TODAY'S MATCHUPS
Class 7A
Springdale High at Rogers Heritage
David Gates Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Springdale High 3-0; Rogers Heritage 0-3.
ON THE AIR KHEL-FM 97.3; Springdale Public Schools livestream
BETWEEN THE LINES War Eagles running back Dylan Qualls has rushed for more than 100 years in each of the first three games and is among the area leaders with 390 yards on 42 carries (9.3 avg.) with two touchowns. ... Senior Jay De La Rosa leads Heritage with 14 receptions for 278 yards (19.9 avg.) with two touchdowns, despite nursing a groin injury. ... Senior Ty Graser, one of several War Eagles who play some on both offense and defense, leads the team with 23 tackles (15 solos), but has been bothered by an ankle sprain. ... Heritage has been outscored by an average of 41-16 in its first three games and lost 23 of its last 24 games dating back to 2014, including forfeiting a win over Olaithe (Kan.) North to open 2015. ... Springdale improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2005 with a road win at Russellville last week. QB Layne Hutchins ran for two second-half scores against the Cyclones to help seal a 31-28 win. ... The Red'Dogs offense ranks third in the 7A-West in total yardage through three weeks (365 ypg), and the defense ranks second, giving up just 274 yards per game. ... Springdale's defense has totaled 11 sacks this season. It recorded 16 all of 2016, according Zach Arns, voice of the Springdale Bulldogs. DL Harrison Vasquez finished with a career-high 2.5 sacks against Russellville.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Heritage -- QB Trey Kitterman (Sr., 6-1, 226), RB/LB Dylan Qualls (Sr., 6-0, 191), WR Jay De La Rosa (Sr., 5-8, 140), TB/CB Ty Graser (Jr., 5-6, 150), WR Zach Gall (Sr., 5-10, 1740), DE Jheovany Hernandez (Sr., 5-11, 192). Springdale -- QB Layne Hutchins (Sr., 6-0, 180), QB Will Mueller (Jr., 6-1, 190), WR Alex Thompson (Sr., 5-10, 175), WR Kamond Robinson (Sr., 5-10, 165), DL Isaiah Nichols (Sr., 6-4, 275), LB Mason Hutchins (Sr., 6-0, 205).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Springdale is No. 6 in 7A; Rogers Heritage is No. 15.
HOOTEN'S LINE Springdale by 13.
OUR TAKE Springdale High 28, Rogers Heritage 10.
-- Scottie Bordelon • @NWAScottie
Rogers High at Springdale Har-Ber
Wildcat Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Rogers High 3-0; Springdale Har-Ber 3-0.
ON THE AIR KURM-AM 790; Springdale Public Schools livestream
BETWEEN THE LINES Rogers is 3-0 for the second consecutive year under coach Mike Loyd, but finally had a blowout win (42-0) last week over St. Louis Normandy, after opening the season with a pair of nail-biters. ... Sophomore quarterback Hunter Loyd has completed 45 of 67 passes for 683 yards with five touchdowns and just two interceptions and also leads the team with 85 rushing yards on 31 carries (2.7 avg.). ... Senior running back/wide receiver Colin McWhorter is Loyd's favorite target with 20 catches for 285 yards, despite not playing last week. ... McWhorter, who missed the fourth quarter of Rogers' week two win with a possible concussions, will play against Har-Ber. ... Senior receiver Hunter Hawkins has nine catches for 149 yards and three touchdowns and also returned a kickoff 87 yards last week for a score. ... Since giving up 35 points in Week 1 at FS Southside, Har-Ber has recorded back-to-back shutout wins for the first time in school history. The Wildcats defense allowed a league low 267 yards per game through non-conference play. ... Har-Ber is expecting to have OL Callen Cleveland back after missing the first three weeks with injury. Har-Ber running backs averaged 4 yards per carry in his absence. ... Har-Ber has seven players with at least one TD catch this season. Hunter Wood, who leads the team with 11 receptions, is searching for his first score. Bryton Cook's 4 TD grabs leads the offense.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Rogers -- QB Hunter Loyd (So., 6-3, 195), RB Colin McWhorter (Sr., 5-11, 175), WR/DB Andrew McGlynn (Sr., 6-4, 190) , DL/RB A-ron Jones (Sr., 6-1, 235), OL Dusty Schureman (Sr., 6-2, 243). Har-Ber -- QB Grant Allen (Jr., 6-1, 180), RB Payton Copher (Sr., 6-1, 190), RB Logan Collins (Sr., 5-11, 190), WR Bryton Cook (Sr., 5-10,180), DL Alejandro Ramirez (Sr., 6-2, 290), Blaze Brothers (Sr., 5-8, 160).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Har-Ber is No. 1 in 7A; Rogers High is No. 11.
