Dick Hays Stadium will be loaded with talent tonight
ASHDOWN, Ark.—If you’d like to see a huge chunk of the 2018 University of Arkansas recruiting targets, show up to Dick Hays Stadium tonight.
The 7-4A conference showdown between topranked Joe T. Robinson (8-0, 5-0) and fourthranked Ashdown (6-2, 3-2) kickoffs at 7 p.m. and will display bluechip recruits on both sides of the field.
“Typically, when Ashdown and Robinson play it’s like a who’s who in high school football in Arkansas,” Joe T. Robinson defensive coordinator Brian Maupin said. “We’re excited for the opportunity to play a quality opponent. There’s a lot riding on this game for us. We’ll lock up the top seed and also the conference championship with a win. This is an exciting place for our program.”
The Senators are loaded with weapons offensively and defensively. Robinson quarterback Greyson Tackett has completed 41 passes on 68 attempts for 726 yards and nine touchdowns with five interceptions.
Tackett will stare down Mississippi State commit LaDarrius Bishop and Arkansas State commit Tre Green in the Panther defensive secondary.
“This game is going to be a lot of fun,” Ashdown head football coach Matt Richardson said. “Every other play there’s a possibility for a home run. It’s going to be a big game because all of the talent that will be on the field.
Our #1 goal is to stop the run. Alabama is such a great team because they’re able to stop the run. Any good football team that can stop the run will have a chance to win.”
Whether it’s Nathan Page or Caesar Warren for the Senators or Delrae Smith and Anthony Nelson for Ashdown, the defensive backfields will have their work cut out for them against receiving corps. on both sides chock full of high-caliber talent.
“Last year, LaDarrius (Bishop) and Koilan Jackson went head-to-head,” Maupin said. “We had some of our elite pass rushers going against Jaden Hill, so whenever we’re able to get the best talent to face one another, it’s a beautiful thing.
We’re doing a good job of coming out and taking care of business. It’s a long season when you have championship aspirations. We’re not just focused on this game or a conference championship, but we would like to win a state championship. “
The Panthers will enter tonight’s slugfest with their own schematic changes to combat the Senators dominant defensive line.
“We have to make sure Anthony (Nelson) gets his touches,” Richardson said. “He’s a great player and we have to make sure he gets his chance to make some big plays for us. We try to get our best athletes the ball in space, so they can make plays. They have a good defensive line and we have to keep the ball away from those guys.
We have to win the special team battle. It’s a chess game back and fourth with your special teams. You want to win that part of the game because you can steal extra possessions through your special teams.”
Southwest Arkansas
Hope at White Hall De Queen at Magnolia Nashville at Malvern Joe T. Robinson at Ashdown Bismarck at Prescott Glen Rose at Horatio Fouke at Drew Central Genoa Central at Lake Village Lakeside Dierks at Spring Hill Foreman at Murfreesboro Lafayette County at Mineral Springs
All games begin at 7 p.m.