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Wildcats hope to draw from experience
Last updated Tuesday, November 11, 2008 11:03 PM CST in Prep Sports
By Matt Jones
Special To THE MORNING NEWS
SPRINGDALE - A year later and a year older, Springdale Har-Ber is returning to the 7A playoffs, but with a different mentality.
The Wildcats (8-2) host North Little Rock on Friday night in Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium in the first round of the playoffs, a year after advancing to the state championship game.
"The kids have that experience and they've been through the course of the playoffs," Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. "The more your program is used to being in the playoffs, the less you oh and ah as you get closer to Little Rock."
Har-Ber made it to the title game last season in its first-ever trip to the playoffs. The Wildcats won their first two postseason games before falling to Fayetteville in the 2007 state finals.
Wood said he believes having playoff experience pays off.
"It certainly helps," Wood said. "They've been there and done that. They know what to expect."
Har-Ber is coming off easily its biggest win of the season, upending No. 1 Bentonville 20-6 at home last week and spoiling the Tigers' perfect record. Despite the win, Har-Ber is focused squarely on the Charging Wildcats, Wood said.
"They've turned their attention to the first round of the playoffs," Wood said. "That (Bentonville game) is in the past. It was part of the regular season.
"Now we're in a tournament. If you look around or look ahead or look back, you're going to get beat."
The Charging Wildcats (7-3) enter as the No. 5 seed from the 7A Central. North Little Rock's three losses this season have come by a combined 17 points, including a 1-point loss to Bryant and a 3-point loss to Russellville.
"Their defense stands out," Wood said. "They're very talented defensively. They have a couple of defensive linemen who get to it and fly around. Their secondary does a good job of coverage."
North Little Rock has held four opponents without a touchdown this season and shut out Texarkana and Little Rock Central. The Charging Wildcats didn't allow a touchdown until the fourth week of the season and have held six opponents to 10 points or less.
The Wildcats are playing well defensively, too, having allowed just 13 total points in the last two outings against Fayetteville and Bentonville.
"I think it could be a defensive struggle," Wood said. "It certainly appears that way on paper."
The winner of Friday night's match-up will travel to Cabot next week.
North Little Rock fell to the Panthers 34-21 earlier this season. Har-Ber beat Cabot in the first round of the playoffs last year.
TONIGHT'S TICKET
North Little Rock at Springdale Har-Ber
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: North Little Rock 7-3; Har-Ber 8-2.
RANKINGS: North Little Rock is No. 10 in Class 7A by Hooten's Arkansas Football. Har-Ber is No. 3.
HOOTEN'S LINE: Har-Ber by 18.
RADIO: KQSM-FM 98.3
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