Class 7A
FS Southside at North Little Rock
Charging Wildcats Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS FS Southside 6-5; North Little Rock 10-0.
ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed on the Southside mobile app.
BETWEEN THE LINES Southside earned a 35-28 road playoff win last week at Springdale by making defensive plays in the second half in key situations. ... North Little Rock is unbeaten and basically unchallenged since a narrow season-opening win against Tulsa (Okla.) Booker T. Washington in Bentonville. ... The Mavericks were balanced in the run and pass game last week against Springdale. Southside rushed for 201 yards and passed for 198. ... Mavericks RB Ricardo Savoy rushed for 145 yards on 24 carries and scored a fourth-quarter touchdown. ... Southside QB Taye Gatewood was 12 of 18 passing for 198 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 68 yards and two touchdowns. On the season Gatewood is close to 2,000 yards passing and 650 yards rushing with 34 passing and rushing touchdowns combined. ... North Little Rock brings an absolutely punishing ground attack that averages 6.9 yards per carry. ... Charging Wildcats' sophomore QB Kareame Cotton has been a steady force for North Little Rock. ... Southside leading tackler senior LB Darin Davenport did not play last week against Springdale. ... In the first meeting this season, North Little Rock rolled to a 49-27 win over the Mavericks.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Southside -- QB Taye Gatewood (Sr., 6-2, 190), RB Ricardo Savoy (Sr., 5-10, 165), WR Tyrese Solomon (Sr., 5-10, 160), DB Jaylin Coleman (Sr., 5-11, 160). North Little Rock -- QB Kareame Cotton (So., 6-1, 185), RB Brandon Thomas (Jr., 5-11, 194), RB Oscar Adaway (Sr., 6-0, 205), RB Tyler Day (Sr., 6-3, 225).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Southside is No. 8 in Class 7A. North Little Rock is No. 1
HOOTEN'S LINE North Little Rock by 21.
OUR TAKE North Little Rock 45, Southside 21.
-- Chip Souza • @NWAChip
Fort Smith Northside at Bentonville High
Tiger Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS FS Northside 7-4; Bentonville 7-3
ON THE AIR Game will be live-streamed on bentonvillesportsnetwork.com.
BETWEEN THE LINES Bentonville has a 12-3 series lead since 2000 and has won the last 10 meetings, including a 31-10 decision during a playoff quarterfinal game in 2016. ... Northside advanced with a victory over Van Buren while Bentonville had a first-round bye. ... Grizzlies QB Derrick Wise ran for 195 yards and a touchdown, then threw for another score last week. ... Northside's defense is one of the best in Northwest Arkansas and held Van Buren to seven first downs and 143 yards total offense. ... Bentonville sports the 7A-West's best defense, allowing an average of 246 yards per game. ... Tigers RB Preston Crawford needs 90 yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Northside -- QB Derrick Wise (Sr., 5-11, 186), RB Eli Bolton (Sr., 5-7, 178), DB Greg Washington (Sr., 6-0, 185), DB Elijah Tabut (Sr., 5-10, 175), OL/DL Stevie Young (Sr., 6-5, 280), LB Anthony Travis (Sr., 6-2, 225). Bentonville -- QB Easton Hughes (Sr., 6-4, 210), WR Harrison Campbell (Sr., 5-10, 175), DB Ben Pankau (Jr., 6-2, 175), RB Preston Crawford (Jr., 6-1, 185).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Northside is No. 7 in Class 7A. Bentonville is No. 4.
HOOTEN'S LINE Bentonville by 13.
OUR TAKE Bentonville 35, FS Northside 21.
