Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Friday’s playoff capsules
Conway at Fayetteville
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Conway 10-1; Fayetteville 11-0 COACHES Conway — Buck James; Fayetteville — Casey Dick
KEY PLAYERS Conway — QB Donovyn Omolo (Sr., 6-2, 205), WR Cris O’Neal (Sr., 6-0, 170), RB Desmond Davidson (Sr., 5-11, 215), WR Jonathan Gaines (Jr., 6-1, 175), DB Jacoby Wade (Jr., 5-10, 165), LB John Paul Saxton (Jr., 6-2, 175), DB Trez Hammond (Jr., 5-9, 170). Fayetteville — QB Drake Lindsey (Sr., 6-5, 220), WR Jaison DeLamar (Jr., 5-11, 190), DL Trey Lisle (Sr., 6-6, 230), DL Kaden Spencer (Sr., 6-0, 230), LB Landon Jones (Sr., 6-0, 205), LB Noah Janski (Sr., 6-0, 175) , FS Isaiah Taylor (Sr., 6-0, 175).
NOTABLE This game is a rematch from last season when Conway defeated Fayetteville 37-0 in a second-round game at Harmon Field. … Fayetteville beat Fort Smith Southside 30-24 last week after going undefeated in conference play for the first time since 1957. … Christian Setzer rushed for 143 yards and one touchdown against the Mavericks. … Fayetteville is led by QB Drake Lindsey, who is committed to the University of Minnesota. … Lindsey threw for 306 yards against Southside while Jaison DeLamar led the receiving corps with 11 catches for 139 yards. …. Conway turned a 4-point lead at halftime last week into a 63-46 victory over Bentonville West. …. Three-year starter Donovyn Omolo, a left-hander, tossed five touchdown passes against the Wolverines. …. Omolo has thrown for over 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns this season. … His favorite target is Cris O’Neal, who has over 1,300 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Wampus Cats. … Conway’s only loss this season came on Nov. 3 to Bryant (52-33), where Buck James led the Hornets to five consecutive Class 7A state championships before taking over the Conway program.
OUR TAKE Fayetteville 42, Conway 35
— Rick Fires
Bentonville at Bryant
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Bentonville 8-3; Bryant 10-1 COACHES Bentonville — Jody Grant; Bryant — Quad Sanders
KEY PLAYERS Bentonville — QB Carter Nye (Sr., 6-1, 175), WR C.J. Brown (Sr., 6-1, 190), RB Jason Gilmore (Sr, 5-9, 185), TE Eli Brooks (Jr., 6-3, 205), OL Trason Hunt (Sr., 6-5, 275), WR/ DB Que Brown (Sr., 6-0, 155), DL/LB Ben Pearson (Sr., 6-2, 205), OLB/DE Rivers Wiseman (Sr., 6-4, 190), DB Christian Farrow (Sr., 6-0, 160). Bryant — QB Jordan Walker (Jr., 6-1, 205), WR Karter Ratliff (Jr., 6-5, 205), RB James Martin (Sr., 5-9, 190), WR Mytorian Singleton (Sr., 6-0, 184), FS Drake Fowler (Sr., 6-3, 170), DB Bryson Adamoch (Sr., 5-11, 180), OL Tate Settle (Sr., 6-3, 285). NOTABLE This is a rematch of last year’s Class 7A state championship game, in which Bryant claimed its fifth straight title with a 36-7 win at Little Rock. … Last year’s game is the first time Bryant has beaten Bentonville, which had won the other four meetings. … This is the first time the two teams have played at Bryant. … Bentonville tries to become the first Class 7A team to beat Bryant since North Little Rock handed the Hornets a 34-28 defeat in 2018. … Tigers QB Carter Nye threw for more than 400 yards for the second time this season in a win over Cabot last week. … Bentonville WR Luke Coon set season-highs with 10 receptions for 162 yards last week. … The Tigers defense had a pair of second-half interceptions in the second half against Cabot. … Bryant QB Jordan Walker has throw for 2,361 yards and 32 TDs. … Hornets RB James Martin needs just 19 yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark this season. … WRs Karter Ratliff and Mytorian Singleton have combined for 73 catches for 1,400 yards and 21 TDs this fall.
