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Wildcats Seek Redemption
Last updated Monday, November 24, 2008 8:32 PM CST in Prep Sports
By Matt Jones
THE MORNING NEWS
SPRINGDALE -- Springdale Har-Ber hasn't necessarily enjoyed the bus ride back from Fort Smith this year. Either time.
The Wildcats (10-2) have suffered their only losses of the season there -- to Fort Smith Northside in September and Fort Smith Southside last month.
Har-Ber returns to the River Valley Friday night with a return trip to Southside Stadium, but this time with a ticket to Little Rock and the Class 7A state championship game on the line.
"I'd like to think we could get one there at some point," Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. "But it's going to be a big challenge because Southside hasn't lost a game at home this year."
The Wildcats know all-too-well the challenges of playing in Southside Stadium, turning the ball over in each of their first five possessions in Southside's 27-22 win in the earlier meeting between the two teams.
"We're the type that we need to establish some momentum early in the game," Wood said. "The last time we went to Southside, if it could go wrong it went wrong. Southside had a whole lot to do with that. You can't give great teams that many opportunities or they're going to make you pay."
While Southside coach Jeff Williams acknowledges the win over the Wildcats was a critical one for his team, he doesn't take a lot away from it.
"That was in the past," Williams said. "I've been in situations where we've played teams that we've beaten before and lost the second time. It's a totally different game than it was the first time. They're playing real well ... they're one of the hottest teams in the state and have a very good football team.
"A lot of people have asked me about our kids having to play somebody the second time after we've beaten them, 'Will the kids be motivated?' It's real simple -- you're playing to go to the state finals. If anybody isn't motivated for that, they probably don't have a heartbeat."
The Rebels (9-2) are coming off a 28-17 win over Little Rock Catholic last week in the second meeting of the season between the two teams.
Williams said Catholic and Har-Ber are similar offensively, but the Wildcats have something the Rockets didn't have -- balance.
"They're very balanced," Williams said. "They're going to try and run the football, but they're also going to try and play vertically and hit the deep ball. In this day and age you've got to be able to do both. Our defense has seen their combination already once this year and they're very difficult to stop, but I know our kids are looking forward to the challenge."
Har-Ber's balance offensively has been its calling card all season, Wood said. In two playoff games this year, the Wildcats rushed for more than 300 yards against North Little Rock and passed for more than 300 yards against Cabot.
It's been that way all year for the Wildcats, who possess a 2,000-yard passer in Zach Faust and a 1,000-yard rusher in Derek Brinker.
"Balance is key," Wood said. "Once you get this far in the playoffs, teams are going to be able to take things away from you. That's something Southside is very good at - their defense is something they hang their hat on. I think having balance going into a game just gives you an opportunity."
Har-Ber will also need to eliminate Southside's crowd early, Wood said, and will try to do so with its offense.
"When we've been able to get ourselves established offensively, it's helped carry us to a couple of wins this year," Wood said.
That could be difficult, though, against a Rebels team that is 6-0 at home this season.
"We've played well at home all year long," Williams said. "We've traditionally been pretty good at home and getting to play two playoff games at home, it's exciting for our community and exciting for our school."
FRIDAY'S TICKET
Class 7A Playoffs
Springdale Har-Ber at Fort Smith Southside
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: Har-Ber 10-2; Southside 9-2.
RANKINGS: Har-Ber is No. 3 in Class 7A by Hooten's Arkansas Football. Southside is No. 1.
HOOTEN'S LINE: Southside by 3.
RADIO: KYMG-AM 1590
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