RNN Sports Stone Cold Lock Of The Week: Week 0

270 days ago, we wrote the final Stone Cold Lock of the Week for the 2023 season. Greenwood went on to win their 11th State Championship. Mansfield put in a valiant effort to make a deep run into the playoffs. Booneville would also capture a State Championship. Since then, as the RNN Sports Team debuted the “Dudes Of The Year” Team recognizing the student-athletes that accomplished a lot on Friday Nights. We said goodbye to our sports editor Jim Best as he embarked on a new journey in Central Arkansas. Recently, we created visual at a glance edits previewing Mansfield and Greenwood. Definitely wanted to do more of those for all the schools in our coverage area.

Going into this season, Adam Hecox and I kicked ideas back and forth. He had this great suggestion to have a guest pick the games. Funny enough, we thought the same person right off the bat. Captain Greenwood himself, Mayor Doug Kinslow. For those in the surrounding areas, Mayor Kinslow would put on this Captain America costume for the Greenwood Freedom Fest and go to local schools. Which, I thought was pretty neat. Outside the political arena, Mayor Kinslow loves Greenwood Athletics. Naturally, he was at the top of our mental list. Next week we will have another guest.

So, Week 0. Really, it’s just Week 1 with how many games are being played. To borrow a joke from an early 2000’s comedian about being on the 14th floor in a 13-story building. These Football schedules have a Week 0 so they can end on Week 10, but c’mon man…. Schools playing Week 0, you know what week this really is.

RNN Stone Cold Lock Of The Week

Poteau, OK @ Booneville

Going over the local schedule this was a lot tougher to choose the Lock of the Week. On one hand Danville at Hackett seems intriguing, as does Mansfield at Bismarck. When I look at Poteau, Ok playing Booneville, two tradition rich programs that just play gritty football. I like this match-up a lot. Two returning QBs Jace Washburn for Booneville and Sam Tecla for Poteau will lead their teams into battle. An interesting storyline going into this game is that Greg Werner, Poteau’s Head Coach and Athletic Director, resigned on Monday. Defensive Coordinator Mike Odom has stepped into lead the Pirates.

The Rest

Mansfield @ Bismarck

An interesting tidbit is that both teams had their seasons end at the hands of Prescott in the Playoffs. Mansfield returns All-State RB Daniel Burton and QB Jeremy Strozier and a slew of other players that will make a bunch of headlines throughout the season. According to Hooten’s the Tigers are predicted to finish third in Conference behind Charleston and Booneville. But I got a feeling this team will perform better than expectations and make a deep run into the Playoffs. Bismarck returns an All-State QB themselves in Ben Keithley. While it may seem like this game could be close, I expect with the offensive weapons Mansfield possesses the Tigers will pull away from the Lions in this one.

Greenwood @ Bentonville West

If you hadn’t read about the Archer brothers yet in the Pre-Season, you have been away from the internet for a few months. This Greenwood team, from all observations, will have high powered offense with depth at receiver and an experienced offensive line that includes Cody Taylor and Seniors Christian Fleming and Ashton Stein. Defensively the Bulldogs have several new faces, but they have Varsity experience to lean on. Bentonville West has not had a losing season since 2017 and is prepared to make another run to the Class 7A Playoffs. Early predictions have Greenwood by thirty in this one. Should be a good opening test for both teams.

Cedarville @ Magazine

Both teams are predicted to finish eighth in their conference, but they may surprise some teams. Magazine brings a stable of Running Backs into the 2024 season. I feel that is enough to push them past Cedarville.

Lavaca @ Dover

This matchup is interesting. On one hand Dover is predicted to finish eighth, looking at their conference it is easy to see why with Ozark, Dardanelle, Pottsville, Lamar, and Clinton. Lavaca is predicted to finish behind, Booneville, Charleston, and Mansfield. A new head coach leads the Golden Arrows, Nick Stovall. Coach Stovall was the Offensive Coordinator at Lavaca for three seasons. Lavaca finished 6-5 last season losing in the Playoffs to Glen Rose.

Paris @ Waldron

Waldron is on their fourth Coach in six seasons. Paris looks to put this one away after beating Charleston in the AAA Benefit Game.

FS Southside @ FS Northside

The Battle of Rogers Avenue. Southside drops to the 6A West due to Little Rock Christian and Pulaski Academy moving into the 7A. Also affected by the ripple effect of the Competition Equality Factor was Fort Smith Northside. With the 7A needing two spots in the Central conference it dropped Jonesboro to 6A as well, while moving Northside to the West to take Southside’s spot. Southside lost several key players from last year’s squad, while Northside has several offensive players to lean on. Northside’s talent will prove to be too much for the Mavericks.

UA-Pine Bluff @ Arkansas (War Memorial)

I am all for Arkansas playing in-state schools, and I know there are a lot of fans ready to see what Bobby Petrino will do with Taylen Green. Will the Offensive Line be improved? How does this year’s defense look? So many questions will be answered Tonight at War Memorial. Arkansas wins big in this one.