Arkansas

Arkansas high school football: Class 4A predicted order of finish

Published

2 years ago

August 8, 2024

Arkansas high school football: Class 4A predicted order of finish

With the Arkansas high school football season about a month away, the SBLive staff is looking at each class’s conferences. We will predict the order of finish in each league. In this installment, we predict Class 4A.

4A-1

1. Elkins

2. Prairie Grove

3. Gentry

4. Gravette

5. Lincoln

6. Green Forest

7. Berryville

8. Huntsville

Why Elkins?

Elks head coach Zach Watson has his program rolling and came within a game of a state championship a year ago. He must reload on offense with star quarterback Dizzy Dean and running back Da’Shawn Chairs graduated, but having nine returning defensive starters ensures another conference title and a deep playoff run again.

4A-2

1. Mills

2. Heber Springs

3. Forrest City

4. Lonoke

5. CAC

6. Bald Knob

7. Hall

8. Riverview

Why Mills?

Mills had success under head coach Cortez Lee in Class 5A and now moves down to 4A but still has an abundance of talented players. The Comets return only eight total starters but still have more talent and depth than most 4A schools, which will mean a conference title and a possible push to Little Rock.

4A-3

1. Southside

2. Highland

3. Gosnell

4. Pocahontas

5. Blytheville

6. Trumann

7. Cave City

8. Westside

Why Southside?

The Southerners went 10-2 in Class 5A a season ago, and while they lost several key players on offense, they will be stout on defense with eight veterans. After battling in the ultra-competitive 5A-East, Southside shouldn’t have a problem rolling through the league.

4A-4

1. Ozark

2. Dardanelle

3. Clinton

4. Pottsville

5. Lamar

6. Mena

7. Waldron

8. Dover

Why Ozark?

Senior quarterback Koby Wilbanks might be one of the best football players, regardless class, in the state. The dynamic Wilbanks is one of just eight returning starters, but his presence is enough to lead the Hillbillies to a league title after winning 10 games and advancing to the Class 4A quarterfinals last year.

4A-7

1. Arkadelphia

2. Bauxite

3. Malvern

4. Nashville

5. Ashdown

6. Harmony Grove

7. Fountain Lake

8. Genoa Central

Why Arkadelphia?

The Badgers have made a habit of deep playoff runs, and after losing their first three games last year, they rattled off seven consecutive wins before losing to Rivercrest. A core group returns for Badgers head coach Tre Schucker’s team. The game with Bauxite could decide the league title, and Arkadelphia has the advantage of playing at home.

4A-8

1. Warren

2. DeWitt

3. Stuttgart

4. Hamburg

5. Monticello

6. Crossett

7. Star City

8. Mena

Why Warren?

The Lumberjacks just missed another state final berth last fall, losing at Rivercrest in the Class 4A state semifinals. A loaded, veteran team is a favorite among the pundits to not only win another league title but a state championship. Sophomore quarterback Jackson Denton returns with a stable of weapons, including senior receiver Antonio Jordan, a University of Arkansas commit. The Lumberjacks lost just one game last season. They might not lose one this year.

–Nate Olson | nate@scorebooklive.com | @ndosports

Source link

Arkansas

Arkansas Library Board approves funding for public libraries after initially declining to do so | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Published

6 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas Library Board approves funding for public libraries after initially declining to do so | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Ella McCarthy

emccarthy@adgnewsroom.com

Ella McCarthy covers state politics and the state Supreme Court. Before joining the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, she covered Austin City Hall for the Austin American-Statesman, and before that, held a fellowship with ABC News in Washington, D.C., where she covered national politics. A graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism, her work has been recognized by the Hearst Foundation, the Missouri Press Association and LION Publishers in the LION local journalism awards. She contributed to the Statesman’s coverage of a two-city shooting rampage that won a national Edward R. Murrow Award for breaking news coverage.

