BIG 7 NOTEBOOK: Tough Opposition Has Prepared ’Dogs

Tough Opposition Has Tigers Ready For League Play

Bentonville coach Barry Lunney believes his football team received just what it needed from its three nonconference opponents in order to have the Tigers ready for 7A/6A-West Conference play. Bentonville opens conference play Friday at Springdale Har-Ber.

“Without a doubt, you see areas where we were tested,” Lunney said. “Obviously, we played some talented football teams. They were well-coached teams, just like we will see in our league.

“That was the objective. We found, number one, games for our kids, but also find games that will prepare you for what you’ll see in conference play.”

Lunney said there was no shocking revelations about his team after the three nonconference victories over Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst, Broken Arrow, Okla., and South Panola, Miss. One thing that did catch his eye was the play of his receivers.

Junior Jimmie Jackson leads the Tigers with 10 receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown. Trey Perkins has seven catches for 127 yards and a score, followed by Cody Scroggins with five and tight end Jack Kraus with four.

“They have done well, maybe to a degree exceeded our early expectations,” Lunney said. “We thought that, in time, they would be good, but they have made some big plays early.

“That’s a real positive to us. They’ve caught the ball; they’ve run good routes, and they’ve blocked well. Those are some of the things, especially against good competition, that I was really glad to see.”

— HENRY APPLE

Wildcats Must Avoid Mistakes

Springdale Har-Ber (1-2) knows it must continue to cut down on mistakes to have a chance against top-ranked Bentonville (3-0) in a 7A/6A-West Conference opener Friday at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium.

The Wildcats did that last week when they went from six turnovers the previous game to none during a 10-7 victory over Fort Smith Southside. It was the first victory for Har-Ber after consecutive defeats at Webb City, Mo. and Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge.

“You’ve almost got to play a perfect game when you’re dealing with Bentonville,” said Har-Ber coach Chris Wood, whose team had three interceptions and three fumbles in the loss at Rock Bridge. “Our first two weeks we turned the ball over and put ourselves in bad positions but, fortunately against Southside, we were a lot cleaner offensively and defensively. The game came down to those last few possessions and we executed when we needed to.”

Tucker Lee rushed for 140 yards and scored Har-Ber’s only touchdown.

“Bentonville will play anybody and they represent our state really well,” Wood said. “What stands out is that they’re so system-sound. They formation you to death on offense and execute it almost to perfection. On defense, they do their job individually, which makes that unit as a whole unbelievable. They are never out of position.”

— RICK FIRES

Tough Schedule Prepares Purple’Dogs

Two losses in nonconference against tough competition has Fayetteville more than ready to begin 7A/6A-West Conference play.

The Bulldogs dropped back-to-back games to begin the season, 42-20 to Memphis University School, and 49-39 at Jefferson City, Mo. in Week 2. While Fayetteville did bounce back with a 55-14 win against Muskogee, Okla. last Friday, coach Daryl Patton believes the first two opponents could be the best preparation his team has ever faced leading into the conference.

“I say this with all respect to Bentonville, Springdale Har-Ber and the rest of the teams in the league. But I don’t know if we’re going to see anybody better than those teams,” Patton said. “MUS and Jefferson City were excellent football teams.

“We feel like we’re more prepared now than we’ve been. But we do have to get healthy and there still are things we have to clean up.”

Fayetteville (1-2) faces Van Buren (1-2) at Harmon Field on Friday. The Pointers are back in the conference for the first time in five years.

Patton said linebacker Brooks Ellis (kneecap), defensive back Terrell Thomas (knee) and offensive lineman Nick Cornell (foot) are all still doubtful for Friday’s game.

— VERNON TARVER

Parsons Fills Key Role For Mounties

Rogers High will again be without safety Zack Wary, and slot back Brandon Workman is doubtful when the Mounties host Springdale High on Friday night in the 7A/6A-West Conference opener. Both players suffered ankle injuries the second week of the season against Tahlequah, Okla.

