Commentary

Fires: Har-Ber Geared Up For Opening Night

What's so special about an 0-2 team returning home after losing badly on the road?

If you've seen Springdale Har-Ber's new football stadium, you know.

Har-Ber will open its stadium tonight against Conway, which eliminated the Wildcats from the playoffs last season. The completion of the $5.5 million facility has been a long-term goal for Har-Ber, which shared Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium with Springdale High the previous eight years.

Unlike Rogers High, Har-Ber didn't get its own stadium when the Springdale school district split in 2006. In the early years, the Wildcats either loaded up on buses for the trip across town or held practices in an open field next to the school. They later upgraded with an indoor facility and a full-sized artificial turf backed by a mound of dirt on the west side.

Finally tonight, the Wildcats will debut in a nearly 5,000-seat stadium with the familiar white picket fence surrounding the field.

Conway opened the season with a 24-22 win over Cabot then outscored Jonesboro 49-28 last week. The Wampus Cats are led by junior quarterback Breylin Smith and 6-foot-6 senior tackle Colton Jackson, who is committed to Arkansas.

Har-Ber has given up over 1,000 yards in two games and the Wildcat offense lost three of four fumbles and had an interception in last week's defeat at Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst. Those drive-killers must stop for the Wildcats to have a chance against any team on their schedule.

It would be easy to pick against Har-Ber, which has been outscored 88-35 in two games. The Wildcats haven't stopped anyone yet and they lost 52-42 the last time they faced Conway.

Yet, there's something special about opening night and the Har-Ber program has been too good to start 0-3.

Rick's Pick: Springdale Har-Ber

Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).

Class 7A

Rogers Heritage at NAVASOTA, TEXAS

Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic at BENTONVILLE

FAYETTEVILLE at Muskogee, Okla.

Rogers High at JEFFERSON CITY, MO.

Greenwood at FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE

Springdale at BIXBY, OKLA.

FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE at Lake Hamilton

Class 6A

Siloam Springs at CLAREMORE, OKLA.

Class 5A

VAN BUREN at Farmington

Class 4A

Victory Christian (Okla.) at SHILOH CHRISTIAN

West Fork at PRAIRIE GROVE

GRAVETTE at Jay, Okla.

LINCOLN at Cedarville

HUNTSVILLE at Elkins

Class 3A

PEA RIDGE at Paris

GREENLAND at Gentry

Class 2A

Decatur at MOUNTAINBURG

Last Week: 14-4 (77 percent)

Overall: 26-7 (78 percent)

Sports on 09/19/2014

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