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Wildcats Start Tough Three-Game Stretch
Last updated Thursday, October 23, 2008 7:55 PM CDT in Prep Sports
By Matt Jones
SPECIAL TO THE MORNING NEWS
SPRINGDALE -- With three weeks left in the regular season, No. 3 Springdale Har-Ber begins its toughest three-game stretch of the season tonight with a trip to No. 4 Fort Smith Southside.
"It's huge because you want to try and build momentum as you head for the playoffs," Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said.
The Wildcats (6-1, 3-1 7A-West Conference) are looking to avoid a repeat of their last trip to the River Valley, which resulted in a 21-7 loss at Fort Smith Northside three weeks ago -- Har-Ber's only loss this season.
"We don't really think about it," Har-Ber senior quarterback Zach Faust said. "They're two different teams, Northside and Southside. Last year we went down there and lost to Northside and came back and beat Southside after that."
The Rebels (5-2, 2-2) are coming off a disappointing 24-21 loss last week at Fayetteville, their second loss in three games.
"They're going to play with great urgency," Wood said. "I know (Southside) Coach (Jeff) Williams and he has a great staff. They're going to express to them the need to get back on track and position themselves for the playoffs. They're at home, and I've always said you have to win your home games. I think we'll get their best shot."
The Rebels' two losses to Fayetteville and Bentonville came because of turnovers, Wood said. Southside committed eight turnovers in those two games.
Offensively, the Wildcats will look for more balance against the Rebels after 440 passing yards and seven touchdowns in last week's 49-17 win over Rogers Heritage. That will be tough, though, as Southside boasts one of the state's toughest defenses.
"It's really challenging just because of their scheme," Wood said. "They're very versatile and their linebackers allow them to do that.
"It's a big challenge just because of that versatility. They can give you so many different looks and it makes it hard to prepare for them during the week."
Following the Southside game, the Wildcats will host No. 1 Bentonville and finish the regular season with defending state champion Fayetteville.
"We just have to take it one game at a time," Faust said. "Each game is equally important because it determines our seed in the playoffs or if we even make the playoffs."
Wood said now is the time when all the weight-lifting and running pays off.
"We've been in offseason since January getting ready for the season," Wood said. "Now we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. If you can't get up for these last three games and the end of the year...you probably don't need to be playing football."
TONIGHT'S TICKET
Springdale Har-Ber at Fort Smith Southside
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: Har-Ber is 6-1 overall, 3-1 7A-West Conference; Southside is 5-2, 2-2
RANKINGS: Har-Ber is No. 3 in Class 7A by Hooten's Arkansas Football. Southside is No. 4.
HOOTEN'S LINE: Southside by 1
RADIO: KQSM-FM 98.3
Springdale Har-Ber Wildcats
Offense Defense
Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos. Name Yr. Ht Wt.
QB Zach Faust Sr. 5-10 189 DE Jeremy Pianalto Sr. 6-2 200
RB Derek Brinker Sr. 6-0 207 NG Eric Pearce Jr. 6-2 242
WR Kaleb Vaughn Jr. 6-0 168 DE Stephen Needham Sr. 5-11 201
WR Brad Taylor Sr. 6-5 200 LB Austin Otwell Sr. 5-10 162
WR Brye Payton Sr. 6-2 175 LB Jacob Bundrick Jr. 6-0 199
WR Josh McKinney Jr. 6-1 189 LB Daniel Andreadis Sr. 5-10 174
LT Sam Henley Sr. 6-3 237 OLB Berkley Cox Sr. 5-9 177
LG Eli May Sr. 6-1 265 CB Zach Smith Sr. 5-9 142
C Kent Woodard Sr. 6-1 237 CB D.J. Donahew Jr. 5-6 145
RG Daniel Garcia Soph. 6-0 245 SS Chandler Collyar Sr. 5-8 172
RT Brandon Thayer Sr. 6-3 244 FS Houston Pruitt Jr. 5-11 170
FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE
Offense Defense
Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
QB Trent Welbern Sr. 6-2 185 DE David Norris Sr. 6-5 220
FB Aaron Hittson Sr. 5-11 220 NG Michael Wayfer Jr. 5-11 325
TB Daniel McGee Sr. 6-0 210 DE Sammy Schlieff Jr. 6-0 205
TE Alex Nolan Jr. 6-3 240 LB Chris Marsh Sr. 5-11 200
WR Spencer Tooley Sr. 6-1 155 LB Richard Kirksey Sr. 5-11 210
WR Chase Dixon Sr. 6-2 165 OLB Evan Meyers Sr. 6-1 190
LT Dalton Person Sr. 6-0 250 OLB Daniel BerryJr. 5-10 185
LG Taber Hunt Sr. 6-0 225 CB Tony Thompson Sr. 6-1 160
C Daniel Gadeke Sr. 5-11 295 CB Jerry Reynolds Jr. 5-8 145
RG Caleb Pevehouse Jr. 6-1 225 FS Hayden Rosentreter Sr. 5-9 170
RT Chris Dolan Jr. 6-2 265 FS Chase Henderson Sr. 6-4 190
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