Booneville to win battle of unbeatens against Lamar

Quickly now, can you name the two undefeated teams in the 3A-1 Conference?

Booneville, that’s easy. No one should be surprised Booneville is 8-0 after going 10-2 and winning a conference championship last year in Class 4A.

The other team is Lamar, which is 8-0 and chasing its first championship since 2008 when the Warriors finished in a three-way tie with Perryville and Green Forest in the 3A-4 Conference. Lamar is home tonight and the Warriors have maintained momentum all season long after winning three of their final four games last year.

But Booneville is Lamar’s biggest challenge by far. Just ask Mansfield, which was 6-0 before being crushed 556 by Booneville three weeks ago.

Booneville and Lamar run similar offenses but few programs can match the depth and production in the Bearkats’ backfield. Booneville averages 45 points per game with senior fullback Carson Ray leading the way. Evan Schlinker has done a good job in place of Brandon Ulmer, an all-state quarterback who went down with an injury in the season-opener and has not returned.

Lamar coach Josh Jones won a state championship with Magazine in 2010. But Booneville is a dominant program that needs only two more wins to start 10-0 for the first time since 2013 when the Bearcats won the Class 4A state title with a 150 record.

Booneville, Lamar, Clinton and Rison are the only teams still unbeaten this year in Class 3A. That number will be reduced by at least one tonight and it won’t be Booneville.

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

CLASS 7A

Van Buren at BENTONVILLE WEST

Rogers Heritage at FAYETTEVILLE

SPRINGDALE HAR-BER at Rogers

BENTONVILLE at Springdale

FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE at Cabot

Little Rock Central at FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE

CLASS 6A

SILOAM SPRINGS at Little Rock Hall

GREENWOOD at Sheridan

CLASS 5A

MORRILTON at Farmington

Alma at GREENBRIER Huntsville at HARRISON Clarksville at VILONIA

CLASS 4A

LINCOLN at Gentry PEA RIDGE at Green Forest

Berryville at PRAIRIE GROVE

Gravette at SHILOH CHRISTIAN

Elkins at DARDANELLE POTTSVILLE at Dover MENA at Subiaco Academy OZARK at Waldron

CLASS 3A

MANSFIELD at Cedarville

West Fork at CHARLESTON

GREENLAND at Paris

CLASS 2A

HACKETT at Lavaca Magazine at MOUNTAINBURG

JOHNSON COUNTY WESTSIDE at Western Yell County

LAST WEEK 21-4 (84 percent)

OVERALL 154-43 (78 percent)