the top five will win this week and retain their rankings but look for Pocahontas to possibly take a tumble against Shiloh. Pocahontas had to come from behind to win in the second half to defeat No. 5 seed Robinson 24-15. I think they are the weakest No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Pocahontas does have the advantage of being at home, forcing Shiloh to take the seven-hour or so trip into far northeast Arkansas.

There are six No. 1 seeds from the six districts: 4A-1. 4A-2, 4A-3, 4A-4, 4A-7, and 4A-8. Folks may ask: What happened to 4A-5 and 4A-6?

When Arkansas decided to have more classifications (from four classes to seven), the number of districts in the classes went down. Why didn't they just delete seven and eight instead of five and six? Who knows?

Democrat-Gazette 4a Super Six

1. Dardanelle 11-0

2. Nashville 9-1

3. Dollarway 9-2

4. Pea Ridge 10-0

5. Warren 8-3

6. Pocahontas 10-1

Hawks move up in Hooten's Top 10

The 'Hawks moved up a spot to sixth in Hooten's Arkansas Football 4A State Poll, released last week.

Star City dropped from fifth out of the top 10 along with last week's No. 10 Arkadelphia with Mena coming in at No. 8 and Malvern making a Top Ten appearance at No. 10.

Hooten's Arkansas 4a Top 10

(released Nov. 11)

1. Dollarway

2. Dardanelle

3. Nashville

4. Warren

5. Pocahontas

6. Pea Ridge

7. Hamburg

8. Mena

9. Gosnell

10. Malvern

Pea Ridge still ranked ninth in CBA/MaxPreps poll

The MaxPreps Top Ten jumbled a bit with losses and close calls but the 'Hawks held steady in the No. 9 spot while idle during their bye week.

CBS/MaxPreps 4a state poll

1. Dardanelle 11-0

2. Nashville 9-1

3. Arkadelphia 8-3

4. Warren 8-3

5. Mena 9-2

6. Dollarway 9-2

7. Malvern 8-3

8. Gosnell 9-2

9. Pea Ridge 10-0

10. Hamburg 8-3

15. Shiloh 8-3

18. Prairie Grove 7-3

24. Gravette 6-5

37. Gentry 3-8

38. Huntsville 4-6

43. Lincoln 2-8

44. Berryville 2-7

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Editor's note: John McGee is an award-winning columnist and sports writer. He writes a regular sports column for The Times. He can be contacted through The Times at [email protected].

Sports on 11/19/2014