Stone Cold Lock of The Week: Week 0

The first week of High School football is finally upon us!

First and foremost, our hearts go out to the Danville community who lost Senior Nate Foster this past week. It is in these moments we are reminded that time on this Earth is not guaranteed and is unjustly cruel sometimes. It is a all too familiar feeling that no community, family, and football team should have to go through. We witnessed it too many times in the Greenwood community last school year with the passing of sisters Candence and Chloe Walters, Isaiah Arrington, Wendy and Vivian Medrano, and Kylynn Nolan. If one thing is true, it made the community stronger through togetherness. Just as the communities did for Greenwood and Charleston after the passing of Jasper Archey, we ask that you wrap your arms around the Danville community.

Stone Cold Lock of The Week

Bismarck vs Mansfield
Last year’s Semi-Finalist vs last year’s State Runner-Up. This is the matchup you would like to see in the first week of the season. Hooten’s Pre-Season poll has Mansfield at #8 and Bismarck at #6. While the Tigers lost two Burtons (Daniel and Samuel) they have several more for the Class 3A to deal with. The Senior heavy Tigers open with what might be the best game in the state regardless of classification.

The Rest of Them

Bentonville West vs Greenwood

The Bulldogs open the 2025 season with a lot of hype but as Head Coach Chris Young said on the Prep Rally “Title Town” documentary, they start zero and zero. Bentonville West is much improved from the young team they fielded last year. During the summer, the Wolverines got the better the Bulldogs in 7-on-7 action. Greenwood has some fresh faces on the Defensive side of the ball but do not let that fool you. It has been that way for the past few seasons, and they still find the right combo. Offensively, unless you have been disconnected from the internet since this time last year, that QB Kane Archer is back for one final lap with Champ Davis, Cooper Bland, Cody Taylor, and a host of others.

Clarksville vs Ozark

This game was moved from Clarksville to Ozark. The Hillbillies have 2025 Class 3A State Championship winning coach Josh Watson at the helm. Did he bring the Salem Greyhound magic down Hwy 23 with him? Time will tell. After last year’s uncharacteristic four win season which saw Waldron pull off an upset in the conference opener, hopes are riding a bit higher along the Arkansas River.

Booneville vs Poteau, OK

This was my second choice for the Stone Cold Lock of The Week, because both teams have been consistently deep in the play-offs in either state. The tried-and-true rushing offense of Booneville is hard to stop or not admire. I mean if it is not broke why try anything else? An experienced Senior Bearcat team will match up well to the talented Pirates. Think “Unstoppable force meets an immovable object.” Calling it now, but if the Bearcats are not undefeated going into the State Championship game on December 13th at noon, I will be surprised. No pressure or anything Booneville.

Waldron vs Paris

This was the first of two victories for Waldron last season that got my attention. There is something building there in Scott County? Coach Doug Milholen is back for a second year giving the Bulldogs some much needed consistency. Paris brings back Senior Jayden Carter, who tried to be everywhere all at once in a first-round playoff loss to Mansfield. He played defense, he played offense at receiver and quarterback, he was on special teams, and I’m fairly sure he probably drove the team bus to the game. The last one was a tiny fib, but these are two programs needing to start the 2025 season in a big way.

De Queen vs Mena

Last year Mena was undefeated all the way up to Week 10 when they faced the Creed Vega led Dardanelle Sand Lizards. The Bearcats would bow out in the second round to eventual Class 4A State Runner-Up Elkins. Two losses to two extremely talented 4A teams is nothing to hang your head low about. It was a fun resurgence. 2025 they are picked third in conference behind Dardanelle and Clinton. De Queen is picked eighth in the 5A South Conference after a 3-7 effort in 2024.

Hackett vs Danville

Danville has a lot to play for in Week 0. Hackett could play the spoiler to teams in the 1-3A this season if things click for the Hornets.

Dover vs Lavaca

For the past two seasons of Stone Cold Lock of the Week, I have this anticipation for the Golden Arrows. A team just on the cusp of making the 1-3A a four-team race, but alas I am wrong. So, this year I am going to try something different. Reverse anticipation, yeah, that should do it. It worked when I made a pick for Booneville last year. Maybe, I will get them some good vibes and aura this year. Head Coach Nick Stovall is in his second year at Lavaca.

Magazine vs Cedarville

An intriguing matchup with both teams picked to finish seventh in their conference. Could be a sneaky competitive game that is flying under the radar.

Battle of Rogers Ave

Fort Smith Northside vs Fort Smith Southside

Remember when this game was one of the largest rivalries in the state? Back when they were in the same conference and Northwest Arkansas did not have two high schools in every town north of Fayetteville. Before both Fort Smith schools got bounced around to different conferences when the top classification fractured. 2016-2022 The Grizzlies owned Rogers Ave bragging rights. The last two years Southside was able to get the better of Northside. I just do not think Northside has what they need to get past Southside to stop the slide.