Halfway through the regular season, tonight's schedule includes undefeated Cedarville hosting a struggling team from Charleston.
Really?
That description is contrary to the history of the two programs and a person writing such a lede would normally receive a phone call from an editor demanding a re-write.
But it's true. Charleston is 1-3 this year while Cedarville has a chance to start 5-0 for the first time in years.
Maybe decades.
Maybe forever.
Charleston is a small-school power with a handful of state championships while Cedarville is a program that often struggles to win half its games. Cedarville was 2-9 the year before Max Washausen took over as head coach of the Pirates full time in 2016. He's built the program up to where the Pirates look like a contender in the 3A-1 Conference with a powerful ground game that features Kelin Mitchell and Darryl Kattich, both of whom have already rushed for more than 500 yards.
Mitchell scored two touchdowns and intercepted a pass in last week's 24-21 win at Lamar.
Charleston beat Cedarville 21-6 last year, and the Tigers opened 3A-1 Conference play with a 35-29 victory over Greenland. That's a sign the Tigers may be healing from the injuries that hampered the team at the outset.
Charleston knows what Cedarville is going to do. The Pirates are going to pound the football with their running game and see if the Tigers can stop them with any regularity.
I doubt they will, which means Cedarville will be 5-0 for the first time in years.
Maybe decades.
Maybe forever.
RICK'S PICK Cedarville
Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).
CLASS 7A
Van Buren at BENTONVILLE
Rogers at FAYETTEVILLE
SPRINGDALE HAR-BER at Rogers Heritage
BENTONVILLE WEST at Springdale High
Fort Smith Southside at CABOT
Little Rock Central at FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE
CLASS 6A
El Dorado at GREENWOOD
BENTON at Siloam Springs
CLASS 5A
FARMINGTON at Alma
HARRISON at Clarksville
VILONIA at Huntsville
Greenbrier at MORRILTON
CLASS 4A
BERRYVILLE at Gentry
GRAVETTE at Prairie Grove
Green Forest at SHILOH CHRISTIAN
PEA RIDGE at Lincoln
Dover at ELKINS
Pottsville at MENA
Subiaco Academy at OZARK
DARDANELLE at Waldron
CLASS 3A
MANSFIELD at Greenland
LAMAR at Paris
BOONEVILLE at West Fork
Rose Bud at MOUNTAIN VIEW
Cedar Ridge at MARSHALL
CLASS 2A
HECTOR at Johnson County Westside
Lavaca at MOUNTAINBURG
LAST WEEK 20-4 (83 percent)
OVERALL 88-23 (79 percent)
Preps Sports on 10/04/2019