7A-West Conference
Van Buren at Bentonville High
Tiger Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Van Buren 1-3, 0-1; Bentonville 3-1, 1-0.
ON THE AIR KFMD-FM 101.5
BETWEEN THE LINES Bentonville has won all eight of the previous meetings, including the last three games by an average score of 45-7. ... Van Buren is now in its third tenure in the 7A-West. The Pointers were in the league from 2002-07 and again from 2012-13. ... Van Buren QB Caleb Salisbury completed just one pass last week, but it was a 70-yard TD pass that helped the Pointers briefly tie Bentonville West before the Wolverines scored 28 straight points. ... Bentonville enjoyed its 11th consecutive regular-season victory over Fayetteville in last week's league opener. ... Tigers RB Jacob Clark, who was held out of Bentonville's nonconference game with Conway, returned to carry the ball 20 times for 100 yards and a touchdown.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Van Buren, QB Caleb Salisbury (Jr., 6-2, 175), WR/CB Kameron Collins (Sr., 5-9, 175), SS Greg Gladden (Sr., 5-109, 170), DL Alex Espinosa (Sr., 5-10, 260), DL Jayden Mendez (Jr., 6-1, 265). Bentonville, RB Jacob Clark (Sr., 5-11, 195), WR Kam'Ron Mays-Hunt (Jr., 6-1, 170), OL Jack Short (Sr., 6-4, 240) LB Destyn Adkins (Sr., 6-1, 190) DB Aaron Estrada (Sr., 5-10, 175).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Van Buren is No. 16 in Class 7A. Bentonville is No. 5.
HOOTEN'S LINE Bentonville by 29.
OUR TAKE Bentonville 41, Van Buren 7.
-- Henry Apple • @NWAHenry
Roger High at Rogers Heritage
David Gates Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Rogers High 3-1, 0-1; Rogers Heritage 0-4, 0-1
ON THE AIR KHEL-FM 97.3; KURM-AM 790.
BETWEEN THE LINES The crosstown rivals are tied 4-4 in the rather recent series as Rogers won last year 28-6. ... Rogers gets running back Jeb Brain back this week, after he missed last week's game because of a bone bruise. ... Brain is the Mounties' top rusher with 405 yards. ... Heritage counters with one of the top rushers in the league in junior Dylan Qualls, who has ran for 497 yards, which ranks second in the 7A-West. ... Junior DeAndre Mendez, who plays some on both sides of the ball for Heritage is questionable for Friday's game after suffering a knee injury in last week's loss at Springdale High.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Heritage, QB Trey Kitterman (Jr., 6-1, 226), TE/DE Mason Gray (Sr., 6-2, 243), DB Tae Dixon (Sr., 5-10, 160), OL Jerry Pollock (Sr., 6-1, 274), RB Dylan Qualls (Jr., 6-0, 191), WR Roberto Palacios (Sr., 6-0, 187). Rogers, RB/DB Jeb Brain (Sr., 5-11, 173), QB Max Horton (Sr., 6-2, 208), RB/WR Grayson Lee (Sr., 5-11, 192), DL Phillip Necessary (Sr., 6-0, 215), LB Aron Jones (Jr., 6-1, 222), WR Jake Benninghoff (Sr., 6-3, 190).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Rogers High is No. 9 in Class 7A. Rogers Heritage is No. 15.
HOOTEN'S LINE Rogers High by 7.
OUR TAKE Rogers High 24, Rogers Heritage 14.
-- Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB
Springdale High at Springdale Har-Ber
Wildcat Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Springdale 3-1, 1-0; Har-Ber 3-1, 1-0.
