SPRINGDALE --An overflow crowd, with young fans hanging on the rails and others standing two- and three-deep around the white picket fence.
Announcements from the press box warning that cars would be towed if not removed from the yards of nearby houses.
An appearance by Jarrell Williams, this time as a honorary captain for the coin toss at midfield.
Yes, it seemed like old times at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium -- at least for a while. Springdale Har-Ber won Friday's game 56-14 over Springdale High in what is likely the largest crowd to watch a game at the home of the Bulldogs.
Springdale has played before many large crowds, including a matchup with regional power Jenks, Okla., during the Gus Malzahn era. But those games came before the stadium was renovated and seats added. The anticipation for the kickoff on Friday was noticeable, much like in 2005 when Springdale went 14-0 and won a state championship.
Springdale kept the game interesting in the first half before the top-ranked Wildcats pulled away and invoked the sportsmanship rule late in the third quarter.
"The atmosphere was fantastic and there was great support on both sides," Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. "The kids played with a lot of energy and the game was played clean. The crowd was into it and it was just a great night for high school football."
DELAYED ENTRANCE
You first.
No, you first.
That was the situation prior to kickoff when Springdale Har-Ber did not run onto the field right away after being introduced as the visiting team. The Wildcats stayed grouped together in the north end zone until the head official walked over and waved the Wildcats onto the field.
Springdale High then made its entrance through an inflated Bulldog on the south end.
IN THE BEGINNING
Wood and Kevin Johnson were the head coaches when Har-Ber and Springdale first met in 2006.
Wood is still coach of the Wildcats, while Johnson mostly led the Bulldogs until he died in 2011 following a two-year battle with cancer.
Johnson and Wood were assistant coaches under Malzahn for the Springdale team that went 14-0 in 2005. Malzahn left after the season to become the offensive coordinator for the Razorbacks under Houston Nutt.
Springdale and Har-Ber shared Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium as a home field until Wildcat Stadium opened on the west side of town in 2014.
Har-Ber's victory on Friday extended its winning streak to 11 consecutive over the Bulldogs.
STREAK SNAPPED
A 69-yard touchdown pass from Layne Hutchins to sophomore Darrell Parchman with 9:27 left in the second quarter snapped a string of three consecutive shutouts by the Wildcats.
The scoreless streak began in Week 2 when Har-Ber beat Jefferson City, Mo., 38-0. The victory followed a 29-0 shutout over Jenks, Okla., and a 49-0 shutout over Rogers High to begin 7A-West Conference play.
Har-Ber began the season with a 48-35 win over Fort Smith Southside.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Tevin Eckwood returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown after Springdale High scored on an interception return. Eckwood's touchdown swung the momentum back in Har-Ber's favor and the Wildcats turned the game into a blowout in the second half.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Har-Ber quarterback Grant Allen accounted for five touchdowns on two scoring runs and three touchdown passes.
ONSIDE KICKS
Springdale had a chance to end Har-Ber's scoreless streak in the first quarter, but Alejandro Ramirez blocked a field goal attempt by Jesus Barrasco. ... Former Springdale Har-Ber linebacker Hunter Kissinger stood on the sidelines on the east side, where former Springdale eceiver Zack Pianalto worked as a member of the chain gang. Both went on the play college football, Pianalto at North Carolina and Kissinger at Louisiana-Monroe. Pianalto also briefly played in the NFL.
Sports on 09/30/2017