Wynne Coach Chris Hill isn't looking at Morrilton's No. 4 seed in the Class 5A playoffs.
"On the field, they're a 5A-West champion," Hill said.
At a glance
Morrilton at Wynne
WHEN 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE Yellowjacket Stadium, Wynne
RECORDS Morrilton 5-5, 5-2 5A-West (forfeited four victories); Wynne 10-0, 7-0 5A-East
RANKINGS Morrilton No. 3 in Class 5A; Wynne No. 2 in Class 5A
COACHES Morrilton: Cody McNabb; Wynne: Chris Hill
Morrilton, which had to forfeit four victories Oct. 5 because of the use of an ineligible player, finished 5-5 overall and 5-2 in the 5A-West. The Devil Dogs were 2-0 in the 5A-West with victories over Harrison and Greenbrier before the forfeits, but they dropped to 0-2.
However, the Devil Dogs went on to win their final five regular-season games to earn the 5A-West's No. 4 seed and will travel to the 5A-East's No. 1 seed in Wynne on Friday night in a first-round game.
"It's got a semifinal feel to it in round one, in my mind," Morrilton Coach Cody McNabb said of Friday's game.
Without the forfeits, Hill calls Morrilton a 9-1 team.
"It's not a typical first-round game for a No. 1 seed," Hill said. "But our kids are excited about playing them. I know they're [Morrilton] excited.
"It will be a great atmosphere for high school football."
The Yellowjackets (10-0, 7-0 5A-East) have averaged 50.5 points per game this season and are the only undefeated team in Class 5A.
"We've had a special group of kids who are committed to football," Hill said. "We've been fortunate to stay healthy. We haven't had any season-ending injuries."
Wynne, the No. 2 team in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Class 5A Super Six, is two years removed from playing in the Class 5A state championship game. The Yellowjackets, led by future University of Cincinnati quarterback Ross Trail, lost to Pulaski Academy in 2014 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Without Trail last season, Hill decided to switch the Yellowjackets' offensive scheme from the Spread to the flexbone. Wynne went 7-5 in 2015, losing at Little Rock Christian in the Class 5A semifinals.
This season, Wynne has been led by senior running back Ta'Von Hicks and senior slotback Devontai Pounds.
Hicks has rushed for 1,140 yards and 19 touchdowns on 124 carries while Pounds has 702 yards and 7 touchdowns on 42 carries. Pounds has also caught four touchdown passes and returned two punts for scores.
Morrilton, the No. 3 team in the Democrat-Gazette's Class 5A Super Six, has averaged 41.1 points per game. The Devil Dogs' one loss on the field was to Class 6A Russellville in the season opener Sept. 2.
Senior quarterback Caleb Canady has completed 134 of 199 passes for 1,940 yards with 24 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Classmate Deiontae Duncan has caught 56 passes for 853 yards and 7 touchdowns and Grahm Heidenreich, also a senior, has 41 receptions for 675 yards and a team-high 11 touchdowns. Junior running back Danny Smith leads the Devil Dogs in the backfield, rushing for 878 yards and 10 touchdowns on 163 carries.
Playing the past five weeks in a scenario where one loss could have eliminated them from playoff contention has motivated the Devil Dogs, McNabb said.
"Adversity does one or two things," McNabb said. "It either draws you together and you're a better team. I think it's done that for us. Or it can tear you apart.
"You didn't have the trouble of being scared to overlook somebody. You were in a situation where you had to win."
McNabb said whoever can provide a big play or two will win and move on to the second round to face Little Rock McClellan or Hot Springs Lakeside.
"If you lose, you're done," McNabb said. "You have to treat it like you have to pull out all the stops to be able to move on. Our kids know that. They want to practice another week. You see how good Wynne is when you turn on the film. It doesn't take long to get your team's attention."
Sports on 11/10/2016