VYPE Football Preview: 4A Top 10

Lonoke boasts 17 returning starters from last season's 8-4 squad. The Jack Rabbits' experience makes them VYPE Arkansas Football Preview's 4A preseason favorite. Senior quarterback Rollins Elam passed for 1,941 yard and 24 touchdowns before suffering a leg injury late in the season. Classmates Clarence Harris (1,353 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2007) and Michael Howard (979 yards and 14 touchdowns) bolster 4A's most potent passing offense.

Nashville won its third straight state title last season and lost star running back DeShawn Scoggins and receiver Tyler Serrano, but seniors — quarterback Pierre Vaughn and receiver Montrell Wright — pick up the slack.

Dollarway advanced to the state title game for the second time in four years but still seeks its first championship since 1993. The Cardinals must make the run without coach George Shelton. Shelton left for a job at Watson Chapel. Dollarway promoted assistant Cortez Lee, a former Cardinal quarterback and coach at Altheimer.

Shiloh Christian won the 3A state title in 2006 and played for one last fall. Moving up to 4A won't intimidate the ultra-talented Saints. Newport lost talented skill players from last year's undefeated conference title team, but the offensive line is intact, and the defense could be dominant.

For more analysis on Arkansas' 208 high school football teams pick up VYPE Arkansas Footba;; Preview magazine at your local Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, Hastings or Kroger stores.




1.Lonoke — The Jack Rabbits ended a two-year playoff drought in 2007.
2. Nashville — Scrappers won 25 straight road or neutral site games.
3. Dollarway — Coach Cortez Lee is the only head man to win Southeast Arkansas Coach of the Year awards for football and basketball in the same season.
4. Shiloh Christian — The Saints' return five offensive linemen.
5. Newport — The Greyhounds earned their 21st straight playoff berth in 2007.
6. Osceola — Sixteen starters return from an 8-4 club.
7. Gravette — Lions trying to improve on one of better finishes in school history.
8. DeQueen — Senior all-conference quarterback Zack Taylor and junior standout running back Greg White execute the nearly extinct flexbone to perfection.
9. Pocahontas — Redskins coach Dave Williams owns 70 percent winning mark in 27 seasons.
10. Booneville — Talented Bearcats' junior high team went 10-0 in 2007 and helps fill holes.