Football conferences will be shuffled a bit next season with El Dorado moving from the 6A-West to the 6A-East, home of 2019 champion Searcy. The Wildcats released next year’s schedule, which unveiled a familiar non-conference foe in Magnolia.
“I am looking forward to this re-alignment because of the familiarity of opponents. I coached in the 6A-East just three seasons ago and most of the staffs are still the same,” said El Dorado coach Steven Jones. “This conference, much like the 6A-West, will have great competition and that means we have a lot of fun Fridays ahead. We are excited about 2020.”
The Wildcats and Sheridan move to the East to reunite with Pine Bluff. Jonesboro, Marion, West Memphis, Searcy and Sylvan Hills are also new conference foes.
El Dorado struggled to a 4-7 season with a road-heavy schedule in 2019. The travel tables will turn next season. The non-conference schedule could also be more favorable with a pair of 5A opponents, instead of two 7A foes like last year.
"We have six home games next season, so from a travel standpoint, we are excited about that. We start the season with Camden Fairview and Cabot coming to us,” said Jones. “We are playing Magnolia again. Coach Mark King and I agreed that it is a great game for both schools and communities. We felt that it was important to bring back that local game. We will play later than usual. Magnolia fit best Week 3 instead of the spot previously occupied by Conway (Week Zero).”