Star City may be facing its biggest rival Friday night, but Coach Jett Furneaux isn't going to change things too much for Warren.
"We're staying in our same routine," Furneaux said. "It helped us playing Monticello last week."
Monticello runs a Spread offense similar to what Warren runs, but Star City had no trouble stopping the Billies in a 48-23 victory at home.
Star City's offense didn't have much trouble either as it finished with 563 yards.
Senior running back Dajunn Harris rushed for 189 yards and 4 touchdowns on 12 carries, scoring on runs of 13, 70, 23 and 7 yards. Junior quarterback Tye Brown completed 18 of 34 passes for 221 yards and 3 touchdowns, and senior wide receiver Darien Chaney caught 5 passes for 87 yards and 1 touchdown.
"If we can continue to spread it around this year, it makes it tough on defense," Furneaux said. "You can't just key on one guy."
Warren is led by senior receivers Darveon Brown and Jaylon Marshall and senior running back Kilay Cox.
"They're loaded with athletes, as usual," Furneaux said of the Lumberjacks, who defeated Crossett 30-9 last Friday. "We have to keep them underneath us. They're the best when they run the football and throw it."
Brown also alternates at quarterback with senior Justin Gorman, but Furneaux doesn't buy into the notion that a two-quarterback system hurts teams such as Warren.
"Gorman is more of a pocket guy; Darveon is a runner," Furneaux said. "You have to account for the quarterback at all times. That's a big deal for us."
Star City (4-0, 1-0 8-4A), the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's No. 3 team in Class 4A, hasn't beaten No. 2 Warren (2-2, 1-0) since 2010. That also was the year when the Bulldogs last won an outright 8-4A Conference title.
Friday's game could go a long way toward deciding the 8-4A champion again.
"Anytime you get to play Warren in anything, it's a big deal around here," Furneaux said. "They've been so good over the past 10-12 years. You know it's going to be a big atmosphere. We're excited. The coaches are excited. The players are excited. Our community is excited.
"It's the same way in Warren."
MORRILTON
QB questionable
Morrilton's 28-20 5A-West Conference victory over Greenbrier last Friday almost came at a heavy price.
Junior quarterback Jalen Wright injured his knee on a running play in the fourth quarter. An MRI on Monday found no structural damage to his knee, only a sprain, Coach Cody McNabb said.
McNabb said Wright's status for Friday's game at Vilonia is a game-time decision.
The Devil Dogs turned to senior running back Terrance Minor, who scored two touchdowns on runs on 23 of 25 yards in the fourth quarter to lead Morrilton's comeback. Minor finished with 187 yards on 33 carries.
"He's gotten better every week," McNabb said. "Our offensive line has grown up as well. They've gotten better every week."
If Wright can't play, sophomore Caleb Canady will start. McNabb praised Canady for his poise and how he ran the Devil Dogs' offense in relief of Wright in the fourth quarter last Friday.
Morrilton, which started the season 0-2, has won two consecutive after beating Class 6A Searcy 35-28 in Week 3.
McNabb said he likes the progress the Devil Dogs are making, but there is still work to be done i Maumelle and Little Rock Christian coming up.
"We have to continue to work and get better," he said. "Just because we found a way to get a win doesn't change that."
WYNNE
Filling in
Wynne didn't need running back Antonio Davis in its 35-0 5A-East Conference shutout at Blytheville last Friday.
Sophomore running back Jamor Dixon rushed for 159 yards and 3 touchdowns in place of the Davis, who missed Friday's game because of a hip flexor.
Coach Chris Hill said the junior hurt his hip flexor Sept. 19 in a nonconference game against West Memphis. His status is questionable for Friday's game against Greene County Tech.
Dixon, 5-7, 165 pounds, and classmate Melvin Isom helped fill the void left by Davis, who has scored five touchdowns for the No. 1 team in Class 5A.
"Dixon is a tough, tough kid with great balance," Hill said. "Melvin has done a great job for us."
Led by quarterback Ross Trail, who is orally committed to Cincinnati, Wynne has handled the high expectations well so far.
"They've done a great job," Hill said. "Our expectations aren't any higher than their own. We've got a great group of seniors. We've got 24 seniors. Their expectations are high.
Wynne's defense has allowed an average of just 9.7 points over four games, putting it among the top defensive units in the state. Hill said that can only help the Yellowjackets offense as they prepare for the 5A-East schedule
"Our first offense goes against our first defense every day," Hill said. "That's an opportunity to play against one of the best defenses in the state. Sometimes it's frustrating, but hopefully it will help us down the line."
Sports on 10/02/2014