Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
TODAY’S GAMES
Alma at Springdale High
Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Alma 0-1. Springdale 2-0.
ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed on the Springdale Public School website.
BETWEEN THE LINES Alma opened the season last week falling to Van Buren 48-33. Springdale comes into the game after rallying past Little Rock Parkview. … Alma’s Grayson Bailey caught five passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns last week. … Airedale quarterbacks Landon Blair and Tanner Shelton combined to go 11-of 24 for 238 yards. … Springdale quarterback Grant Allen led the Bulldogs to a come-from-behind win, hitting Brock Pounders on a game-winning pass to Brock Pounders with two minutes left. … In two starts, Allen is 23-of-34 for 429 yards and four touchdowns. … Pounders has 10 catches for 239 yards and two TDs. … Bulldogs senior Garrett Vaughan has 52 carries for 319 yards and seven touchdowns.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Alma — QB Landon Blair (Jr., 6-0, 228), QB Tanner Shelton (Sr., 6-2, 188), WR Grayson Bailey (Jr., 6-2, 174), WR Bobby Winfrey (Jr., 6-3, 194). Springdale — LB Christion Wise (Sr., 5-10, 170), LB Tray Tolbert (Sr., 5-11, 210), RB Garrett Vaughan (Sr., 5-10, 165), WR Brock Pounders (Sr., 5-8, 160), QB Grant Allen (Sr., 6-0, 180).
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Alma is No. 8 in Class 5A; Springdale is No. 7 in Class 7A.
HOOTEN’S LINE Springdale by 15 OUR TAKE Springdale 34, Alma 28
Fort Smith Northside at Van Buren
Blakemore Field KICKOFF 7 p.m. RECORDS Fort Smith Northside 2-0. Van Buren 1-0. ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed on the Fort Smith Schools app.
BETWEEN THE LINES Northside is 2-0 after a huge 31-16 home win last week against Greenwood. … Van Buren ended a 14-game losing streak last week in a 48-33 win against Alma. … The Grizzlies’ defense smothered Greenwood in the second half last week, limiting the Bulldogs to three second-half field goals. … Northside running back Eli Bolton rushed for 106 yards on 10 carries and scored a touchdown. … Quarterback Derrick Wise rushed for 95 yards and a score and was 3-of-7 for 77 yards and another touchdown. … Van Buren quarterbacks Christian Morrow was 21-of-32 for 219 yards and a touchdown, and Gary Phillips was 3-of-3 for 75 yards and two touchdowns. … Brayden Rivas rushed for 162 yards on 20 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Northside — RB Eli Bolton (Sr., 5-7, 178), QB Derrick Wise (Sr., 5-11, 186), OL Stevie Young (Sr., 6-5, 295), LB Anthony Travis (Sr., 6-2, 210), DB Greg Washington (Sr., 6-0, 185). Van Buren — QB Christian Morrow (Sr., 5-11, 190), RB Brayden Rivas (Jr., 5-6, 162), TE Logan Humphreys (Sr., 6-5, 230). HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Northside is No. 9 in Class 7A.
Van Buren is No. 13.
HOOTEN’S LINE Northside by 7.
OUR TAKE Fort Smith Northside 28, Van Buren 24.
Greenwood at Fort Smith Southside
Jim Rowland Stadium KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Greenwood 0-1. Fort Smith Southside 1-0. ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed on the Fort Smith schools app.
BETWEEN THE LINES Greenwood comes in off a 3116 loss to Fort Smith Northside, ending a 14-game win streak. … Southside rolled over Bentonville West 44-31 last week. … Greenwood senior QB Peyton Holt was 16-of-29 for 209 yards last week. … The Bulldogs were held to three field goals in the second half. … Southside RB Ricardo Savoy exploded for 242 yards on 17 carries and scored three touchdowns for the Mavericks. … Mavs senior quarterback Taye Gatewood was 12-of-16 for 170 yards and one score. … Tyrese Solomon caught six passes for 64 yards. … Linebacker Darin Davenport, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, had 14 tackles for the Mavericks.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Greenwood — QB Peyton Holt (Sr., 5-9, 175), WR Luke Leonard (Sr., 5-10, 155), LB Travis Cox (Sr., 5-10, 190), DB Logan Workman (Jr., 5-9, 136). Southside — RB Ricardo Savoy (Sr., 5-9, 150), QB Taye Gatewood (Sr., 6-2, 190), WR Tyrese Solomon (Sr., 5-10, 160), LB Darin Davenport (Sr., 6-2, 220).
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Greenwood is No. 2 in Class 6A. Southside is No. 6 in Class 7A.
HOOTEN’S LINE Greenwood by 1
OUR TAKE Fort Smith Southside 35, Greenwood 33
Springdale Har-Ber at Russellville
Cyclones Stadium KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Springdale Har-Ber 0-1. Russellville 1-0. ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed on the Springdale schools app.
