Red’Dogs Dealing With Allen, Injuries
SPRINGDALE — Springdale High coach Shane Patrick knows his defense must do one thing in particular when it faces Fayetteville on Friday.
The Red’Dogs (2-2, 0-1 7A/6A-West Conference) must apply pressure on quarterback Austin Allen and prevent the four-star recruit from getting into much of a rhythm.
“You’ve got to try to make him uncomfortable if you can,” Patrick said. “Nobody has done it yet.”
Making things tougher for Springdale, all three of its starting defensive linemen are nursing injuries. Defensive ends Jay Patrick and Jesus Leon hurt their shoulders in last week’s 47-42 loss at Rogers High, and nose guard Luis Avila is questionable after suffering a knee injury.
Shane Patrick said he expects all three defensive linemen to be ready to play against Fayetteville. Jay Patrick has been a force on defense this season, and the 5-foot-8, 205-pound senior could be critical in trying to disrupt Fayetteville’s high-powered offense.
“We’ve got to be able to match their physicality,” Shane Patrick said. “They’re going to try to be physical with us, and we’ve got to be physical. We played a physical ball game last week.”
—ALEX ABRAMS
Mounties Battling Injuries
ROGERS — Rogers High’s powerful running game may undergo some changes Friday night when the Mounties travel to Van Buren for a 7A/6A-West game.
Rogers fullback Preston Young suffered a sprained ankle in the Mounties’ 47-42 win against Springdale High last week. Young gained 131 yards and scored three touchdowns before being injured. He is averaging almost a 100 yards per game rushing.
Slot back Brandon Workman has missed the last two weeks with an ankle injury, but may play Friday.
Young was in a protective boot Monday and did not practice Tuesday
“Preston is sore, but I think he will be OK,” Rogers coach Shawn Flannigan said. “I think by Friday, he will be OK. I can’t say for sure, but I think he will play. It is not a high ankle sprain.”
If Young can’t play, Ty Galyean will take on a more expanded role at fullback. Galyean has primarily lined up at slot back and he has rushed for 198 yards, including 102 yards on six carries against Springdale.
Austin Pinkerton and Zach Arrick could also see time at fullback. If Galyean starts at slot back, Chase Lamers, who also starts in the secondary, could see time with the offense at slot back.
Safety Zack Wary (ankle) has also missed the last two games and may not return until the Fayetteville game on Oct. 12. Linebacker Bryan Gibby is also questionable for Friday’s game.
—PAUL NIELSEN
War Eagles Ready For Wildcats
ROGERS — Rogers Heritage coach Perry Escalante acknowledged his team just couldn’t compete with Springdale Har-Ber the past two seasons.
It showed on the scoreboard as the Wildcats beat the War Eagles by a combined score of 105-7. Heritage is 0-4 in its short school history against Har-Ber, but Escalante said Friday’s game at Gates Stadium should be much more interesting.
Heritage (4-0, 1-0 7A/6A-West Conference) has a chance to equal the school’s best start of 5-0 with a win. This year’s team has already been drawing some comparisons to the only other team that started 5-0 in 2009. That team finished 9-3 in the school’s second year of existence.
Escalante said the War Eagles had a chance to defeat Har-Ber that year, but a late interception cost them.
“We threw a pick on the goal-line there and lost in overtime,” Escalante said. "That was on us. We felt like we matched up pretty well." Heritage will be without senior defensive lineman Waylon Wylie for the remainder of the season, Escalante said. Wylie, who saw action as a backup, suffered a knee injury in the second half of last week’s win over Siloam Springs.
-PAUL BOYD
Wildcats Face Another Tough Assignment
The challenge for Springdale Har-Ber doesn’t get much easier following its 28-7 defeat to nationally ranked Bentonville.
The Wildcats (1-3, 0-1 7A/6A-West Conference) must travel to Rogers Heritage (4-0, 1-0), which opened league play with a 70-21 victory over Siloam Springs. Heritage piled up 608 yards of offense, including 327 yards passing by Josh Qualls and 232 yards receiving by Forrest Johnson.
“That’s an unbelievable combination with Qualls throwing to Forrest Johnson,” Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. “They move Johnson around a lot to get him touches, so we’ve got to be aware of where he is at all times.
“Playing Bentonville and Rogers Heritage back-to-back is tough, but that’s just the way it is in the 7A(6A)-West.”
Har-Ber hopes for an improved offensive performance after being held to 132 total yards by Bentonville’s standout defense. The Tigers mostly shut the Wildcats down after quarterback Kyle Pianalto broke loose for a 53-yard touchdown run on the fifth play of the game.
—RICK FIRES
Tigers Lose Lineman For Rest Of Season
The loss of senior left tackle Trevor Foster means a young Bentonville offensive line has become even younger.
Foster, the lone returning starter from last year’s offensive line, suffered a knee injury during the Tigers’ first possession of last week’s game at Springdale Har-Ber and is out for the remainder of the year.
“We’re certainly very disappointed for him,” Bentonville coach Barry Lunney said. “First and foremost, he had played well and prepared himself. He had a solid offseason and got himself better.
“It’s really an unfortunate part of this game, especially for a senior because it ends your year prematurely. We love him, and we hurt for him.”
Sophomore Ean Pfeifer, who previously started at right tackle, will fill the void caused by Foster’s injury. Aaron Risenhoover, who began the season as the Tigers’ starting right guard, will take over at right tackle.
Junior Jackson Hannah is now the starting right guard, a position he has manned since taking over for an injured Risenhoover during the Sept. 14 game at Broken Arrow, Okla.
—HENRY APPLE
Panthers Face Long Odds
Siloam Springs knew the move up to the 7A-6A-West would be a tall task.
Coming off a 70-21 loss to Rogers Heritage in last week’s conference opener, the road doesn’t get any easier Friday as the Panthers travel to Bentonville.
The Tigers, who have a 20-game conference winning streak, are ranked No. 19 nationally by Rivals.com. With its national and state rankings, Bentonville is arguably the most decorated team Siloam Springs has ever played, coach Bryan Ross said.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt about that,” Ross said. “They’re what everybody says they are. Of course, we’ve been to team camp with them the last couple of years, so we know how good they are.
“You look at them, and there’s not really any weakness anywhere. We know it’s going to be a tremendous challenge.”
Siloam Springs could be without several starters in Friday’s game. Senior quarterback Austin Van Poucke was still sore from back spasms and didn’t practice Monday or Tuesday. Sophomore Chris Lampton would start at quarterback if Van Poucke can’t go.
Defensive linemen David Zamora and Juan Peraza are also questionable, Ross said.
—GRAHAM THOMAS
Fayetteville Getting Healthier
Senior tailback Brice Gahagans suffered a knee injury last Friday that will force him to miss the next two to three weeks, but other Bulldogs are getting closer to returning for this week’s Battle of the Bulldogs.
Linebacker Brooks Ellis and defensive back Terrell Thomas are “50-50” for Friday’s game, Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. Patton believes both Ellis and Thomas — who have missed the last two weeks — will be able to dress out.
“We hope they’ll be able to play,” Patton said.
Offensive lineman Nick Cornell (ankle) is still about a week away from returning, Patton said.
“We’re not all the way back to being healthy,” Patton said. “But we’re getting closer.”
Fayetteville and Springdale will meet for the 113th Battle of the Bulldogs on Friday at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium.
“I know with Springdale Har-Ber and with Bentonville coming up it’s not as big of a deal to some,” Patton said. “But it’s still a huge deal. It’s a huge deal to our alumni, and it will always be a big game for us.”
—VERNON TARVER