“They are doing better, but not great,” Rogers coach Shawn Flannigan said. “Brandon is coming along nicely, but Zack is still a ways off.”

Jake Parsons filled in for Wary in last week’s 64-28 win against Fort Smith Northside and Flannigan was pleased with the junior’s play against the pass-happy Grizzlies.

“Jake did really well,” Flannigan said. “For a guy that has only had spot varsity experience, he did very well. You are going to find out in a hurry if you can cover in the passing game against Northside. He didn’t give up too many players in the middle, and he certainly didn’t give up anything deep.”

Rogers will be looking for its first 4-0 start since 2006 when the Bulldogs visit Mountie Stadium. Rogers last beat Springdale in 2007 (45-13).

— PAUL NIELSEN

War Eagles Creating Turnovers

Rogers Heritage coach Perry Escalante has said all along his defense is much improved over a year ago and the numbers bear that out after three weeks.

The War Eagles are 3-0 heading into the 7A/6A-West Conference opener at Siloam Springs on Friday night. The Heritage defense has almost as many take aways through the first three games as it did all of last season.

The War Eagles have intercepted 10 passes and recovered four fumbles for a total of 14 takeaways. Heritage managed just 17 takeaways all of last season, finishing 1-9.

“That’s great. That gives you a chance to win,” Escalante said. “People just out-ran us and out-muscled us last year. We’re able to match up a lot better this year.”

Escalante said a stronger defensive front anchored by Colby Isbell and Carson Scott is one reason for the higher number of interceptions.

Isbell ranks second on the team with 23 tackles to go with two sacks, two fumble recoveries and seen quarterback hurries.

“We’re able to get pressure up front on the quarterback where we weren’t getting that last year,” Escalante said. “They could just sit back there and pick us apart.”

Junior safety Daniel Spickes leads the secondary with four interceptions, while Dalton McKaughn has two picks.

— PAUL BOYD

Bulldogs Will Be One Running Back Short

Springdale High coach Shane Patrick has relied on several running backs — as well as a running quarterback — to carry his offense this season.

But the Bulldogs (2-1) will again be without one of their top tailbacks when they travel to Rogers High (3-0) for Friday’s 7A/6A-West Conference opener.

Senior Colton Greenwood is expected to miss his second consecutive game after suffering a concussion in practice last week. He had been Springdale’s starting running back, rushing for 111 yards and three touchdowns before sitting out last week’s 22-7 loss at Bixby, Okla.

“Whenever he can come back, we’ll have him,” Patrick said, adding that he’s not sure when Greenwood will be cleared to return to action. “But I don’t look for him to play this week.”

Greenwood played on Springdale’s junior varsity team last season before being sidelined with a concussion.

Sophomore Ian Crawford will likely get the start at running back against Rogers, though explosive junior Deandre Murray could get plenty of carries. Murray is Springdale’s leading rusher with 43 carries for 321 yards and four touchdowns, but the team must regroup following a poor offensive performance at Bixby.

— ALEX ABRAMS

Panthers Hope To Avoid Shootout

The one thing Siloam Springs does not want to do Friday is get into a shootout with Rogers Heritage, said Panthers coach Bryan Ross.

It worked last season against the War Eagles, as Siloam Springs (1-2) rolled up 495 yards of offense in a 45-35 win.

“We can’t go into the game expecting to score 45 on them this year,” Ross said. “We’re different. They’re different. I think we need to do what we did Friday night, which is take care of the ball, have a high completion percentage, move the stick and when we get a chance to make a big play, make it.”

Senior quarterback Austin Van Poucke passed for a career high 339 yards and accounted for four touchdowns in last week’s 35-14 win at Gravette.

The War Eagles feature several playmakers who had big games against the Panthers last year, including junior quarterback Josh Qualls, who passed for 310 yards against Siloam Springs a year ago.

Senior wide receiver Forrest Johnson had a big game against the Panthers last season, rushing seven times for 155 yards along with catching six receptions for 142 yards.

— GRAHAM THOMAS

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