Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
PREP FOOTBALL: WEEK 8 MATCHUPS
CLASS 7A
Springdale High at Fayetteville
Harmon Stadium KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Springdale 6-1, 3-1 7A-West; Fayetteville 5-2, 2-2.
ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed on both teams’ mobile app. The game is also broadcast at FM 99.5.
BETWEEN THE LINES Springdale is off to its best start since the undefeated state champion team of 2005, coached by current Auburn coach Gus Malzahn and Parade Magazine Player of the Year Mitch Mustain at quarterback. … Fayetteville led 20-17 at Bentonville last week before giving up a touchdown with 47 seconds left. The Purple’Dogs also missed two field goals. … Springdale struggled in a 37-27 win at Rogers last week, not securing the win until Jujuan Boyd returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown with just over two minutes left. … The game will feature two of the state’s top quarterbacks in Grant Allen of Springdale and Darius Bowers for Fayetteville. Allen has passed for 2,000 yards and Bowers, who missed two games with a knee injury, has passed for 1,200 yards without an interception. … Fayetteville has won nine straight games in this series that dates back to 1908. Springdale’s last win was in 2008, 55-27. … Springdale senior running back Garrett Vaughan leads Class 7A in rushing with 878 yards and 12 touchdowns. … Fayetteville WRs Connor Flannigan (56-888) and Beau Stuckey (39-715) are No. 1 and No. 3 in Class 7A receiving, and Springdale’s Brock Pounders (46-791) is No. 2. … Springdale is No. 1 in team offense, averaging 466.4 yards per game and Fayetteville is No. 2 at 449.3. The teams are about even in total defense.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Springdale — QB Grant Allen (Sr., 6-1, 180), RB Garrett Vaughan (Sr., 5-10, 180), WR Brock Pounders (Sr., 5-8, 160), DB Jujuan Boyd (Jr., 5-11, 170), WR Jaden Cornelius (Sr., 6-1, 180), LB Chops Sanders (Sr., 6-3, 215). Fayetteville — QB Darius Bowers (Sr., 6-3, 194), WR Connor Flannigan (Jr., 5-10, 165), WR Beau Stuckey (Jr., 5-11, 175), LB Quade Mosier (Jr., 6-2, 210), DL Keondre Conley (Sr., 6-3, 245), DL Marcus Tortorello (Sr., 5-11, 230), DL Coleman Johnson (Sr., 6-1, 225). HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Springdale is No. 8 in Class 7A. Fayetteville is No. 6. HOOTEN’S LINE Fayetteville by 7. OUR TAKE Fayetteville 34, Springdale 31. — CHIP SOUZA • @NWACHIP
North Little Rock at FS Northside
Mayo-Thompson Stadium KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS North Little Rock 7-0, 4-0 7A-Central; Northside 5-2, 2-2.
ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed on the Grizzlies’ mobile app.
BETWEEN THE LINES North Little Rock has won 32 straight regular season games and 20 straight overall after crushing Little Rock Catholic 49-17 last week. … Northside led Conway 21-7 last week, but surrendered 28 straight points in a 35-21 loss. … North Little Rock has three players with more than 500 rushing yards, led by Brandon Thomas with 837. Tyler Day has rushed for 736 and Oscar Adaway has 522. Adaway is also the team’s leading receiver with 21 catches for 371 yards. … Northside is averaging 360 yards per game and allowing just 261. … Northside senior quarterback Derrick Wise is 53 of 73 passing for 989 yards and 10 touchdowns, and has rushed for 567 yards and 7 touchdowns. …
PLAYERS TO WATCH North Little Rock — QB Kareame Cotton (So., 6-1, 185), RB Tyler Day (Sr., 6-3, 225), RB Brandon Thomas (Jr., 5-11, 194), RB Oscar Adaway (Sr., 6-0, 205). Northside — Derrick Wise (Sr., 5-11, 186), RB Eli Bolton (Sr., 5-7, 178), RB Demarion Shepard (Jr., 5-9, 173), DE Raytel One (Sr., 6-2, 235), OL Stevie Young (6-4, 295).
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS North Little Rock is No. 1 in Class 7A. Northside is No. 7.
HOOTEN’S LINE North Little Rock by 18.
OUR TAKE North Little Rock 38,
Northside 21. — CHIP SOUZA • @NWACHIP
FS Southside at LR Catholic
War Memorial Stadium KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS FS Southside 2-5, 1-3 7A Central; LR Catholic 4-3, 1-3.
ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed on the Mavericks’ mobile app.