OUR TAKE Bryant 34, Bentonville 21
— Henry Apple
Pulaski Academy at Greenwood
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Pulaski Academy Greenwood 10-2; Greenwood 11-0
COACHES Pulaski Academy — Anthony Lucas; Greenwood — Chris Young
KEY PLAYERS Pulaski Academy – QB Brandon Cobb (Jr., 6-3, 162), DB Patton Whicker (Sr., 6-2, 176), LB Miles Ward (Sr., 6-0, 162), RB Chance McKindra (Sr., 5-9, 164), Andrew Fiser (Sr., 5-10, 141). Greenwood – DB Braden Skaggs (Sr., 5-9, 162), DB Brady Mackey (Sr., 5-10, 170), DL Brady Pettigrew (6-0, 235), LB Riley White (Sr., 6-0, 225), DB Landon Nelms (Sr., 6-1, 190). NOTABLE This will be the fourth meeting between the two schools in two seasons. … Greenwood defeated Pulaski Academy 31-21 in the 2022 regular season, while the Bruins topped the Bulldogs 42-35 in the 2022 Class 6A state championship game. Greenwood won at Pulaski Academy 58-33 on Oct. 27. … The Bruins advanced to this year’s rematch when Brandon Cobb threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Fiser with no time remaining last Friday for a 27-26 win at Marion in the Class 6A quarterfinals. … Greenwood has produced 5,130 yards of offense so far in 2023, an average of 466 yards per game. … The Bulldogs had 418 total yards in the win over the Bruins in October. … Greenwood QB Kane Archer has completed 151 of 209 passes for 2,001 yards and 27 touchdowns. Archer also has rushed 71 times for 482 yards and 12 touchdowns. … RB Brayedan Davis has rushed 173 times for 1,189 yards and 19 touchdowns. … WRs Grant Karnes (55-759-10) and LJ Robins (59-819-14) have been Greenwood’s top receiving threats. … Defensively, Greenwood has given up a total of 2,857 yards for an average of 259.7 yards per game. OUR TAKE Greenwood 55, Pulaski Academy 28
— Graham Thomas
Shiloh Christian at Pine Bluff
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Shiloh Christian 10-2; Pine Bluff 10-2 COACHES Shiloh Christian — Tucker Barnard; Pine Bluff — Micheal Williams
KEY PLAYERS Shiloh Christian — RB Bo Williams (Sr., 5-10, 190), WR Carter Holman (Sr., 5-10, 160), OT Jonas Nantze (Sr., 6-4, 250), DB Seth Lowe (Sr., 6-3, 165), DL Owen Baublits (Jr., 6-2, 230). Pine Bluff — QB Landon Holcomb (6-0, 205), WR Courtney Crutchfield (Sr., 6-3, 182), WR/DB Chandler Blunt (6-1, 165), RB Austyn Dendy (Sr., 6-2, 200), LB Jonathan Goins (Sr., 6-1, 215).
NOTABLE Friday’s Class 5A semifinal game will be the first meeting between the Saints and the Zebras. … The Saints had a 21-point lead in the second quarter at Valley View before finishing off a 42-30 victory in the quarterfinals last week. … Bo Williams rushed for three touchdowns and freshman QB Cole Creighton threw a pair of touchdown passes and sophomore QB Evan Baker also rushed for a pair of scores. Nantze has committed to Oklahoma State. … Pine Bluff raced out to a 27-0 lead against Hot Springs Lakeside before holding on for a 41-28 victory last week at Jordan Stadium. … QB Landon Holcomb completed 9 of 13 passes for 469 yards and 5 touchdowns. … WR Courtney Crutchfield, who recently decommitted from the University of Arkansas, caught five passes for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns. … DB Chandler Blunt intercepted two passes in the win against the Rams. … RB Austin Dendy has committed to the University of Missouri.
