Week eight football capsules

Friday's Matchups

7A-West Conference

Springdale Har-Ber at Fayetteville

Harmon Field

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Springdale Har-Ber 5-2, 2-2; Fayetteville 3-4, 2-2

ON THE AIR Springdale Har-Ber — Springdale Public Schools livestream. Fayetteville — KQSM-FM 92.1, Fayetteville Public Schools livestream.

BETWEEN THE LINES Fayetteville bounced back from a four-game losing streak with wins at Rogers High and Rogers Heritage the past two weeks. … Bulldogs quarterback Darius Bowers has completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 2,060 yards with 18 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. … Matchups to watch will be Fayetteville’s receivers against Har-Ber’s secondary. Bulldogs seniors Kris Mulinga and Cody Gray have combined for 1,524 yards receiving, which accounts for nearly 74 percent of the team’s receiving totals. … Dotson Schaefer leads the Bulldogs’ defense with 13 tackles for loss, 6 sacks and 8 quarterback hurries. … If it comes down to a field goal, Fayetteville sophomore Huxley Richardson is capable. He’s 9-for-9 on field goal attempts with his longest coming from 49 yards out. … Har-Ber is on its first two-game losing skid since the end of 2014 and its 2015 season opener. The Wildcats are -2 in the turnover margin in 7A-West play, recording 11 in the last three weeks. Har-Ber had just one turnover through four weeks. … Despite a tough two-week stretch, QB Grant Allen leads the league with 21 touchdown passes. He is third in passing yards (1,560) and leads Har-Ber in rushing (411 yards, 5 TD). … RB Payton Copher, who was limited last week with a shoulder injury, is full-go this week, coach Chris Wood said.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Springdale Har-Ber — QB Grant Allen (Jr., 6-0, 175), RB Payton Copher (Sr., 6-0, 180), WR Bryton Cook (Sr., 5-9, 180), DL Alejandro Ramirez (Sr., 6-3, 280), LB Miller Herndon (Jr., 6-1, 200), DB Blaze Brothers (Sr., 5-9, 175); Fayetteville — QB Darius Bowers (Jr., 6-2, 190), WR Kris Mulinga (Sr., 6-2, 180), WR Cody Gray (Sr., 6-0, 170), DE Dotson Schaefer (Sr., 6-4, 240), FS Will Litzinger (Sr., 6-1, 180), CB Frank Morgan (Sr., 5-11, 150).

HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Springdale Har-Ber is No. 5 in Class 7A. Fayetteville is No. 7.

HOOTEN’S LINE Springdale Har-Ber by 3.

OUR TAKE Springdale Har-Ber 28, Fayetteville 27

— Mike Capshaw • @NWACappy and Scottie Bordelon • @NWAScottie

Van Buren at Springdale High

Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Springdale 4-3, 1-3; Van Buren 0-7, 0-4

ON THE AIR Springdale — Springdale Public Schools livestream.

BETWEEN THE LINES Springdale essentially seals a playoff berth with a win against the winless Pointers tonight. Van Buren has lost its last 11 games dating back to October 2016. … The Red’Dogs enter Week 8 with the 7A-West’s top rushing offense at 171 yards per game. Springdale has four players averaging five-plus yards per carry and three with at least 300 yards rushing this season. RB Garrett Vaughan (339 yards, 5 TD) could see time in the backfield this week after missing three games with a broken hand. … Springdale is minus-7 in the turnover ratio this season, per NWADG box scores, and does not have a takeaway in its last two games. Van Buren QBs have combined to throw seven interceptions this season. … No one in the league has carried the ball more than Van Buren RB Walter Green (140). His six touchdowns and 688 yards rushing are second best in the conference. The Pointers also have a viable deep threat with WR Brycen St. Mary (24.5 ypc). … Springdale has won its last six meetings vs. Van Buren by an average of 23 points.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Springdale — QB Layne Hutchins (Sr., 5-11, 185), QB Will Mueller (Jr., 6-1, 190), RB Garrett Vaughan (Jr., 5-9, 165), WR Kamond Robinson (Sr., 5-10, 165), DL Isaiah Nichols (Sr., 6-4, 275), DB Jajuan Boyd (So., 5-10, 145). Van Buren — QB Caleb Salisbury (Sr., 6-3, 200), QB/SS Christian Morrow (Jr., 6-0, 175), RB Walter Green (Sr., 5-8, 165), DL Jayden Mendez (Sr., 6-1, 285), LB Issac Like (Sr., 6-2, 230).

HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Springdale is No. 8 in 7A. Van Buren is No. 16.

HOOTEN’S LINE Springdale by 7.

OUR TAKE Springdale 35, Van Buren 14.

— Scottie Bordelon • @NWAScottie

Rogers Heritage at Bentonville West

Tiger Stadium

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Rogers Heritage 1-6, 1-3; Bentonville West 7-0, 4-0.

ON THE AIR Rogers Heritage — KHEL-FM 97.3; Bentonville West — bentonvillesportsnetwork.com livestream.

BETWEEN THE LINES Heritage won the inaugural meeting between the two schools, 28-18, last year at Gates Stadium. … A West victory tonight will guarantee the Wolverines a first-round bye in the state playoffs next month. … West’s defense rose to the occasion in last week’s victory over Springdale Har-Ber, forcing four turnovers and combining for nine quarterback sacks. … West QB Will Jarrett surpassed the 2,000-yard mark in passing last week and has 20 touchdown passes with only two interceptions. … RB Tyreese Smallwood has more than 150 yards rushing in each of the past two games and has scored five times. … Wolverines PK Blake McDoulett is now 9-of-1o in field goal kicking after hitting three last week. His only miss this season was a 50-yard attempt at Muskogee, Okla., and he’s 36-of-37 on his extra-point tries. … Heritage running back Dylan Qualls is one of the top rushers in the conference with 808 yards and also forced a fumble last week while playing linebacker. … War Eagles starting quarterback Trey Kitterman, who has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards, also doubles some at linebacker and finished with four tackles, one for loss, against Fayetteville. … Starting linebacker Reese Williams is propbable to return this week for Heritage, after missing the last two weeks with a shoulder injury. … Heritage’s Jay De La Rosa is one of the top receivers in the league with 31 catches for 497 yards and 3 TDs.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Heritage — QB Trey Kitterman (Sr., 6-1, 226), RB/LB Dylan Qualls (Sr., 6-0, 191), WR Jay De La Rosa (Sr., 5-8, 140), TB/CB Ty Graser (Jr., 5-6, 150), WR Zach Gall (Sr., 5-10, 1740), DE Jheovany Hernandez (Sr., 5-11, 192). West — QB Will Jarrett (Jr., 6-0, 160); WR Jadon Jackson (Jr., 6-1, 170); OL Michael Toney (Sr., 6-2, 299); WB/LB Hunter Swoboda (Sr., 6-4, 225), DB Jason Gloeckler (Sr., 6-0, 160).

HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Heritage is No. 15 in Class 7A. West is No. 4

HOOTEN’S LINE West by 28.

OUR TAKE Bentonville West 49, Rogers Heritage 14.

— Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB

Bentonville High at Rogers High

Whitey Smith Stadium

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Bentonville 5-2, 4-0; Rogers High 5-2, 2-2.

ON THE AIR Bentonville — bentonvillesportsnetwork.com livestream. Rogers High— KURM-AM 790;

BETWEEN THE LINES Rogers has an overall 70-38-6 lead in the series, but Bentonville has won the last 10 meetings, including a 49-7 romp last year at Whitey Smith Stadium. … A Bentonville victory will guarantee the Tigers a first-round bye in the Class 7A state playoffs, something the Tigers didn’t have for the first time last year since the playoffs were expanded to 12 teams. … Bentonville QB Nathan Lyons has shined in 7A-West play, having thrown 10 touchdown passes and no interceptions, compared to five TDs and six interceptions in the Tigers’ three nonconference games. … WR Harrison Campbell has not only helped Bentonville’s cause with TD catches, but he has added long punt returns to set up scores in the last two games. … Rogers will try to guarantee a winning season, aiming for a sixth win. … Senior Colin McWhorter has accounted for almost 850 yards of offense, including 51 catches for 563 yards and a touchdown. … Sophomore quarterback Hunter Loyd has thrown for 1,469 yards and eight TDs and ran for six more.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Bentonville — WR Kam’Ron Mays-Hunt (Sr., 6-1, 170), TE Tyler Johnson (Sr., 6-1, 200); RB Easton Miller (Sr., 5-10, 175), DL Angel Guerrero (Sr., 5-9, 250); DB Jadyn Loudermilk (Sr., 6-0, 175). Rogers — QB Hunter Loyd (So., 6-3, 195), RB Colin McWhorter (Sr., 5-9, 170), WR/DB Andrew McGlynn (Sr., 6-4, 190) , DL/RB Aaron Jones (Sr., 6-1, 235), OL Dusty Schureman (Sr., 6-2, 243).

HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Bentonville is No. 3 in Class 7A. Rogers is No. 11.

HOOTEN’S LINE Bentonville by 9.

OUR TAKE Bentonville 35, Rogers High 21

— Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB

6A-West Conference

Siloam Springs at El Dorado

Memorial Stadium

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Siloam Springs 2-5, 1-3; El Dorado 6-1, 3-1.

ON THE AIR thecube.com, search Siloam Springs

BETWEEN THE LINES Siloam Springs has lost three straight games after picking up a 31-24 road win at Sheridan. … The Panthers had a chance for a game-tying score last week against Lake Hamilton but turned the ball over on downs in a 34-27 loss. Siloam Springs was held to 284 yards of offense against Lake Hamilton, the third straight game with less than 300 yards. The Panthers are averaging a little more than 320 yards per game. Junior quarterback Landon Ellis has completed 95 of 192 passes for 1,518 yards and 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. Senior wide receiver Luke Gumm leads the team with 31 receptions for 597 yards and seven touchdowns. Junior running back Kaiden Thrailkill has 138 carries for 631 yards and eight touchdowns, but he’s been held to 147 yards on 51 carries the last three weeks. Thrailkill also has 14 receptions for 181 yards. … El Dorado won at Siloam Springs 49-23 last season. The Wildcats, after losing 52-21 at No. 1 Greenwood on Sept. 29, have won their last games, including a 27-20 victory over Benton last week. … El Dorado senior quarterback Darius Holly has thrown for 1,359 yards and 12 touchdowns. Wildcat receivers Taliq Ellis, Keshun Greene and Shun Levingston had combined to catch 1,209 of those yards and 10 touchdowns. … Sophomore running back Alex Hicks rushed for 124 yards on 22 carries in El Dorado’s win against Benton last week. … El Dorado defensive lineman Terry Hampton is committed to Arkansas State but hasn’t played this season because of a torn ACL. Senior Tyrek Rucks has been offered by Stephen F. Austin and Eastern Illinois.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Siloam Springs — QB Landon Ellis (Jr., 5-10, 168), RB/S Kaiden Thrailkill (Jr., 5-10, 185), WR/DB Luke Gumm (Sr., 5-7, 138), WR/S Marquan Sorrells (Sr., 6-1, 175), OL/DL Isaac Knudsen (Sr., 6-2, 240), LB Braden Smartt (5-9, 198). El Dorado — QB Darius Holly (Sr., 6-0, 185), RB Alex Hicks (Soph., 5-7, 190), WR Taliq Ellis (Sr., 5-10, 175), OL Denzel Walter (Sr., 6-3, 300), OL Kentravious Moore (Sr., 6-1, 270), LB Montre’ Marshall (Sr., 6-0, 215), LB Tyrek Rucks (Sr., 6-1, 220).

HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Siloam Springs is No. 12 in Class 6A; El Dorado is No. 2.

HOOTEN’S LINE El Dorado by 20.

OUR TAKE El Dorado 46, Siloam Springs 20.

— Graham Thomas • @NWAGraham

5A-West Conference

Maumelle at Farmington

Allen Holland Field

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Maumelle 4-3, 3-1; Farmington 3-4, 2-2