BETWEEN THE LINES Southside jumped to an early lead last week against Bryant, but the Mavericks could not sustain the momentum in a 31-14 loss. … Catholic was the latest victim of the North Little Rock demolition machine in a 49-17 loss. … Southside has played well offensively, averaging 374 yards per game, but the Mavericks are allowing 440 yards per game on defense. … Southside quarterback Taye Gatewood is 89 of 167 passing for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns and has rushed for 448 yards and seven scores. … Southside, Catholic and Cabot are all 1-3 in league play. One of these three teams will likely be the odd team out of the postseason. … Catholic running back Samy Johnson has more than 4,000 career rushing yards.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Southside — QB Taye Gatewood (Sr., 6-2, 190), RB Ricardo Savoy (Sr., 5-9, 150), WR Tyrese Solomon (Sr., 5-10, 160), LB Darin Davenport (Sr., 6-2, 220). Catholic — RB Samy Johnson (Sr., 5-10, 186), WR Robert Bavon (Jr., 6-2, 160), QB Cooper Monroe (Sr., 6-1, 208), LB Trevor Karther (Sr., 5-10, 205).
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Southside is No. 9 in Class 7A; Catholic is No. 10. HOOTEN’S LINE Southside by 1. OUR TAKE Southside 34, Catholic 27. — CHIP SOUZA • @NWACHIP
Van Buren at Springdale Har-Ber
Wildcat Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Van Buren 3-4, 2-2 7A-West; Har-Ber 3-4, 1-3.
ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed on the Wildcats’ mobile app.
BETWEEN THE LINES Van Buren enters the game with playoff aspirations after winning its second conference game last week in a 38-0 shutout against Rogers Heritage. … Har-Ber was shut out 45-0 last week against league-leading Bentonville West. … Van Buren made a halftime switch at quarterback last week, inserting Gary Phillips. Phillips dominated the second half, rushing for 189 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and completing 9 of 14 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. … Har-Ber could not penetrate West’s defense last week, rushing for just 25 yards. The Wildcats only had two explosive plays in the game, the second coming with under 20 seconds left. … Har-Ber’s defense has played well at times this season, but last week was not helped by three offensive turnovers that left West a short field. … Har-Ber running back Jay Burns, who rushed for 323 yards against Springdale two weeks ago, was held to fewer than 50 last week.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Van Buren — QB Gary Phillips (So., 6-0, 175), QB Christian Morrow (Sr., 5-11, 190), WR Jude Bartholomew (Jr., 6-1, 165), RB Brayden Rivas (Jr., 5-6, 162). Har-Ber — QB Blaise Wittschen (Jr., 5-11, 170), RB Jay Burns, (Jr., 5-10, 165), WR Micah Seawood (Jr., 6-0, 162), WR Hunter Wood (Jr., 6-1, 180), DB Nick Buchanan (Jr., Jr., 6-0, 160), Yonathan Raya (Sr., 5-10, 260).
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Van Buren is No. 13 in Class 7A; Har-Ber is No. 12. HOOTEN’S LINE Van Buren by 8. OUR TAKE Van Buren 27, Har-Ber 21. — CHIP SOUZA • @NWACHIP
Rogers High at Bentonville High
Tiger Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Rogers 1-5, 0-4 7A-West; Bentonville 4-3, 4-0.
ON THE AIR Rogers — games are livestreamed on youtube.com, KURM-AM 790 and at www.rogersmounties.com. Bentonville — games are live-streamed on bentonvillesportsnetwork.com.
BETWEEN THE LINES It’s the 115th meeting between the two Benton County rivals. Rogers has a 70-38-6 series lead, but Bentonville has won the last 11 meetings by an average of more than 40 points per game. … Rogers suffered its eighth straight loss in league play last week, but the Mounties were threatening to score and take the lead before an interception returned for a touchdown sealed their fate. … Rogers WRs Wil Sims and Mason Ross have combined for 59 receptions for 709 yards and four TDs so far this season. … Bentonville extended its conference win streak to 16 games last week, thanks to Harrison Campbell’s 56-yard TD pass with 47 seconds remaining. … Tigers RB Preston Crawford ran for 153 yards last week, putting him at 668 yards this season.
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), WR/DB Wil Sims (Sr., 6-1, 170), WR Mason Ross (Jr., 5-10, 170). Bentonville — WR Harrison Campbell (Sr., 5-11, 185), WR Dylan Smith (Sr., 6-2, 180), RB Preston Crawford (Jr., 6-0, 180), OL Kenny Resta (Sr., 6-1, 270), OL Nick Brown (Sr., 6-2, 260).
