No. 1 vs. No. 2 in August and September mean very little when compared to the same matchups in October and November when championships are at stake.
Smith-Robinson Stadium is the place to be tonight when No. 1 Greenwood hosts No. 2 Benton in what will likely be for the championship in the 6A-West Conference. Both teams are 6-1 with six-game winning streaks.
Benton is much-improved from last year when Greenwood beat the Panthers 33-17. Benton will also arrive with a busload of confidence after pounding El Dorado 62-35 last week in the rain.
Another rainy night won't bother Benton and senior running back Zak Wallace, who gashed El Dorado for 271 yards and two touchdowns last week.
Greenwood recovered quickly after losing to Fort Smith Northside on Aug. 31. Senior Peyton Holt has settled in at quarterback after moving from receiver. He passed for 227 yards and three touchdowns last week during a 51-7 victory over Russellville.
Holt has plenty of options at receiver and the Greenwood defense whipped Russellville at the line of scrimmage and forced three interceptions. But the Cyclones do not have a running game and an all-state back like Wallace.
Greenwood is a dominant program in Class 6A but Benton is getting close and closer to elite status with former Lincoln coach Brad Harris at the control. Benton could make things interesting, especially if it rains again as the forecast projects
But Greenwood usually finds a way win regardless of the conditions. It's what champions do.
RICK'S PICK Greenwood
Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).
CLASS 7A
Rogers at BENTONVILLE
Springdale at FAYETTEVILLE
BENTONVILLE WEST at Rogers Heritage
VAN BUREN at Springdale Har-Ber
NORTH LITTLE ROCK at Fort Smith Northside
Fort Smith Southside at LITTLE ROCK CATHOLIC
CLASS 6A
EL DORADO at Siloam Springs
CLASS 5A
HARRISON at Alma
CLASS 4A
PRAIRIE GROVE at Gentry
Green Forest at GRAVETTE
SHILOH CHRISTIAN at Lincoln
Berryville at PEA RIDGE
POTTSVILLE at Elkins
Subiaco Academy at DARDANELLE
Waldron at MENA
Dover at OZARK
CLASS 3A
Charleston at BOONEVILLE
Cedarville at GREENLAND
LAMAR at Mansfield
Paris at WEST FORK
CLASS 2A
MOUNTAINBURG at Hackett
Lavaca at HECTOR
JOHNSON COUNTY WESTSIDE at Magazine
LAST WEEK 21-4 (84 percent)
OVERALL 133-39 (77 percent)
Sports on 10/19/2018