Hogs host Maumelle in opener
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Even with gaining the second seed and first-round home game, Arkansas High will face a tough opponent in Maumelle to start the Class 5A football playoffs.
The Razorbacks finished in a three-way tie for second and took the No. 2 seed from 5A-South on points tiebreakers. Maumelle finished third in 5A-Central.
The Hogs (6-3) and Hornets (8-2) clash at 7 p.m. at Razorback Stadium.
“It’s an advantage; we really wanted to get a home game in the first round,” Arkansas High head coach Barry Norton said. “To be in familiar surroundings and have the home crowd should help. We’re awful proud for it to turn out the way it did.”
The Razorbacks have scored 28.4 points per game and allowed just 18.5 points in nine games this season. AHS averages 291.1 total yards and gives up 262.8 yards per game. Arkansas High has won two in a row, while its opponent won last week after falling to Little Rock Christian two weeks ago.
The Hornets score 35.8 points and allow 18.4 per game. Maumelle averages 385.3 total yards, including 279.4 through the air, on offense.
“Maumelle has an excellent football team,” Norton said. “They’re the three seed out of the Central, but their only two losses were Pulaski Academy and Little Rock Christian. They’re big, they’re physical, are long and have good skill guys. It’s going to be a heckuva challenge.
“Maumelle poses a challenge with their offense with a lot of different formations. There’s a lot of the RPO (run-pass-option) game being played. We’re going to have to be disciplined and do a great job defensively. Offensively, we’re going to have to be efficient with what we’re doing. We’re going to have to hit some explosive plays and keep them off the field. The kicking game will be big in this one.”
The game will be live blogged at texarkanagazette.com/arkansashigh and broadcast on 1400 AM. The winner of tonight’s game will play either Valley View or Morrilton in the state quarterfinals next week.