-- Henry Apple • @NWAHenry
Conway at Bentonville West
Wolverine Stadium, Centerton
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Conway 10-2; Bentonville West 6-4
ON THE AIR Game will be live-streamed on bentonvillesportsnetwork.com
BETWEEN THE LINES It's a rematch of last year's playoff quarterfinal game, which Conway defeated West 48-40 and was the only meeting between the two schools. ... It will be the first playoff game at West's new stadium, which opened earlier this fall. ... Conway defeated Rogers last week to advance while West had a first-round bye to the second straight year. ... The Wampus Cats are led by QB Jovoni Johnson, who has passed for 1,258 yards and 10 TDs while running for 733 yards and 19 TDs, and RB Cary McClain, who has run for 1,170 yards and nine scores. ... West QB Will Jarrett tries to bounce back from a performance where the Wolverines had just 123 yards total offense, but it must do so without receiver Stephen Dyson, who had surgery earlier this week and won't return for the remainder of the season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Conway -- QB JoVoni Johnson (Sr., 6-5, 205), RB Cary McClain (Sr., 6-0, 185), WR Bryce Bohannon (So., 5-9, 155), WR Nick Richmond (Sr., 5-11, 149), LB Reed Hughes (Jr., 6-1, 195). West -- WR Will Jarrett (Sr., 6-1, 170), WR Jadon Jackson (Sr., 6-2, 175), RB Tyrese Smallwood (Sr., 5-7, 160), ATH Tucker Swoboda (Sr., 6-3, 175), DE Chris Busch (Sr., 6-4, 225).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Conway is No. 5 in Class 7A. West is No. 6.
HOOTEN'S LINE West by 1.
OUR TAKE Conway 37, Bentonville West 28.
-- Henry Apple • @NWAHenry
Fayetteville at Bryant
Hornet Stadium, Bryant
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Fayetteville 9-2. Bryant 8-2
ON THE AIR: KFMD-FM, 101.5 and live-stream at www.FHSBulldogs.com
BETWEEN THE LINES: These teams will meet for the fourth time in two years after the three previous games were decided by one point. .... Fayetteville won 36-35 in Week 3 after losing 21-20 to Bryant in the playoffs last year. .... Bryant is led by senior running back Latavion Scott and senior quarterback Ren Hefley, who's had good games in the past against Fayetteville with his ability to extend plays. .... Bryant lost 34-28 to undefeated North Little Rock before closing 7A-Central Conference play with a win over Conway. ...Fayetteville has won six of its past seven games. The Bulldogs are on the upswing behind senior quarterback Darius Bowers, who suffered a knee injury at Bryant and missed three games in 7A-West Conference play ... Bowers has thrown for 2,512 yards and 25 touchdowns on the season with only two interceptions. .... Connor Flannigan leads Fayetteville with 92 catches for 1,581 yards and 19 touchdowns. ... Beau Stuckey is second 52 catches for 913 yards and 13 touchdowns. ... Coleman Johnson leads Fayetteville with 11 sacks.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Faytteville -- QB Darius Bowers (Sr., 6-2, 205), WR Connor Flannigan (Jr., 5-10, 155), WR Barrett Adams (Sr., 5-11, 180), OL Cameron Ervin (Sr., 6-3, 250), DT Keondre Conley (Sr., 6-3, 245), DB J Beasley (Sr., 5-9, 185). Bryant -- QB Ren Hefley (Sr., 6-2, 190), RB Latavion Scott (Sr., 5-9, 200), WR Randy Thomas (Sr., 6-1, 180), OT Blaise Smith (Sr., 6-2, 290), DL Kajuan Robinson (6-2, 305).
HOOTEN'S LINE Bryant by 7
OUR TAKE Fayetteville 38, Bryant 35
-- Rick Fires • @NWARick
Class 6A
Searcy at Greenwood
Smith-Robinson Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Searcy 9-2; Greenwood 9-1.
ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed on the Bulldogs' mobile app.
BETWEEN THE LINES These two teams have not met since 2001. ... Winner faces the Sylvan Hills-Marion survivor. ... The Bulldogs enjoyed a first-round bye and have won nine in a row since losing to Fort Smith Northside. ... Searcy outlasted Siloam Springs 49-42 in the first round, rolling up 575 yards of total offense. ... But the Lions' defense allowed 493 yards, which could spell trouble against high-powered Greenwood. ... Bulldogs QB Peyton Holt has accounted for almost 3,000 yards of total offense (2352 pass, 602 rushing) and 33 touchdowns. ... Sophomore running back Hunter Wilkinson has rushed for 15 touchdowns. ... Searcy QB Peyton Wright has thrown for 3,092 yards and 29 TDs, while senior Tony Young has rushed for 832 yards and 13 touchdowns. ... Wright's two top targets are Tim Williams (63 receptions for 1,046 yards, 14 TDs) and Tanner Leonard (61 catches for 693 yards, 8 TDs).
