Arkansas high school football playoffs: Class 3A outlook

Class 3A favorites, dark horses and all you need to know for the start of the postseason

Editor's note: This is the second in a series of stories previewing the Arkansas high school football playoffs from Class 2A-7A. 

When Harding Academy and McGehee bumped up to Class 4A for the previous cycle prior to last season, the field for 3A became much more wide open. 

Coming into the 2023 season it was expected for defending finalists Booneville (runner-up) and Charleston (champion) to be right back where they finished. There is still a chance of that happening, but there are plenty of others who may have something to say about that.

Hoxie and Salem come into the postseason unblemished, while Prescott - whom many consider the favorite right now - has not lost against in-state competition. 

Also, can Glen Rose get back to the finals for the first time in over a decade in the first season under Steven Kehner, or can Harmony Grove's (OC) offense propel them to a deep run coming off the program's first outright conference title in over half a decade?

Click here to follow the Class 3A brackets throughout the postseason. 

FAVORITES

BOONEVILLE BEARCATS

Had the Bearcats (8-2) not loaded up their nonconference schedule that included a win over Class 4A Ozark, as well as losses to 5A Camden Fairview and 4A defending runner-up Harding Academy) they would likely be 10-0 right now. However, the stiff competition benefited them and they have hardly been touched against 3A competition, save for a 10-point margin of victory against rival Charleston on Oct. 20.

Senior Dax Goff, one of the true iron men of Arkansas prep football, has compiled nearly 2,000 yards of offense, including 1,687 on the ground along with 22 scores. Despite still utilizing a run-first approach, Booneville has passed the ball more frequently this year as junior quarterback Jace Washburn has completed 27-of-46 passes for 384 yards and four touchdowns. Goff once again leads an impressive Bearcats defense in tackles with 57.   

GLEN ROSE BEAVERS

Mark Kehner passed the torch to son Steven, who was previously the Beavers' offensive coordinator, and the squad is right back where they expected to be following an unblemished run through the 3A-4 conference. 

Like Booneville, Glen Rose (8-2) did not shy away from stiff competition in non-conference play. The Beavers started 0-2, falling to 4A Crossett and defending 4A champion Malvern, before reeling off eight-consecutive wins and not a single one was close. While the offense has averaged an impressive 46 yards per game, behind senior Heath Ballance's 1,285 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns while averaging 11.5 yards per carry, the defense is surrendering just 13.7. Senior Ty Hood leads the Beavers with 80 tackles, including 10 for loss. 

HOXIE MUSTANGS

Tom Sears is one of the more underrated head coaches in Arkansas and his Mustangs are once again primed for a deep playoff run after a down season per Hoxie standards. Strength of schedule may have been questioned, but Hoxie (10-0) has answered the call each week and really made a statement last Friday against a quality Walnut Ridge squad to win the 3A-3 outright. 

Senior three-year starter Kayden Glenn (2,258 total yards, 38 touchdowns) has led the squad after moving to quarterback and alongside classmate Camden Brooks (979 total yards, 12 touchdowns) has helped the offense put up 37.5 points per contest, while the defensive unit is surrendering just 10.3 points per contest as senior Ethan Dulaney (77 tackles) heads that unit. 

PRESCOTT CURLEY WOLVES

They failed to make the finals by one game last year, but the Curley Wolves (9-1) always seem to put themselves in the mix for a state title run and they may be the favorite heading into the postseason. 

Excluding a loss to McAlester (Okla.), a Class 5A program, no one has been able to hang with the Curley Wolves' speed and they have completely outmatched most every 3A opponent they have faced. Kansas State baseball commit Pierce Yates has taken over admirably for two-year starter Carson Poole at quarterback, while the defense has lived in opponents' backfields totaling 26 sacks, led by senior Jamarion Burton's 11. 

SALEM GREYHOUNDS

Off to the best start since 2012, the Greyhounds (10-0) feel that they are far from finished. They boast one of the most potent rushing attacks in all of 3A football averaging 340 yards per contest on the ground led by senior Elijah Romine (1,524 yards, 21 touchdowns), sophomore Kaden Brink (916 yards, 14 touchdowns) and senior quarterback Lukas Downs (1,167 total yards, 17 touchdowns). 

