RNN Sports Lock of The Week: Week 8

We are so close to the end of the season, so many big match-ups in the coming weeks.

Last week we had Mansfield vs Booneville as the of the Lock of the Week. Turns out Booneville is still Booneville and they are laying claim as to why they are the number one team in Class 3A. Does anyone have anything for the Bearcats? We’ll find out this week.

RNN Sports Lock of The Week

Booneville @ Charleston

Booneville is rolling through Conference and this is a re-match of the 2022 Class 3A State Championship. This was a tough choice because Mansfield vs Lavaca and Elkins vs Ozark are very appealing match-ups. Both of those will have Playoff implications just as this one will. Booneville wins and then wins out the rest of their games they will be the 1 Seed out of the 3A Region 1, same goes for Charleston. While the Tigers seem to be trending upward, Booneville has proven week in and week out the are the team this year. There are a lot of teams hitting their stride in 3A. While #3 in 3A, Salem is undefeated they stand to make the most noise out of the Top 5 that includes Prescott, Glen Rose, Harmony Grove.

The Rest

Mansfield @ Lavaca

Adam Hecox pointed out this matchup is the Conference’s best Defense and the Conference’s best Offense. I mentioned at the beginning of the season I felt that Lavaca was the sleeper in the Conference. Over the next three weeks we will see if I am right or not. I am really conflicted on this, the past two games for Mansfield have obviously been ones they want to forget. So how do you bounce back after demolishing your non-conference and first third of conference and then a loss to Charleston and Booneville. A Mansfield win will hold the hope they are 3 seed out of Region 1.

West Fork @ Hackett

To many weapons on the Hackett side of the ball to give West Fork the nod in this one. Hackett stings the Tigers early and often in this matchup.

Greenland @ Cedarville

1 and 6 Greenland traveling to 0 and 7 Cedarville. I don’t have a quirky one liner fo this game.

Magazine @ Hector

Magazine continues the struggle to finish the season. Hector takes this one by the sportsmanship rule.

Centerpoint @ Paris

We are both divided on this. I think Paris has what it takes to pull out a victory tonight.

Waldron @ Nashville

The 8 time State Champion Nashville Scrappers play host to the Waldron Bulldogs. Waldron may be down this year, but their is fight left in this Bulldog.

Elkins @ Ozark

Ok so the last two weeks I thought the Hillbillies defense was going to be tested. They for sure will this week with Central Missouri commit Dizzy Dean, RB De’Shawn Chairs is a very underrated athlete for Elkins. So who has the edge., Elkins. They have been remarkable this season.

Russellville @ Greenwood

Does Greenwood enact the Sportsmanship rule for the 7th time this season? The Cyclones have been playing close games, but they have not faced the type defense Greenwood is bringing. Sophomore QB Kane Archer was 14-for-14 at halftime against Lake Hamilton. Greenwood has two match-ups in the coming weeks that will determine were how the top three shake out. The Bulldogs will have to remain focused on the task at hand as this could be a trap game, last year Russellville went toe to toe with Greenwood in the first half, before the ‘Dogs pulled away.

The Others

Fort Smith Northside @ North Little Rock

I’m going all in on Northside in this match up. Weird to think that traditionally talent rich that these two have been, that they are dealing with struggles.

Springdale Har-Ber @ Fort Smith Southside

The toughest part of the Southside schedule is behind them. With Playoff seedings on the line, after a fast start to the season, Southside finds themselves on the cut-off line in the 6th spot. A win against Har-Ber vaults them into the 5th spot, with 3rd place Bentonville West next week. Could Southside play the spoiler and jump spots in the next two games?