ON THE AIR Live stream at pgtelco.com/farmington-sports

BETWEEN THE LINES Last week, Farmington defeated Vilonia 36-27, while Maumelle lost 49-28 at Morrilton after the Devil Dogs raced out to a 35-7 halftime lead. … The Hornets opened 5A-West play with wins against Greenbrier (21-18), Vilonia (42-7 and Clarksville (45-28). … Maumelle features a balanced offensive attack that’s averaging 189.3 yards passing and 176.4 yards rushing each Friday. … Xavion Morgan and Connor McCullough have split time at quarterback for the Hornets and have combined to pass for more than 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns. Morgan also is a threat to run with three rushing touchdowns this season … Tyric Robinson caught three touchdown passes against Clarksville. … A fast start could help the Cardinals because the Hornets have been outscored 35-0 in the first quarter the past two weeks. … Farmington senior quarterback Trey Waggle has steadily improved his passing efficiency. He’s completed 24 of 38 passes for 535 yards with four touchdowns the past two games. … Cards tailback Caleb Williams rushed 25 times for 203 yards and 4 touchdowns in last week’s win.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Maumelle — QB/WR Xavion Morgan (Sr., 5-8, 145), QB Connor McCullough (Sr., 6-2, 170), RB Antavius Henderson (Jr., 5-7, 160), WR/FS Tyric Robinson (Sr., 6-0, 170); Farmington — RB Caleb Williams (Sr., 5-9, 185), FS Skyler Montez (Sr., 6-1, 185), OL Zach Newman (Sr., 6-3, 305), DE Michael Sellers (Sr., 6-1, 205).

HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Maumelle is No. 15 in Class 5A. Farmington is No. 20.

HOOTEN’S LINE Maumelle by 3.

OUR TAKE Maumelle 35, Farmington 31.

— Mike Capshaw • @NWACappy

4A-1 Conference

Gentry at Prairie Grove

Tiger Stadium

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Gentry 4-3, 2-2; Prairie Grove 6-1, 3-1.

ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed at pgtelco.com/prairie grove

BETWEEN THE LINES Gentry comes into the game after a 38-6 loss to Shiloh Christian. Prairie Grove saw its 25-game regular season winning streak end in a 26-21 loss to Pea Ridge last week. … Gentry found success offensively against Shiloh Christian, but could not complete drives. The Pioneers did not get on the scoreboard until the final 34 seconds. … Prairie Grove turned the ball over three times in its loss, including a late fumble on what potentially could have been a game-winning drive at the Pea Ridge 30. … The Tigers are solid in all phases, especially on offense where a stable of backs and great receivers are capable of scoring from anywhere on the field. … Gentry quarterback Jon Faulkenberry, probably the best athlete in the 4A-1 Conference, is closing in on a 1,000-yard rushing and 1,000-yard passing season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Gentry — QB Jon Faulkenberry (Sr., 6-1, 195), WR Peyton Wright (Jr., 5-11, 170), RB Myles McFerron (Sr., 5-9, 205), OL Mason Clark (Sr., 6-5, 270). Prairie Grove, QB J.D. Elder (Sr., 6-3, 170), WR Stone Bryant (Sr., 6-0, 165), WR Colin Bryant (Sr., 6-1, 170), LB Dustin Burton (Sr., 5-11, 210).

HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Gentry is No. 33 in Class 4A; Prairie Grove is No. 5.

HOOTEN’S LINE Prairie Grove by 21.

OUR TAKE Prairie Grove 45, Gentry 14.

— Chip Souza • @NWAChip

Gravette at Huntsville

Eagle Stadium

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Gravette 3-4, 2-2; Huntsville 1-6, 0-4.

ON THE AIR None

BETWEEN THE LINES Gravette rolled to a 37-30 win against Berryville last week. Huntsville lost a 35-28 shootout to Lincoln. … In the win over Berryville, Gravette senior RB Austin O’Brien rushed for 5 touchdowns and went over the 1,300-yard mark rushing. O’Brien is also Gravette’s second-leading tackler on the season with 65 stops. … Huntsville had a chance to pull out a win at Lincoln, but the Eagles could not finish off a late drive. The Eagles led 28-27 in the fourth quarter as quarterback Sean McCone and Zack Elsey hooked up for a pair of touchdown passes. … Gravette is battling for a No. 3 playoff seed and a first-round home playoff game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Gravette — RB Austin O’Brien (Sr., 5-11, 180), DL Bailey Soule’ (Sr., 6-1, 250), LB Keton Tajchman (Sr., 5-8, 240), QB Tajae White (Jr., 5-9, 155). Huntsville — QB Sean McCone (Jr., 5-10, 165), WR Zack Elsey (Sr., 5-11, 170), RB Cyrus Crow (Jr., 5-11, 165).

HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Gravette is No. 24 in Class 4A; Huntsville is No. 41.

HOOTEN’S LINE Gravette by 14.

OUR TAKE Gravette 34, Huntsville 21.

— Chip Souza • @NWAChip

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