Today's Matchups

Fuller Chandler, who transferred to Springdale Har-Ber from crosstown Springdale High, will lead the Wildcats against nationally ranked Webb City, Mo., tonight at Wildcat Stadium.
Fuller Chandler, who transferred to Springdale Har-Ber from crosstown Springdale High, will lead the Wildcats against nationally ranked Webb City, Mo., tonight at Wildcat Stadium.

Rogers High at Siloam Springs

Panther Stadium

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Season opener for both teams.

ON THE AIR Siloam Springs -- www.siloamspringstv.com; Rogers High KURM-AM 790.

BETWEEN THE LINES Rogers senior Sage White switches from slotback to fullback and will form a potent 1-2 punch at the position with Christian Brummett. ... Kicker Chris Lopez has a strong leg and has been consistent with kickoffs, field goals and PATs in the preseason. ... Junior Max Horton will start at linebacker after not playing football as a sophomore. ... Defensive backs Jay Young and Tony Roller and safety Joel Carrasco were all starters last season. ... Siloam Springs senior quarterback Jordan Norberg will make his first varsity start. ... Senior running back Ricky Hughes had more than 700 yards of offense last season, 613 rushing and 118 receiving. ... Hughes, lineman Aric Sislo and wide receivers Gus Wright, Coby Roach and Matt Downing are two-way starters for Siloam Springs. ... Siloam Springs is 0-3 against Rogers the last three seasons, losing 34-21 in 2012 at Rogers, 38-14 in 2013 at Siloam Springs, and 35-21 at Rogers last season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Rogers -- QB Jospeh Sultemeier (Sr., 6-2, 220), OL Luis Salas (Sr., 6-1, 250), FB Sage White (Sr., 5-10, 180), K Chris Lopez (Jr, 5-10, 220), LB Max Horton (Jr., 6-1, 210), DB Jay Young (Sr., 5-10, 180), DB Tony Roller (Sr., 6-1, 165). Siloam Springs -- QB Jordan Norberg (Sr., 5-10, 163), RB Ricky Hughes (Sr., 5-10, 151), WR Coby Roach (Sr., 5-10, 183), OL Aric Sislo (Sr., 6-2, 230), DL Kris Green (Sr., 5-11, 233), DE Chris Boyster (Sr., 6-2, 191), LB Gus Wright (Sr., 6-0, 193), S Matt Downing (Sr., 5-10, 183).

HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Rogers is No. 14 in Class 7A; Siloam Springs is No. 8 in Class 6A.

HOOTEN'S LINE Rogers by 13.

OUR TAKE Rogers 28, Siloam Springs 21

-- PAUL NIELSEN • @NWAPAUL

Bentonville at Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst

Dasta Memorial Stadium

KICKOFF 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS Bentonville is playing its season opener. Rockhurst is 1-1.

ON THE AIR www.bentonvillehssports.com

BETWEEN THE LINES Bentonville leads the series 2-1, but the last two games have been decided by three points or less. ... Tonight marks the head coaching debut of Bentonville's Jody Grant, who was promoted from defensive coordinator after Barry Lunney announced his retirement in January. ... The Tigers knocked off Owasso, Okla., 16-7 in its preseason scrimmage at Tulsa Union, thanks to three field goals by Hayden Moehring -- including a 50-yard kick. ... Rockhurst opened its season with a victory over Columbia RockBridge in a game played at Missouri, but dropped a 49-20 decision last week at Webb City, Mo. ... Hawklets RB A.J. Taylor, a Wisconsin commit, had a pair of touchdowns last week (a 15-yard run and an 83-yard pass reception) and will be utilized extensively during the game. ... Rockhurst will be without starting QB Tyler Benninghoff, an Arkansas baseball commit who suffered a separated shoulder while on defense during last week's game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Bentonville -- QB Kasey Ford (Sr., 6-5, 272), OL Jacob Clark (Sr., 6-2, 275), WR/DB Tyrone Mahone (Sr., 6-0, 170), ILB Brandon Atchison (Sr., 5-11, 219), ILB/RB David Nichols (Sr., 5-10, 196). Rockhurst -- RB A.J. Taylor (Sr., 6-0, 195), OL/DL Claudio Martin (Sr., 6-3, 250), Jacob Sykes (So., 6-4, 240), QB/LB Chance May (Jr., 6-1, 210)

HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Bentonville is No. 3 in Class 7A.

