Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports writer Vernon Tarver and I reached the same conclusion when we met on the field following last year's 7A-West Conference game between Fayetteville and Springdale Har-Ber.
If it wasn't the best high school game we had ever seen, we agreed, it was close to it.
Har-Ber defeated Fayetteville 47-43 when Fuller Chandler threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Trey Smith with six seconds left. The play surprised some who assumed Har-Ber would set up for a field goal and send the game into overtime.
"You don't go into overtime with Fayetteville after doing a field goal," Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said after the game. "No way."
Fayetteville got its revenge by beating Har-Ber 28-7 in the Class 7A state championship game in Little Rock. The rivalry will renew tonight when Fayetteville and Har-Ber meet again in what will be another lively crowd at Wildcat Stadium in Springdale. Har-Ber (6-1, 4-0) leads the 7A-West, one game ahead of Fayetteville (6-1, 3-1) and Bentonville (5-2, 3-1).
Although Smith caught the winning touchdown pass, it was a heave just before halftime that most remember from last year's game. A Fayetteville defender was in position to make the interception, but Luke Hannon came down with the catch in the end zone to pull Har-Ber to within 22-20 at halftime. Hannon finished the night with five touchdowns and 318 yards rushing.
So, who'll emerge tonight to lead his team to victory? There are plenty of candidates, including Fayetteville quarterback Taylor Powell, a Vanderbilt commit, and defensive tackle Akial Byers, an Alabama commit, and Oliver Nasilai of Har-Ber, who Wood calls the best linebacker in the state, by far.
Whatever the outcome tonight, fans packing Wildcat Stadium can expect to see an exciting game between teams that could be playing for a state championship again in Little Rock.
RICK'S PICK Springdale Har-Ber
Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).
CLASS 7A/6A
Rogers at BENTONVILLE
BENTONVILLE WEST at Rogers Heritage
Springdale at VAN BUREN
EL DORADO at Siloam Springs
CLASS 5A
Harrison at ALMA
FARMINGTON at Maumelle
CLASS 4A
Berryville at PEA RIDGE
PRAIRIE GROVE at Gentry
Huntsville at GRAVETTE
SHILOH CHRISTIAN at Lincoln
West Fork at DOVER
CLASS 3A
Melbourne at ELKINS
GREENLAND at Green Forest
CLASS 2A
Mountainburg at HACKETT
Western Yell County at DECATUR
LAST WEEK 14-4 (77 percent)
OVERALL 95-30 (76 percent)
Sports on 10/21/2016