Have you ever had a wife or girlfriend leave you only to return knocking on your door months later?
Me neither. But the reunion can be wonderful, so I hear.
Just don't expect to see any red roses exchanged when Fayetteville welcomes Fort Smith Northside to Harmon Field tonight. Northside comes storming back into the league with a 3-0 record that includes a 42-17 beat down of Greenwood last week.
Fayetteville is also 3-0 and determined not to be pushed around at home by the Grizzlies.
Northside and Fort Smith Southside are back in the 7A-West after two years in the 7A/6A-Central. The two Fort Smith schools are thrilled by the move and teams from Northwest Arkansas are glad to have them back.
Reunited, just like the old days.
Northside has always had more athletes walking the hallways than any team in the league. Grizzlies coach Mike Falleur, a Northside graduate, has gotten them onto the field and excited about football again.
The Northside talent pool starts with Daytreon Dean, a 6-foot-4 defensive end, who is committed to Arkansas. There's also running back Justin Curry, who's received offers from Purdue and Connecticut, and Koindre Thomas and Keyshawn Dorsey, who each returned kickoffs more than 90 yards against Greenwood last week.
Fayetteville is led by tight end C.J. O'Grady, who'll join Dean at Arkansas next season. Fayetteville beat Muskogee, Okla., 24-10 last week without O'Grady catching a pass.
That says something about Fayetteville's talent level, but O'Grady must be more involved for the Bulldogs to beat Northside. Fayetteville beat North Little Rock at home in Week 2 and I think the Charging Wildcats are better than the Grizzlies.
Rick's Pick: Fayetteville
Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).
Class 7A
BENTONVILLE at Fort Smith Southside
Springdale Har-Ber at ROGERS
ROGERS HERITAGE at Springdale
CLASS 6A
CONWAY at Siloam Springs
Class 5A
Little Rock Christian at FARMINGTON
Class 4A
Berryville at SHILOH CHRISTIAN
PEA RIDGE at Gentry
GRAVETTE at Lincoln
Huntsville at PRAIRIE GROVE
Class 3A
Cedarville at GREENLAND
Yellville-Summit at ELKINS
Marshall at GREEN FOREST
Mountain View at WEST FORK
Class 2A
Decatur at HACKETT
Last Week: 12-6 (66 percent)
Overall: 38-13 (75 percent)
Sports on 09/26/2014