Publication picks Panthers to finish sixth

Image submitted The Siloam Springs football team is predicted to finish sixth in the 6A-West by the conference coaches according to the 2018 Hooten's Arkansas Football.
Image submitted The Siloam Springs football team is predicted to finish sixth in the 6A-West by the conference coaches according to the 2018 Hooten's Arkansas Football.

The Siloam Springs football team is picked to finish sixth in the 6A-West Conference for the 2018 season, according to a conference coaches poll in the 2018 edition of Hooten's Arkansas Football.

The predicted finish is the highest for the Panthers in several years. Siloam Springs has been picked to finish either seventh or eighth in its conference for each of the last eight seasons.

But expectations appear to be higher this season for the Panthers, who are under new leadership in first-year head coach Brandon Craig.

Siloam Springs is featured in a two-page spread in the 26th annual edition of the guide, which retails for $16.99 and can be found locally in town at Walmart, Walgreens and Harps.

Defending 6A champion Greenwood is picked to win the 6A-West, followed by Benton, El Dorado, Russellville and Lake Hamilton. Siloam Springs is sixth with Sheridan picked seventh and Little Rock Hall eighth.

In the Hootens.com state rankings -- selected by the Hootens staff -- Siloam Springs is ranked No. 12 out of 16 teams in Class 6A. Pine Bluff is ranked No. 1, followed by Greenwood, Benton, West Memphis, El Dorado, Russellville, Jonesboro, Searcy, Lake Hamilton, Marion and Sylvan Hills. Siloam Springs is in front of Jacksonville, Sheridan, Mountain Home and Little Rock Hall.

Siloam Springs did not have any representatives on the 22-member 2018 6A Super Team, however, seniors Landon Ellis (quarterback), Kaiden Thrailkill (running back), Corbin Collins (lineman) and Chase Chandler (linebacker) were listed as "Unheralded Stars." Another player, Tito Mendoza, is incorrectly listed as an Unheralded Star of Siloam Springs. Mendoza plays at Sylvan Hills.

The 432-page book has a team preview of every high school team in the state and offers college previews and features as well.

Hooten's high school favorites to win it all in 2018 are North Little Rock in Class 7A, Pine Bluff in Class 6A, Pulaski Academy in Class 5A, Warren in Class 4A, Booneville in Class 3A and Foreman in Class 2A.

Hooten's picks the rebuilding Razorbacks to finish seventh in the SEC West in first-year head coach Chad Morris' debut season in Fayetteville. An extensive feature on Morris also is available in the guide.

Alabama is tabbed to win the SEC West, followed by Auburn, LSU, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Arkansas. Georgia is picked to win the SEC Eastern Division, followed by South Carolina, Missouri, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

Arkansas State is ranked second in the Sun Belt and 65th nationally. Appalachian State is picked to win the Sun Belt.

The Alabama Crimson Tide are Hooten's preseason No. 1 team, followed by Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia and Wisconsin.

Ouachita Baptist is picked to win the Great American Conference, followed by Harding, Southern Arkansas, Henderson State and Arkansas Tech.

The book is published annually by Hooten Publishing Inc., of Benton.

Sports on 07/08/2018