Defensively, Salem had a two-game stretch that where they gave up more than expected, but have been lockdown the past three weeks. Against Yellville-Summit, Perryville and last Friday's regular season finale the Greyhounds gave up 14 combined points in the three contests. On the season, the Greyhounds have surrendered just 15.2 points per game. 

DARK HORSES

HARMONY GROVE (OC) HORNETS 

Considering their location in South Arkansas, Harmony Grove (8-2) may be the most overlooked squad in 3A looking to make a December run to Little Rock. However, this group has been a resilient bunch and are winners of seven consecutive games after dropping back-to-back contests to 4A defending runner-up Harding Academy and Haynesville (La.) in early September. 

Three-year starting quarterback Caleb Johnson (2,214 total yards, 37 touchdowns) is one of 16 experienced seniors on the roster and led the Hornets to an outright 3A-6 championship for the first time since 2017, along with help from top target in senior Landon Garrett (652 receiving yards, 13 touchdowns) and junior running back Damarion Billingly (683 rushing yards, 8 touchdowns). Defensively, the trio of seniors Quinten Jones (94 tackles, 47 solo, 7 sacks, 20 TFL), Christian Barnes (71 tackles, 44 solo, 8 sacks, 16 TFL) and Peyton Ross (44 tackles, 26 solo, 16 TFL) headline a Hornet defense allowing 21.8 points per contest.

CHARLESTON TIGERS 

Anytime a defending state champion returns to the postseason they expect to be in this mix, especially a program with Charleston's historic prestige. The defending 3A state champions and head coach Ricky May graduated 15 players from the title squad, but held their own in 3A-1 play following a brutal non-conference slate that included Elkins, Ozark and Nashville - all playoff participants in 4A.

Since the 0-3 start, Charleston (6-4) seemed to have figured some things out and, save for a 10-point loss to rival Booneville, have done most of what they have expected. Particularly on the defensive side where the Tigers have allowed just 15 points per game in conference play thanks in large part to senior Hunter Little (71 tackles, 6 TFL, INT). SBLive Arkansas Male Athlete of the Year Brandon Scott was one of the notable names the Tigers offense lost, but they do still have senior Reese Merechka, who has compiled over 1,000 yards of offense (902 rushing, 134 receiving) and 16 touchdowns, along with 23 tackles defensively, despite missing four games due to injury. 

BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP

JESSIEVILLE AT RISON

The biggest question is what can either do past this game, however we are focused on the now. Rison, one of Arkansas' most prestigious small school programs, hit hard times in the first season under Caleb Carmikle getting off to an 0-7 start. However, the Wildcats (3-7) reeled off three straight victories to close out the regular season, while Jessieville (6-4) did the same after dropping three of the previous four games. 

The Lions have surrendered 21.7 points per game while scoring 28.2, but have allowed just eight combined points in the previous two games. While they did shut out Lakeside (Lake Village), Rison has struggled to stop anyone this year, giving up 36.2 points per game while scoring just 19.6. Both teams are playing with house money at this point which means anything and everything can happen. 

CENTERPOINT AT MANSFIELD

On paper, this one is without dispute one of the more even matchups of the first round. The biggest question is what can either do past this game, however we are focused on the now. 

Excluding a two-game losing stretch to 3A-1 top seeds Charleston (seven-point loss) and Booneville, the Tigers (8-2) handled their business with ease in their other eight games while averaging 38.5 points per game on the season and allowing just 11.7. Centerpoint (5-5) has been about as Jekyll and Hyde as their record presents as they started off 0-3, won five consecutive and have now lost two straight by large deficits hoping the rebound. While the current tide is not in their favor, they did upset top-seeded Charleston as a No. 4 seed in the playoffs two years ago. 

BEST POTENTIAL MATCHUP

BOONEVILLE VS PRESCOTT

This is a likely matchup many expect to see. The run-oriented offense of Booneville against the spread and track speed of Prescott, which would take place in the finals at noon on Dec. 9. It would be the first meeting since the 2018 3A semifinals, which the Bearcats won 34-31 before going on to shut out Osceola 35-0 in the finals.  

The Bearcats average 38.5 points per contest, while surrendering 17.8 (8.9 in conference play) each time out. Prescott is just a hair better offensively, as they have put up 40.2 points per game while the defense, like Booneville's, has been impressive giving up just 13.1. 

--Kyle Sutherland | @k_sutherlandAR

Photo of Booneville's Jace Washburn courtesy of Booneville School District