ON THE AIR Springdale Public Schools livestream
BETWEEN THE LINES Both sides enter tonight's game following big wins to open conference play last week. ... The Springdale community is mourning the loss of Bulldog receiver Kyler Williams, killed in a single-car accident last weekend. Plans are in place to honor the fallen senior pre-game. ... Har-Ber pounded Rogers last week, 56-14, and totaled more than 700 yards of total offense. ... The Bulldogs rushed for 160 yards against Rogers Heritage last week in a 42-21 win, and QB Layne Hutchins threw for 321 yards and four touchdowns, three to Williams. ... Springdale's defense also forced four turnovers in its win over Heritage.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Springdale, QB Layne Hutchins (Jr., 6-0, 180), RB Erick Mendez (Sr., 5-7, 180), WR Alex Thompson (Jr., 5-9, 170), LB Mason Hutchins (Jr., 6-0, 215), WR/DB Jayden Minchew (Sr., 6-1, 175); Har-Ber, QB Payton Copher (Jr. 6-0, 180), RB Logan Collins (Jr., 5-10, 185), WR Trey Smith (Sr., 5-8, 165), LB Bryce Yates (Jr., 5-10, 205), LB Oliver Nasilai (Jr., 6-2, 235).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Springdale is No. 10 in Class 7A. Har-Ber is No. 2.
HOOTEN'S LINE Har-Ber by 21.
OUR TAKE Har-Ber 35, Springdale 17.
-- Scottie Bordelon • @NWAScottie
Bentonville West at Fayetteville
Harmon Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Bentonville West 1-3, 1-0; Fayetteville 3-1, 0-1.
ON THE AIR Bentonville West KAMO-FM 94.3; Fayetteville KQSM-FM 92.1
BETWEEN THE LINES Bentonville West picked up its first win in program history last week, and did so in impressive fashion with a 42-14 victory over Van Buren. ... The Wolverines have two of the top receivers in the 7A-West in Jaden Jackson and Jackson Prince, who have combined for 630 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in four games. ... Fayetteville dropped a 24-21 decision to Bentonville High last week, it's 11th consecutive regular season loss against the Tigers. ... The Purple'Dogs have a costly fumbled punt return leading to a Tigers' TD and saw another touchdown wiped off the board due to a holding penalty. ... Senior running back Terrance Rock had one of his top games as a Bulldog last week, despite the loss, with nearly 200 rushing and receiving yards combined and two TDs.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Bentonville West, QB Will Jarrett (So., 5-10, 150), WR Jaden Jackson (So., 5-10, 165), OL Anthony Boettner (Jr., 6-2, 240) OL Michael Toney (Jr., 6-2, 305) DB Jason Gloeckler (Jr., 5-11, 150); Fayetteville, QB Taylor Powell (Sr., 6-2, 200), RB Terrance Rock (Sr., 5-11, 170), WR Barrett Banister (Sr., 6-0, 180), DL Akial Byers (Sr., 6-4, 260), DB Trey Coulter (Sr. 6-0, 170).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Bentonville West is No. 14 in Class 7A. Fayetteville is No. 6.
HOOTEN'S LINE Fayetteville by 16.
OUR TAKE Fayetteville 49, Bentonville West 21.
-- Vernon Tarver • @NWAVernon
6A-West Conference
Siloam Springs at Benton
Benton Athletic Complex
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Siloam Springs 1-3, 1-0; Benton 2-2, 0-1.
ON THE AIR www.siloamspringstv.com
BETWEEN THE LINES A battle of maroon Panthers kicks off today as Siloam Springs and Benton meet for the first time on the football field. ... Siloam Springs defensive coordinator Marc Jones was the head coach at Benton for 10 seasons (1999-2008), going 47-57 overall and leading Benton to a either the AAAAA-South outright conference title or a share of it in 2003, 2004, 2005. ... Benton is 21-4-1 over the last two seasons under then-head coach Scott Neathery. Neathery took the job of athletics director in June and Brad Harris was named head coach. ... Harris had been defensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015 after winning 11 games as Lincoln's head coach in 2013. ... Benton quarterback Nate Beck has completed 56 of 101 passes for 602 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. ... Running back Brandon Hunter had rushed 47 times for 433 yards (9.2 yards per carry). ... Senior defensive lineman Chandler Clift has 24 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and three sacks. ... Senior linebacker Brayden Harris has 26 tackles, including eight for loss, and senior safety Preston Stone has 24 tackles and two interceptions.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Siloam Springs, QB Luke Lampton (Sr., 5-10, 190), WR J.D. Horn (Sr., 5-10, 161), OT Tallon Nation (Sr., 6-3, 263), LB Kalen Seftner (Sr., 6-0, 205), S Cade Miller (Sr., 5-11, 167), DT James Boyd (Sr., 6-4, 220). Benton, QB Nate Beck (Sr., 6-0, 170), RB Brandon Hunter (Sr., 5-9, 165), WR Trey Pepper (Sr. 6-0, 175), DL Chandler Clift (Sr., 6-4, 255), LB Brayden Harris (Sr., 6-0, 220), and S Preston Stone (Sr., 5-9, 170).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Benton is No. 7 in Class 6A; Siloam Springs is No. 12.
