Today's Matchups
Class 7A
Bryant at Bentonville High
Tiger Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Bryant 10-1; Bentonville 9-2
ON THE AIR bentonvillesportsnetwork.com livestream.
BETWEEN THE LINES This is the fourth meeting between the two schools in the last 10 years, and Bentonville has won the previous three -- the last being a 17-7 victory in the 2014 state playoffs. ... Bryant reached the semifinals for the first time in school history last year, while Bentonville has made it eight consecutive seasons. ... Hornets RB Latavain Scott has 1,351 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. ... Both Bryant QBs Ren Hefley and Jake Meaders have surpassed the 1,000-yard mark passing this season. Hefley has almost 1,600 yards and 17 TDs through the air, while Meaders has 1,082 yards and 7 TDs ... Bentonville QB Nathan Lyons has no interceptions in his last 163 pass attempts, a span of more than eight games. During that time, he has completed 22 touchdown passes. ... Tigers WR Kam'Ron Mays-Hunt needs 70 receiving yards to reach the 1,000-yard this season. ... A Bentonville victory would give the Tigers three straight 10-win seasons under coach Jody Grant.
PLAYERS TO WATCH 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). 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 Bryant is No. 2 in Class 7A. Bentonville is No. 3.
HOOTEN'S LINE Bryant by 1.
OUR TAKE Bentonville 28, Bryant 24
-- HENRY APPLE • @NWAHenry
Class 6A
West Memphis at Greenwood
Smith-Robinson Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Greenwood 11-0; West Memphis 10-1.
ON THE AIR Greenwood -- KQBK-FM 104.7
BETWEEN THE LINES Tonight marks the first meeting between the schools. ... The Blue Devils are making their first semifinal appearance since 2008 when they fell to eventual 6A state champion Lake Hamilton. West Memphis has not made a state finals appearance since 2005. ... Greenwood is no stranger to playing during Thanksgiving Week, reaching the state semifinals each of the past three seasons and seven times in eight years. ... The Bulldogs recorded their fourth shutout of the season (38-0) in last week's quarterfinals against Texarkana. It was also Greenwood's first postseason shutout since 2012. ... West Memphis DL Verndarius Hodges leads the state with 21.5 sacks this season, and will test Greenwood's offensive line. On offense, West Memphis is led by RB Guren Holmes, a Farm Bureau Insurance Awards watch list selection. He rushed for 206 yards and four touchdowns in the Blue Devils' win against Benton last week. ... QB Connor Noland and RB Kenny Wood are the focal points offensively for Greenwood. Noland has thrown for 2,282 yards and 27 TD this season, and Wood has run for 1,485 yards and 25 scores. Junior WR Peyton Holt is the Bulldogs' top option at receiver as well, hauling in 80 passes for 1,095 yards and 14 touchdowns. ... LB Nick Vota, who returned a Texarkana interception 10 yards for a touchdown last week, leads Greenwood with 134 tackles, 37 for loss. Noseguard John Womack has 77 tackles and 24 for loss.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Greenwood -- QB Connor Noland (Sr., 6-2, 195), RB Kenny Wood (Sr., 5-11, 190), WR Peyton Holt (Jr., 5-8, 180), DL Hunter Webb (Sr., 6-0, 280), LB Nick Vota (Sr., 5-10, 195). West Memphis -- QB Michael Troxler (Sr., 5-11, 165), RB Buren Holmes (Sr., 5-9, 170), WR Steven Stone (Sr., 6-0, 180), DL Verndarius Hodges (Sr., 6-2, 205), LB John Brown (Sr., 5-10, 185).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Greenwood is No. 1 in Class 6A; West Memphis is No. 3.
HOOTEN'S LINE Greenwood by 18.
OUR TAKE Greenwood 31, West Memphis 14.