HOOTEN'S LINE Springdale Har-Ber by 17.
OUR TAKE Har-Ber 42, Rogers 7
-- Paul Boyd • @NWAPaulB and Scottie Bordelon • @NWAScottie
Fayetteville at Bentonville High
Tiger Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Fayetteville 1-2; Bentonville 1-2.
ON THE AIR Fayetteville -- KQSM-FM 92.1, Fayetteville Bulldogs Athletics livestream. Bentonville -- bentonvillesportsnetwork.com livestream
BETWEEN THE LINES Bentonville leads the series by a 14-8 margin since the 2002 season, but the rivalry has a strange twist to it. The Tigers have a 12-3 cushion in regular-season games, including the last 11 meetings, while the Purple'Dogs have the 5-2 edge in postseason meetings. ... Bentonville's offense has been its worst enemy during its nonconference games. The Tigers are averaging a respectable 324.7 yards total offense per game, but they have 10 turnovers and are minus-8 in turnover margin. ... Bentonville RB Easton Miller has 302 yards rushing through three games, and WR Kam'Ron Mays-Hunt has accounted for 23 of the Tigers' 47 pass receptions. ... Fayetteville first-year coach Billy Dawson is a 1985 graduate of Bentonville High. This will be his first time facing his alma mater as head coach. ... Darius Bowers has completed 58.6 percent of his passes for 802 yards and also leads the team with 103 rushing yards. ... senior receivers Cody Gray and Kris Mulinga have combined for 46 catches for 625 yards. Gray has a team-high four touchdowns while Mulinga, despite averaging 122 yards per game, has yet to catch a touchdown pass. ... Tailback Dan Hinton made his first appearance last week since suffering a leg injury and rushed for 22 yards on seven carries.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Fayetteville -- QB Darius Bowers (Jr., 6-2, 190), WR Cody Gray (Sr., 6-0, 170), WR Kris Mulinga (Sr., 6-2, 180), FS Will Litzinger (6-1, 180), DT Keondre Conley (Jr., 6-3, 245). Bentonville -- WR Kam'Ron Mays-Hunt (Sr., 6-1, 170), TE Tyler Johnson (Sr., 6-1, 200); RB Easton Miller (Sr., 5-10, 175), DL Angel Guerrero (Sr., 5-9, 250); DB Jadyn Loudermilk (Sr., 6-0, 175).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Fayetteville is No. 3 in Class 7A. Bentonville is No. 9.
HOOTEN'S LINE Fayetteville by 7.
OUR TAKE Fayetteville 27, Bentonville 17.
-- HENRY APPLE • @NWAHENRY, Mike Capshaw • @NWACappy
Bentonville West at Van Buren
Blakemore Field
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Bentonville West 3-0; Van Buren 0-3.
ON THE AIR bentonvillesportsnetwork.com livestream
BETWEEN THE LINES West makes its first trip to Van Buren after handing the Pointers a 42-14 loss last year at Tiger Stadium. ... Through three games, West ranks second in the 7A-West in team offense and leads the league in total defense. ... Wolverines QB Will Jarrett threw his first interception last week against Muskogee, Okla., but the junior has thrown for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns threw the first three games. ... West have four players with at least one rushing touchdown and four players with at least one receiving touchdown. ... Van Buren tailback Walter Green, the conference's leading rusher last year, had 115 yards on the ground and added a 98-yard kickoff return in last week's loss to Siloam Springs. Green has accounted for 442 yards total offense (70-351 rushing, 4-91 receiving) this season and has returned two kickoffs for scores. ... Logan Humphreys leads the Pointers in receiving with 16 catches for 238 yards and a touchdown. ... Christian Morrow has assumed quarterback duties for Van Buren after starter Caleb Salisbury was hurt the week before the season started and has thrown for 522 yards and four touchdowns on 32 of 56 passing.
