Oh, my. How quickly the pecking order has changed in the 7A-West.
At this time last year, Fayetteville and Springdale Har-Ber were battling for a conference championship while Bentonville West was trying to win enough games to make the playoffs.
Fast forward one year and Bentonville West is tied for the league lead while Har-Ber and Fayetteville are fighting for the third and fourth playoffs spots. Har-Ber (5-2, 2-2) and Fayetteville (3-4, 2-2) are each in need of a victory tonight when they meet at Harmon Field.
Fayetteville beat Rogers High and Rogers Heritage after losing four consecutive, while Har-Ber hast lost its last two after being ranked No. 1 in Class 7A. Har-Ber committed a combined eight turnovers in defeats to Bentonville High and Bentonville West and quarterback Grant Allen was sacked nine times in last week's loss to the Wolverines.
Fayetteville has the home-field advantage tonight, but the Bulldogs were also at home when they lost back-to-back games in overtime earlier in the year. This game could go down to the finals minutes like many of the previous matchups between Har-Ber (5-2, 2-2) and Fayetteville (3-4, 2-2).
Remember the dramatic finish seven years at Harmon Field?
Fayetteville fans were sure their team had won after the Bulldogs took a 51-48 with 17 seconds left. But Shawn Sayarinh returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown to give Har-Ber the victory.
Har-Ber appears to be the better team this year. But the Wildcats must do a much better job of protecting the football against a Fayetteville team that can pile up points.
RICK'S PICK Springdale Har-Ber
Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).
CLASS 7A
Rogers Heritage at BENTONVILLE WEST
BENTONVILLE at Rogers
Van Buren at SPRINGDALE
LITTLE ROCK CATHOLIC at Fort Smith Southside
Fort Smith Northside at NORTH LITTLE ROCK
CLASS 6A
GREENWOOD at Benton
Siloam Springs at EL DORADO
CLASS 5A
MAUMELLE at Farmington
ALMA at Harrison
CLASS 4A
Gentry at PRAIRIE GROVE
GRAVETTE at Huntsville
PEA RIDGE at Berryville
Lincoln at SHILOH CHRISTIAN
DARDANELLE at Booneville
DOVER at West Fork
CLASS 3A
Green Forest at GREENLAND
ELKINS at Melbourne
Lamar at CEDARVILLE
Two Rivers at PARIS
Atkins at CHARLESTON
CLASS 2A
Mountainburg at HACKETT
Decatur at WESTERN YELL COUNTY
LAST WEEK 23-4 (85 percent)
OVERALL 137-36 (79 percent)
Sports on 10/20/2017