HOOTEN'S LINE Benton by 24.
OUR TAKE Benton 35, Siloam Springs 17.
-- Graham Thomas • @NWAGraham
4A-1 Conference
Prairie Grove at Gravette
Lions Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Prairie Grove 4-0, 1-0; Gravette 3-1, 1-0.
ON THE AIR pgtigersonline.com and lionlettermen.com.
BETWEEN THE LINES Prairie Grove has won 13 straight regular season games after last week's 41-12 win against Huntsville. ... Tigers senior WR/DB Isaac Disney is having a breakout season for Prairie Grove on offense, defense and special teams. He has scored touchdowns in all three phases this season... The Tigers face three tough tests over the next three weeks with a road game at Shiloh Christian next week, followed by a home game against Pea Ridge. ... Gravette shut out Lincoln last week 33-0 as Austin O'Brien had more than 100 yards rushing and receiving. ... Lions QB Kilby Roberts is 47 of 71 passing for 540 yards and 7 TDs through the first four games.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Prairie Grove, QB Zeke Laird (Sr., 5-11, 180), RB Anthony Johnson (Jr., 5-9, 180), RB Reed Orr (Sr., 5-10, 205), WR/DB Isaac Disney (Sr., 6-0, 150), DL Jack Stone (Se., 6-5, 230). Gravette, QB Kilby Roberts (Sr., 6-0, 180), RB Austin O'Brien (Jr., 5-10, 170), DL Drew Hendren (Sr., 6-2, 200), DL Bailey Soule' (Jr., 5-11, 230), LB Kenton Tajchman (Sr., 5-8, 235), WR Brady Moorman (Jr., 5-6, 140).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Prairie Grove is No. 7 in Class 4A. Gravette is No. 15.
HOOTEN'S LINE Prairie Grove by 14.
OUR TAKE Prairie Grove 26, Gravette 16.
-- Chip Souza • @NWAChip
Shiloh Christian at Huntsville
Eagle Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Shiloh Christian 4-0, 1-0; Huntsville 1-3, 0-1.
ON THE AIR Live streaming at shilohchristianfootball.com
BETWEEN THE LINES The Saints scored 38 unanswered points to break open a 15-12 score en route to a 53-12 home win against Berryville last week. ... Huntsville dropped its third straight game with a 41-12 loss at Prairie Grove. ... The Saints are averaging 45 points per game, but have yet to hold an opponent to less than two scores in any game. ... The Saints are averaging 478 yards per game (251 passing, 227 rushing). ... Saints quarterback Connor Reece is 63 of 98 passing for 1,004 yards and 12 touchdowns with only two interceptions. ... The Eagles were shut out in Week 2 with a 43-0 loss to Farmington and have averaged 9.3 points per game since opening the season with a 28-0 win against Green Forest. ... Huntsville is primarily a running team as sophomore quarterback Sean McCone has completed just seven passes this season. ... The Eagles' running game is led by seniors JD Vaughn and Jaron Evans, who have combined for 96 rushing yards per game. Vaughn is averaging 9.1 yards per carry.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Shiloh Christian, QB Connor Reece (Sr., 5-10, 175), RB/LB Broc Berus (Sr., 6-1, 210), WR Brennan Fulgham (Sr., 5-9, 150), DB Micah Button (So., 5-9, 170). Huntsville, QB Sean McComb (So., 5-9, 155), RB/CB JD Vaughn (Sr., 5-11, 155), RB/LB Jaron Evans (Sr., 5-10, 172), WR/SS Trey Harris (Sr., 5-11, 170).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Shiloh Christian is No. 3 in Class 4A. Huntsville is No. 41.
HOOTEN'S LINE Shiloh Christian by 30
OUR TAKE Shiloh Christian 49, Huntsville 6.
-- Mike Capshaw • @NWACappy
Sports on 09/30/2016