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479.273.1355 1145 NW "J" St. Bentonville, AR 72712 Doug Parker, DVM Tammy Jones, DVM Stephanie Ensley, DVM Lindy O'Neal, DVM Sugar Creek Animal Hospital PREP RALLY: Class 7A THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018 8 Conference of champions. That was the headline in last year's preseason publication for a story on the strength of the 7A-West Conference. And why not? No team outside of the 7A-West had won a state championship in Arkansas' largest classification since 2004, and league coaches routinely refer to their conference as the SEC of high school foot- ball in Arkansas. But North Little Rock shattered the league's stranglehold and made history by winning state championships in football and boys and girls basketball in the same school year. An argument can be made the 7A-Central has the better teams again, and the Charging Wildcats would surprise no one by reaching the championship game for the third consecutive year. So, who's going to stop them? The top challenger from the 7A-West will likely come from Benton County, where Bentonville West and Bentonville High are the first and second picks in a preseason poll of the 7A-West coaches. Fayetteville could challenge again after losing too many close games last year, in- cluding a pair of one-point losses to Bryant of the 7A-Central Conference. Springdale Har-Ber has much to prove after taking a nosedive following a 5-0 start, and Spring- dale High will have a different look with the addition of six transfer students from Har-Ber. The remaining three teams in the league — Rogers High, Rogers Heritage, and Van Buren — will likely fight it out for the last two playoff spots. Bentonville West has plenty of ability, especially at quarterback and wide receiv- er. The challenge is how well West han- dles soaring expectations after a 9-2 finish in its second season as a varsity program. The Wolverines will be helped by playing in their own stadium for the first time after SHINE ON DERRICK WISE II SCHOOL FS Northside POSITION Quarterback CLASS Senior HEIGHT 5-11 WEIGHT 185 TWITTER HANDLE @deucethatkid THE DIGITS Wise was moved to quar- terback from running back last season and showed improvement from week to week. Wise compiled 2,400 combined passing and rushing yards, while also seeing some time at defensive back. He was 9-for-9 passing and rushed for 101 yards in a playoff-clinching win against rival Fort Smith Southside in Week 10. CRUSHING ON Jilly Anais, a singer and model. I LISTEN TO Rapper Chick Keef I BINGE WATCH Martin I DRIVE A Moped MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW Umpires church league baseball games. MY HERO IS My father, Derrick Wise Sr. FAVORITE MEAL Boneless chicken wings WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT FOOT- BALL IS Just the competitiveness and com- ing out and working every day to see how will show in the game. IN 10 YEARS I WILL I would like to play in the NFL, but if not, be a dentist. DERRICK WISE II 7A-West Conference will attempt to regain superiority RICK FIRES NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE See 7A-WEST, Page 10 NWA Democrat-Gazette File Photo/CHARLIE KAIJO Fort Smith Southside High School quarterback Taye Gatewood, shown Nov. 10 at Fay- etteville High School, is expected to be a playmaker for the Mavericks this season.