BETWEEN THE LINES Har-Ber was mercy-ruled in its season-opener against Pulaski Academy 50-14. The Wildcats were off last week. … Russellville downed Morrilton 28-23 last week. … Har-Ber struggled offensively against Pulaski Academy, gaining fewer than 185 total yards. … The Cyclones rushed for 200 yards in the win, Kade England had 109 yards on 19 carries. … Brian Bonilla-Chavez had 14 tackles for the Cyclones. … Russellville intercepted three Morrilton passes. … Har-Ber quarterback Blaise Wittschen was 6-of-17 for 111 yards. … Junior receiver Hunter Wood caught three passes for 82 yards and one touchdown.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Har-Ber — QB Blaise Wittschen (Jr., 6-0, 170 ), WR Hunter Wood (Jr., 6-1, 180), RB J McGill (Sr., 5-11, 186), Ty Copher (Jr., 6-0, 155). Russellville — QB Rhett Adkins (Sr., 6-3, 195), RB Kade England (Sr., 5-10, 200), WR Jaidon Palmer (Sr., 6-0, 185), LB Brian Bonilla-Chavez (Sr., 5-10, 190).
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Har-Ber is No. 11 in Class 7A. Russellville is No. 6 in Class 6A.
HOOTEN’S LINE Russellville by 1.
OUR TAKE Springdale Har-Ber 24, Russellville 21 Ç :?@G JFLQ8 7EN8:?@G
Rogers High at Little Rock Central
Quigley Stadium KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Rogers High 0-1. Little Rock Central 1-1. ON THE AIR KURM-AM 790 and live-streamed at www.rogersmounties.com
BETWEEN THE LINES Rogers struggled to slow down Class 4A Pulaski Robinson in a 35-14 loss last week. … Running back Sammie Zamarron rushed for 110 yards on 23 carries, while quarterback Hunter Loyd threw for a touchdown and ran for another. … The Mounties were limited to just 159 total yards in the season-opener, but struggled with missed tackles and giving up big plays on third and fourth down. … Central used a two-quarterback system with Demarcus Yancy running and Lawson Gunn passing to earn its first win of the season. … The Tigers rolled up more than 500 yards of total offense, jumped to a 21-0 lead at Rogers Heritage and never looked back. PLAYERS TO WATCH Rogers — QB Hunter Loyd (Jr., 6-4, 190), TE Matthew Watson (Jr., 6-5, 215), OL R.J. Long (Jr., 6-2, 290), FB Casey Allred (Sr., 6-1, 215), OL Beau Zarate (Sr., 5-10, 275), WR/DB Wil Sims (Sr., 6-1, 170), WR Mason Ross (Jr., 5-10, 170), LB Tim Howard (Sr., 6-0, 190), DB/WR Coby Bailey (Jr., 6-0, 165). Little Rock Central — QB/WR Demarcus Yancy (Sr., 5-11, 185), OL Quintlyn Rogers (Sr., 6-4, 285), CB Jonathan Jones (Sr., 6-0, 165), CB Avont Harris (Sr., 5-9, 160), SS Keylin Holloway (Sr., 6-1, 198), RB Sam Franklin (So., 5-10, 165), QB Lawson Gunn (So., 6-0, 160).
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Rogers is No. 15 in Class 7A. Little Rock Central is No. 14.
HOOTEN’S LINE Little Rock Central by 10.
OUR TAKE Rogers High 28, Little Rock Central 21. Ç G8LC 9FP; 7EN8G8LC9
Bryant at Bentonville West
Wolverine Stadium, Centerton KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Bryant 1-0. Bentonville West 0-2.
ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed through bentonvillesportsnetwork.com. BETWEEN THE LINES This is the first meeting between the two schools. … Bryant won a shortened 28-14 decision over Benton in the annual Salt Bowl as play was stopped in the second half and never resumed. … Hornets RB LaTavion Scott, who rushed for 1,400 yards and 11 TDs last season, had 110 yards and two scores against Benton. … QB Ren Hefley threw for almost 1,900 yards and TDs last season, and he was 14 of 21 for 165 yards and 2 TDs in Bryant’s opener. … West currently has a four-game losing skid dating back to last season, its longest in school history. … The Wolverines will miss QB Will Jarrett for the second straight game after his injury in the season opener. Sophomore Dalton McDonald, who completed 16 of 23 passes for 270 yards last week, gets the start again. … WR Jadon Jackson’s status will be a game-time decision after he suffered an ankle injury last week. … RB Tyrese Smallwood has 213 yards and three TDs rushing, plus seven receptions for 138 yards and two scores.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Bryant — QB Ren Hefley (Sr., 6-2, 190), RB LaTavion Scott (Sr., 5-9, 200), OL Blaise Smith (Sr., 6-2, 290); DT Kajuan Robinson (Sr, 6-2, 305), DE Nate Wallace (Sr., 6-2, 260), CB Andrew Hayes (Sr., 5-11, 175). West — WR Jadon Jackson (Sr., 6-2, 175), RB Tyrese Smallwood (Sr., 5-8, 200), WR/DB Tucker Swoboda (Sr., 6-3, 175), LB Kendall Young (Sr., 6-5, 200), LB/RB Jonas Higson (Jr., 6-1, 205), PK/P Blake McDoulett (Sr., 5-10, 145). HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Bryant is No. 2 in Class 7A. West is No. 10.