Source link

Arkansas

Arkansas Division of Higher Education on continuing your education after high school

Published

19 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas Division of Higher Education on continuing your education after high school

KATV ABC 7 in Little Rock, Arkansas covers news, sports, weather and the local community in the city and the surrounding area, including Hot Springs, Conway, Pine Bluff, Jacksonville, Sherwood, Stuttgart, Benton, Bauxite, East End, Scott, Pinnacle, Maumelle, Gibson, Landmark and Hensley.

Source link

Arkansas

Come one, come all | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Come one, come all | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

The Little Rock Marathon welcomes runners of all experience levels to run its course each year.

That was best exemplified when its winners crossed the finish line.

The marathon featured 1,427 entrants, ages 16 to 80, with race veterans and first-timers of all ages competing Sunday morning.

This was the 10th marathon for Benjamin Williams, a 42-year-old Baltimore resident originally from Australia. He hadn’t won prior Sunday but finished second in a marathon in Memphis in 2025 and was determined to finally get over the hump in Little Rock.

“It’s amazing,” Williams said. “I mean, it’s such a beautiful course, and it’s my first time in Arkansas. I love the city, and I’m just so excited to do it.

“I was desperate to win this one. I went to the front in the first mile, and then I ran on my own basically the whole way.”

Williams held an advantage of nearly a minute on the next-closet runner through the first 7 1/2 miles. By the time he hit the half marathon point, 13.1 miles, his lead was just shy of four minutes thanks to a 5:41 pace.

Williams won the marathon with a chip time of 2:32:07. Tyreek Gilkey, 22, of Fort Smith came second with a 2:39:02 chip time. Alec Hewett, 33, of Colorado Springs, Colo., finished third with a chip time of 2:39:50.

“Little Rock is beautiful,” Williams said. “You know, I was focused on the race, but I’ve been able to see it the last few days, just walking around this beautiful city. The course is actually really hard. There’s a hill as you go up to Hillcrest, that neighborhood. That was a long, brutal hill. And then they get you with a little one just here at the end as well. So, yeah, it was a good course, but tough.”

Williams made sure to mention just how far he’s come in his marathon running career after winning his first.

“This is my 10th,” Williams said. “So hopefully it’s by some other people. My first one took me four hours, and I’ve just slowly brought it down.”

Williams also won the 5K on Saturday with a chip time of 16:22.7.

As for the women’s race, it was first-timer Holly Moser, 25, who claimed first place. The Greeley, Colo., native who recently moved to Jacksonville finished seventh overall and first among female runners with a time of 2:53:23. She was second or third at each of the first five checkpoints before her 6:36 pace from Mile 21 to Mile 23 pushed her into first.

Moser, like most runners that compete in the Little Rock Marathon, highlighted the hills in the western portion of the course, particularly in the Hillcrest neighborhood, as a challenge.

“You guys managed to find every single hill that exists in the city somehow,” Moser said with a laugh. “I’m not sure how you did it, but you did. The energy was there, so it’s easy to get up those hills. And it was fun to kind of sightsee Little Rock. I still haven’t been to a lot of the neighborhood areas since we live in Jacksonville, so it was nice to get to see like a new area that I haven’t gotten to see before.”

Like Williams, Moser also ran the 5K the day before running the marathon. She finished seventh overall and third among women in that with a time of 19:49.4.

Leah Thorvilson, 47, of Bella Vista finished second among women with a chip time of 2:54:49. Erin Bellissimo, 41, of Monument, Colo., finished third with a 3:02:05 chip time.

One other finish of note was Aaron McCaleb, who was the first marathon athlete overall to finish with a time of 1:59:48. Competing in the hand cycle division, McCaleb, 22, finished nearly 45 minutes before the nearest cyclist.

Temperatures remained favorable and fan support turnout was strong Sunday, giving competitors like Moser the boost they needed.

“The weather was perfect for the first like two hours, and then that sun came out and it got a little warm, but the support was unmatched,” Moser said. “I mean, every single booth that you passed, the vibes were high. Everyone was cheering. People were screaming your name. It’s easy to run fast when you got that many fans.”

