I'm starting to hear rumblings about undefeated Bryant being perhaps the best high school team ever in Arkansas, but it's still too early for that.
Bryant is certainly impressive. But all we have to do is jump into the DeLorean, grab some plutonium and set the time machine for December 1983 as a reminder to withhold the superlatives until the job is finished.
Little Rock Parkview was 12-0 with a team led by future NFL Hall of Fame tight end Keith Jackson when the Patriots took the field at War Memorial Stadium against a Fort Smith Southside team with two losses. Southside snatched the "best-ever" crown from the heads of the Patriots after a 9-6 victory over Parkview.
So, fans who think they've got everything figured out, believe me, you do not. That's true for teams headed in the other direction like Arkadelphia, which started 0-5 last year before going on a 10-game winning streak to claim its second consecutive state championship in Class 4A.
Too many things can still happen, especially with injuries, like last season when Springdale stood 6-1 before quarterback Grant Allen broke his leg. But we can still make some general observations by listing a few teams in three separate categories past the halfway mark of the high school football season.
LOOKING GOOD
BRYANT
No team looks better than Bryant, whose 6-0 record includes back-to-back beat downs of Bentonville West and Fayetteville. The North Little Rock at Bryant game Nov. 1 will be a must-see game for high school football fans in central Arkansas.
BENTONVILLE
Bentonville has all the ingredients -- offense, defense, special teams and coaching -- to make a deep run in the state playoffs. Bentonville's game at Bentonville West on Nov. 8 is a must-see game for high school football fans in Northwest Arkansas.
GREENWOOD
I'm trying to remember when Greenwood wasn't looking good.
Maybe after losing 31-16 last year in the season-opener to Fort Smith Northside. But the Bulldogs went back to work and reeled off 12 consecutive wins to earn their ninth state championship.
They're as close to a football factory as any program in Arkansas.
SHILOH CHRISTIAN
The Saints moved to 6-0 after dominating Prairie Grove 56-7 on its home field Friday night. Not many teams can contain Truitt Tollett, who scored three touchdowns and finished with 232 all-purpose yards against the Tigers.
WORK TO DO
FARMINGTON
Greenbrier won 24-17 Friday to hand Farmington its first loss of the year.
The Cardinals (5-1) are still in good shape. But Farmington's season with the opening of its new stadium won't truly be memorable if the Cardinals can't do some damage against Morrilton or Harrison in back-to-back games in November.
SPRINGDALE HAR-BER
Har-Ber whipped Springdale High 49-10 Friday to atone for last year's 43-42 defeat at Springdale. The Wildcats (4-2) needed that momentum heading to Bentonville West (4-2) in a game that will likely decide second place in the 7A-West.
FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE
There's the possibility both teams from Fort Smith could miss the playoffs, which would be stunning for two schools with such a rich history in football.
There's no question power has shifted from the 7A-West Conference to the 7A-Central, but the gap may be even bigger than we realized. Southside (1-5) should get some relief next season when the Mavericks return to the 7A-West.
FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE
Friday's loss at Little Rock Catholic really stings. The Grizzlies (2-4) led most of the way before the Rockets turned a short pass completion into a 56-yard touchdown for a 24-21 victory.
WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR
Rogers High, Rogers Heritage
This category recognizes the futility for teams at the bottom while, at the same time, suggesting there are better days ahead. But winless Rogers and Rogers Heritage are in the same position as they were in 2015, when new coaches were brought in after the Mounties went 1-9 and the War Eagles finished 0-10.
I was told years ago Rogers is the place where football coaching careers go to die. Why that is, I'm not sure. But that statement appears just as true as when I heard it 30 years ago.
Preps Sports on 10/13/2019