PLAYERS TO WATCH West -- QB Will Jarrett (Jr., 6-0, 160); WR Jadon Jackson (Jr., 6-1, 170); OL Michael Toney (Sr., 6-2, 299); WB/LB Hunter Swoboda (Sr., 6-4, 225), DB Jason Gloeckler (Sr., 6-0, 160). Van Buren -- RB Walter Green (Sr., 5-8, 165); DT Nathan Westbrook (Sr., 6-1, 315); WR Logan Humphreys (Jr., 6-5, 210); OLB Issac Lipe (Sr., 6-2, 230); DB Isaac Davis (Jr., 5-9, 171).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Bentonville West is No. 5 in Class 7A; Van Buren is No. 16
HOOTEN'S LINE Bentonville West by 35.
OUR TAKE Bentonville West 41, Van Buren 7.
-- HENRY APPLE • @NWAHENRY
Class 5A
Clarksville at Farmington
Allen Holland Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Clarksville 1-2, Farmington 1-2.
ON THE AIR Live-streamed at farmcards.org livestream and pgtelco.com
BETWEEN THE LINES Last week, Clarksville lost 31-24 against Dardanelle. Farmington lost 24-7 at Pea Ridge. ... Panthers second-year coach Khris Buckner began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Farmington under Bryan Law, who coached Buckner at Clarksville and is now Farmington's superintendent of schools. ... In the offseason, Buckner brought in Apopka (Fla.) High coach Rick Darlington as a consultant for installing a single-wing offense, which Darlington has used to win three state championships in Florida's largest classification. ... Clarksville has averaged more than 26 points per game after putting up 10 per game last season. They're also averaging nearly twice as many yards. ... Clarksville's offense, which includes an unbalanced line, multiple formations and misdirection, is averaging 21 pancake blocks per game. ... The Panthers start eight sophomores, including quarterback Nicholas Buckner, the coach's son, who leads the 5A-West with 495 yards and 4 touchdowns on 78 carries. ... The Cardinals were tied 7-7 against Pea Ridge, last year's Class 4A runner-up, at halftime before surrendering 17 unanswered points. ... Farmington running back Caleb Williams is averaging 119.3 rushing yards per game and has scored four touchdowns.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Clarksville -- QB Nicholas Buckner (So., 6-1, 165), RB Colton Gregory (Jr., 5-9, 170), MLB Treyton Russell (So., 6-2, 190), C/NG Chuy Jimenez (Sr., 5-11, 285), RB/CB Jamie White (So., 5-9, 160). Farmington -- Farmington -- QB Trey Waggle (Sr., 6-0, 170), RB Caleb Williams (Sr., 5-9, 190), WR Xavier Staten (Sr., 6-3, 185), OG Zach Newman (Sr., 6-3, 300), FS Skyler Montez (Sr., 6-1, 185).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Clarksville is No. 29 in Class 5A. Farmington is No. 23.