HOOTEN'S LINE Rockhurst by 10.

OUR TAKE Bentonville 28, Rockhurst 24.

-- HENRY APPLE • @NWAHenry

Rogers Heritage at Olathe (Kan.) North

Olathe District Activities Center

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Season opener for both teams.

ON THE AIR KHEL-FM 97.3

BETWEEN THE LINES Heritage will be missing starting linebacker Garrett Sheetz and defensive lineman Jed Wilson because of injuries. ... The War Eagles lost 18-13 to Olathe North last season in Gates Stadim as the visitors scored in the final seconds. ... Olathe North returns just six starters, and just two on defense, from a team that finished 11-1 and advanced to the Class 6A state semifinals last season. ... Senior quarterback Matt Wright spent last season as the backup for Olathe North, but rushed for 98 yards in last year's win over Heritage when their starter was injured in the first half. ... Senior S/WR Isaiah Simmons (6-3, 210) is a two-way starter and has several D-I offers including Missouri, Arizona State and Nebraska. ... Simmons intercepted a pass at the Olathe North 2 to turn away Heritage in last year's game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Heritage, QB Jake Qualls (Sr., 6-0, 200), LB/RB Joel Brackett (Sr., 6-0, 193), WR Collin Christian (Sr., 6-3, 190), RB Cameron Moss (Sr., 5-6, 180), DL Andy Mendoza (Sr., 6-2, 254), DL Conner Thomas (Jr., 6-0, 244). Olathe North, W/WR Isaiah Simmons (Sr., 6-3, 210, QB Matt Wright (Sr., 5-10, 180),

HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Heritage is No. 10 in Class 7A.

HOOTEN'S LINE Heritage by 4.

OUR TAKE Rogers Heritage 21, Olathe North 17.

-- PAUL BOYD • @NWAPAULB

Lawton (Okla.) Eisenhower at Fayetteville

Harmon Stadium

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Season opener for both teams.

ON THE AIR KQSM-FM 92.1.

BETWEEN THE LINES Lawton Ike hasn't produced a winning season since 2010. The Eagles are under the direction of second-year coach Danny Edelman, who had spent his head coaching career at several high schools in Texas before arriving in Lawton. ... Fayetteville is 11-1 in season openers under coach Daryl Patton. ... This is the second meeting between the two schools, with the Bulldogs winning last season's game, 45-38 in Lawton.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Eisenhower, WR Rico Bussey (Sr., 6-1, 185), C Gabe Moana (Sr., 6-1, 295), NG Juan Vint (Sr., 6-0, 240); Fayetteville, QB Taylor Powell (Jr., 6-2, 200), WR Barrett Banister (Jr, 6-0, 180), RB Luke Rapert (Sr., 5-9, 170), CB Kennedy Wade (Sr. 6-3, 180).

HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Fayetteville is No. 1 in Class 7A.

HOOTEN'S LINE Fayetteville by 15.

OUR TAKE Fayetteville 49, Lawton Eisenhower 28.

-- VERNON TARVER • @NWAVernon

Webb City, Mo. at Springdale Har-Ber

Wildcat Stadium

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Webb City (2-0); Har-Ber (0-0).

ON THE AIR Watch via the free Har-Ber NIAAA app or on the Springdale Public Schools YouTube channel.