OUR TAKE Shiloh Christian 42, Pine Bluff 38
— Graham Thomas
Elkins at Central Arkansas Christian
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Elkins 12-0; Central Arkansas Christian 9-2
COACHES Elkins — Zach Watson; CAC — Ryan Howard
KEY PLAYERS Elkins — LB Ryan Dugan (Sr., 5-9, 180), QB Dizzy Dean (Sr., 6-2, 190), RB Da’Shawn Chairs (Sr., 5-8, 190), WR Landon Martin (Jr., 5-11, 185), TE Stone Dean (Sr., 6-3, 215), RB Ja’Que Walden (Jr., 5-11, 185). CAC — QB Grayson Wilson (Sr., 6-3, 195), RB Gus McConnell (Jr., 5-9, 150), Jackson Hampton (So., 6-3, 195), OL Aaron Cook (Jr., 6-0, 210), DL Zane Tafoya (Jr, 6-0, 270).
NOTABLE Central Arkansas Christian has won 9 games after winning two each in 2021 and 2020. ….. CAC’s two losses this season are to Benton Harmony Grove (43-42) and Clinton (53-50). …. The Mustangs are coached by Ryan Howard, a former quarterback at Central Arkansas. …. CAC QB Grayson Wilson is committed to the University of Arkansas. ….. CAC advanced to the quarterfinals in the Class 4A state playoffs with a 59-50
victory over Nashville. …. Elkins beat Clinton 63-27 in a first-round game before eliminating Monticello 56-6 last week. … Da’Shawn Chairs ran for 167 yards and 3 touchdowns on 16 carries against Monticello. . ….He also caught a touchdown pass against the Billies, who fell behind 21-0 early in the first quarter….. Elkins averages 55 points per game behind senior QB Dizzy Dean, who is committed to Central Missouri, which is 11-1 after beating Henderson State 56-14 in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
OUR TAKE Elkins 48, Central Arkansas Christian 42 — Rick Fires
Ozark at Warren
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Ozark 10-2; Warren 12-0
COACHES Ozark — Jeremie Burns; Warren — Bo Hembree
KEY PLAYERS Ozark – QB Koby Wilbanks (Jr., 6-1, 145), RB/LB Gavin Gilbreth (Sr., 5-8, 145), RB Brayden Miner (Sr., 5-8, 200), WR Parker Stane (Sr., 5-8, 180), DB Daleburt McCrary (Sr., 6-0, 135). Warren — QB Jackson Denton (Fr., 5-11, 150), DE Neeyo Harding (Sr., 6-3, 242), LB Ervin Rivera (Sr., 5-10, 197), DL Terence Roberson (Sr., 6-4, 284), RB Treylon Jackson (Sr., 5-10, 171), WR Neon’dre Thomas (Jr., 6-1, 185). NOTABLE Jeremie Burns is in his 13th year as head coach at Ozark and is 100-52. … Bo Hembree is in his 24th season as head coach at Warren and is 250-58-1 with 22 conference championships and six perfect regular seasons. … Ozark finished second behind Elkins in the 4A-4. … Warren won the 4A-8 and won seven of its eight conference games by at least the 13-point tie-breaker margin. … This is just the fourth meeting between the two teams, all in the playoffs, with Ozark winning, 41-17, in 2018 at Ozark, Warren winning, 49-14, in 2017 at Warren, and Ozark winning, 50-18, in 2000 at Ozark. … Warren QB Jackson Denton (156-264-2,696-35) has set a state record for freshman in both passing yards and passing touchdowns. … Ozark QB Koby Wilbanks has been a threat both rushing (194-1,858-28) and passing (74-120-1,121-13). … Senior RBs Gavin Gilbreth (85-686-9) and
Brayden Miner (66-370-9) have combined for over 1,000 rushing yards for the Hillbillies. … Senior M.J. Parker (36-613-9) is a threat receiving and on defense where he has three interceptions and three fumble recoveries for Ozark. … Warren WR Antonio Jordan is next in a long line of talented receivers for the Lumberjacks with offers from several SEC schools, including Arkansas. OUR TAKE Warren 35, Ozark 31
— Leland Barclay
Booneville at Camden Harmony Grove
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Booneville 10-2; Camden Harmony
Grove 9-2
COACHES Booneville — Doc Crowley; Camden Harmony Grove — Ernie Horstkamp
KEY PLAYERS Booneville – RB Dax Goff (Sr., 6-1, 215), OL/DL Mathew O’Bar (Sr., 5-11, 220), FB Rylen Ray (Sr., 5-11, 220), DL/OL Lance Sims (Sr., 5-6, 230), OL Mathew Crosby (Sr., 5-9, 205), OL Josh Redmond (Sr., 5-8, 205), DL Farris Danes (Sr., 5-9, 165), DB Colter Fisher (Sr., 6-0, 180). Harmony Grove – QB Caleb Johnson (Sr., 5-11, 176), WR Landon Garrett (Sr., 5-11, 162), DL Quinten Jones (Sr., 6-2, 242), DL Christian Barnes (Sr., 6-1, 199), DB Cameron Sanders (Jr., 6-0, 157).
