FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE AT BENTONVILLE

Tiger Stadium KICKOFF 7 p.m. RECORDS Fort Smith Southside 2-1. Bentonville 3-0.

ON THE AIR www.bentonvillehssports.com

BETWEEN THE LINES This will likely be the last time these two teams will meet as conference opponents. When Bentonville West begins play next year, the two Fort Smith schools will head to the 7A-Central. … Bentonville leads the series by a 10-6 margin since 2001, but Southside snapped a four-game losing skid with a 10-7 victory over the Tigers last year at Jim Rowland Field. … Southside is playing its first true road game, while Bentonville caps a three-game home swing with today’s game and plays its first instate opponent. … The Rebels erupted for 24 points in the second quarter en route to their 38-6 victory over Lake Hamilton last week. Jaylin Brewer sparked the outburst when he returned an interception 91 yards for a touchdown. … Southside QB Cooper Johnson threw for two touchdowns in the victory … Bentonville QB Kasey Ford surpassed the 4,000-yard career mark last week when he completed 16 of 27 passes for 284 yards in last week’s win over Tallahassee (Fla.) Rickards. Ford is 52 of 75 this season for 662 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. … Jacob Clark leads the Tigers’ ground game with 53 carries for 391 yards and four touchdowns, while Clay Barganier (17 catches, 276 yards, 1 TD) and Kam’ron Mays-Hunt (13 receptions, 153 yards, 3 TDs) provide a onetwo punch at receiver. … Tigers kicker Hayden Moehring hit three field goals last week and is 4 of 5 for the season, as well as 12 of 13 on extra-point attempts. He’s also forced touchbacks on 17 of 19 of his kickoffs.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Southside — QB Cooper Johnson (Sr., 5-10, 195); RB Parker Dixon (Jr., 5-8, 160); WR Evan Simpson (Sr., 5-10, 150); LB Andrew Clark (Sr., 6-2, 225); S Jace McCrea (Sr., 6-2, 175); OL Hunter Moreton (Jr., 6-1, 275). Bentonville — QB Kasey Ford (Sr., 6-6, 272); RB Jacob Clark (Jr., 5-10, 180); WR Clay Barganier (Jr., 5-9, 159); LB Brandon Atchison (Sr., 5-11, 219); DB Tyrone Mahone (Sr., 6-0, 170); LB Destyn Adkins (Jr., 6-0, 180).

HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Southside is No. 5 in Class 7A. Bentonville is No. 2.

HOOTEN’S LINE Bentonville by 10. OUR TAKE Bentonville 34, Southside 23.