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NWA Democrat-Gazette File Photo/ANDY SHUPE Pea Ridge running back Samuel Beard, shown carrying the ball against Prairie Grove in 2018, returns for the Blackhawks this season. 2,000 yards and 19 touchdowns as a soph- omore. Ozark travels to Mena to open league play on Sept. 27. "It's a tough league and the reason we try to schedule the teams that we do for nonconference," Burns said. "It gets us ready for the conference race. Our conference is tough top-to-bottom. I think several teams from our conference have a chance to compete deep in the playoffs." 4A-1 CONFERENCE The 4A-1 conference has not produced a state champion since Shiloh Christian's three-year reign from 2008-2010, but the Saints came close a year ago until a stom- achache derailed those chances. Shiloh Christian was 12-1 when it was scheduled to host a Friday night semifi- nal playoff game against defending state champion Arkadelphia. The Saints had pounded Star City, Mena and Nashville in successive weeks, but the game was postponed by a day because of weather, moving the game to Saturday. Hours before the rescheduled game, star running back Jaret Russ was hospi- talized with appendicitis and underwent surgery to remove his appendix. Arkadel- phia went on to a 30-17 win and claimed its second straight 4A state title the fol- lowing week. Had the game been played as originally scheduled on Friday, the out- come could have been different. 4A-4 v Continued from Page 29 See 4A-1, Page 39 "Our conference is tough top-to-bottom. I think several teams from our conference have a chance to compete deep in the playoffs." — Jeremie Burns, Ozark head football coach 4470 N Thompson St Springdale, AR 72764 479-770-4647 NWA's low price leader for 20 Years! Most under $10,000 Hedgehog Hedgehog Motors Motors Check out our inventory at: hedgehogmotors.com 36 | 8.22.2019 | PREP RALLY: CLASS 4A