NOTABLE Doc Crowley is in his fourth season as head coach at Booneville and is 45-10. … Ernie Horstkamp is in his sixth season as head coach at Camden Harmony Grove and is 42-17 at the school. … Harmony Grove was ranked No. 5 in Class 3A in the final regular season poll by the Arkansas Sports Media while Booneville was No. 4. … QB Caleb Johnson is a three-year starter for the Hornets and is two-way threat passing (97-200-1,733-28) and rushing (61-757-14). … Landon Garrett is a three-way threat for Harmony Grove with three touchdowns rushing, 13 receiving, and one returning punts this season. … Harmony Grove has won 19 of its last 23 games in the month of November. … Friday’s win over Osceola was Booneville’s 80th playoff victory, including 50 at home. … Booneville RB Dax Goff ran for 197 yards and a touchdown on Friday and now has rushed for 5,353 yards in his career, including 1,386 yards in playoff games. … Junior QB Jace Washburn threw three touchdown passes on Friday to Dakota Mattson of 50, 24 and 51 yards, all in the first half. … In addition to three TD passes by Washburn, Booneville also ran for three scores and Farris Danes recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.
OUR TAKE Booneville 35, Camden Harmony Grove 28 — Leland Barclay
Mansfield at Salem
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Mansfield 10-2; Salem 11-0 COACHES Mansfield — Whit Overton; Salem — Cody Curtis
KEY PLAYERS Mansfield — RB/DB Daniel Burton (Jr., 5-9, 150), QB/LB Jeremy Strozier (Jr., 5-10, 165), OL Turner Wright (Sr., 6-1, 205), LB Zander Walters (So., 6-0, 205). Salem — QB Lukas Downs (Sr., 6-0, 181), RB Elijah Romine (Sr., 6-2, 185), RB Kaden Brink (So., 5-7, 166), DE Gatlin Branscum (So., 5-10, 185), DE Keagan Sanderson (So., 5-8, 179).
NOTABLE This is the first meeting between the two schools. … Mansfield makes its second trip of more than 240 miles for the second straight week. The Tigers went 250 miles to Hoxie last week. … Mansfield, a third seed, is the lowest-seeded team of the eight remaining teams in the Class 3A state playoffs. … The Tigers have earned 10 victories in a year for the third time since 2001, also attaining that feat in 2009 and 2010. … Daniel Burton, who has almost 1,400 yards rushing this fall, is the first Mansfield running back to surpass the 1,000-yard mark since 2010. … Salem RB Elijah Romine has compiled 1,647 yards and 24 TDs this season, followed by Brink at 1,030 yards and 15 TDs. … Gatlin Branscum leads the Greyhounds defensively with 81 tackles, while Keagan Sanderson had 13 tackles for loss and 7.5 quarterback sacks. OUR TAKE Salem 34, Mansfield 14
— Henry Apple