Har-Ber, Fayetteville playing for seeding instead of title

Oh, my. How quickly the pecking order has changed in the 7A-West.

At this time last year, Fayetteville and Springdale HarBer were battling for a conference championship while Bentonville West was trying to win enough games to make the playoffs.

Fast forward one year and Bentonville West is tied for the league lead while Har-Ber and Fayetteville are fighting for the third and fourth playoffs spots. Har-Ber (5-2, 2-2) and Fayetteville (3-4, 2-2) are each in need of a victory tonight when they meet at Harmon Field.

Fayetteville beat Rogers High and Rogers Heritage after losing four consecutive, while Har-Ber hast lost its last two after being ranked No. 1 in Class 7A. Har-Ber committed a combined eight turnovers in defeats to Bentonville High and Bentonville West and quarterback Grant Allen was sacked nine times in last week’s loss to the Wolverines. Fayetteville has the homefield advantage tonight, but the Bulldogs were also at home when they lost backto-back games in overtime earlier in the year. This game could go down to the finals minutes like many of the previous matchups between HarBer (5-2, 2-2) and Fayetteville (3-4, 2-2).

Remember the dramatic finish seven years at Harmon Field?

Fayetteville fans were sure their team had won after the Bulldogs took a 51-48 with 17 seconds left. But Shawn Sayarinh returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown to give Har-Ber the victory.

Har-Ber appears to be the better team this year. But the Wildcats must do a much better job of protecting the football against a Fayetteville team that can pile up points.

RICK’S PICK Springdale Har-Ber

Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).

CLASS 7A

Rogers Heritage at BENTONVILLE WEST BENTONVILLE at Rogers Van Buren at SPRINGDALE

LITTLE ROCK CATHOLIC at Fort Smith Southside Fort Smith Northside at NORTH LITTLE ROCK

CLASS 6A

GREENWOOD at Benton Siloam Springs at EL DORADO

CLASS 5A

MAUMELLE at Farmington

ALMA at Harrison

CLASS 4A

Gentry at PRAIRIE GROVE GRAVETTE at Huntsville PEA RIDGE at Berryville Lincoln at SHILOH CHRISTIAN

DARDANELLE at Booneville DOVER at West Fork

CLASS 3A

Green Forest at GREENLAND

ELKINS at Melbourne Lamar at CEDARVILLE Two Rivers at PARIS Atkins at CHARLESTON

CLASS 2A

Mountainburg at HACKETT

Decatur at WESTERN YELL COUNTY LAST WEEK 23-4 (85 percent) OVERALL 137-36 (79 percent) Rick Fires can be reached at rfires@nwadg.com or on Twitter @NWARick.