Rivalry Game Looms Large For Springdale

Springdale still controls its own playoff destiny.

The Bulldogs (5-4, 3-3 7A/6A-West) can clinch a playoff spot with a win over crosstown rival Springdale Har-Ber in the regular-season finale. But it won’t be an easy task as the Wildcats enter with momentum after beating previously-undefeated Fayetteville 34-31 in overtime Friday.

Springdale has held a halftime lead in each of the last three meetings, but Har-Ber has won six straight in the series since 2006.

“We’ve got to be able to finish every game we play,” Springdale coach Shane Patrick said. “We’ve got to be able to go do that Friday night against those guys. We’ve had the edge at halftime for three years and they’ve made plays and we haven’t. So we’ve got to be able to go out and make plays for four quarters to have a chance to beat a good football team.”

Springdale can still qualify for the playoffs if it loses but Rogers Heritage (5-4, 3-3) beats Rogers (6-3, 3-3) in another regular-season finale rivalry game. Springdale owns the tiebreaker over Rogers thanks to a 32-28 home win on Sept. 27.

Springdale would miss the playoffs if it lost and Rogers beat Heritage.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Punter Sam Kennedy continued his solid play. The senior averaged 43.8 yards on four punts and had two downed inside the 20-yard line, including a 49-yarder downed at the Bentonville 5-yard line in the second quarter.

PLAY OF THE NIGHT: Springdale senior safety Cua Rose blocked Bentonville kicker Bennett Moehring’s 50-yard field goal attempt early in the first quarter to preserve a scoreless tie.

INJURY UPDATE: Senior tight end Josiah Wymer (forearm) should be able to play against Har-Ber, Patrick said. Junior tackle Jose Ambriz’s (knee) status is uncertain. Junior cornerback Chris Owens missed the game with a broken thumb, but Patrick said he thinks he will play Friday.

NOTABLE: Deandre Murray rushed for a season-low 58 yards on 15 carries, just the second time he’s been held to less than 100 yards in the eight games he’s played. He finished with 79 yards on 16 carries in the Bixby loss. … Springdale threw two interceptions while Bentonville didn’t commit a turnover. It marked just the second time this year the Bulldogs lost the turnover battle (Fayetteville). … Springdale was 1 of 13 on third down and 1 of 4 on fourth down.

UP NEXT: Springdale will try to earn its first win against Har-Ber since beating the Wildcats 40-8 in 2006, which was Har-Ber’s first year as a program. Har-Ber won last year’s meeting 31-17. The Wildcats locked up a playoff spot with their win over Fayetteville.

THAT FIGURES

128 — Yards of total offense Friday, a season-low. The previous season-low was 214 against Bixby.

1,381 — Rushing yards this season for Springdale senior running back Deandre Murray. He is nearing the 1,443 yards he ran for last season.

1 — Touchdown scored against Bentonville since 2008. The Tigers have outscored the Bulldogs 219-7 the last five seasons.

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