COMMENTARY

Football: Bentonville begins another march to War Memorial Stadium

Do the state playoffs represent the last hurrah for a Bentonville football program that's won five state championships since 2001?

It would seem so when you consider Bentonville will field two teams with the arrival of Bentonville West in 2016. The Tigers have been so dominant in all sports that its doubles teams in tennis played each other recently for the conference and state championships. But losing half of its athletes to a new school will affect Bentonville's depth and experience, at least for a while.

Just ask Springdale High and Rogers High, which is still trying to recover after losing 23-22 to Fort Smith Southside in the state championship game in 2006.

Bentonville (9-1) certainly has the ability to win a third consecutive championship, especially with senior Kasey Ford at quarterback. The Tigers have beaten some good teams and their only loss, 31-21, came at Springdale Har-Ber, which is No. 1 in Class 7A.

Bentonville is 4-1 since 2006 against North Little Rock, but the Charging Wildcats (7-4) may not be the same type team that's wilted in the playoffs in recent years. North Little Rock has won seven consecutive games under Jamie Mitchell, who took over this season after former coach Brad Bolding was dismissed.

North Little Rock surprised many by the way it dominated Fort Smith Northside 35-0 last week. The Charging Wildcats held Northside out of the end zone and displayed their offensive ability with scoring drives of 67, 77, and 75 yards.

Bentonville is at home and the Tigers are well-rested after receiving a first-round bye for the playoffs. North Little Rock is dangerous, but the Charging Wildcats haven't faced a defense as good as the one they'll see tonight.

Bentonville's march to War Memorial Stadium is sure to become less frequent, but it won't end tonight against North Little Rock.

RICK'S PICK Bentonville

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

CLASS 7A

Fort Smith Southside at CABOT

FAYETTEVILLE at Bryant

Conway at SPRINGDALE HAR-BER

CLASS 4A

Ashdown at PRAIRIE GROVE

Shiloh Christian at NASHVILLE

PULASKI ROBINSON at Pea Ridge

CLASS 3A

Greenland at PRESCOTT

LAST WEEK 8-2 (80 percent)

OVERALL 136-35 (79 percent)

Sports on 11/20/2015

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