Prep Football Capsules

Today's Matchups

Class 7A

Fayetteville at Bryant

Hornet Stadium

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Bryant 9-1; Fayetteville 7-4.

ON THE AIR Fayetteville -- KQSM-FM 92.1, Fayetteville Public Schools livestream.

BETWEEN THE LINES Tonight marks the fourth meeting between the schools since 2015 and second in postseason play. ... Bryant beat Fayetteville 38-37 in overtime in Week 2. ... Fayetteville handed Bryant a 30-24 loss in 2015 as the Bulldogs began their run of back-to-back state championships. ... QB Darius Bowers eclipsed the 3,000-yard mark in Fayetteville's 64-34 win vs. FS Southside. The Bulldogs are averaging 48.6 points per game offensively during their current six-game win streak and allowing just 19.6. ... Bowers connected with WR Cody Gray for three TDs vs. Southside, pushing Gray to 16 TD receptions for the season. ... Fayetteville also rushed for a season-best 332 yards last week. Nate Nolen led the way with 145 yards and a score while Dan Hinton and Jackson White also rushed for 68+ and three touchdowns. ... In Week 2, the Bulldogs totaled just 19 yards rushing against Bryant. ... Hornets QB Ren Hefley is expected to return to play following a collarbone injury sustained vs. LR Central. He will face a strong Fayetteville pass rush led by Dotson Schaefer's 10 sacks. ... Bryant has won its last three games against 7A-West opponents.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Fayetteville -- QB Darius Bowers (Jr., 6-2, 190), WR Kris Mulinga (Sr., 6-2, 180), WR Cody Gray (Sr., 6-0, 170), DE Dotson Schaefer (Sr., 6-4, 240), FS Will Litzinger (Sr., 6-1, 180). Bryant -- QB Ren Hefley (Jr., 6-1, 185), RB Latavain Scott (Jr., 5-8, 190), DL Kajuan Robinson (Jr., 6-2, 300), FS Cameron Vail (Sr., 6-0, 185).

HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Bryant is No. 2 in 7A; Fayetteville is No. 5.

HOOTEN'S LINE Bryant by 1.

OUR TAKE Fayetteville 34, Bryant 28.

Cabot at Bentonville High

Tiger Stadium

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Cabot 6-5; Bentonville 8-2

ON THE AIR bentonvillesportsnetwork.com livestream.

BETWEEN THE LINES It's a rematch of the 2013 Class 7A state championship game, which Bentonville won 39-28 in near-freezing conditions at War Memorial Stadium. ... The only other meeting between the two schools was in the 2001 state playoffs, with Bentonville winning that game 21-7 en route to its first state title. ... The two teams share two common opponents in Conway and Springdale. Both teams lost to Conway and have beaten Springdale. ... Cabot's Mike Malham Jr. is the state's winningest active coach and second overall with 298 career victories. ... The Panthers, who operate out of a dead-T offensive alignment, scored on their first two offensive plays against Springdale -- a 75-yard run by T.J. Rogers and a 68-yard run by Noah Sorrel. ... The last time Bentonville didn't make it past the quarterfinal round was in 2009 with a loss to Fort Smith Southside. ... The Tigers spent their bye week trying to break in a new starting running back after Easton Miller injured his leg against Bentonville West. Preston Crawford and Joey Escamilla are the likely candidates after they finished up the Week 10 game. ... Bentonville QB Nathan Lyons surpassed the 2,000-yard passing in the regular-season finale and completed 7A-West play with 20 touchdown passes and no interceptions. ... WR Kam'Ron Mays-Hunt leads the Tigers with 52 receptions for 813 yards and 12 TDs. He is also tied with Ben Pankau on defense with three interceptions to lead the team. ... The Tigers went from minus-8 in turnover margin through their nonconference games to a plus-4 after 10 games.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Cabot -- QB Tommy Oaks (Jr., 5-11, 190), TE John Wiens (Sr., 6-3, 195), DB Justin Nabors (Sr., 5-10, 155), NG Dayonte Roberts (Jr., 6-2, 280). Bentonville -- WR Kam'Ron Mays-Hunt (Sr., 6-1, 170), TE Tyler Johnson (Sr., 6-1, 200); QB Nathan Lyons (Sr., 5-10, 175), DL Angel Guerrero (Sr., 5-9, 250); DB Jadyn Loudermilk (Sr., 6-0, 175).

HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Cabot is No. 7 in Class 7A. Bentonville is No. 3.

HOOTEN'S LINE Bentonville by 7.

OUR TAKE Bentonville 34, Cabot 21.

