Bentonville’s 36-game regular season winning streak is gone. So is its 19-game home winning streak.
One streak remains. Bentonville has won 26 consecutive conference games entering the 7A/6A-West opener against No. 3 Springdale Har-Ber (2-1) tonight at Tiger Stadium in Bentonville.
“It’s a new season,” Bentonville Coach Barry Lunney said. “Thank goodness.”
The Tigers, No. 2 overall, emerged from a demanding nonconference schedule 1-2.
Bentonville opened with a 24-21 victory at Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst before losing home games to Broken Arrow, Okla. (24-17) and Euless (Texas) Trinity 21-13.
“I think we’re probably where we should be,” Lunney said, referring to Bentonville’s record.
Lunney said his inexperienced cornerbacks have struggled at times, but overall the Tigers have played well defensively. Bentonville is allowing an average of 272 total yards per game.
Lunney said Bentonville is committed to sophomore Kasey Ford at quarterback. Lunney said Ford is almost 6-5 and has a chance to develop into a coveted college recruiting prospect.
Bentonville hasn’t lost a conference game since Oct. 2,2009, at Fort Smith Southside (31-21). The Tigers have won or shared six consecutive conference championships.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK Playing after Day
Top-ranked North Little Rock (2-1) plays its first game without standout senior tailback Juan Day tonight at home against Cabot (3-0) in the 7A/6A-East opener.
Day, who has orally committed to Arkansas, is out for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during last week’s 35-14 victory at Pine Bluff.
Day had rushed for more than 100 yards in the first two games this fall and had scored two first quarter touchdowns against Pine Bluff before being injured.
“He’ll bounce back and be even stronger,” North Little Rock Coach Brad Bolding said. “His work ethic is second to none.”
Bolding said several players will be asked to shoulder the load in Day’s absence, including junior Fabian Lewis and senior Deon Tidwell, a three-year starter at fullback. Lewis, who returned several kickoffs for touchdowns last fall, has outstanding speed.
Day’s younger brother, freshman Alex Day, also had some carries last week against Pine Bluff.
“It all starts up front,” Bolding said. “The reason Juan had so much success was holes were being opened up.”
Heralded junior K.J. Hill was used at tailback at times last fall when he played for Bryant, but Bolding said Hill will likely remain at wideout because “he’s so good in space.”
North Little Rock beat Cabot twice last fall, including 28-0 in a quarterfinal playoff game at North Little Rock Stadium. The Panthers are No. 6 overall.
EXTRA POINTS
Springdale Har-Ber Coach Chris Wood recorded his 100th career victory last Friday night.
… Last Friday was a mixed bag for Camden Fairview Coach Buck James. Fairview won its 17th consecutive game with a 32-7 victory over Warren. But the coach’s namesake, Buck James, a 2-year-old colt owned by Michael Hui of Little Rock, finished eighth in his career debut at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Buck James - the coach - and Hui are longtime friends. … North Little Rock has already contacted officials at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock about the possibility of playing home games there next fall if the school’s new on-campus stadium isn’t completed, stadium Manager Charlie Staggs said.
Playing games on Thursday would be an option, Staggs said, because War Memorial is also Little Rock Catholic’s longtime home.
North Little Rock is playing its final season in North Little Rock Stadium this fall. … Defending Class 3A state champion Harding Academy (3-0) goes for its 32nd consecutive conference victory tonight at home against Episcopal Collegiate (3-0). It’s the longest active conference winning streak in the state. Harding Academy hasn’t lost a conference game since Oct. 17, 2008, when it was beaten 16-7 by Mayflower
Sports, Pages 22 on 09/27/2013