PLAYERS TO WATCH Searcy -- QB Peyton Wright (Sr., 6-4, 190), RB Tony Young (Sr., 6-0, 190), WR Tim Williams Sr, 6-3 189), WR Tanner Leonard (Jr., 5-9, 155), LB Ben Donnell (Sr., 5-9, 205). Greenwood -- QB Peyton Holt (Sr., 5-9, 175), WR Luke Leonard (Sr., 5-10, 155), OL Noah Fox (Sr., 6-1, 260), DL Morgan Hanna (Sr. 6-4, 205), DB Aaron Ohl (Sr., 5-11 170), LB Austin Archer (Sr. 6-2,
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Searcy is No. 5 in Class 6A. Greenwood is No. 1.
HOOTEN'S LINE Greenwood by 20.
OUR TAKE Greenwood 42, Searcy 14.
-- Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB
Class 5A
Wynne at Harrison
F.S. Garrison Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Wynne 7-4; Harrison 11-0.
ON THE AIR
BETWEEN THE LINES These two teams haven't played each other in 20 years, as Wynne claimed a 28-7 win in a first-round Class AAAA playoff game. Harrison earned playoff wins over Wynne in 1989 (31-7), 1991 (35-34) and 1992 (38-28). ... Wynne, the No. 2 seed from the 5A-East, advanced with a 10-6 victory over Camden Fairview, while Harrison moved on with a 49-7 rout of White Hall. ... The Yellowjackets preach ball control -- they average 243 yards per game on the ground and only 31 yards per game passing -- and didn't attempt a pass last week. ... Wynne QB James Holden Parker leads the Yellowjackets with 733 yards rushing and has four TDs, followed by Allen Watson (657 yds., 9 TDs) and Jay Nelson (584 yds., 2 TDs). ... Harrison provides a one-two punch with RB Gabe Huskey, who has 1,739 yards and 26 TDs rushing, and QB Ben Johnson, who has thrown for 19 TDs and ran for five more. ... LB Brooks Both leads the Goblins with 102 tackles, including 10 in last week's game against White Hall.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Wynne -- QB James Holden Parker (Jr., 6-1, 180), FB Allen Watson (Sr., 6-3, 205), RB Jay Nelson (Sr., 5-10, 182), LB Andrew Mohr (Sr., 5-11, 175), LB Coldwn Davis (Jr., 6-0, 195). Harrison -- RB Gabe Huskey (Jr., 5-10, 170), FB/LB Brooks Both (Jr., 6-1, 220), QB Ben Johnson (Jr., 6-0, 170), WR Thailer Lovell (Sr., 5-9, 155), DL Hayden Vanderpool (Sr., 6-3, 290).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Wynne is No. 8 in Class 5A. Harrison is No. 4.
HOOTEN'S LINE Harrison by 8.
OUR TAKE Harrison 28, Wynne 13.
-- Henry Apple • @NWAHenry
Class 4A
Lonoke at Ozark
Hillbillies Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Lonoke 6-5; Ozark 8-2
ON THE AIR None
BETWEEN THE LINES Lonoke held off Prairie Grove 35-26 last week to advance to the second round. ... Ozark received a first-round bye as the winner of the 4A-4 Conference. ... Ozark has won seven-straight games since a bizarre last-seconds loss to Charleston in week three. ... Lonoke has a strong run game with three players with more than 800 yards rushing. ... Jackrabbits QB Braidon Bryant rushed for 252 yards and three touchdowns last week and leads Lonoke in rushing with 841 yards and 12 touchdowns. ... Lonoke sophomore LB Dayton Smith has a team-leading 108 tackles. ... Ozark senior QB Dawson Dietz is 101 of 157 passing for 1,773 yards and 18 touchdowns and has 447 rushing yards. ... Hillbillies sophomore RB Tyler Sanders has 1,058 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. ... Bryant Burns leads Ozark in receiving with 26 catches for 626 yards, and Hayden Sanders has 34 catches for 523 yards. ... Ozark sophomore LB Keystan Durning has a team-high 86 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 1 interception. ... This is the third time Ozark has earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. Both times the Hillbillies lost the following week.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Lonoke -- QB Braidon Bryant (Sr., 5-11, 185), RB Davonta Adams (Jr., 5-10, 190, RB Anthony Parks (So., 5-8, 185), LB Dayton Smith (So., 5-10, 170), DB Jackson Ward (Sr., 5-7, 170). Ozark -- QB Dawson Dietz (Sr., 5-10, 175), RB Tyler Sanders (So., 5-7, 160), WR Hayden Sanders (Sr., 5-9, 140), TE Bryant Burns (Jr., 6-3, 215), LB Keystan Durning (So., 5-11, 155).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Lonoke is No. 16 in Class 4A. Ozark is No. 4.
