Hillbillies ready to open season

Ozark had not one, but two season-openers canceled last week.

The Hillbillies were originally scheduled to take on Clarksville in the opener, but the Panthers had to pull out of the game due to coronavirus issues the week leading into the game. Ozark scrambled to fill the spot with Valley View, but that game was also canceled because of weather concerns from Hurricane Laura, which actually proved to be minimal rain.

Finally this week Ozark will open the season by hosting Booneville on Friday at Hillbilly Stadium.

“Unless the river comes up from all the rain and Booneville can’t get here, we will play Friday,” Ozark coach Jeremie Burns laughed. “After Valley View canceled last week, we just scrimmaged on Friday. Hopefully we get Booneville over here and we’ll have a game.”

The Hillbillies are loaded with returning starters and experience from a team that advanced to the 4A semifinals last season, but Ozark was dominated in a scrimmage two weeks ago by Maumelle. That was a wakeup call, Burns said.

“That scrimmage did not go well,” said Burns. “But it kind of got their attention and they really came back and I was really proud of them last week for working hard and getting back on track and focused in. So of them said they got humbled in the scrimmage, so it was a good eye-opener for us to get us refocused with everything going on this spring and summer being away from everybody.”

Burns said the Hillbillies have rescheduled the game with Clarksville for Sept. 11.