Several area teams are enjoying post-season berths. Some are now focusing on basketball. Odd how quickly the post-season has gotten here. I mean, does it not just feel like the kids just got out of team camps and Hooten’s just came out? Well, either way…. Greenwood is on a bye this week after wrapping up a 42-0 win over Mountain Home to win the conference championship.
Dudes of the year team nominations are wide open. Add a spirit squad, band, and a favorite concession stand food to get a nod in the article!
Stone Cold Lock Of The Week
Melbourne vs Charleston
Charleston is sitting in a unique spot where their four losses are by a combined of 10 points. Charleston QB Carter Little has a shot to pass for 3,000 yards this season after finding wide receiver Emiliano Gaona for 791 of those yards. The Bearkatz of Melbourne make their way to Alumni Field boasting a 8-2 record with close wins over Quitman and Atkins during conference play. The winner of this game faces the winner of Osceola and Centerpoint.
The Others
Paris vs Mansfield
Mansfield secured their first outright conference title is quite a few years. Back-to-Back 3A-1 Coach of the Year Whit Overton has the Tigers in a prime spot to make a lot of noise today in the Class 3A Playoffs. Signature wins over Charleston and Booneville has the Tigers focused on making a return trip to the Semi-Finals. Paris on the other sideline is the team still trying to find its identity under Coach Jeff Weaver. The Eagles took a surprising loss to Waldron in Week 0. Put played eventual 3A-4 Conference Champion Glen Rose extremely close losing 25-21. The Tigers have been lighting up the scoreboard this season averaging 40.2 points per game, while allowing just 16.3. The winner faces either Newport or McGehee in the second round, my guess is Newport.
West Fork vs Salem
The Greyhounds took last year’s State Runner-Up and Preseason favorite Prescott to the wire. West Fork will have their hands full trying to stop the state’s leading player in the sack category Junior Keegan Sanderson. The winner of this game will face the winner of Prescott and Quitmam. On paper it looks like it may end up being a rematch of the Week 1 game that was played at Hendrix in Conway, the difference being Prescott will have to travel to Salem.
Magnet Cove vs Booneville
The 4th seed out of the 3A-4 Magnet Cove, makes the trek into Bearcat country. Booneville’s only blemish on their record is the loss from the Mansfield Tigers. The Panthers come to Logan County sporting a 6-4 record with wins over Gurdon, Poyen and Paris. They played Glen Rose close early in October and are looking to extend their playoff run. The winner will play either Mayflower or Lavaca in the next round.
Lavaca vs Mayflower
At the start of the year Mayflower shut out four of their first five opponents, all while enacting the AAA Sportsmanship rule. Their two losses came at the hands of Salem and Atkins in back-to-back weeks. Then there is Lavaca, while they were able to get good wins against Roland, Ok and Cedarville. The top 3 teams in the 3A-1 to a total of just 27 points. The winner of this game will more than likely have to travel to Booneville for the second round.
Ozark vs Arkadelphia
The Badgers the team to beat in their conference for a long time. With losses to 5A Camden Fairview and 6A Lake Hamilton, Arkadelphia is no slouch coming into this game against Ozark. The Hillbillies are definitely not having their best year at 4-6. But the 4A-4 Conference is not an easy one. Waldron handed them a surprising loss in late September after a one-point victory against rival Charleston. The winner in this round will face the winner of DeWitt and Gentry. Due to both of those teams being the third seed in the Playoffs, Gentry had to make the nearly 5-hour trip to DeWitt. Sheesh.
Green Forest vs Mena
Mena is riding a wave of success that the Bearcats have not seen on quite some time. After running through the regular season 9-0 and only being stopped by Dardanelle in Week 10. While no opponent should be overlooked, but Mena looks like too much for Green Forest. It sets up an interesting possible matchup between Elkins and Mena in round two, barring any upsets. Elkins takes on Helena in round 1.
Mt Ida vs Bearden
Magazine Rattler conference foe Mt Ida travels to Bearden for a first round match-up. The winner plays either Murfreesboro or Marked Tree in the 2nd round.
