If you've ever stood in an airport waiting for your flight to take off then learn it's been canceled, you can imagine how frustrating scheduling can be in the era of covid-19.
Over 20 high school football games in Arkansas have been eliminated one month into the season and coaches are on the phone scrambling for games minutes after their original opponent had to cancel.
That's what happened this week after games involving Fayetteville and Bentonville West and Greenwood and Little Rock Parkview were canceled because of concerns over covid-19. Both of those games were supposed to be conference openers.
Plan B was set in motion and coaches from Bentonville West and Greenwood got together and hammered out of the details for a non-conference game tonight at Smith-Robinson Stadium in Greenwood. Everyone who enjoys high school sports hurt for the kids who aren't getting to play tonight, especially the seniors. But we're also appreciative alternate games can be worked out on such short notice for the players who want to compete.
Class 7A Bentonville West vs. Class 6A Greenwood is an attractive matchup, regardless of the circumstances. Greenwood is 3-0 after blasting Class 7A Springdale Har-Ber 33-0. Bentonville West 2-1 and the Wolverines hung well for three quarters before losing 50-23 to powerful Broken Arrow, Okla. in a nationally televised game to kick off the season. West showed some grit by rallying for 17 consecutive points after falling behind 29-6.
Changing on the fly is nothing new for Greenwood, which found a replacement in Springdale Har-Ber after its game with Fort Smith Northside was canceled because of covid-19 concerns. It's hard to pick a winner in this game because there are no losers when kids just want to play. But I'll give a slight edge to Greenwood at home tonight and applaud everyone involved for making this attractive game happen.
RICK'S PICK: Greenwood
Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).
CLASS 7A
Rogers Heritage at SPRINGDALE
Springdale Har-Ber at BENTONVILLE
Fort Smith Northside at BRYANT
CLASS 6A
VAN BUREN at Siloam Springs
CLASS 5A
Ozark at HARRISON
PEA RIDGE at Alma
CLASS 4A
Mena at WALDRON
Berryville at SHILOH CHRISTIAN
Green Forest at PRAIRIE GROVE
HUNTSVILLE at Gentry
Pottsville at LAMAR
Gravette at ELKINS
VILONIA at Clarksville
CLASS 3A
Lavaca at CEDARVILLE
BOONEVILLE at Two Rivers
MAYFLOWER at Paris
CLASS 2A
MOUNTAINBURG at Johnson County Westside
Magazine at BIGELOW
LAST WEEK 13-5 (72 percent)
OVERALL 53-18 (74 percent)
Rick Fires can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWARick.