Bryant is back in the Class 7A state championship game in part because of its first-year starting quarterback.
Junior Austin Ledbetter, who has orally committed to the University of Arkansas to play baseball, is thriving for the Hornets (12-0), who face North Little Rock (8-4) on Friday night in the Class 7A state championship game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Ledbetter, 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, has completed 184 of 296 passes for 3,126 yards with 40 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. His best game arguably was Bryant's 42-7 7A-Central Conference championship clinching victory at Conway when he went 31-of-40 passing for 396 yards with 6 touchdowns and 1 interception.