Hot Springs Lakeside and Little Rock Central are used to starting their football seasons early in the opening week.
Last season Lakeside shut out Lincoln 36-0 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, while Central routed Dallas Madison 38-0.
HS LAKESIDE VS. LR CENTRAL
WHEN 7 p.m. today
WHERE War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock
COACHES Hot Springs Lakeside: Jared McBride; Little Rock Central: Ellis “Scooter” Register
KEY PLAYERS Lakeside: RB Colt Housley, 5-11, 215, Sr.; RB Maurice Bradford, 6-1, 200, Sr.; OL Josh Morton, 5-11, 240, Sr. Little Rock Central: RB Richard Hayes, 5-11, 185, Sr.; DL Jacob Buchanan, 6-2, 250, Sr.; DL Eric Perry, 6-4, 235. Sr.
The two teams will square off against each other tonight at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Lakeside was scheduled to play Dierks to open the season, but Central called after Madison backed out of a return game that would have been played in Little Rock. Rams Coach Jared McBride agreed to play Central and instead sent Lakeside's junior varsity team to Dierks, where it was defeated 41-14 on Monday night.
Tonight's game marks the fourth consecutive season Lakeside's season opener won't be played on the first official Friday night of the season. .
"It's a great way to start the year," McBride said. "Every program I've been a part of, we've opened up early. This is the latest opener we've had since we played here."
Central Coach Ellis "Scooter" Register said playing at War Memorial Stadium is a big deal for his Tigers..
"It's the only game in town," Register said. "We like playing over there. It's a great atmosphere."
The Rams, who have not made the Class 5A playoffs the past two seasons, are led by senior running backs Maurice Bradford and Colt Housley. Bradford scored six touchdowns last season and has been offered by Cornell, Air Force, Army, Brown and Navy, according to McBride. Housley had 631 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago.
Central's quarterback situation was unsettled during the offseason, but Register will go with sophomore Caleb Dallimore to replace the graduated Cooper Westbrook.
Dallimore, who beat out senior Jordan McCarther and junior Josh Cole for the job, completed 14 of 20 passes for 96 yards and scored on a 50-yard run last week in a scrimmage at Rogers.
"He won the battle," Register said. "He's smart. He makes good decisions."
The addition of Central adds to an already stout nonconference schedule for Lakeside. The Rams also play Malvern and Sylvan Hills before moving to 5A-South Conference play, where they will play the likes of Camden Fairview, Hot Springs and Watson Chapel, among others.
"It will be a true test for us," McBride said.
Sports on 09/03/2015