LITTLE ROCK — Series set for Shiloh, Springdale
Shiloh Christian and Springdale won't have to travel far for at least one of their nonconference games during the 2010-2012 cycle.
Saints Coach Josh Floyd said the schools have agreed on a home-and-home series, beginning next fall.
The Springdale schools met four times earlier this decade, with Class 7A Springdale winning three times.
"I think it was just nothing more than scheduling difficulties for both teams," said Floyd, whose team is the defending Class 4A state champion. "Springdale has had to travel up in Missouri and all the way to Mississippi last year. More than anything, it's easy game that's close by, but obviously it will have a lot of interest."
An estimated crowd of 24,000 - then the largest for a high school game in Arkansas - attended the 2001 game at Reynolds Razorback Stadiumin Fayetteville.
The Bulldogs won 21-14 and also beat the Saints in 2002 (41-0) and 2003 (49-14).
The schools tied in their first meeting, 7-7, in 2000.
Floyd said he believes the schools will meet in Week 2 during the cycle, but there's still a chance it could be the season opener.
At this time, Floyd said he doesn't anticipate the game returning to Razorback Stadium.
Shiloh Christian, which opens Thursday night in a regionally televised home game against Shreveport Evangel, will continue to play Greenwood in Week 3 in the 2010-2012 cycle.
- Robert Yates JUNCTION CITY Renews rivalry
Junction City and Rison, each with two state championships this decade, will begin a season-opening home-and-home series nextyear, Dragons Coach David Carpenter said.
The tradition-rich programs haven't met since 2004, when Rison beat Junction City 10-0 in the semifinals of the Class AA playoffs.
The Wildcats went on to win their second state championship this decade under Clay Totty.
Carpenter has guided the Dragons to state championships in 2003 and 2008.
"Clay and I had been trying to get back playing each other ever since we got out of the conference," Carpenter said.
"The opportunity finally hit where we're going to get to play."
Rison and Junction City were members of what is now 8-2A before reclassification eventually sent the Wildcats to Class 3A in 2006.
- Robert Yates SPRINGDALE Tough opener awaits
Springdale's coaching staff went a long way to get a first-hand look at their first opponent.
Coaches drove to Jefferson City, Mo., and watched the Blue Jays open their season with a 44-20 victory over McClure, Mo. Springdale opens its season Friday at Jefferson City, which finished 9-3 and reached the semifinals in Class 6A state playoffs last season.
"They're pretty impressive," Springdale assistant Dennis DeBusk said. "They've got a junior halfback, Kody Walker,who Missouri is looking at.
He's a load, and he'll be a big challenge for our defense."
Springdale's defense was impressive in a 37-7 scrimmage victory over Siloam Springs last week. The Panthers' only score came after Springdale fumbled on its first play of the game.
Junior quarterback Joseph Calcagni led Springdale to three touchdowns, and the Bulldogs' defense contributed points with a safety in the fourth quarter.
- Rick Fires GRAVETTE QBs still battling
Gravette Coach Bill Harrelson won't say his team has a quarterback controversy, but the Lions still haven't settled on a full-time starter.
Senior Colt Moorman and junior Colton Davis rotated behind center Thursday during a scrimmage with Lincoln and Berryville. Davis, who threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to David O'Brien, has the stronger arm, but Harrelson said Moorman will likely start the opener Friday at Jay, Okla., because of his experience backing up Ethan McKinzie last year.
"They're still kind of sharing the load," Harrelson said. "We're going into the season with the mind-set of having two quarterbacks. We'll probably start Colt Moorman in the first game, but we'll probably alternate series until we find somebody with the hot hand."
Moorman also starts at strong safety and will probably need occasional rest on offense, so both quarterbacks should see plenty of action regardless of who emerges as the starter.
- Lane Kramer SPRINGDALE HAR-BER Looking confident
There is still plenty of work for Springdale Har-Ber to do before its season opener against Greenwood, but it was hard for Coach Chris Wood to not be pleased with the team's scrimmage Friday night.
Har-Ber took part in the Vype Gridiron Classic in Tulsa, where it had mini-scrimmages against Tulsa Union and Owasso, Okla., before defeating Sapulpa, Okla., 47-7 in a longer scrimmage.
Junior quarterback Ryan Luther was 4 of 4 passing for 230 yards with 3 touchdowns against Sapulpa. Two of those completions were to senior Josh McKinney, who piled up 154 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns that covered 66 and 88 yards.
"Ryan did a really good job," Wood said. "Early on in the scrimmage part he missed a couple of deep balls, but after that his passes were sharp and crisp." - Rich Polikoff UNION CHRISTIAN QB on the move
The Eagles had some good offensive moments in their scrimmage against Mountainburg on Tuesday, but some tweaking will be in order when Union Christian opens the season against Booneville's junior varsity team.
The Eagles couldn't take advantage of drives that went deep into Mountainburg territory.
Coach Bob Hattabaugh said the offense figures to be more run oriented, but senior quarterback Aaron Collins will get some fine-tuning to increase his production.
"We found out a couple things," Hattabaugh said. "We're going to a little more playaction and some more sprintout stuff as opposed to sitting back in the shotgun. That'll get him on the move to give him a little more vision on the field." - Chris Cocoles
Sports, Pages 36 on 08/30/2009