RNN Sports Stone Cold Lock Of The Week: Week 4

It is finally Conference time, will the expected Conference leaders step up? Or was the Non-Conference schedule a mask for what the team really is going to be. There were only two games in our area last week where Hackett took care of Mountainburg and Charleston shut out Heavener, OK. Greenwood was on a bye week and we went to watch Pocola, OK vs Vian, OK. It was a scoring fest, 101 total points scored, sixty-seven coming from Vian.

Work obligations kept me from lining up this weeks guest, but it may allow Adam and I time to catch up on the correct and incorrect pick totals. The guests are 21-6, I (Ross) am at 17-10, and Adam is at 14-13. Last year we could not pick a game wrong. My how the mighty have fallen this year.

STONE COLD LOCK OF THE WEEK

Greenwood vs Shiloh Christian

There is not a game this week in the Northwest Arkansas – River Valley area with larger stakes. The 2023 Class 6A State Champions vs the 2023 Class 5A State Runner-Up. This is far from a David vs Goliath story, this is two prized Heavyweight fighters about to duel under the Friday night lights in Springdale. While just the first week of conference, this could be for the Conference Championship and the all important #1 seed in the Playoffs. Loads of college bound talent on either side of the ball. Does Shiloh Christian’s defense have a way to stop a Greenwood offense that is averaging 61 points per game. Can the Saints offense keep the Greenwood defense on their toes. Neat little fact about Greenwood’s Football Program 7th-Varsity, they sit at 18-1 on the 2024 season, outscoring opponents an average of 38-11.

The Rest

Hackett vs Mansfield

Mansfield’s non-conference run has them sitting at 1-2. Do not let that record fool you, the two losses were close. Undefeated Bismarck got the better of the Tigers with a four-point win and Lamar squeaked past Mansfield 13-12. Mansfield got a bye-week at a very convenient time, great time to regroup and make a push for the 3A-1 Conference title. Hackett is coming off a 47-0 win against Mountainburg after 55-18 loss to Gentry the week before. This is the start of a daunting run through Conference for the Hornets. Mansfield, Booneville, Charleston, and Greenland (more on why Greenland is included in their game preview). The top three in 3A-1 might be any of those four, with the fourth seed up for grabs.

Ozark vs Waldron

Ozark, just like the others, is coming off a bye-week after taking a one-point win against Charleston. The 2-1 Hillbillies travel into Scott County to face the 1-2 Bulldogs. After a overtime win against Paris, the Bulldogs took two losses to Mansfield and Muldrow respectively.

Bigelow vs Magazine

The Rattlers have scored a total of 20 points this season and sit 1-1. Twenty points. Compared to the teams mentioned above, it is efficient. This week, the Bigelow Panthers come to the Rattlers nest. The schedules and season records on MaxPreps and ScoreBook Live show 0-2 but also a Week 0 win over England. First time I have seen something like that. Magazine will have to dig in to keep the scoring low.

Charleston vs West Fork

If you were to look at the records of both these teams, it would be easy to write this game off. Although, you cannot hold the Charleston Tigers to their non-conference record. I did last year and they embarrassed me in my picks. In ’23 the Tigers started at 0-3, then ran through conference until they played eventual State Champion Booneville. West Fork on the other hand, they may be in for a long night at home. The 0-3 Tigers will have to deal with a very hungry Charleston team that rises when Conference play begins.

Cedarville vs Booneville

Booneville Super Fan Glen Rice is going to be voiceless after the Bearcats roll to another victory. Booneville has not had to rebuild after last year’s Championship, they just have not stopped winning. It is beginning to look like it is going to come down to the Bearcats and the Curley Wolves of Prescott again in Little Rock in December.

Lavaca vs Greenland

The Greenland Pirates have been keeping a low profile in the 3A-1, but the play of Sophomore QB Slade Norwood is making even legendary Arkansas High School sportswriter Leland Barclay take notice. Passing for 629 yards and ten touchdowns in the past two games has been the head turner. Could the Pirates play spoiler in the top-heavy conference? Lavaca will have to find a way to not become part of the growing stat lines for Greenland.

Danville vs Paris

Paris has had an up and down year on the field this year. An overtime loss to Waldron, then a large win over Lavaca, then 35-9 loss to Booneville, has the Eagles poised to start the conference run Friday night. Danville comes to town with an identical 1-2 record and are also looking to start their conference campaign on the right foot. The Little Johns may surprise Paris in this one.