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PREP RALLY: CLASS 3A | 8.21.2022 46 SHINE ON Hackett ready to announce itself KEVIN TAYLOR NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Most coaches expect Booneville and Charleston to contend for the league title, but don't sleep on Hackett. Since the 2014 season, Hackett is 59-28, the third-best winning percentage among conference foes during that time. "I think it's like anything, winning breeds success," Hornets coach Michael Meador said. "It's something you have to build on from years past. Last year we were able to build on some stuff. "I think we're going to be a lot better than we've been." Cole Ketchum, who played well in limited time in 2021, takes over on a full-time basis at quarterback. "He's growing and understands the offense," Meador said. Hackett opens conference play against the aforementioned Bearcats. The Hornets play Charleston on Oct. 14. "The thing is, people like Booneville and Charleston make us better," Meador said. "We expect to win. They believe they can (win), and they understand the work it takes to win." Doc Crowley's Booneville squad won 13 games a year ago. And, while the team is expected to contend for a potential fifth state title in school history, his squad is young. Junior backs Rylan Ray and Dax Goff complement a stout running back. The duo combined for 1,974 rushing yards and each scored 12 touchdowns in 2021. Senior Peyton Tatum will run the show at quarterbacks. The Bearcats have won three state titles this century, starting with 2000 and continuing in 2013 and 2018. Charleston coach Ricky May has been on both sides of the Tigers' recent battles with Booneville, as a Bearcats' assistant and the Tigers' head coach. He's 23-11 in three seasons with Charleston. The two football powers meet on Oct. 21. It will mark the sixth time they've battled since 2014, with the Bearcats holding a slight 3-2 advantage. Charleston standout quarterback Brandon Scott leads the Tigers' offensive attack. He passed for 1,817 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2021, and added 12 rushing touchdowns. Twenty years ago, the Paris Eagles were treading water in the hotly contested 3A-4, while sharing space with Ozark, Booneville and Waldron. That same 2002 season saw Jessieville win the 2A-5 with a league that included Glen Rose, Centerpoint, and Magnet Cove. This season, the Eagles' new football conference includes a bunch of schools they hardly know, including the aforementioned Glen Rose, Centerpoint, and Magnet Cove. "We've got Bismarck and Jessieville, too," second-year coach Jeff Weaver said. "The AAA (Arkansas Activities Association) chose to put us in a new league that will see us playing a bunch of new teams. " Weaver led Paris to a 10-2 record in 2021, the most wins for the school since going 10-3 in 2012. In fact, since 1994, the school has had but three 10-win seasons. Paris is staying in the 3A-4, while longtime conference foe Booneville will shift into a league with River Valley foes Charleston, Hackett, Cedarville, Mansfield and Lavaca, while contending with longtime Greenland coach Lee Larkin's Pirates and the Rodney Selph-coached West Fork Tigers. REECE MERECHKA SCHOOL Charleston POSITION WR/CB CLASS Junior HEIGHT 5-8 WEIGHT 140 TWITTER HANDLE @ReeseMerechka2 THE DIGITS Caught 30 passes for 463 yards and 4 touchdowns. Also rushed for 420 yards and six TDs. FAVORITE CLASS English FAVORITE PREGAME MEAL Anything with Bananas I LISTEN TO Rap I BINGE WATCH Stranger Things I'M TERRIFIED OF Snakes I WOULD NEVER, EVER Scuba Dive I DRIVE 'An old car' MY HERO IS Dad (Matt) WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT FOOTBALL IS Friday Night environment IN 10 YEARS I WILL Successful Businessman • Homemade Brick Oven Pizza • Home of the Uncle Roman Stuffed Pizza Pie We support Golden Arrow football! 627 W. Main Street Lavaca 479-674-2300 steffeyspizza.com Rylen Ray | Booneville File Photo