Bentonville faces stiff challenge from North Little Rock

There’s 104 reasons Bentonville fans shouldn’t even think yet about the Tigers possibly advancing to the state championship game in Little Rock next week.

The 104 figure represents the number of players and coaches on the roster for North Little Rock (7-4), which will challenge Bentonville (11-0) in a Class 7A semifinal game at Tiger Stadium. Tonight’s winner will face Bentonville West (7-4) or Bryant (11-0) in the championship game on Dec. 7 at War Memorial Stadium.

North Little Rock has fielded some of the most talented high school teams in Arkansas. But it wasn’t until the arrival of coach Jamie Mitchell from Mississippi in 2015 that the Charging Wildcats began to reach their potential. From seven wins the first year, North Little Rock teams under Mitchell have won 12, 13, 12, and seven games this season following a 49-21 win last week over Springdale Har-Ber.

Bentonville fans will remember the championship game in 2017 when North Little Rock held off the Tigers 44-37 to finish 13-0.

North Little Rock losses this season have come against Memphis (Tenn.) Whitehaven 23-0, Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic 24-17, Little Rock Catholic 41-21, and Bryant 3521. North Little Rock is much more dangerous when Brandon Thomas is healthy and the Memphis commit rushed for 219 yards and three touchdowns last week against HarBer.

If any team can slow down the running game for the Charging Wildcats, it is a Bentonville team led by linebackers Cole Joyce and Keegan Stinespring. The Tigers forced two turnovers and limited Catholic to 63 yards rushing, and minus-1 yard in the second half. Defensive back Kolbi Crawford leads a secondary that is fast and physical.

Bentonville has the offense, defense, and special teams to win a state championship. But the Tigers have to remain focused and play awfully well tonight to prevent North Little Rock from reaching the state championship for the fourth consecutive season.

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