SPRINGDALE — If Springdae Har-Ber learned anything from its last meeting with Bentonville, it’s that it can’t afford to get off to slow start.
Second-ranked Springdale Har-Ber (10-2) squares off against top-ranked Bentonville (11-0) again tonight in the semifinals of the Class 7A state playoffs at Tiger Stadium in Bentonville. The winner advances to championship game Dec. 3 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, where it will meet the winner of tonight’s game between Fayetteville and Fort Smith Southside.
Springdale Har-Ber and Bentonville met Nov. 5 in the final week of the regular season at Springdale, where Bentonville held off a furious rally by the Wildcats to win 55-41 and clinch the 7A-West title and the conference’s top seed for the playoffs.
Springdale Har-Ber struggled early in that game, with several penalties leading to poor field position. Bentonville took advantage of the opportunity and jumped out to a 24-0 lead, but the Wildcats rallied to within 47-41 with 4:08 remaining. Dakota Baggett sealed the victory for Bentonville when he intercepted a pass and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown.
The lesson hasn’t been lost on Har-Ber Coach Chris Wood.
“Our kids did a good job of fighting back against Bentonville, but we’ve got to come out better prepared in this game,” Wood said. “We’ve got to get after it right from the start, minimize the big plays and cut down on our mistakes to have a chance.”
Even though both teams know each other well, Bentonville Coach Barry Lunney admits he isn’t putting too much into their last meeting. The teams may have played each other several times over the past few seasons, and they may have plenty of film on one another, but that doesn’t mean much once players step onto the field.
“I never expected it to be like it was the last time,” Lunney said. “Really, in my wildest imagination, if you would have told me it would be 55-41, I would have never dreamed that because both teams are good defensively.
“Really, you just never know. You think it’s going to be a defensive game and you get that, and other games you think it’s going to be highscoring and you get defense. It’s just a lot of variables that go into it sometimes that you just don’t plan for.”
Har-Ber earned another shot at Bentonville by defeating Little Rock Central 38-0 and Conway 37-27 in the playoffs. Har-Ber scored on its first two possessions last week against Conway, then held off a comeback bid by the Wampus Cats, who intercepted quarterback Ryan Luther three times.
Har-Ber retained the lead when it stopped Conway on downs from its 41-yard line in the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats will need another strong performance from their defense against aBentonville team led by junior quarterback Dallas Hardison, who has thrown for 28 touchdowns with only 2 interceptions and is approaching 2,500 yards passing. Hardison passed for more than 300 yards in the teams’ previous meeting.
“Our defense has really played well the last two weeks,” said Wood, whose team allowed an average of 29.3 points a game in 7A-West play. “Hopefully, they’ll continue to play at a high level Friday against a very good football team.”
Bentonville’s defense will have its work cut out as well.
Luther, a senior, led the Wildcats to the 7A state title last season and was named MVP of the championship game. He has thrown for 35 touchdowns this season, tops in the 7A-West, and helped the Wildcats average 47.6 points a game in conference play.
He has reliable targets in receivers Evan Johnson, Michael Fine and Brett Smith, and running back Gordon Welch is averaging better than 100 yards rushing a game behind offensive line that features five senior starters, including Arkansas Razorbacks commitment Brey Cook.
“We have to take care of the football,” Lunney said. “If it goes like the last game, possession will be at a premium.
“They can score so fast and have so many weapons, we can’t get in a track meet with them.”CLASS 7A Springdale Har-Ber at Bentonville WHAT Semifinals WHEN 7:30 tonight WHERE Tiger Stadium, Bentonville RECORDS Springdale Har-Ber 10-2; Bentonville 11-0 SEEDS Springdale Har-Ber is the No. 3 seed from the 7A-West; Bentonville is the No. 1 seed from the 7A-West.
RANKINGS Bentonville is No. 1 overall and No. 1 in Class 7A; Springdale Har-Ber is No. 2 overall and No. 2 in Class 7A.
Sports, Pages 30 on 11/26/2010