BETWEEN THE LINES Webb City has won 30 consecutive games since losing to Har-Ber 42-35 at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium in Springdale in 2013. ... The defending 4A state champions in Missouri are ranked 19th nationally by USA Today. ... Senior quarterback Tyson Roderique leads a Webb City offense that rushes for 285 yards per game. Rodrique was 4-for-4 passing in last week's 49-20 victory over Class 6A Kansas City Rockhurst. ... Har-Ber will play Rockhurst in Week 2 at Wildcat Stadium. ... Senior Chandler Fuller will make his debut at quarterback for Har-Ber after transferring from Springdale High, where he was all-conference as a junior. .... Senior Luke Hannon returns for the Wildcats after leading the 7A-West in rushing last season with 1,498 yards and 13 touchdowns on 237 carries. ... Har-Ber went 3-8 last year, including a 42-13 loss at Webb City in the season-opener.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Har-Ber, QB Fuller Chandler (Sr., 6-2, 185), WR Trey Smith (Jr., 5-8, 155), RB Luke Hannon (Sr., 5-11, 190), DE David Vowell (Sr., 6-2, 230), DB Austin Henderson (Sr., 6-2, 195). Webb City, QB Tyson Rodrique (Sr., 6-0, 170), RB Keaton Burroughs (RB, 6-0, 195), RB Kaleb Potts (Sr., 5-10, 170), WR Derick Newby (Sr., 6-3, 180).

HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Har-Ber is No. 7 in Class 7A.

HOOTEN'S LINE Webb City by 8

OUR TAKE Webb City 42, Springdale Har-Ber 28

-- RICK FIRES • @NWARick

Springdale High at Greenwood

Smith-Robinson Stadium

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Season opener for both teams

ON THE AIR Watch via the free Springdale High NIAAA iPhone app or on the Springdale Public Schools YouTube channel.

BETWEEN THE LINES Springdale's Zak Clark makes his head coaching debut. ... Greenwood scored 49 unanswered points to turn a second-quarter deficit into a 56-26 win at Springdale in last year's opener, the programs' first meeting. ... Greenwood returns 10 starters, Springdale six. ... Greenwood RB Jordan Green ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns in last year's win. ... Springdale plans to use a three-RB rotation of juniors Erick Mendez and Lucky Bannavong and talented sophomore Jasey Medina. ... Springdale junior WR Kyler Williams is set to be the team's top offensive weapon after catching eight passes as a sophomore on the top passing offense in the conference. ... Greenwood has worked three QBs, junior Luke Hales and sophomores Easton Barrett and Connor Noland, throughout the spring and summer. ... Springdale went 1-1 in scrimmages, losing 16-0 to Russellville before beating Shiloh Christian 21-14. Greenwood lost 42-35 to Fayetteville in its scrimmage.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Springdale -- QB Jack Lindsey (Sr., 6-4, 180), RB Erick Mendez (Jr., 5-9, 175), WR Kyler Williams (Jr., 5-9, 155), WR Hunter Necessary (Sr., 5-9, 170), DE Chris Arrvelo (Jr., 6-0, 215), DT Francisco Araujo (Jr., 6-2, 285), CB Malcolm Neal (Sr., 5-9, 145), WS Gavin Schmidt (Sr., 5-9, 160). Greenwood -- RB Jordan Green (Sr., 5-10, 185), WR Ryan Padilla (Sr., 6-2, 165), WR Jax Burgess (Sr., 6-1 ,150), OT Parker Didier (Jr., 6-1, 265), NG Gunnar White (Sr., 5-9, 230), DL Peyton Noland (Sr., 6-2, 220), LB Grant Morgan (Sr., 5-11, 215), LB Drew Dundee (Jr., 6-0, 200).

HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Springdale is No. 15 in Class 7A. Greenwood is No. 2 in Class 6A.

HOOTEN'S LINE Greenwood by 14.

OUR TAKE Greenwood 35, Springdale 20.

-- Jimmy Carter • @nwajimmy

Sports on 09/04/2015

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