Rogers Coach Shawn Flannigan was discussing the quality of play in the 7A-West Conference last week when he pointed out some upsets in the league.
“This is as good a conference as I’ve ever been around,” said Flannigan, who coached last season in Missouri. “Springdale loses to Fayetteville, then goes to Fort Smith and beats Southside, then Southside goes on the road and beats Fayetteville. It’s crazy.
“You have to bring your ‘A’ game every week in this league or you’re going to get beat.”
Now Flannigan can add Southside’s 38-31 victory over defending state champion Springdale Har-Ber to the list of upsets.
Har-B er was 7-0 and ranked No. 1 overall Friday night when the Wildcats were ambushed on Fort Smith Southside’s homefield. It may be a stretch to call Southside’s victory an upset, considering the Rebels are a seven-time state champion in Arkansas’ highest classification, but Southside had lost badly to Bentonville and Springdale before winning against Fayetteville and Har-Ber.
Bentonville is now No. 1 and the lone undefeated team in the 7 A-West Conference heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. The Tigers hope to win at Springdale this week before facing Har-Ber at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium in Week 10.
Bentonville was 9-0 two years ago when the Tigers lost to Har-Ber, and Har-Ber was 9-0 last season when the Wildcats lost to the Tigers.
Crazy?
Perhaps. But it’s a whole lot of fun for those of us who enjoy high school football.
There is also plenty of excitement in the 5A-West, where Greenwood hasfought its way back into a three-way tie with Greenbrier and Alma for the league lead.
That looked improbable five weeks ago when the Bulldogs lost 38-31 to Siloam Springs to open conference play. But Greenwood has won four consecutive games, including Friday’s impressive 49-21 victory at Vilonia.
Shiloh Christian must get past improving Ozark in the 1-4A Conference, while Booneville will attempt to hold off Mena in the 4-4A. Charleston and Mansfieldare headed for a collision in 4-3A, and Elkins can force a three-way tie for first place in the 1-3A Conference if the Elks defeat West Fork this week.
Oh, and don’t forget Magazine, which will be in position to win the championship in 4-2A if it can avoid losing to Mountainburg.
It’s fun trying to predict what will happen over the next two weeks, but the different scenarios leave us with one final question.
Is it Friday yet?
E-mail Rick Fires at
Sports, Pages 30 on 10/24/2010