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Rogers is No. 15 in Class 7A. Bentonville is No. 2 HOOTEN’S LINE Bentonville by 35 OUR TAKE Bentonville 49, Rogers 7. — HENRY APPLE • @NWAHENRY
Bentonville West at Rogers Heritage
Gates Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS West 4-3, 4-0 7A-West; Heritage 0-7, 0-4.
ON THE AIR West — The game is livestreamed at bentonvillesportsnetwork.com. Heritage — KHEL FM-97.3 and live-streamed at www.gowareagles.com.
BETWEEN THE LINES This is the third meeting between the two schools. They have split the first two meetings, with West earning a 59-21 victory last year. … West recorded the first shutout in school history last week when it blanked Springdale Har-Ber 45-0. The Wolverines intercepted three passes, two of which led to touchdowns, and blocked a punt for another score. … West sophomore QB Dalton McDonald now has 21 TD passes since taking over for the injured Will Jarrett. … Heritage trailed 3-0 last week until an interception return for a touchdown late in the first half, then the War Eagles allowed 20 second-half points. … Heritage has suffered 11 consecutive losses and has won only one other conference game since its 28-18 decision at home.
PLAYERS TO WATCH West — QB Dalton McDonald (So., 5-9, 150), WR Jadon Jackson (Sr., 6-2, 175), RB Tyrese Smallwood (Sr., 5-7, 160), ATH Tucker Swoboda (Sr., 6-3, 175), LB Kendall Young (Sr., 6-5, 210). Heritage — OL Zion Adair (Sr., 6-4, 340), QB Zach Brown (Sr., 6-2, 185), RB Ty Graser (Sr., 5-8, 175), WR Dylan Moore (6-1, 175), DB/WR Isaiah Tibbs (Jr., 6-1, 175), LB Reese Williams (Sr., 6-0, 225). LB Griffin Brown (Jr., 5-11, 165).
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS West is No. 5 in Class 7A. Heritage is No. 16. HOOTEN’S LINE West by 35.
OUR TAKE Bentonville West 56, Heritage 14. — HENRY APPLE • @NWAHENRY
CLASS 6A Benton at Greenwood Smith-Robinson Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Benton 6-1, 4-0 6A-West; Greenwood 6-1, 4-0.
ON THE AIR Games are live-streamed at www.bentonpantherfootball.com, and on the Bulldogs’ mobile app.
BETWEEN THE LINES Greenwood QB Peyton Holt threw for 227 yards and rushed for 85 more, accounting for four TDs in the Bulldogs’ 51-7 win over Russellville. … The Bulldogs scored on six of their seven first-half possessions and led 4-7 at halftime. … Greenwood has outscored its last six opponents by a combined score of 279-87 after a season-opening loss to Fort Smith Northside. .. Benton RB Zak Wallace rushed for 284 yards and 2 TDs as the Panthers pulled away from El Dorado for a 62-35 win. … The Panthers defense sacked the El Dorado quarterback four times, including a big stop after the Wildcats pulled within 28-21 in the third quarter. PLAYERS TO WATCH Benton — RB Zak Wallace (Sr., 5-11, 203), QB Garrett Brown (So., 5-11, 1750), WR Garrett Body (Sr., 6-0, 175). RB D’Anthony Harper (Jr., 5-7, 165). Greenwood — QB Peyton Holt (Sr., 5-9, 175), WR Luke Leonard (Sr., 5-10, 155), OL Noah Fox (Sr., 6-1, 260), DL Morgan Hanna (Sr. 6-4, 205), DB Aaron Ohl (Sr., 5-11 170), LB Austin Archer (Sr. 6-2, HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Benton is ranked No. 2 in Class 6A. Greenwood is No. 1.
HOOTEN’S LINE Greenwood by 10. OUR TAKE Greenwood 35, Benton 28. — PAUL BOYD • @NWAPAULB
CLASS 5A Harrison at Alma Airedale Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m. RECORDS Harrison 7-0, 4-0 5A-West; Alma 4-3, 4-0.
