Were you ever so good at something as a child your mother would stop the game and say it was time for somebody else to win?
Didn’t happen to me, for sure, but it does happen.
Teams from the 7A-West have been so dominant in the playoffs that folks who follow football closely in Arkansas say it’d be good if someone else won for a change. It could happen tonight in a central Arkansas vs. Northwest Arkansas showdown for the championship in Class 7A.
Teams from Northwest Arkansas have taken turns bringing home the championship trophies, starting in 2005 with a dominating performance by the Springdale Bulldogs. The streak reached 11 consecutive last year when Fayetteville beat Springdale Har-Ber 28-7 in an all-7AWest final.
Fayetteville has won four state championships since 2007 and Bentonville five state titles since 2001. The league’s stranglehold on the championship has been so complete that it would’ve been more convenient to hold some championship games at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville instead of War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
That question wasn’t even being asked this year with the emergence of North Little Rock (12-0), the state’s No. 1-ranked team. The Charging Wildcats are legit despite a history of failures with talented teams in the playoffs. Fayetteville (11-1) is back to defend its title with only a league loss to Bentonville on its impressive resume.
What’s not to like about the Bulldogs?
I jumped on Fayetteville’s bandwagon after watching the Bulldogs shut down Har-Ber on its home field. Quarterback Taylor Powell will make his final appearance in a Fayetteville uniform before heading to Wake Forest to play football next season. The crowd at War Memorial will also enjoy watching receiver Barrett Bannister and defensive lineman Akiel Byers, the state’s top recruit who is committed to Alabama. North Little Rock will counter with a slew of athletes, including senior Alex Day, a three-year starter at running back for the Charging Wildcats.
I agree it would be better for the highest classification in Arkansas if a team from outside the 7A-West finally won one in football. But the Bulldogs like better the idea of bringing home another state championship.
RICK’S PICK Fayetteville
Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).
CLASS 6A
RUSSELLVILLE vs. Greenwood
CLASS 4A
Shiloh Christian at PEA RIDGE
Wa r re n at P RA I R I E GROVE
CLASS 3A
Glen Rose at CHARLESTON
LAST WEEK 5-1 (83 percent)
OVERALL 157-43 (79 percent)
Rick Fires can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter@NWARick.