HOOTEN’S LINE Bryant by 18.
OUR TAKE Bryant 45, Bentonville West 35. Ç ?<EIP 8GGC< 7EN8?<EIP
Harrison at Siloam Springs
Panther Stadium KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Harrison 2-0. Siloam Springs 1-0.
ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed; search Siloam Springs High School Athletics on YouTube.
BETWEEN THE LINES Harrison has blown out Pea Ridge (45-14) and Mountain Home (56-7) to open the season 2-0. … Siloam Springs won at Pryor, Okla., 38-21 in its season-opener. … The Goblins are averaging more than 540 yards of offense per game, led by junior running back Gabe Huskey (207 rushing yards, 299 passing yards). Goblins quarterback Ben Johnson has completed 21 of 31 passes for 507 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. … Siloam Springs running back Kaiden Thrailkill rushed for 123 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s win. … Quarterback Landon Ellis hit 7 of 12 passes for 139 yards and one TD — a 63-yard strike to Primo Agbehi on Panthers’ first offensive play of the year. … The fifth meeting in five years between the two teams. … Siloam Springs won in 2014 and 2015, while Harrison picked up victories in 2016 and 2017. PLAYERS TO WATCH Harrison — QB Ben Johnson (Jr., 6-0, 170 ), RB Gabe Huskey (Jr., 5-11, 170), LB Brooks Both (Jr., 6-0, 228), LB Bryant Ulrich (Jr., 5-11, 190), NG Hayden Vanderpool (Sr., 6-0, 290). Siloam Springs — QB Landon Ellis (Sr., 5-11, 174), RB/LB Kaiden Thrailkill (Sr., 5-10, 205), WR/CB Primo Agbehi (Sr., 5-9, 170), OL/DL Corbin Collins (6-2, 275), LB Chase Chandler (Sr., 5-11, 222).
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Har-Ber is No. 6 in Class 5A. Siloam Springs is No. 12 in Class 6A.
HOOTEN’S LINE Harrison by 16.
OUR TAKE Harrison 35, Siloam Springs 24 Ç >I8?8D K?FD8J 7EN8>I8?8D
Gravette at Farmington
Allen Holland Field KICKOFF 7 p.m. RECORDS Gravette 0-1. Farmington 1-0. ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed at pgtelco. com.
BETWEEN THE LINES Gravette anticipates a better performance after the Lions lost 44-7 to Cascia Hall in the debut for Lions coach Doug Greenwood. Greenwood came to Gravette from Jenks, Okla., where he was an assistant. …. Quarterback Tajae White scored the only touchdown for Gravette on a 70-yard run. … Farmington opened its season with a 33-30 victory over Prairie Grove. Senior Eric Hill threw two touchdown passes and ran for another to pace the Cardinals, who led 33-12 in the fourth quarter. … Senior Seth Swain also saw action at quarterback for Farmington …. Farmington will face three of its former opponents in the 4A-1 Conference before beginning 5A-West Conference play Sept. 21 at Clarksville. The Cardinals’ final non-conference game is Sept. 14 at Pea Ridge. PLAYERS TO WATCH Gravette — QB Tajae White (Sr., 5-7, 160), OL Beau Hamilton (Sr., 6-2, 245), OL/ DL Dakota Lemonds (Sr., 6-0, 200), OL Jarrod Barker (Sr., 6-5, 245), OL Aiden Patton (Sr., 6-5, 240), FB/ LB Colton Grimes (Sr., 5-11, 215), OLB/SS Mason Dagley (Jr., 5-9, 165). Farmington — QB Seth Swain (Sr., 6-0, 180), RB Reid Turner (Sr., 5-9, 165), QB Eric Hill (Sr., 5-9, 170), WR Drew Sturgeon (Sr., 5-10, 155), OT Jarek Broslavsky (Sr., 5-9, 210).
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Gravette is No. 34 in Class 4A. Farmington is No. 23 in Class 5A.
HOOTEN’S LINE Farmington by 14 OUR TAKE Farmington 45, Gravette 14 Ç I@:B =@I<J 7EN8I@:B