The Booneville Bearcat football program learned today they will be playing in Conference 4A-4 during the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
The conference landscape is anything but foreign to the Bearcat program as it was last a Conference 4a-4 member during the 2016 and 2017 seasons, winning a conference title in 2017.
“I’m looking forward to being back in the old 4A conference with some teams that we haven’t played in a while,” said Bearcat athletic director Josh Walker. “There should be some good games and bigger crowds which will create a great environment for our kids and community.”
They Bearcats are grouped together with Subiaco, Pottsville, Mena, Waldron, Dover, Lamar, and Ozark, the later of which is, of course, a longstanding fixture on the Bearcat football schedule.
"We know it's going to be a very big challenge but our coaches and kids are up for it," said Bearcat head coach Doc Crowley. "Obviously depth will be an issue with us losing 19 seniors to graduation, but we are looking forward to moving back into our old conference and seeing what we can do."
For the rest of the league the additions of the Bearcats and Subiaco are simply a replacement for Dardanelle, who is moving into Class 5A for the next cycle, and Clinton, who moves to the 4A-2..
The program records against the schools in the conference, ranked by winning percentage by the Bearcats, along with the last meeting result are:
Dover 12-0 (1.000), 41-2 in 2017 in 4A conference play
Lamar 7-1 (.875), 35-7 in 2019 in 3A conference play
Subiaco 32-6-1 (.833), 39-6 in 2017 in 4A conference play
Pottsville 8-2 (.800), 42-14 in 2019 in nonconference play
Waldron 60-17-4 (.765), 35-0 in 2017 in 4A conference play
Mena 43-19-1 (.690), 35-6 in 2021 in nonconference play
Ozark 56-28-4 (.659), 27-34 in 2025 in nonconference play
The move to Class 4A was not news as classification numbers were released during the summer.
Conference assignments were delayed until the completion of the 2025 season so that private schools could be officially slotted into classifications based upon the competitive equity factor. In Subiaco's case the Trojans are returning from playing non-sanctioned 8-man football.
The football Bearcats are making the move to Class 4A alone as all other sports will remain in Class 3A. Volleyball conference assignments were released in November and basketball and softball/baseball assignments will be made at the conclusion of those seasons.
