Conference play starts with a bang tonight when Morrilton makes the trek up the hills to face Harrison in a 5A-West opener.
Harrison is 3-0 and Morrilton 2-1 with several returning starters from teams that reached the state semifinals last season. Harrison was picked first and Morrilton second in a preseason poll of the league coaches. The Devil Dogs are eager for a rematch after losing 21-9 last year to Harrison, and they're bringing some additional arsenal with them.
Quarterback Jacolby Criswell is back after missing last year's game with a knee injury. The North Carolina commit guides an offense that averages 37.3 points per game.
Years ago, former Harrison coach Tommy Tice would conger up some magic from the waters at Crooked Creek to try and disrupt such a talented athlete. Josh Wells, the current coach of the Goblins, simply counters with superb athletes like Gabe Huskey and Brooks Both, a rugged inside linebacker who also averaged 7 yards per carry at fullback last season.
There are other stars, including Harrison quarterback Ben Johnson and Morrilton running back Xavier Clemons, who rushed for over 1,000 yards last season for the Devil Dogs.
Both teams were off last week to prepare for the showdown and tonight's winner will serve notice as the team to beat in the 5A-West Conference. Every team will be giving chase, including Morrilton, which may not have the firepower, even with Criswell, to take down the Goblins on their home turf.
RICK'S PICK Harrison
Other games involving teams from Northwest Arkansas (selections are capitalized).
CLASS 7A
Fayetteville at BENTONVILLE WEST
SPRINGDALE at Rogers Heritage
BENTONVILLE at Springdale Har-Ber
Rogers at VAN BUREN
Fort Smith Southside at CONWAY
BRYANT at Fort Smith Northside
CLASS 6A
GREENWOOD at Little Rock Hall
SILOAM SPRINGS at Sheridan
CLASS 5A
CLARKSVILLE at Farmington
Huntsville at GREENBRIER
Alma at VILONIA
CLASS 4A
SHILOH CHRISTIAN at Berryville
LINCOLN at Gravette
PRAIRIE GROVE at Green Forest
Gentry at PEA RIDGE
SUBIACO ACADEMY at Dover
Waldron at ELKINS
OZARK at Mena
DARDANELLE at Pottsville
CLASS 3A
Paris at BOONEVILLE
GREENLAND at Charleston
Cedarville at LAMAR
West Fork at MANSFIELD
MOUNTAIN VIEW at Cedar Ridge
MARSHALL at Rose Bud
MELBOURNE at Yellville-Summit
CLASS 2A
Magazine at HACKETT
JC WESTSIDE at Lavaca
LAST WEEK 18-3 (86 percent)
OVERALL 68-19 (78 percent)
Preps Sports on 09/27/2019