Normally, it is much too early to reach any conclusions from only one week of the high school football season but not this year.
We learned in one week high school football officials know what a catch is and what it isn't. Unlike the NFL.
We learned high school officials know what unsportsmanlike conduct is, especially on pass plays or hits on the quarterbacks. Unlike the NFL.
We learned high school players who score touchdowns simply hand the ball to the officials without drawing attention to themselves. Unlike the NFL.
Most importantly, we learned high school players stand for the national anthem and do not cause controversy that divides Americans. Unlike the NFL.
I am a longtime fans of the Chicago Bears, dating back to the 1960s when Bobby Douglas went 13-31-1 as a starting quarterback for the Bears. But I've about had it with the NFL, especially when the league had the whole offseason to fix its problems and did nothing.
Preseason games are difficult to watch anyway as coaches attempt to trim their rosters to 53 for the regular season. But the games have been unbearable with excessive penalties that stem from the league's new rule against hits to the helmet, even with contact that appears inadvertent or slight.
Watching college football games has also become cumbersome with the extended TV timeouts and replays. That's why it was so enjoyable to attend a high school football game without replays and the complexities of the outside world creeping in.
It was just football, and it was fun.
So, what else did we learn?
We learned that tight end Hudson Henry is a big-time prospect and likely headed for a fantastic senior season after he caught eight passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns in a 50-14 victory over Springdale Har-Ber.
We learned Pulaski Academy coach Kevin Kelley will go for it on fourth down from anywhere on the field. The Bruins were backed up inside their 1 on third down when Hudson Henry caught a pass for a first down.
And if they hadn't picked up the first down?
Kelley said PA would've still gone for it on fourth down, which surely would've led to a touchdown in the first half for Springdale Har-Ber.
"Yes, we would've gone for it," Kelley said. "We've only punted eight times in the last 12 years, I think. So, it wasn't even an issue."
We learned Rogers Heritage will have a tough practice Monday after the War Eagles got embarrassed, 69-0, at Fort Smith Northside.
"People are going to open up the papers to see the score and think same-old Heritage," said coach Tony Travis, who left a successful program at Pea Ridge to try and lift the struggling program at Rogers Heritage. "We have to start to change that, and it starts on Monday."
We learned the Fayetteville passing combination of quarterback Darius Bowers to Connor Flannigan will be one to watch this season. We suspected as much during 7-on-7 play, and the two hooked up repeatedly Friday during a 51-28 victory at St. John Vianney (Kirkwood, Mo.).
Flannigan caught 13 passes for 331 yards and four touchdowns from Bowers, who threw for more than 400 yards and five touchdowns.
We learned that Bentonville West put up a fight before being outscored 35-6 in the fourth quarter and losing 56-40 at Owasso, Okla., the defending state champions in Class 6A-1.
"They had us on the ropes. They really did," Owasso coach Bill Blankenship said. "I think we were able to wear them down a little bit, but I tell you, coach (Bryan) Pratt has a great team over there."
We learned Zero Week is a success, and there'll be exciting games Friday when more teams begin their season.
Maybe the NFL's new helmet-hit rule will be become less stringent when the regular season begins. If not, I'll plan my football around high school and college games and be done with the pro game that is ruining itself.
Sports on 08/26/2018