Now that we are on the other side of the first round, only four teams in the Resident News coverage area remain. Lavaca and Hackett had first-round exits, as well as Fort Smith Southside and Van Buren. The next three weeks could be an absolute gauntlet for Mansfield. Charleston and Booneville could meet again in the semi-finals. Greenwood could march to a sixth consecutive state championship game appearance.
Stone Cold Lock of the Week
Charleston vs Fordyce
In the past two meetings of Charleston and Fordyce, the Tigers handled the Redbugs quite comfortably. But. Those were at Champions Stadium in Charleston, this Friday, Charleston will make the three-hour sixteen-minute trip to south central Arkansas. Both teams come in with identical 10-1 records, however how they achieved those was vastly different. In pre-season Hooten’s rankings, Fordyce was number three, while Charleston was number four. Fordyce’s defense has been tough all year allowing just ninety points, with five games being a shut-out. Charleston is coming into the game after a 71-point effort against the Barton Bears.
The Rest
Walnut Ridge vs Mansfield
Eighty points and bye week in the playoffs sums up the last two weeks for Mansfield. In ten games the Tiger defense has only had more than two touchdowns scored on them twice. When it comes to scoring touchdowns, the Mansfield offense averaged 51-points in conference play that included the 16-14 win over Booneville. On paper this does not look like a walk in the park win for Mansfield, but they are going to need to score early and jump out to big lead and get the starters rest. The next two weeks could see a re-match of Week 0 with Bismarck. Get through that, and there is possible semi-finals game repeat from last season with Salem. Just as it was all hands-on deck to get to eighty on West Fork, the Tigers will need some guys to step up in the play-offs to prove Mansfield once again is the team to beat. Walnut Ridge will have to shake off a four-hour bus ride and hopefully catch Mansfield on a bye-week lull.
Booneville vs Rivercrest
Team coming off a bye week and the opposing team making a long road trip, it is a common theme for the area schools. The pre-season #2 Rivercrest Colts rolled through the 3A-3 to take the top spot, while Booneville dropped two in conference. Do not count out this Booneville squad just yet. This is the fourth meeting of the two schools with the Bearcats leading the Colts 3-0. Rivercrest has given up three hundred points this season, while Booneville put up sixty-nine points on Quitman. The Bearcats will have to come off the bus ready and focused.
Jonesboro vs Greenwood
You guessed it, bye week and team traveling a great distance. Jonesboro found themselves stopping Fort Smith Southside in the Former 7A Because Of Competition Equity Factor Bowl, in the final minutes. While a great win for the Hurricane program, they won a chance to play another week, it will just have to be 250 miles away in Greenwood. Where historically the Bulldogs have been tough to beat since the current Senior class was in first grade. This is Greenwood’s 30th consecutive season in the playoffs. In that time Greenwood is 79-17 in the playoffs. Also of note, Greenwood’s program 7th-Varsity finished 39-2, with Varsity, JV, and 8th grade finishing undefeated in regular season play.
Clinton vs Arkadelphia
The fun thing about doing this column every year is when playoff time rolls around, and we have to discuss over teams and their games. Clinton and Arkadelphia come into this game with identical 10-1 records. Both teams only loss came in conference play, where the Yellowjackets of Clinton lost to Dardanelle. Arkadelphia’s fell to Nashville by one point in Week 4. The Badgers are you defending State Champions in Class 4A and played a tough non-conference schedule against larger classification talent. This will be the third meeting of the two schools, after back-to-back years in the playoffs in 2021 and 2022.
Carlisle vs Mt. Ida
Again, two teams with a 10-1 record, this is so much fun! After a week 1 loss to Junction City, the Mount Ida Lions have been on the hunt to return to Little Rock. It has been since 2017 for the Lions to roam War Memorial and they have made a case to be there. In front of them this week Carlisle fresh off a 48-6 victory over Spring Hill in round 1.
Mountain Home vs Benton
Since Steve Ary’s arrival, the Mountain Home Bombers have made it to the Quarterfinals every year. For six seasons, three of those were at Greenwood. The Bombers are once again on the road, this time to Benton to face the Panthers. The winner of this game will either travel to Greenwood the day after Thanksgiving or host Jonesboro depending on the outcome. As far as points go, both teams are even offensive and defensive. This could be the Bombers closest game since Shiloh in early conference play. Benton is coming off a bye, with Mountain Home returning to Benton after a 78-42 win over Sheridan.
Mayflower vs Smackover
An unstoppable force meets an immovable object. Smackover has racked up 522 points, while Mayflower has only allowed 52 points. Yes, just 52 points over eleven games. Salem is the only team to put up double digits on the Eagle defense, and it was just 12 points.
Hamburg vs Dardanelle
State Record holder and Austin Peay committed Ni’kel Lewis, and the Hamburg Lions go down by the river to face the Dardanelle Sand Lizards and their Air Force committed QB Cred Vega. Dardanelle is rolling this year with a few close games under their belt but a spotless 11-0 record. Hamburg has two losses coming from Magnolia and Stuttgart.
Southside (Batesville) vs Elkins
The Elkins Elks have a very physical defense that stopped Forrest City in their tracks until the underclassman got in. Forrest City coincidentally bookend their season with these two teams. Southside opened the season with a 35-8 win, while the Elks were not as conservative winning 52-14.
