2A Breakout Team Candidate: Baptist Prep Eagles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Class 2A, grit and health often define the postseason chase. Head Coach Riley Perkins is expected to have his best roster this fall after development and overcoming adversity last season. The Baptist Prep Eagles are generating serious preseason buzz as a team primed for a major step forward in 2026. Coming off a 3-7 overall record (2-5 in conference) in 2025, the Eagles enter the new season with elevated expectations, highlighted by incoming transfers, a new defensive coordinator, and star players returning, such as wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1473198' first='Aaron' last='Fielder']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expectations center on a significantly improved win total, a push for the conference title or top seed, and a deep playoff run. The program's emphasis on academics and faith adds an intangible edge that often translates to resilience on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Eagles to Watch:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1598429"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a57c30d89068"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1598429' first='Titus' last='Benson'] is an extremely athletic quarterback who's coachable on and off the field. Benson displays good pocket mobility and awareness, which allows him to evade pressure effectively. Benson shows solid velocity on his throws, enabling him to fit the ball into tight windows. Keep an eye on him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/bensonbtitus/status/2075314524987564119?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/bensonbtitus/status/2075314524987564119?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1473198"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a57c30d8910e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1473198' first='Aaron' last='Fielder'], their top playmaker returning, who did it all last season at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. He'll get to move to wide receiver full-time with the incoming transfers. He is a smooth and fluent route runner. Strong hands, good hand-eye coordination, ball tracking, and body control to adjust mid-route, catch vs. contest, or dominate the red zone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/AaronFielder27/status/2066682140352184770?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/AaronFielder27/status/2066682140352184770?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2248660"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a57c30d89192"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2248660' first='Connor' last='Moore'] is going to open up some eyes this fall. Moore is a versatile prospect for the Eagles, where he lines up off the edge/defensive end and even moves him inside every now and then to utilize his quickness and length to create early penetration. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ConnorMoore2028/status/2076033233674797482?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ConnorMoore2028/status/2076033233674797482?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MORE TO MONITOR</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 TE [player_tooltip player_id='1597783' first='Boaz' last='Benson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='2248664' first='Andrew' last='Green']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 LB [player_tooltip player_id='2248663' first='Joseph' last='Somerville']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 DB [player_tooltip player_id='2099410' first='Joshua' last='Eaves']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT'S NEXT?</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baptist Prep represents the best of small-school Arkansas football: a tight-knit community, strong academics, and now legitimate on-field potential. After years of developing, the Eagles appear ready to turn the page. 2026 could mark the beginning of a new era for Baptist Prep football -- one where the Eagles soar higher than ever before in Class 2A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->