Pine Bluff (2-1) @ Arkansas High (1-2)
PINE BLUFF (2-1) at ARKANSAS HIGH (1-2)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m., Razorback Stadium
LAST WEEK: Hogs kicker Chandler Luther booted a tie-breaking 28-yard field goal with 15 seconds left to defeat Liberty-Eylau 1714. Pine Bluff was throtteled by state-ranked No. 2 North Little Rock, 47-10.
LAST YEAR: Zebras collared the Razorbacks in an offensive shooting between the two teams, 54-47.
GAME FACTS: Both squads hope to use contest as a launching pad toward success in tonight’s Class 6A South conference opener. Second time in as many seasons the game has been held at Razorback Stadium. Last time the Hogs traveled to Torii Hunter Field at Zebra Stadium was 2010 where the Hogs posted a 42-28 state semifinal victory that advanced the Razorbacks to the 6A state championship game. Sophomore Andrew Bishop will start at tailback for the second week in a row due to an ankle injury suffered by senior Ke’Darrious Grissom in the Greenbrier game. The AHS golf team will host a pre-game tailgate fundraising party from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Razorback Porch, offering a $15 steak dinner.
COACHES’ COMMENTS: AHS TODD LEDFORD: “Pine Bluff is going to be the best team we’re going to play, so far, hands down in every facet of the game. Offensively and defensively, they are good. They’ve got some size, they can run and they do a lot of things offensively and they’ve got eight guys back on defense. You can tell they are a lot more polished on that side of the football.
“They played a lot of young kids on defense last year, you can see on film they are much better. Last year, we were able to throw the ball on them, that’s not the case this year, they are more sound in the secondary and linebackers. Hopefully, we can find some ways to move the ball and score some points.
“On offense, they are big and physical. They just line up and run at you. They have good enough backs that they will break through sooner or later, we need to get inside on them and make some plays.”
PINE BLUFF’S BOBBY BOLDING: “Arkansas High has a lot of speed, play really had and they get to the football. We can’t give up big plays on turn the ball over like we did last week.
On offense, their quarterback reads coverages very well, and they do a lot of short passes underneath. That doesn’t allow us as long to get to the quarterback and that bothered us last year.
They play a very unorthodox defense, it’s like preparing for an option team.”
RADIO: KYGL 106.3 FM, 7 p.m.; KMJI 93.3 FM, 7:15 p.m. TONIGHT’S LINEUPS (Jersey numbers in parentheses) ARKANSAS HIGH OFFENSE: WR-Cole Harris (82), 160; TE-Jackson Murphy (86), 215; RT-Derric Watson (77), 250; RG-Anderson Wright (60), 280; C-Maliek Osborn (65), 230; LT-Demarqueon Sanders (66), 270; LG-Branden Edwards (64), 225; QB-Dylan Silvey (11), 180; TB-Andrew Bishop (14), 160; FB-Jonathan Bailey (20), 240; WR-Brandon Jetton (3), 150; WR-Dominique Jones (5), 150; PK-Chandler Luther (13), 160. ARKANSAS HIGH DEFENSE: LE-Brandon Clark (51), 240; DT-Jaquil Robinson (54), 235; DT-Devaughn Browden (62), 230; DE-Caden Kesler (19), 215; LB-Tiiwayne White (22), 175; MLB-Kendrix McCann (67), 240; LBJamal Johnson (2), 185; CB-Farrion Williams (10), 165; FS-Brandon Jetton (3); SS-Tomarco Collins (8), 170; CB-Stacey Moss (12), 155; P-Silvey (11). PINE BLUFF OFFENSE: WR-Tyrone Payne (4), 185; TE-William Gregg (7), 240;RT-Charlie Donnerson (58), 260; RG-Anthony Brown (66), 250; C-Steven Watson (74), 280; LGDasmine Johnson (78), 240; LT-Jamison Murry (65), 225; QB-Rickey Clement (3), 170; TB-Walter Ashley (5), 170; RB-Trevor Hunt (28), 165; FB-Kelvin Sergeant (44), 225; WRDevarious Rice (6), 180; PK-Austin McGehee (15), 180. PINE BLUFF DEFENSE: DE-Cameron Jackson (81), 210; DT-Bruce Reed (55), 230; DTCharlie Donnerson (58), 260; DE-Brandon Lee (54), 200; LB-Sergeant (44); LB-Demetrius Anderson (25), 190; CB-Deandre Gridley (23), 160; SS-Rakeem Leverett (12), 180; WSRaymond Bynum (11), 180; CB-Lamarcus Taggert (22), 170; P-McGehee (15).