Top 10 capsules
A look at tonight’s season-opening games featuring teams ranked in the overall top 10.
NO. 1 BRYANT VS. BENTON
WHEN 7 p.m. Saturday
WHERE War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock
COACHES Bryant: Buck James; Benton: Brad Harris
RECORDS Season opener for both NOTEWORTHY Bryant has won 30 consecutive games during its three-year title run in Class 7A. … Benton hasn’t beaten its Saline County rivals in the Salt Bowl since 2005. The Panthers also beat the Hornets in the playoffs that same season. … James is 56-8 at Bryant while Harris is 40-22 at Benton. … The Hornets rolled 48-7 in last year’s game. … The Panthers are off next week but return on Sept. 10 against Little Rock Southwest. Bryant hosts Marion.
NO. 2 BENTONVILLE VS. LIBERTY NORTH (MO.)
WHEN 7 p.m.
WHERE Tiger Stadium, Bentonville COACHES Bentonville: Jody Grant; Liberty North: Greg Jones
RECORDS Season opener for both NOTEWORTHY The two teams were scheduled to play last year in Bentonville, but Liberty North was forced to cancel after its conference wouldn’t allow it to travel to an out-of-state opponent. … Bentonville has won 14 of the previous 15 7A-West Conference titles and owns a 32-game winning streak over league opponents. … Tigers wide receiver Chase Nimrod has committed to Tennessee. … Bentonville plays another Missouri team, Kansas City Rockhurst, on Sept. 10.
NO. 3 CABOT AT SEARCY
WHEN 7 p.m.
WHERE Lion Stadium, Searcy COACHES Cabot: Scott Reed; Searcy: Zak Clark
RECORDS Season opener for both NOTEWORTHY Clark spent the previous five seasons as head coach at Springdale (where he went 26-39) but was hired at Searcy in May for Kenny Simpson, who left at one season. Clark is the team’s third head coach in three years. … Reed has been the coach at Cabot since 2018. … The Panthers rolled to a 35-18 victory over the Lions last season. … Searcy brings a five-game losing streak into this year’s matchup.
NO. 5 CONWAY AT NO. 7 FAYETTEVILLE
WHEN 7 p.m.
WHERE Harmon Field, Fayetteville COACHES Conway: Keith Fimple; Fayetteville: Casey Dick
RECORDS Season opener for both NOTEWORTHY Conway’s 38-21 victory started a season-opening, four-game losing streak for Fayetteville last year. … Dick is in his third season with the Bulldogs, who return 15 starters. … Fayetteville wide receiver Isaiah Sategna originally committed to Texas A&M but has since decided to attend Oregon next year. Kaiden Turner, a hard-hitting linebacker and running back for the Bulldogs, committed to Indiana. … Conway averaged 42 points per game in 2020.
NO. 6 PULASKI ACADEMY AT JOE T. ROBINSON
WHEN 7 p.m.
WHERE Charlie George Stadium, Little Rock
COACHES Pulaski Academy: Anthony Lucas; Joe T. Robinson: Todd Eskola RECORDS Season opener for both NOTEWORTHY The two teams went back and forth last season until Pulaski Academy created some separation in the second half to take a 48-35 victory. … The game is the first as head coach for Lucas, who was promoted when Kevin Kelley left to take over at Presbyterian College. … Eskola led Robinson to the 2019 Class 4A state title. … Pulaski Academy running back Joe Himon has committed to Northwestern while Robinson lineman E’Marion Harris has pledged to play at the University of Arkansas.
NO. 9 LAKE HAMILTON VS. HOT SPRINGS LAKESIDE
WHEN 7 p.m.
WHERE Wolf Stadium, Pearcy COACHES Lake Hamilton; Tommy Gilleran; Hot Springs Lakeside; Jared McBride
RECORDS Season opener for both NOTEWORTHY Lake Hamilton also won the 2020 battle, 31-17, on Lakeside’s home turf. … The Wolves advanced to last season’s Class 6A state championship game – their first such trip to the final since 2011. … Lakeside has won four league titles in seven years, including the past two 5A-South crowns. … McBride is 71-50 during his tenure with the Rams. He joined the program in 2010.
NO. 10 LITTLE ROCK CHRISTIAN VS. LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL
WHEN 7 p.m.
WHERE Warrior Field, Little Rock COACHES Little Christian Christian: Eric Cohu; Little Rock Central: George Shelton RECORDS Season opener for both NOTEWORTHY The game is the first at Little Rock Central for Shelton, who took over for Kent Laster in March. Shelton led Dumas to the Class 4A quarterfinals last season in his only year with the school. … Cohu is beginning his fifth season at Little Rock Christian. … The Warriors pulled away to win last year’s game 5735 after trailing 35-30 at the start of the fourth quarter. … Both teams will play at home next week before taking to the road. NOTE No. 4 Greenwood and No. 8 North Little Rock are off.