Undefeated Harrison can’t overlook 2-5 Airedales

A game involving a 7-0 team against a 2-5 team doesn’t appear too interesting until you take a closer look.

It’s Harrison vs. Alma, one of the best high school football rivalries in Arkansas.

I’ve covered many state championship games and Harrison’s 10-7 victory over Alma on a gorgeous fall day in 1999 remains one of my favorites. That’s when Tommy Edwards kicked a 26-yard field goal as time expired after catching a 20-yard pass on third-and-long to set up the play.

Harrison knew it would be in for a fight after edging Alma 9-7 in a conference game weeks earlier before the rematch at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Harrison

fans have visions of another trip to Little Rock, but the players and coaches on the Goblins’ sideline tonight know they can’t overlook the Airedales despite their poor record.

Alma will even carry some momentum into tonight’s road game following consecutive wins over Morrilton and Clarksville. The win over

Morrilton came as a surprise, especially to Morrilton fans.

That’s when Olaf Olsson, a foreign exchange student, kicked a 38-yard field goal with 18 seconds left to clinch a 29-28 victory for Alma over the Red Devils. That’s the same Morrilton team that gave Harrison fits before falling 39-34 in the 5A-West Conference opener.

Harrison is undefeated but a 17-15 win over Vilonia three weeks ago is a reminder the Goblins can’t overlook any team, especially Alma.

Harrison celebrated 90 years of football last week with a 24-7 victory over Greenbrier. On paper, Harrison is a better team than Alma, but the Airedales will certainly make them prove it. RICK’S PICK Harrison Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).

CLASS 7A

Rogers Heritage at BENTONVILLE WEST

BENTONVILLE at Rogers

FAYETTEVILLE at Springdale

SPRINGDALE HAR-BER at Van Buren

LITTLE ROCK CATHOLIC at Fort Smith Southside

Fort Smith Northside at NORTH LITTLE ROCK

CLASS 6A

GREENWOOD at Benton Siloam Springs at EL DORADO

CLASS 5A

Huntsville at FARMINGTON

Clarksville at GREENBRIER

Morrilton at VILONIA

CLASS 4A

PEA RIDGE at Berryville

GRAVETTE at Green Forest

GENTRY at Prairie Grove

Lincoln at SHILOH CHRISTIAN OZARK at Dover Elkins at POTTSVILLE DARDANELLE at Subiaco Academy

MENA at Waldron

CLASS 3A

Greenland at CERARVILLE

BOONEVILLE at Charleston Mansfield at LAMAR West Fork at PARIS

CLASS 2A

MAGAZINE at JC Westside

HECTOR at Lavaca HACKETT at Mountainburg

LAST WEEK 21-6 (77 percent)

OVERALL 151-39

(79 percent)