Fayetteville ready for top challenger from central Arkansas

Did you hear about the exciting game at War Memorial Stadium last week that drew over 30,000 fans and wasn’t decided until the final play?

Arkansas vs. Florida A&M? Not hardly.

Two days after the Razorbacks ran over a highly inferior opponent, Bryant defeated Benton 49-42 in a high school game that drew 32,123 fans. The crowd was only about 4,000 less than the fans who showed up for the Razorbacks’ rent-a-win against the Rattlers.

Bryant now faces Fayetteville in an early-season showdown of top-ranked teams in Class 7A. Bryant is ranked No. 2 and Fayetteville No. 3 after beating Blue Springs, Mo., in the coaching debut for Billy Dawson, who led Russellville to a state championship last year.

I heard Rex Nelson say on his statewide radio scoreboard show that Bryant should be No. 1 and Fayetteville No. 4 in Class 7A. That’s a curious assessment, considering Fayetteville is the defending state champion and teams from Northwest Arkansas have won every state championship in Arkansas’ largest classification since 2005.

Bryant is certainly capable of winning big games after finishing 9-4 last season. Just ask Springdale Har-Ber, which lost 23-16 at home to the Hornets in a semifinal game last season.

Bryant has a standout quarterback in Ren Hefley, who completed 14 of 19 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns against Benton. Fayetteville is reloading after losing its top stars from last year, including three players who signed with Missouri.

There won’t be 32,000 fans at Harmon Field, but the stands will be packed for an exciting game between two teams that could meet again in the playoffs. Fayetteville rarely loses at home anymore, especially to teams from central Arkansas.

RICK’S PICK Fayetteville Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).

CLASS 7A

Little Rock Central at BENTONVILLE WEST

Bentonville at BIXBY, OKLA.

Van Buren at FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE

Fort Smith Southside at GREENWOOD

CLAREMORE, OKLA. at Rogers High

RUSSELLVILLE at Rogers Heritage

Alma at SPRINGDALE SPRINGDALE HAR-BER at Jeff City, Mo.

CLASS 6A

Siloam Springs at HARRISON

CLASS 5A

OZARK at Clarksville Huntsville at FARMINGTON

CLASS 4A

Decatur at GENTRY BOONEVILLE at Gravette Keys, Okla., at LINCOLN Vian, Okla., at PRAIRIE GROVE

LITTLE ROCK CHRISTIAN at Shiloh Christian

Cedarville at WALDRON

CLASS 3A

Subiaco Academy at LAMAR

GREENLAND at Mansfield DARDANELLE at Paris West Fork at ELKINS PIERCE CITY, Mo. at Green Forest

CLASS 2A

Lavaca at DANVILLE HACKETT at Mountainburg Last Week: 14-9 (61 percent)

Rick Fires can be reached at rfires@nwadg.com or on Twitter @NWARick.