HOOTEN'S LINE Farmington by 3
OUR TAKE Farmington 30, Clarksville 28
-- MIKE CAPSHAW • @NWACappy
Class 4A
Gentry at Pea Ridge
Blackhawks Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Gentry 2-1; Pea Ridge 3-0
ON THE AIR None
BETWEEN THE LINES Gentry comes into this 4A-1 Conference opener after scoring 71 points in a loss last week at Greenland. Pea Ridge downed Farmington last week 24-7. ... Gentry quarterback Jon Faulkenberry rushed for seven touchdowns and passed for two more last week and has scored 11 rushing touchdowns in basically two games since he did not play much in a week two win against Decatur. ... Pea Ridge struggled some offensively against Farmington, but the Blackhawks' defense was outstanding in shutting out the Cardinals in the second half. ... Pea Ridge receivers Jordan Witcher (21 catches) and Hayden Holtgrewe (19 catches) will cause matchup problems, and RB Drew Winn is capable of a big play every time he touches the ball.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Gentry -- QB Jon Faulkenberry (Sr., 6-1, 195), RB Myles McFerrin (Sr., 5-9, 205), WR Garrett Matthews (Sr., 5-10, 150), TE Dylan Kilgore (Jr., 6-2, 220). Pea Ridge -- RB Drew Winn (Sr., 5-11, 170), WR Jordan Witcher (Sr., 5-11, 170), WR Hayden Holtgrewe (Sr., 6-1, 160), SS Carson Rhine (Jr., 5-9, 150), K Evan Green (Sr., 5-8, 155).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Gentry is No. 34 in Class 4A; Pea Ridge is No. 2.
HOOTEN'S LINE Pea Ridge by 25.
OUR TAKE Pea Ridge 42, Gentry 24.
-- CHIP SOUZA • @NWACHIP
Lincoln at Gravette
Lions Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Lincoln 1-2; Gravette 1-2
ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed at pgtelco.com
BETWEEN THE LINES Lincoln comes into the game having lost two straight games, but staged a near comeback from 27 points down last week in a 39-36 loss to Mansfield. Gravette won its first game of the season last week 26-7 over Jay, Okla. ... Gravette RB Austin O'Brien is putting together a stellar senior season with 407 rushing yards and 43 tackles on defense. ... Lincolb QB Caleb Lloyd was 26 of 50 passing for 328 yards and four touchdowns last week against Mansfield. ... Braden Umberson had 11 catches for 119 yards. ... Gravette dual-threat QB Taje White ran for 70 yards last week in the win over Jay.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Lincoln -- QB Caleb Lloyd (Jr., 5-9, 190), WR Braden Umberson (Sr., 6-1, 185), OL Trea Harrison (Sr., 5-10, 235). Gravette -- RB/DB Austin O'Brien (Sr., 5-11, 180), FB/DL Bailey Soule' (Sr., 6-1, 250), WR Brady Moorman (Sr., 5-5, 145), LB Kenton Tajchman (Sr., 5-8, 240).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Lincoln is No. 41 in Class 4A; Gravette is No. 20.
HOOTEN'S LINE Gravette by 14.
OUR TAKE Gravette 28, Lincoln 21
-- CHIP SOUZA • @NWACHIP
Prairie Grove at Huntsville
Eagle Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Prairie Grove 3-0; Huntsville 1-2
ON THE AIR The game is live-streamed at pgtelco.com
BETWEEN THE LINES The Tigers are off to a 3-0 start with three straight lopsided wins to open the season. Prairie Grove ran over West Fork 40-6 last week. Huntsville has lost two straight after last week's 38-33 setback to Elkins. ... Prairie Grove RB Anthony Johnson ran for a pair of touchdowns and 128 yards on just four carries last week. ... Huntsville has proven it can put points on the board with quarterback Sean McCone (30-62, 391 yards, 5 TDs) and WR Zack Elsey (12 catches, 163 yards, 4 TDs.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Prairie Grove -- QB J.D. Elder (Sr., 6-3, 170), RB Anthony Johnson (Sr., 5-9, 185), TE Demarkus Cooper (Sr., 6-1, 240), LB Dustin Burton (Sr., 5-11, 210). Huntsville -- QN Sean McCone (Jr., 5-10, 165), RB/WR Zack Elsey (Sr., 5-11, 170), RB Cyrus Crow (Jr., 5-11, 155), LB Cameron George (Sr., 5-10, 160), LB Cody Ogden (Jr., 5-9, 175).
HOOTEN'S RANKINGS Prairie Grove is No. 5 in Class 4A; Huntsville is No. 38.
HOOTEN'S LINE Prairie Grove by 24.
OUR TAKE Prairie Grove 45, Huntsville 18
-- CHIP SOUZA • @NWACHIP
Sports on 09/22/2017