Script flipped with Charleston challenging undefeated Cedarville

Halfway through the regular season, tonight’s schedule includes undefeated Cedarville hosting a struggling team from Charleston. Really?

That description is contrary to the history of the two programs and a person writing such a lead would normally receive a phone call from an editor demanding a rewrite.

But it’s true. Charleston is 1-3 this year while Cedarville has a chance to start 5-0 for the first time in years. Maybe decades. Maybe forever. Charleston is a smallschool power with a handful of state championships while Cedarville is a program that often struggles to win half its games. Cedarville was 2-9 the year before Max Washausen took over as head coach of the Pirates full time in 2016. He’s built the program up to where the Pirates look like a contender in the 3A-1 Conference with a powerful ground game that features Kelin Mitchell and Darryl Kattich, both of whom have already rushed for more than 500 yards.

Mitchell scored two touchdowns and intercepted a pass in last week’s 24-21 win at Lamar.

Charleston beat Cedarville 21-6 last year, and the Tigers opened 3A-1 Conference play with a 35-29 victory over Greenland. That’s a sign the Tigers may be healing from the injuries that hampered the team at the outset.

Charleston knows what Cedarville is going to do. The Pirates are going to pound the football with their running game and see if the Tigers can stop them with any regularity.

I doubt they will, which means Cedarville will be 5-0 for the first time in years. Maybe decades. Maybe forever. RICK’S PICK Cedarville Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).

CLASS 7A

Van Buren at BENTONVILLE

Rogers at FAYETTEVILLE

SPRINGDALE HAR-BER at Rogers Heritage

BENTONVILLE WEST at Springdale High

Fort Smith Southside at CABOT

Little Rock Central at FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE

CLASS 6A

El Dorado at GREENWOOD BENTON at Siloam Springs

CLASS 5A

FARMINGTON at Alma HARRISON at Clarksville VILONIA at Huntsville Greenbrier at MORRILTON

CLASS 4A

BERRYVILLE at Gentry GRAVETTE at Prairie Grove

Green Forest at SHILOH CHRISTIAN

PEA RIDGE at Lincoln Dover at ELKINS Pottsville at MENA Subiaco Academy at OZARK

DARDANELLE at Waldron

CLASS 3A

MANSFIELD at Greenland

LAMAR at Paris BOONEVILLE at West Fork

Rose Bud at MOUNTAIN VIEW

Cedar Ridge at MARSHALL

CLASS 2A

HECTOR at Johnson County Westside

Lavaca at MOUNTAINBURG

LAST WEEK 20-4 (83 percent)

OVERALL 88-23 (79 percent)