HOOTEN'S LINE Ozark by 12.
OUR TAKE Ozark 35, Lonoke 30.
-- Chip Souza • @NWAChip
Mena at Shiloh Christian
Champions Stadium, Springdale
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Mena 8-3; Shiloh Christian 10-1
ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed at shilohchristianfootball.com.
BETWEEN THE LINES Mena rolled over Gentry last week 31-7. Shiloh Christian throttled Star City 49-6 last week. ... Mena has an explosive offense, led by sophomore QB Max Montgomery who is 147 of 275 passing for 1,967 yards and 19 touchdowns, but also 15 interceptions. ... The Bearcats have a balanced rushing attack with three players having more than 350 yards. ... WR Zane Stephens is Mena's top receiver with 42 catches for 504 yards and 5 touchdowns. ... Shiloh Christian has won 10 straight games since a season-opening loss to Class 5A Arkansas High. ... Shiloh Christian's dual quarterbacks Eli Reece and Jaiden Henry have combined for 2,400 yards passing and 29 TDs. Reece, a junior, is 110 of 161 for 1,614 yards, and Henry, a sophomore, is 43 of 68 passing for 837 yards and 9 TDs. Henry also has 334 yards rushing on just 45 carries. ... The Saints have three receivers with a least 25 catches, led by junior Truitt Tollett with 56 catches for 859 yards and 10 touchdowns. ... LB Micah Button leads a solid Saints defense with 63 tackles, 10.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks. ... Jack Lotspeich has a team-high 4.5 sacks and 9.0 tackles-for-loss.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Mena -- QB Max Montgomery (So., 6-1, 175), RB Andrew Graves (Jr., 5-8, 170), RB Zane Stephens (Jr., 5-11, 170), RB Jake Wiles (So., 6-0, 180), LB Marc Wilson (Jr., 5-11, 175). Shiloh Christian -- QB Eli Reece (Jr., 5-8, 160), QB Jaiden Henry (So., 5-9, 150), RB Jaret Russ (Sr., 5-9, 180), WR Blake Thomson (Sr., 6-0, 185), OL Logan Kallesen (Sr., 6-4, 295).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Mena is No. 11 in Class 4A. Shiloh Christian is No. 1
HOOTEN'S LINE Shiloh Christian by 17.
OUR TAKE Shiloh Christian 45, Mena 32
-- Chip Souza • @NWAChip
Class 3A
Walnut Ridge at Booneville
Bearcat Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS: Walnut Ridge 9-2; Booneville 11-0.
ON THE AIR None.
BETWEEN THE LINES Carson Ray rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns on only eight carries in the Bearcats' easy win. ... Walnut Ridge scored 14 fourth-quarter points to knock off Lake Village and notch its first playoff win since 2012 last week. ... The Bearcats intercepted four passes in the first half en route to a 35-0 lead as they rolled over Baptist Prep. ... Senior Cade Burris is a force on both sides of the ball for Walnut Ridge with 99 tackles to go with 1,192 yards rushing and 22 total touchdowns (17 rushing, 3 receiving, 1 KO return and 1 interception return). ... Sophomore Cole Manning rushed for 147 and 2 TDs in last week's win over Lake Village.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Walnut Ridge -- RB Cade Burris (Sr., 5-9, 160), QB Andrew Brewer (Jr., 5-9, 165), RB Cole Manning (Soph., 6-1, 180), LB Charles Mabry (Sr., 6-1, 195). Booneville -- FB/LB Carson Ray (5-7, 200), HB Mike Hesson (Sr., 5-10, 170), OL Noah Reyes (Sr., 6-2, 240), OL Sammy Haynes (Sr., 5-10, 250), DL Marcus Nichols (Sr., 5-9, 235).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Walnut Ridge is No. 14 in Class 3A. Booneville is No. 1.
HOOTEN'S LINE Booneville by 24.
