Opponent Changes By Mark Humphrey

LEAGUE, NONLEAGUE SWITCHES FOR FARMINGTON

FARMINGTON — Two switches in opponents create a different set of dynamics for the 2018 Farmington football schedule.

While the Cardinals revert to 4A status in every other sport, the football team remains a member of the 5A West with Huntsville rejoining the league after spending 2015-2018 competing in the 4A classification. That switch shifts Huntsville from week two of the nonconference season to a week eight slot as a conference opponent in 5A West play. The game will be played at Huntsville on Oct. 19. Taking Huntsville’s place among Farmington’s nonconference schedule is a familiar opponent from the 4A-1, Gravette. The Lions travel to Farmington for a Sept. 7 showdown at Allen Holland Field.

Gravette Nonconference

“Gravette’s close and they’re another quality 4A program,” said Farmington coach Mike Adams. “It was an easy fix right there for them to step into the Huntsville spot in the second week.”

Farmington last played Gravette at the varsity level in football in 2013, the Cardinals’ last season as a 4A school in football. The Cardinals own a three game win streak over Gravette from 2011-2013. The Lions’ last win over Farmington came Oct. 15, 2010, at Allen Holland Field by a score of 35-17.

Gravette went 6-5 overall and 5-2 in 4A-1 Conference games for 2017, including an impressive 24-19 win over Shiloh Christian on Oct. 27. The Lions lost a 49-46 shootout on the road at Heber Springs in a first-round State 4A playoff game Nov. 10. As for common opponents, Gravette lost at Prairie Grove, 31-7, on Sept. 29; the Lions lost to Pea Ridge, 42-28, on Oct. 6; and defeated Huntsville, 62-28, on Oct. 20. Farmington also suffered losses to Prairie Grove (36-13) and Pea Ridge (24-7), but handled Huntsville (41-18) last year. Gravette’s offense produced 352 points in 2017 while giving up 260 points defensively.

Long time Gravette head coach Bill Harrelson resigned in May and veteran assistant coach Duke Mobley retired.

“It’ll be different, they’ve got a whole new staff,” Adams said. “They don’t have a coach left on their staff from the previous staff. A lot of guys from Oklahoma so it’s all new. We’ll find out as we go along.”

Pea Ridge

Farmington continues to compete with former 4A-1 foe, Pea Ridge, during the nonconference schedule. The Cardinals are due for a win in the series, having lost four games in-a-row to the Blackhawks, including 4A-1 Conference games in 2012 and 2013, plus nonconference losses in 2016 and 2017. Farmington’s last victory in the series occurred with a 40-6 blowout at Pea Ridge on Oct. 28, 2011 during a season in which the Cardinals went 11-3 and advanced to the State 4A semifinals.

Huntsville 5A West

Huntsville lost to Farmington, 41-18, last season on the Cardinals’ home field in week two. The Eagles were 2-8 overall and 1-6 in 4A-1 play last year. Opponents outscored Huntsville, 381-250. The Eagles last competed against Farmington as a league opponent losing 26-6 at Farmington Oct. 16, 2009, when both schools were members of the 4A-1. Huntsville jumped to the 5A West from 2010-2013 then as enrollment fluctuated rejoined the 4A-1 from 2014-2017.

The addition of Huntsville to the 5A West benefits Farmington in two ways. The travel distance is reduced significantly. Instead of driving 179 miles, an almost 3-hour bus trip, to Maumelle, the Cardinals get a short, 35-mile, one hour road trip to Huntsville with the bulk of the drive time taken up in Fayetteville traffic.

“We traded Maumelle for Huntsville and that’s a big win for us as far as a trip,” Adams said. “We’re going to Huntsville this year so it’ll be a lot easier to drive over there than to drive all the way to Little Rock.”

Huntsville has not been as nearly consistent in fielding competitive football teams as the majority of

the 5A West. The Eagles haven’t recorded a win over Farmington in over a decade while the Cardinals have a combined 4-year league record of 9-19. Adams sees the close proximity of the schools as creating a natural rivalry.

“Every year that I’ve been here we’ve played them,” Adams said. “Probably after this cycle I would imagine they’ll come back into our schedule as our natural rival because, as I mentioned, they are our rival, somebody we’ve played forever so after these two years that will probably work out for us.”

FARMINGTON CARDINALS

Aug. 24: Open

Aug. 31: at Prairie Grove: 7 p.m. Sept. 7: Gravette: 7 p.m. Sept. 14: at Pea Ridge: 7 p.m.

Sept. 21: at Clarksville*:

7 p.m.

Sept. 28: Alma*: 7 p.m. Oct. 5: Greenbrier*: 7 p.m. Oct. 12: at Vilonia*: 7 p.m. Oct. 19: at Huntsville*: 7 p.m.

Oct. 26: Morrilton*: 7 p.m. Nov. 2: Harrison*: 7 p.m. * — 5A-West Conference game

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Farmington senior tackle Chuck Carlson (6-1, 325) is a returning starter, who makes his presence known on both sides of the football. The Cardinals are gearing up for their season-opener Aug. 31 on the road at rival Prairie Grove.

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Farmington senior linebacker Jacob Freeman has seen a lot of varsity action since drawing spot duty as a sophomore. He figures to be heavily involved in the Cardinal defensive scheme.