Wolves picked to win 5AAA

PRESCOTT – Once again the Prescott Curley Wolves are picked to win their conference.

The Wolves move to the 5AAA conference this year, with a few new teams mixed in, and some old foes gone, but a statewide publication has predicted Prescott to take the league.

Last year Prescott finished second in the conference with a 10-2 overall record and made it to the semifinals of the AAA state playoffs. This year the team returns five on both sides of the ball.

Though graduation hit the Wolves hard, Prescott returns plenty of talent at the skill positions, but is considered not to have an experienced quarterback, though Ryan Johnson has seen action under center. He brings something Prescott hasn’t had a lot of at the quarterback spot – height, at 6-6 he’s the tallest quarterback the Wolves have had in years.

Smackover is picked to finish second. The Buckaroos were third in the 6AAA last year with a 7-5 record and will enter the 2018 campaign under a new coach, Brian Brown. The team returns six from last year’s offense and seven from the defense. The Buckaroos should be solid at skill positions, but have unproven linebackers and a questionable secondary.

Camden Harmony Grove is expected to finish third. Last year the Hornets were tied for first in the 8AA with a 9-4 record. However, moving up into a AAA division is never easy. While the Hornets return seven from last year’s offense and eight from the defense and has college prospects at the skill positions, a young offensive line and moving up in class will be anything but easy.

Fouke is tabbed to finish fourth after posting a 6-5 record last year. The Panthers return six from the offense and seven from defense. While the players know the system and have good numbers, the Panthers linemen will be young as will be those at the skill positions.

Last year the Centerpoint Knights finished fourth in the conference, but are expected to finish fifth this year. The Knights posted a 6-5 record, and bring seven back from each side of the ball. The team is expected to be fast, but not big.

The Horatio Lions are picked to end the 2018 campaign in sixth place. The Lions had a 5-6 record last year, finishing tied for fourth. This year the team returns six from last year’s offense and seven from its defense. The Lions strength should be a large senior class, but the lack of team speed will be tough to overcome, especially in this conference.

Tabbed to finish seventh are the Genoa Central Dragons. Last year the Dragons were sixth with a 3-7 record. This year’s squad returns five from offense and four off the defense. The Dragons should have an experienced defense, but don’t have a proven quarterback or offensive line.

It should come as no surprise the Bismarck Lions are picked as cellar dwellers this year. Last year the Lions finished last in the league with a 2-8 record. This year the team brings back five from the offense and four from its defense. The Lions should have an experienced quarterback and solid receiving corps, but will be thin on both sides of the ball with a serious lack of depth and an unproven running back.