-- HENRY APPLE • @NWAHenry

Class 4A

Stuttgart at Prairie Grove

Tiger Stadium

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS: Stuttgart 8-3; Prairie Grove 10-1

ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed at pgtelco.com/prairie grove

BETWEEN THE LINES Stuttgart comes into the game off a 28-7 win against Shiloh Christian at home last week. Prairie Grove hammered Pottsville 56-21 at home. ... The Ricebirds started the season 1-3, but have ripped off seven straight wins. ... During that seven-game win, Stuttgart has allowed more than 10 points just twice and has not allowed an opponent more than one touchdown in the past four weeks. ... David Walker was a force in Stuttgart's win over Shiloh Christian with a 45-yard touchdown run, and Kirk Hughes added a pair of rushing TDs. ... The Ricebirds piled up 217 yards on the ground against the Saints. ... Prairie Grove senior RB Anthony Johnson ran for more than 200 yards and scored four touchdowns last week against Pottsville. ... The Tigers have a solid passing game led by senior QB John David Elder. ... Against like opponents, Prairie Grove defeated Shiloh Christian 35-21, but the game wasn't decided until Prairie Grove's Demarkus Cooper returned a later interception for a touchdown.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Stuttgart -- RB Kirk Hughes (Sr., 6-0, 190), RB David Walker (Jr., 6-1, 210), QB Tim Johnson (Jr., 6-0, 170), WR Davion Graham (Jr., 6-4, 175). Prairie Grove -- RB Anthony Johnson (Sr., 5-9, 190), QB John David Elder (Sr., 6-2, 160), TE Demarkus Cooper (Sr., 6-1, 247), LB Dustin Burton (Sr., 6-0, 215), WR/DB Stone Bryant (Sr., 5-11, 165), WR/DB Colin Bryant (Sr., 6-0, 172).

HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Stuttgart is No. 12 in Class 4A; Prairie Grove is No. 5

HOOTEN'S LINE Stuttgart by 1

OUR TAKE Prairie Grove 26, Stuttgart 22

-- Chip Souza • @NWAChip

Hamburg at Pea Ridge

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Hamburg 6-5; Pea Ridge 10-1

ON THE AIR None

BETWEEN THE LINES Other than intrasquad scrimmages, Pea Ridge has not faced another team more than it has Hamburg in the past two seasons. This is the third meeting since last November. ... Hamburg rallied late to down Jonesboro Westside 20-7 last week. Pea Ridge cruised to a 40-0 win at home against Waldron. ... Hamburg has had an up-and-down season, but enters the game having won two straight after a late-season two-game skid. ... Pea Ridge opened the season with a 50-30 win over the Lions at UCA and ran off nine straight wins. ... Senior RB Drew Winn leads a potent offense with 1,894 rushing yards on 201 carries (9.4 yards per carry) and 27 TDs. Winn rushed for 170 yards and scored 4 TDs in their first meeting. ... QB Jakota Sainsbury is 135 of 206 passing for 1,985 yards and 22 TDs. ... WRs Hayden Holtgrewe (58-977) and Jordan Witcher (52-749) are top targets with 20 combined TDs. ... The Blackhawks defense has played well late, led by junior LB Tristin Brewer, who has a team-high 121 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. ... Safety Carson Rhine has 5 interceptions.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Hamburg -- QB Jonathan Kelley (Jr., 6-2, 205), DL Gage Price (Jr., 6-2, 255), WR Traymon Holmes (Sr., 6-3, 210), RB Shannon Brennon (Sr., 5-10, 165). Pea Ridge -- QB Jakota Sainsbury (Sr., 5-11, 180), RB Drew Winn (Sr., 6-0, 180), WR Jordan Witcher (Sr., 6-2, 180), WR Hayden Holtgrewe (Sr., 6-1, 170), DT Mazon Harris (So., 6-3, 190).

HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Hamburg is No. 15 in Class 4A; Pea Ridge is No. 4.

HOOTEN'S LINE Pea Ridge by 11

OUR TAKE Pea Ridge 45, Hamburg 21

-- Chip Souza • @NWAChip

Class 3A

Atkins at Elkins

John Bunch Field

KICKOFF 7 p.m.

RECORDS Atkins 9-2. Elkins 9-2.

ON THE AIR None

BETWEEN THE LINES Atkins has a balanced offensive attack with 199.6 yards rushing and 182.5 yards passing per game. ... Senior quarterback Zackary Harris has thrown for 2,001 yards and 25 touchdowns with 12 interceptions this season. ... Four players have rushed for at least 200 yards, including Josh Jones, who leads the Red Devils with 755 yards and eight touchdowns. ... Atkins has won three consecutive since losing to Charleston in 4-3A Conference play. ... Atkins finished 9-3 last season and advanced to the state quarterfinals, where the Red Devils were eliminated 35-19 by Newport. ... Elkins also finished 9-3 last season after being eliminated 45-13 in the second round by Glen Rose. ... It was the most wins for the Elks since going 9-1 in 2002. ... Sophomore QB Quinn McClain has thrown for 2,476 yards this season while junior tailback Chance Jones has rushed for 1,099 yards and 18 touchdowns. ... Elkins forced three turnovers and had two sacks in last week's win over Fordyce... Tonight's winner will face the Newport vs. McGehee winner next week.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Elkins -- QB Quinn McClain (So., 6-2 180), RB Chance Jones (Jr., 6-2 180), WR/DB Layne Evans (Sr., 5-10 155), WR/DB Chad Graham (Jr., 5-9 150), LB J.J. Miller (Sr., 6-0 210). Atkins -- QB Zackary Harris (Sr., 6-1, 150), RB Josh Jones (Sr., 5-9, 180), WR Trey Davis (Jr., 5-9, 155), NG Matthew Robertson (Jr., 6-2, 205), LB Gage Rehm (Jr., 5-9, 175).

HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Elkins is No. 10 in Class 3A. Atkins is No. 12.

HOOTEN'S LINE Elkins by 3

OUR TAKE Elkins 35, Atkins 28

-- Rick Fires• @NWARick

Sports on 11/17/2017

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