ROGERS -- The showdown is set.
Springdale Har-Ber and Springdale High will meet at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium next Friday in a battle of 4-0 teams. Har-Ber will likely stay No. 1 in Class 7A after posting its third consecutive shutout in a 49-0 win over Rogers High. Springdale pulled away 44-7 at Rogers Heritage to match its win total from last year when the Bulldogs finished 4-7.
The stands should be overflowing with the arrival of Har-Ber and emergence of Springdale High, which last won at least five games in 2013.
"We'll let the fans and everybody else handle all that stuff," Springdale coach Zak Clark said of next week's buildup to the game. "We're so much better than we were, but we're not there yet. We've done a good job of competing and staying within ourselves and we'll need to do that again in our first big game."
CHEWY TIME
Springdale punter Jesus "Chewy" Barroso turned a potentially damaging play into a good play for the Bulldogs.
Barroso showed good hands and played his position like a shortstop when he fielded a snap from center that bounced twice on the turf. He calmly got the kick off and pinned Heritage near its own goal line on a ball that was downed at the 2.
After the Springdale defense held Heritage to a three-and-out, Jonathan Lopez scored to give Springdale a 21-7 lead at halftime.
"Chewy is a phenomenal athlete," Clark said. "He's had two or three of those with the snap on the ground and that was a big play because it easy could have been blocked. That's a 50-or 60-yard swing there."
PEP TALK
Springdale took a quick 7-0 lead before Heritage answered with an 80-yard drive in the first quarter.
The series did not sit well with Springdale defense coordinator Brett Hobbs, who walked down the sideline and met his unit before the players could get off the field.
"Hey, we're better than that," Hobbs said. "We're better than that. Let's go."
The Bulldogs responded and did not allow a score the rest of the way.
"No matter what adversity we face, we're going keep on grinding," Hobbs said. "They did a great job on that 80-yard drive but our guys came back and shut the door after that."
DEFENSIVE STAND
Rogers Heritage provided some excitement for its fans when the War Eagles held Springdale on four downs from inside the 1. But the cheers died quickly after the fourth-down stop when Springdale tackled a Heritage ball carrier in the end zone for a safety.
REMEMBERING KYLER
Family members and friends of Kyler Williams will join together at Bulldog Stadium at 4 p.m. Sunday to mark the one-year anniversary of Williams' death.
Balloons will be released in honor of Williams, who died in a one-car accident near Marble last year on Sept. 24. Williams was a beloved teammate and standout senior receiver who died one day after he caught 10 passes for 265 yards in a 42-21 victory over Heritage.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Springdale was setting up for a long field goal attempt when Heritage was penalized for jumping offsides. The Bulldogs then picked up a first down after sending their offense back onto the field and later scored to increase its lead to 21-7.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Jonathan Lopez rushed for 172 yards on 23 carries and scored three touchdowns for the Bulldogs. Lopez gave Springdale a quick 7-0 lead on a twisting, turning 10-yard run after Jajuan Williams made the first of his two interceptions.
ONSIDE KICKS
Heritage has now lost 24 of its past 25 games. The War Eagles went 1-9 last season with a 28-16 victory over Bentonville West in Week 8. The previous win came in 2014, when the War Eagles beat Little Rock Central 35-26 in a first-round playoff game. ... Players from Springdale and Heritage briefly got into a scuffle and at least two went to the ground near midfield in the second quarter. Springdale coach Zak Clark ran onto the field to help restore order.
Sports on 09/23/2017