-- Scottie Bordelon • @NWAScottie
Class 4A
Pea Ridge at Booneville
Bearcat Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS: Pea Ridge 11-1; Booneville 10-1
ON THE AIR None
BETWEEN THE LINES Booneville comes into the game after kicking a field goal with no time left on the clock to defeat Nashville 24-21 last week. Pea Ridge ran over Hamburg in a mercy-rule 37-7 score. ... If it seems like Pea Ridge is starting its season all over again, it kind of is. The Blackhawks opened the 2017 season by defeating Hamburg, then traveled to Booneville for their second game, where it rallied from a 19-0 deficit to win 29-19. ... Booneville is making its deepest playoff run since 2014 when it lost to Charleston in the Class 3A semifinals. The Bearcats won the Class 4A state title in 2013. ... Pea Ridge senior RB Drew Winn topped the 2,000-yard rushing mark last week and has scored 29 TDs. ... Senior WR Hayden Holtgrewe caught seven passes for 118 yards and 2 TDs in the win last week, giving him 65 catches for 1,086 yards and 12 TDs on the season. ... Pea Ridge's defense shut Hamburg down last week and forced three turnovers. Pea Ridge LB Tristin Brewer has 132 tackles, 17.0 tackles-for-loss and 5.0 sacks. ... Booneville is not flashy, but it runs the ball with power behind quarterback Brandon Ulmer who ran for more than 200 yards last week against Nashville.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Pea Ridge -- QB Jakota Sainsbury (Sr., 5-11, 180), RB Drew Winn (Sr., 6-0, 180), LB Tristin Brewer (Jr., 5-7, 193), WR Hayden Holtgrewe (Sr., 6-1, 170), WR Jordan Witcher (Sr., 6-2, 180). Booneville -- QB Brandon Ulmer (Jr., 5-9, 160), FB Carson Ray (Jr., 5-8, 190), WR Austin Dobbs (Sr., 5-7, 155), DL Grant Rodatz (Sr., 5-10, 210), DL Noah Reyes (Jr., 6-2, 225).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Pea Ridge is No. 4 in Class 4A; Booneville is No. 6.
HOOTEN'S LINE Pea Ridge by 2.
OUR TAKE Pea Ridge 27, Booneville 21
-- Chip Souza • @NWAChip
Prairie Grove at Warren
Jim Hurley Jr., Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Prairie Grove 11-1; Warren 11-1.
ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed at pgtelco.com/prairie grove
BETWEEN THE LINES Warren lost 43-28 to Little Rock Christian on Aug. 29 while Prairie Grove lost 26-21 at Pea Ridge on Oct. 13. ... Warren finished 15-0 last year and won the state championship in Class 4A with a 54-37 victory over Pea Ridge. ... Junior Treylon Burks in the latest in a long line of skilled position players from the Lumberjacks. Burks has accounted for more than 2,000 yards this season as a receiver, kick returner, and quarterback. He caught eight passes for over 200 yards and scored four touchdowns last year in the win over Prairie Grove. ... Anthony Johnson has over 1,000 yards rushing for Prairie Grove but the Tigers also have an effective passing game with senior quarterback John David Elder. ... Elder threw three touchdowns each in playoff wins over Pottsville and Stuttgart. ... He threw two fourth-down, fourth-quarter touchdown passes last week in the comeback victory over Stuttgart. ... Twins Colin and Stone Bryant are top receivers who also start in the defensive secondary for the Tigers. ... DE Demarkus Cooper and MLB Dustin Burton lead the Prairie Grove defense.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Prairie Grove -- 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). Warren -- WR Treylon Burks (Jr., 6-3, 215), WR Keemontre McKnight (Jr., 5-9, 175), QB Jmalachi Kinnard (Jr., 5-8, 150), DT Wallace Smith (6-3, 290), OL Will Woodard (Sr., 5-10, 275).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Warren is No. 1 in Class 4A; Prairie Grove is No. 5
HOOTEN'S LINE Warren by 7
OUR TAKE Warren 35, Prairie Grove 21
-- Rick Fires • @NWARick
Class 3A
Osceola at Charleston
Tiger Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Osceola 10-2; Charleston 12-0.
ON THE AIR None.
BETWEEN THE LINES Charleston has advanced to the state quarterfinals in five of the last six years and defeated Osceola in the 2014 quarters 49-22 en route to a state title. ... Osceola knocked off defending 3A state champion Prescott 41-20 last week and is looking for its first semifinal appearance since 2009. ... Seminoles senior QB D.J. File accounted for three touchdowns in the win over Prescott and has thrown for 1,921 yards and 18 TDs for the season. ... Three different backs have 450 or more yards rushing led by senior Robert White's 620 and six TDs. ... Junior Derrell Brown is File's top target with 34 receptions for 719 yards (21.1 avg) with nine touchdowns. ... Sean Michael Flanagan leads the Tigers with more than 1,300 all-purpose yards, including 811 receiving yards with 12 TDs. .. Quarterback Brayden Caudle has thrown for 2,676 yards and 37 touchdown and only four interceptions. ... Sophomore Tanner Jones leads Charleston with 101 tackles (25 solos) along with three fumble recoveries and an interception.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Osceola -- WR Derrell Brown (Sr., 6-2, 170), RB Robert White (Sr., 6-1, 180), QB D.J. Files (Sr., 6-0, 210. Charleston -- QB Brayden Caudle (Jr., 6-0, 225), WR Sean Michael Flanagan (Sr., 6-1, 190), WR Mason Wisdom (Sr., 6-1, 175).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Osceola is No. 6 in Class 3A; Charleston is No. 2.
HOOTEN'S LINE Charleston by 4.
OUR TAKE Charleston 35, Osceola 31.
-- Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB
Sports on 11/24/2017