BETWEEN THE LINES This game will likely decide the championship in the 5A-West Conference. … Harrison has won nine of its past 10 games dating back to last year when the Goblins finished 9-4 …. Alma beat Harrison 35-34 last year and the Airedales have won 14 of the past 19 games in the series. … Harrison is led by all-state running back Gabe Huskey, who has rushed for 1,061 yards and 17 touchdowns. He’s also caught 19 passes for 483 yards and five scores. … Harrison quarterback Ben Johnson has thrown for 1,003 yards and 13 touchdowns with only one interception. … Alma has won four consecutive after starting the season with four consecutive losses. … Keegan Rosebeary leads the Airedales with 508 yards rushing with six touchdowns. … Alma junior quarterback Landon Blair has thrown for 807 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions. PLAYERS TO WATCH Harrison — RB Gabe Huskey (Jr., 5-10, 170), FB/LB Brooks Both (Jr., 6-1, 220), QB Ben Johnson (Jr., 6-0, 170), WR Thailer Lovell (Sr., 5-9, 155), DL Hayden Vanderpool (Sr., 6-3, 290). Alma — RB Keegan Rosebeary (Sr., 6-1, 205), OL/DL Zac Henson (Sr., 6-4, 270), OL/DL Levi Prestidge (Sr., 6-3, 250), QB Landon Blair (Jr., 6-1, 220), S Coltin Bowerman (Sr., 6-2, 170), MLB Logan Chronister (So, 6-0, 220).
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Harrison is No. 4 in Class 5A. Alma is No. 8. HOOTEN’S LINE Harrison by 3.
OUR TAKE Harrison 35, Alma 28. — RICK FIRES • @NWARICK
Pottsville at Elkins
John Bunch Memorial Field, Elkins KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Elkins 6-1, 3-1 4-4A Conference. Pottsville 3-4, 2-2.
BETWEEN THE LINES Elkins will attempt to regroup at home against Pottsville following its first defeat of the season. … Elkins lost a 49-45 shootout at Mena after being outscored 37-21 in the second half. Junior quarterback Quinn McClain threw for 383 yards and five touchdowns but the Bearcats also intercepted four passes in the game. … McClain has thrown for 1,487 yards and 19 touchdowns with seven interceptions. … Chad Graham leads the Elks with 42 catches for 682 yards and 11 touchdowns. … Pottsville is a power running team that beat Mena 32-14 on Sept. 28. . …. Kurtis Kemp leads the Apache with 779 yards rushing this season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Elkins — QB Quinn McClain (Jr., 6-2, 195), RB Chance Jones (Sr., 6-2, 195), WR Chad Graham (Sr., 5-11, 150), WR Camren Dunn (Sr., 5-11, 150), C Hayden Hurst (Sr., 6-0, 210). Pottsville — FB Kurtis Kemp (Sr., 5-9, 180), HB Spencer Bradley (Sr., 6-0, 215), TE Drew Rust (Jr., 6-1, 250), OL David Parker (Sr., 6-3, 270), NG Jacob Emery (Jr., 5-9, 260).
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Pottsville is No. 19 in Class 4A. Elkins is No. 22. HOOTEN’S LINE Pottsville by 2.
OUR TAKE Pottsville 35, Elkins 28. — RICK FIRES • @NWARICK
CLASS 3A Charleston at Booneville
Bearcat Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Charleston 4-3, 2-2 3A-1; Booneville 7-0, 4-0.
ON THE AIR None.
BETWEEN THE LINES The Bearcats proved to be too much for Mansfield last week in a battle of two 6-0 teams as they rolled to the 55-6 win. … Carson Ray rushed for 151 yards and four touchdowns, while Michael Hesson added 100 yards and 2 TDs as Booneville rolled and remained undefeated. … The Bearcats defense intercepted two passes and sacked the Mansfield quarterback four times, limiting the Red Tigers to just 75 yards of total offense. … The Charleston defense intercepted four passes in a 50-0 rout of Paris last week. … Kaden Benge and Breckon Ketter each returned an interception for a touchdown as Charleston erupted for 27 first-quarter points. … Brayden Ross threw for a touchdown and rushed for another in the Charleston win and has started at quarterback the past three weeks.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Charleston — QB Brayden Caudle (Sr., 6-2, 225), WR Brayden Ross (Jr., 6-5, 240), RB Hunter Kengla (5-10, 185), OL Shane Turner (Jr., 6-3, 217), LB Tanner Jones (Jr., 6-0, 171), LB/WR Dean Lea (Jr. 6-0, 215), DB Mason Keener (Sr., 6-5, 200).Booneville — FB/LB Carson Ray (5-7, 200), HB Mike Hesson (Sr., 5-10, 170), OL Noah Reyes (Sr., 6-2, 240), OL Sammy Haynes (Sr., 5-10, 250), DL Marcus Nichols (Sr., 5-9, 235).
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Charleston is ranked No. 18 in Class 3A. Booneville is No. 1.
HOOTEN’S LINE Booneville by 14. OUR TAKE Booneville 35, Charleston 14. — PAUL BOYD • @NWAPAULB