Fayetteville and North Little Rock are No. 1 and No. 2 to start the season. Also look for Bentonville, Har-Ber and El Dorado.
Fayetteville is our pick to dogpile and suffocate all opposition this season in Arkansas.
Photo by Richey Miller
12-2
Head coach: Daryl Patton
Team previewFayetteville had a remarkable finish to the 2011 season, stunning nationally ranked Bentonville in the Class 7A finals. With 14 starters back this fall, an undefeated season is certainly within reach. Quarterback
Austin Allen is back. He was sensational against Bentonville in the finals and should be even better as a senior. Fellow Arkansas-bound teammates
Brooks Ellis and
Alex Brignoni make Fayetteville one of the more talented teams in the state. Fayetteville ranks No. 2 on our list of
Arkansas' Top 10 most consistent football programs.
2. North Little Rock2011 finish: 9-3
Head coach: Brad Bolding
Team previewNorth Little Rock could be in for a special season. It finished 9-3 last year and returns the state's most exciting player in
Altee Tenpenny. He's one of 18 returning starters for Brad Bolding's squad.
Alex Gosser will also see some carries, but his biggest impact could be at defensive end. With
Kenny Howard and
Gerald Watson also up front, the defensive line figures to be a strength for the Charging Wildcats.
3. Bentonville2011 finish: 12-1
Head coach: Barry Lunney
Team previewThe defense will be ahead of the offense to start the season for Bentonville, as eight starters return including linebacker
Garrett Kaufman and safety
Nate Gneiting. Running back
Tearris Wallace is one of three starters back on an offense that averaged more than 42 points per game. Quarterback Dallas Hardison will be difficult to replace. Bentonville tops our June, 2011 list of the
Top 10 Arkansas football dynasties.
4. Har-Ber (Springdale)2011 finish: 8-4
Head coach: Chris Wood
Team previewWood believes his team's defense will be much improved from last year, and with good reason. Eight starters are back, including nose guard
Josh Frazier, who should be one of the top defensive linemen in the Class of 2014. Har-Ber opens with two Missouri schools (Webb City and Rock Bridge) before in-state showdowns with Southside and Bentonville. You can find Har-Ber on our list of
Arkansas state football champions for the past nine years.
5. El Dorado2011 finish: 13-1
Head coach: Scott Reed
Team previewEl Dorado has captured three consecutive state titles, making it one of the most consistent programs in Arkansas. With quarterback
Lucas Reed and running back
Marque Burris will provide plenty of offensive firepower.
Bijohn Jackson will lead the defense. El Dorado will be the favorite once again in Class 6A. El Dorado will need to replace one player featured on our
Arkansas Class of 2012 Division 1 signees list.
