Zero Week gets kicks in earlier

Today marks the earliest opening day of high school football season in Arkansas, thanks to the new Zero Week addition to the schedule.

This week, 48 games are scheduled to be played involving Arkansas high school football teams from today through Saturday, with Wednesday being the only off day.

Little Rock McClellan and Pine Bluff Dollarway kick off the 2018 season at 5 p.m. today at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, with Nashville and Watson Chapel scheduled for 7:30 p.m., or about 30 minutes after the McClellan-Dollarway game.

McClellan Coach Maurice Moody, who led the Crimson Lions to their second Class

5A state championship game in three seasons last year, is glad his team is one of the first to open the season.

“The matchup is going to be phenomenal,” Moody said. “I can’t wait for Monday night.”

The Arkansas Activities Association’s governing body passed a proposal in 2016 that added an extra week to the high school football regular-season schedule. Schools have four weeks to play three nonconference games.

States neighboring Arkansas that have a Zero Week in their football schedule include Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri.

Warren, the defending 8-4A Conference champions and Class 4A state runner-up last season, faces Southside Batesville at noon

Saturday in the second game of a doubleheader at North Little Rock High School. Bauxite takes on Conway Christian at 10 a.m. in the first game.

Lumberjacks Coach Bo Hembree will have his team play a week earlier than usual. He said because of his team’s offseason plan, he’s not concerned with the early start date.

“Football is pretty much year-round except for three to four weeks,” said Hembree, who referenced the AAA’s two-week dead period and Christmas break. “We’ve been going every day since July 9. If we actually started July 31, it would be bad because we wouldn’t be conditioned. But we’ve been able to work with our kids in the summer.”

Greenwood, the defending Class 6A state champion, will open its season with a pair of road games at nearby Fort Smith Northside (Aug. 31) and Fort Smith Southside (Sept. 7).

Bulldogs Coach Rick Jones, who was hoping to schedule a Zero Week game but couldn’t find an opponent, is in favor of Zero Week, especially for Northwest Arkansas schools.

“I think it’s a great thing, especially for those teams that are close to the border because it gives them some flexibility,” Jones said. “Flexibility is a big thing.”

While Nashville Coach Mike Volarvich is wanting to play in Zero Week, he would like to have extra practice time for teams that do play during that week. Teams began fall practice on July 30.

“I think the teams that start Zero Week should be able to practice a week earlier,” Volarvich said. “Whether it is like, hey, 20-22 practices like they do at the collegiate level, everybody starts however many days before their first game. What it has done is cut down our fall camp.

“Most teams will play Friday of Zero Week. But we’re playing Monday of Zero Week. I lose two weeks of practice compared to our next opponent, Hope, who’ll have a month of practice before their first game. [Nashville plays Hope on Aug. 31].

“That’s going to be tough. But on the flip side of it, we also have 11 days until our second game. It does give you a little bit of time to go back and reflect on your mistakes and correct those things. There are good things I like about it. If I had to go back, I’d do it all over again. It’s going to be good.”

One thing Zero Week has brought to the state is marquee matchups.

For the first time since 2011, Pulaski Academy will play a Class 7A opponent. The four-time defending Class 5A state champions head to Springdale Har-Ber on Friday in what is one of the most anticipated games of Zero Week.

“I think they’re really, really good,” said Bruins Coach Kevin Kelley, whose last 7A opponent was Cabot.

“I’m so glad to be playing a team like that in-state to kick off Zero Week. I think it’s pretty cool.”

“I think it’s a great thing, especially for those teams that are close to the border because it gives them some flexibility. Flexibility is a big thing.”

— Greenwood Coach Rick Jones on Zero Week

Moody