The final week of non-conference play can also be seen as a preview for the playoffs in Arkansas.
No one doubts Fayetteville and Bryant will be in the mix in Class 7A when postseason play begins in late November. Bryant is the defending state champions, and the Hornets may be even better this year. Just ask Bentonville West coach Bryan Pratt after the Wolverines lost 38-0 last week at Bryant.
“They’re a legit No. 1 team,” Pratt said. “They’re the best team we’ve played in a long time.”
Pratt’s comments came after West also lost to Owasso, Okla., the No. 1 team in Oklahoma that pounded Fayetteville 51-19 two weeks ago. But if you think the Bulldogs have turned tail and are quivering at the thought of facing the Hornets, they are not.
Fayetteville spent a week off focusing on themselves because many of the problems at Owasso were self-inflicted. Fayetteville was flagged 15 times for 140 yards, and the Rams returned two of their three interceptions for touchdowns while building a 27-9 lead at halftime.
Correcting those mistakes are essential if Fayetteville hopes to stay on the field with Bryant, which opened the season with a 42-14 victory over Benton before 26,000 fans at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Fayetteville must also find adequate replacements for senior Beau Stuckey, a standout wide receiver and defensive back who suffered a serious knee injury against Owasso and is out for the season. But the Bulldogs will carry on with a “next man up” mentality, and they have plenty of athletes available who could fill in.
Fayetteville and Bryant have played some close games in recent years, including last season when Fayetteville won 36-35 in the regular season and Bryant won 28-25 in the playoffs. Fayetteville is home, but that won’t bother Bryant, a program with state championships recently in football, basketball and baseball.
RICK’S PICK Bryant
Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).
CLASS 7A
Pine Buff at SPRINGDALE HAR-BER
Rogers at LITTLE ROCK PARKVIEW
Rogers Heritage at FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE
VAN BUREN at Siloam Springs
CLASS 6A
ALMA at Russellville
CLASS 5A
Elkins at HUNTSVILLE
Pea Ridge at FARMING-TON
CLASS 4A
BERRYVILLE at Yell-ville-Summit
Charleston at OZARK
DANVILLE at Waldron
Gentry at GREENLAND
GREEN FOREST at West Fork
POTTSVILLE at Prairie Grove
SHILOH CHRISTIAN at Beggs, Okla.
Subiaco Academy at LINCOLN
CLASS 3A
LAMAR at Johnson County Westside
Two Rivers at LAVACA
LAST WEEK 18-3 (86 percent)
OVERALL 50-16 (76 percent)
Rick Fires can be reached at rfires@nwadg.com or on Twitter @ NWARick.