Huge battle looms in Fort Smith

One of the oldest and best prep rivalries in the state takes place Friday night as the Mavericks travel to Fort Smith Northside in the 57th Battle of Rogers Avenue.

Mayo-Thompson Stadium will be rocking as Southside (4-5, 3-3 7A-Central) comes in off a 49-16 blowout of Little Rock Central last week. A No. 4 playoff seed and home playoff game for the first round is at stake.

“This is just a special game to coach in and a special game to play in,” Southside coach Jeff Williams said.

Williams said the coaches have made sure his team knows what’s at stake for the winner of this game. Northside (5-4, 2-4) got off to a promising start to the season but has hit a roadblock the past two weeks.

The Grizzlies will present a number of challenges, Williams said. “You start with Deuce (Derrick Wise),” Williams said. “He’s a really good player, he’s elusive, he can run, he can pass and he just makes them go. Defensively they are solid.”

Southside has won two straight after back-to-back losses to league-leaders North Little Rock and Bryant. Williams said his team has made strides as it closes the regular season.

“Obviously beating Cabot at their place was big,” Williams said. “And I was proud of our team at Catholic, going on the road and competing in the elements.”

A win Friday would give Southside the No. 4 seed outright, but a loss coupled with other results in the conference could send the Mavericks as low as a No. 6 seed.