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We support Blackhawks Football!!! We hope your season is full of victories on and off the fi eld. Guthrie Heating & Air 221 Barris Ln. • Pea Ridge, AR 72751 479-640-3256 PREP RALLY: Class 4A THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018 41 NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Ozark head coach Jeremie Burns watches his players during the Southwest Elite 7 on 7 tournament July 13 at Harmon Stadium in Fayetteville. Burns said he expects the 4A-4 Con- ference to be tough this year despite Booneville being moved down to Class 3A. 4A-4 CONFERENCE Tears were shed among conference teams when it was determined that Booneville was moving down to Class 3A. They were tears of joy. With the bully Bearcats now in the 3A-1, the league has a new look, but pur- ple is still expected to reign as Ozark, with a ton of experienced seniors back, is the league favorite. The Hillbillies were 9-3 last season and are primed to make a deep run, per- haps like the 2012 team that played for the state title. But the road to the league title won't be an easy one as Mena, Potts- ville, Dardanelle and Elkins are all qual- ity teams. Ozark coach Jeremie Burns said the conference would be just as tough with- out Booneville. "You look at Elkins and they have some big skill guys back," Burns said. "They had a great season last year, and Mena coming into the league and they will be good. Then you throw in Potts- ville and Dardanelle. It's going to be a tough conference." Excitement is high at Elkins with a new stadium and the Elks will put a tal- ented team on the field under new coach Bryan Hutson, who was hired late in the spring to replace former coach Chad Harbison, who took a coaching position at Fayetteville. Hutson has three elite skill position players in junior quarterback Quinn Mc- Clain, running back Chance Jones and wide receiver Chad Graham. Depth will be the key issue for Elkins in the move to 4A. 4A-4 v Continued from Page 38