Big names, big programs: the talented and the tradition-rich tangle in first kickoff classic.

Can you ask for much better than this to kick off the 2009 Arkansas high school football season?

The state's highest profile recruit, Little Rock Christian running back Michael Dyer, is here.

Two of Arkansas's likely very high recruits for next season, Fayetteville's Brandon Allen and Demetrius Dean, are here.

A regular contender for the 4A classification state title, and a 6A team coached by one of the state's best--rivals separated by 45 miles--are here.

The state's most tradition-rich program, Little Rock Central, with more state titles and more success over a century, is here.

Seven of the eight teams competing over the two days were state playoff teams in 2008.

Let's line 'em up and play.

The first Arkansas High School Football Kickoff Classic, presented by ArkansasSports360.com and KABZ-FM, 103.7 The Buzz, was just a dream in a few minds a year ago, but it is a reality this week at War Memorial Stadium.

Eight teams all enter with a wide range of hopes, some for a state championship, others to regain recently lost glory. Four teams will leave the week 1-0 and off on their way in 2009.

"We already work very hard on our local shows to focus attention on high school sports across the state on our local shows and some of our special sports programming in the evenings. This two-day event gives us another chance to showcase the prep talent in the state including some of the top recruits in all of Arkansas," Justin Acri, program director of 103.7 The Buzz, said. "Any time we get a chance to make these players and coaches feel special and be part of a great event at a great venue like War Memorial Stadium, we want to take advantage.

"In addition, the games will be a great financial boost to the home teams that are involved, it is a first year event and I hope a lot of these team's fans as well as high school football fans in general will turn out in large numbers to support these young people."

Dyer, the heralded recruit who has starred for three seasons at Little Rock Christian, will be on display Tuesday night in the wrap-up game of the four-game extravaganza. Dyer and the Warriors play Pulaski Oak Grove, which produced two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden.

On the front end of the Kickoff Classic, on Monday, Fayetteville's Allen and Dean, who figure to be the most talked about pass-and-catch combo these next two years, tangle with Little Rock Central and legendary, Hall of Fame coach Bernie Cox. Central hopes to have better luck with fewer injuries in 2009 after a disastrous 2008. The Tigers get Blake James back in their lineup after the defensive star, who was one of the rare Tigers to ever start as a ninth grader, missed last season with a knee injury. James has committed to join Georgia State's fledgling football program led by Bill Curry.

Dollarway, last year's 4A runner-up, and Central Arkansas Christian, which produced current Hogs D.J. Williams and Joe Adams, have tangled before in season-opening classics and likely will reprise those matchups that have come down to the wire.

Warren has reached the state title game three times in the past eight years, winning two state championships under coach Bo Hembree (99-17 career coaching mark). George Shelton, who was mentored by former Pine Bluff coach Marion Glover and turned around programs at Augusta and Dollarway, quickly got the attention of his Watson Chapel Wildcats, guiding them to the 6A playoff semifinals in 2008. Those teams, who met in Pine Bluff last year with Warren winning 54-16, tangle again in the first game on Tuesday.

Warren has one of the state's top senior quarterbacks in Hayden Smith and regularly sends receivers on to Division I schools. Hembree's style of offense, a multiple spread, has changed the way the game is played in southeast Arkansas.

Hembree has been here before, opening the season at War Memorial Stadium. While giving up a home game to play the opener in Little Rock, the veteran coach jumped at the opportunity.

"It was something new," he said of the Kickoff Classic. "We've played in the Hootens Classic before, up there and also in Pine Bit to start the season. Justin [Acri, of KABZ] asked if we'd come in and I immediately said yes, and we're excited about it. It's something different for the kids and our fans. Playing at War Memorial Stadium is always great. It's where you want to end the season [in the state final]. Hopefully we can start and end the season there. Our kids love playing in that atmosphere."

THE GAMES

Monday, Aug. 31

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

5 p.m.

FAYETTEVILLE (7A-West, 5-6 in 2008) vs. LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL (7A-Central, 0-10 in 2008)

Tuesday, Sept. 1

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

5 p.m.

WATSON CHAPEL (6A-South, 6-6-1 in 2008) vs. WARREN (4A-8, 10-2 in 2008)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

7:30 p.m.

DOLLARWAY (4A-8, 10-4 * in 2008) vs. CAC (5A-West, 5-5 in 2008)

*-(record on field; forfeitures changed mark to 6-8)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

7:30 p.m.

OAK GROVE (4A-7, 7-4 in 2008) vs. LR CHRISTIAN (5A-Southwest, 7-4 in 2008)

ARKANSAS SPORTS
360.com

Top 10

7A

1. Bentonville
2. Fayetteville
3. Springdale Har-Ber
4. Cabot
5. Little Rock Catholic
6. North Little Rock
7. Fort Smith Southside
8. Russellville
9. Fort Smith Northside
10. Bryant

6A

1. Pine Bluff
2. El Dorado
3. Lake Hamilton
4. West Memphis
5. Jonesboro
6. Watson Chapel
7. Texarkana
8. Little Rock Parkview
9. Jacksonville
10. Mountain Home

5A

1. Greenwood
2. Helena-West Helena
3. Monticello
4. Camden Fairview
5. Alma
6. White Hall
7. Pulaski Academy
8. Little Rock Christian
9. Batesville
10. Magnolia

4A

1. Shiloh Christian
2. Warren
3. De Queen
4. Dumas
5. Osceola
6. Nashville
7. Booneville
8. Stuttgart
9. Newport
10. Heber Springs

3A

1. Charleston
2. Camden Harmony Grove
3. Earle
4. Fountain Lake
5. Lamar
6. Rison
7. Harding Academy
8. Glen Rose
9. Harrisburg
10. Cave City

2A

1. Junction City
2. Bearden
3. Des Arc
4. Mineral Springs
5. Smackover
6. Strong
7. Mount Ida
8. Hazen
9. East Poinsett County
10. Carlisle