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/3126_CM_marathon_2.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Runners cross the Broadway Bridge as the sun rises over the Arkansas River during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/3226_CM_marathon_4.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Runners cross the Broadway Bridge into North Little Rock during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/3226_CM_marathon_5.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Runners cross the Broadway Bridge during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/3226_CM_marathon_6.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Runners cross the Broadway Bridge during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/3226_CM_marathon_7.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Runners cross the Broadway Bridge during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/3226_CM_marathon_8.jpg”,
subHtml: `

A group of spectators watch runners cross the Broadway Bridge during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/3226_CM_marathon_9.jpg”,
subHtml: `

A runner heads toward the finish line on the final stretch of the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/3226_CM_marathon_10.jpg”,
subHtml: `

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/3226_CM_marathon_11.jpg”,
subHtml: `

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/3226_CM_marathon_12.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Holly Moser heads toward the finish line on the final stretch of the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Moser would go on to win the women’s race. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/3226_CM_marathon_13.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Benjamin Williams heads toward the finish line on the final stretch of the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Williams would go on to win the men’s race. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/3226_CM_marathon_14.jpg”,
subHtml: `

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/3226_CM_marathon_15.jpg”,
subHtml: `

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/3226_CM_marathon_16.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Competitors run past the Arkansas state Capitol during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon3109.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Katie Bowser stops to give her husband Larry Bowser a kiss before turning onto Tenth Street from Main Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. Katie was running the full marathon. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon2492.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Marion Milwee, 16, (from left) Jennifer Milwee and Shannon Butler Dixon cheer as Virginia Milwee, their sister, daughter and niece respectively turns on to Commerce Street from Ninth Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon2430.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Melinda Asewicz holds up her glass in salute as runners move west on Ninth Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon1899.jpg”,
subHtml: `

A runner moves east along Fourth Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon1558.jpg”,
subHtml: `

A runner gets a drink from Andrea Rothman as he moves east along Fourth Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon2962.jpg”,
subHtml: `

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon2932.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Runners move east along Fourth Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon4183.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Holly Moser, 25, of Jacksonville, crosses the finish line during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. Moser won the women’s race with a time of 2:53:23 the finish line https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon3582.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Holly Moser, 25, of Jacksonville, runs to the finish line during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. Moser won the women’s race with a time of 2:53:23 the finish line https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon3968.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Benjamin Williams of crosses the finish line during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock.Williams won the men’s race with a time 2:32:07. https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon3961.jpg”,
subHtml: `

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon2210.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Benjamin Williams of Baltimore runs on Ninth Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. Williams won the men’s race with a time 2:32:07. https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon1285.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Benjamin Williams of Baltimore runs on Fourth Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock.Williams won the men’s race with a time 2:32:07. https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon4363.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Anne Henry Milner stretches out on the floor of the Statehouse Convention Center after completing the half marathon portion of the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon4076.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Runners cross the finish line during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon3473.jpg”,
subHtml: `

A runner crosses the finish line during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon3251.jpg”,
subHtml: `

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon3308.jpg”,
subHtml: `

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon577.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Runners take to the course at the start of the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon251.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Sam (left) and Elliot Driver talk before the start of the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. Elliot was running in the half marathon. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0302Runners/….(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)..

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon342.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Maly Tabor (left) and Mary Kate Reid stretch before the start of the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. Both women were running in the half marathon. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0302Runners/….(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)..

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon059.jpg”,
subHtml: `

A group of runners walk down Main Street on their way to the Statehouse Convention Center for the start of the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0302Runners/….(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)..

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon2772.jpg”,
subHtml: `

Volunteers gather outside of the Statehouse Convention Center before the start of the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0302Runners/….(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)..

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/0301Marathon188.jpg”,
subHtml: `

A runner walks towards the starting line of the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0302Runners/….(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)..

`,
},
{
src:”https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2026/03/01/20260301Marathon706.jpg”,
subHtml: `

`,
}
]

const inline_gallery_60977 = new LightGalleryWrapper(“lightgallery-gallery-container-60977”, dynamic_elements_60977);
inline_gallery_60977.open_gallery();

Source link