Ozark at Dardanelle should be the Game of the Week in Arkansas for no other reason than the unique mascots of the schools -- Sand Lizards for Dardanelle and Hillbillies for Ozark.
It's an added bonus both teams are really good.
Dardanelle is 5-0 overall and ranked No. 6 in Class 4 after beating Waldron 52-18. Ozark is 4-1 and ranked No. 5 after beating Subiaco Academy 54-6. Dardanelle, Ozark and Elkins are tied atop the 4A-4 Conference with 2-0 records.
Time for some separation, don't you agree?
Ozark and Dardanelle were picked first and second in a preseason poll of the league coaches, and tonight's winner will likely finish on top. Dardanelle has the home-field advantage tonight after losing 21-13 at Ozark last year.
Ozark has won three consecutive games despite dealing with some injuries that have prompted changes in the lineup. But the Hillbillies are still putting up points with junior quarterback Harper Faulkenberry leading the way. Dardanelle will counter with linemen who are among the biggest in the league, including senior tackle Christian Lomeli (6-1, 320) and right tackle Cole Walter (6-3, 245).
The bleachers should be filled tonight for this showdown in the 4A-4 Conference. Dardanelle is home, but Sand Lizards are the type of creatures Hillbillies eat for lunch, straight out of the pail.
RICK'S PICK Ozark
Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).
CLASS 7A
Rogers Heritage at BENTONVILLE
BENTONVILLE WEST at Rogers
Springdale at SPRINGDALE HAR-BER
FAYETTEVILLE at Van Buren
NORTH LITTLE ROCK at Fort Smith Southside
FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE at Little Rock Catholic
CLASS 6A
Siloam Springs at GREENWOOD
CLASS 5A
MORRILTON at Alma
Farmington at GREENBRIER
CLARKSVILLE at Huntsville
HARRISON at Vilonia
CLASS 4A
LINCOLN at Berryville
GENTRY at Green Forest
Gravette at PEA RIDGE
SHILOH CHRISTIAN at Prairie Grove
MENA at Dover
Waldron at POTTSVILLE
ELKINS at Subiaco Academy
CLASS 3A
Greenland at BOONEVILE
Paris at CEDARVILLE
MANSFIELD at Charleston
West Fork at LAMAR
CLASS 2A
Magazine at HECTOR
JC Westside at MOUNTAINBURG
LAST WEEK 20-7 (74 percent)
OVERALL 108-30 (78 percent)
Preps Sports on 10/11/2019