OUR TAKE Booneville 42, Walnut Ridge 14.
--Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB
Mansfield at Osceola
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Mansfield 8-3. Osceola 9-2.
ON THE AIR None.
BETWEEN THE LINES The Seminoles have crushed opponents since a 16-14 loss to rival Rivercrest, the defending Class 3A state champions who moved up to 4A this year, averaging more than 50 points per game in eight straight wins. .... Mansfield is making a trek of five-plus hours to Northeast Arkansas and would be forced to go on the road again to the Danville-Smackover survivor if it wins. ... Sophomore Kam Turner, who moved from Rivercrest, had thrown for just under 1,000 yards and 16 TDs with no interceptions, while also running for a team-high 567 yards and 10 TDs. ... The Seminoles have a balanced rushing attack with four different players who have ran for more than 350 yards. ... Jariq Scales has 792 yards of total offense to go with a team-high 86 tackles and 13 tackles for loss. ... Mansfield QB Ethan Stovall ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more and accounted for more than 350 yards of total offense in the Tigers' win over Melbourne last week. ... Tyler Holes caught five passes for more than 100 yards and a score and intercepted two passes for the Tigers.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Mansfield -- QB Ethan Stovall (Jr., 6-2, 215), RB Zach Woolbright (Sr., 5-10, 145), WR Hunter Willsey (Sr., 5-10, 160), WR Jaicy Griffin (Jr, 5-10, 145), CB Layton Howard (Jr., 6-0, 160), Max Lovelace (Sr., 6-0, 170). Osceola -- QB Kam Turner (Soph., 5-11, 145), RB/LB Jariq Scales (Sr., 6-0, 167), WR Greg Hooks (Jr., 6-4, 180). LB JaMarion Veasley (Sr., 5-11, 155).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS. Mansfield is No. 16 in Class 3A. Osceola is No. 3.
HOOTEN'S LINE Osceola by 17.
OUR TAKE Osceola 35, Mansfield 14.
-- Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB
Harding Academy at Lamar
Warriors Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Harding Academy 7-3; Lamar 9-2
ON THE AIR None
BETWEEN THE LINES Harding Academy knocked off Greenland 27-13 last week, and Lamar bounced Atkins 28-24. ... These teams have met twice in the past six postseasons, and Harding Academy has eliminated Lamar both times at home. ... Harding Academy was tied with Greenland 13-13 last week before scoring the final two touchdowns. ... Harding Academy senior QB Davis Morgan leads a powerful offense, completing 152 of 260 passes for 2,142 yards and 19 touchdowns with 11 interceptions, and 548 yards rushing and 14 scores. ... RB Stone Sheffield has rushed for 1,117 yards and 12 touchdowns. ... Five Harding receivers have caught at least 21 passes. Connor McGaha leads the team with 44 catches for 641 yards, and Jimmy Citty has 38 catches for 487 yards. ... Lamar is a ground-oriented team with 2,500 yards and a 4.9 yard per carry average. ... Lamar junior QB Ike Pelts is 56 of 108 passing for 759 yards and 398 yards passing and 18 combined touchdowns. ... Junior RB Jacob Parmenter leads the Warriors with 924 yards and 12 touchdowns. Seven Lamar players have at least 100 yards rushing for the season. ... Parmenter also leads the team in receiving with 12 catches for 220 yards. ... Bryr Bruton and Josh Stepp have combined for 31 tackles-for-loss for the Warriors. ... Jacob Ross has 6.0 sacks
PLAYERS TO WATCH Harding Academy -- QB Davis Morgan (Sr., 6-5, 200), RB Stone Sheffield (Jr., 5-11, 155), WR Connor McGaha (Jr., 6-4, 178), WR Jimmy Citty (Sr., 5-7, 130). Lamar -- Ike Pelts (Jr., 5-10, 160), Jacob Parmenter (Jr., 5-10, 175), Jonathan Mayes (Sr., 5-10, 200), DL Blake Stepp (Sr., 60, 235), LB Bryr Bruton (Sr., 6-0, 210).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Harding Academy is No. 10 in Class 3A. Lamar is No. 11.
HOOTEN'S LINE Harding Academy by 1.
OUR TAKE Harding Academy 28, Lamar 21.
-- Chip Souza • @NWAChip
Sports on 11/16/2018