Instant analysis: 10 takeaways from Week 1 of Arkansas high school football season
Here are 10 nuggets (in no particular order) that stuck out from Week 1 of the Arkansas high school football season.
Conway' head coach Buck James (Photo by Steve Andrews)
1. Buck James gets his first win at Conway
Buck James left Bryant this summer with 53 straight wins and five consecutive 7A state championships. He won another title at Camden Fairview. He’s had no shortage of memorable moments. However, Conway’s 42-39 win Friday night win at No. 3 Bentonville might rank up there.
The No. 2Wampus Cats controlled the game much of the night but found themselves behind by four points with two minutes to go. Three-year starting quarterback Donovyn Omolo took over and engineered the go-ahead scoring drive. He hit Jackson Anderson on a short TD pass to clinch the win with under a minute to play.
Omolo finished with 399 yards passing and four TDs.
Following the emotional comeback win, James could be seen smiling and gesturing enthusiastically to the large crowd that made the trip from central Arkansas.
Shiloh Christian's Bo Williams (Photo by Tommy Land)
2. Shiloh Christian shocks Little Rock Christian
A year ago, Little Rock Christian rolled past Shiloh Christian 49-14 at Springdale. Many expected a similar result Friday night in west Little Rock with the Saints starting freshman Cole Creighton at quarterback in Shiloh head coach Tucker Barnard's debut. Couple that with how the Warriors handled Little Rock Central 63-0 last week and Benton the week before in a benefit game and it’s easy to see why LRCA would be the heavy favorite.
However, someone forgot to tell senior running back Bo Williams. Williams ran for 400 yards and six touchdowns as the Saints never trailed in the game.
3. Des Arc takes down defending state champion rival Hazen
Defending Class 2A state champion Hazen hadn’t lost a game since dropping a playoff quarterfinal tilt at Poyen in 2021. The Hornets knocked off neighboring Des Arc 52-0 last fall.
The Eagles got their revenge Friday night at home upending the Hornets 36-34 in overtime. Daviyon Bell, who ran for 52 yards and a TD, scored the 2-point conversion run to clinch the upset.
Cache Flanigan led Des Arc with 18 carries for 100 yards rushing and 3 TDs with an interception on defense.
Hayden Brown caught a TD pass and had an interception and Ben Kearby led the team in tackles with 10.
4. Mountain Home snaps 10-game skid to rival Harrison
Mountain Home and Harrison have one of the longer-standing rivalry series in Arkansas, and it has been dominated by the Goblins.
Harrison entered Friday night’s game at Mountain Home leading the series 55-17-3 and the Bombers hadn’t won since 2012.
However, the losing streak ended when Mountain Home won 44-31. Senior quarterback Cade Yates ensured victory racking up a school-record 378 yards passing. His 62-yard pass to Jett Hannaford broke open a 37-31 game late. Hannaford totaled 7 catches for 198 yards and 2 TDs.
Yates paid tribute to late Mountain Home offensive coordinator Ryan Mallett, a former Arkansas Razorback star and NFL backup QB, by wearing Mallett's No. 15. Mountain Home head coach Steve Arey, who was a Hall of Fame prep coach in Missouri and a Harrison assistant, won his 200th career game.
5. Greenwood defense shuts out Northside
Greenwood’s explosive offense makes plenty of headlines but its defense may be one of the better units in the state regardless of class.
The Class 6A Bulldogs were dominant in a 49-0 road stomping of Class 7A Fort Smith Northside Friday.
Junior linebacker/end Cash Archer, the older brother of sophomore QB phenom Kane Archer, led the way with three sacks, and a tackle for loss in the first quarter. Archer also grabbed a fumble recovery. Brady Mackey returned a fumble for a TD and recovered another.
Greenwood scored four times in the first quarter and led 42-0 at halftime.
6. Booneville continues domination of old rival
Booneville and Ozark used to be conference rivals and have played for years. The Bearcats have had the upper hand on the Hillbillies leading the series 54-27-4 going into Friday night abdhad won 15 of the past 23 meetings. Booneville continued the winning ways rolling to a 48-35 victory Friday.
Senior running back/linebacker Dax Goff led the way with 22 carries for 217 yards with 3 TDs and two receptions for 51 yards and a TD. He also returned a kickoff 82 yards for a score.
7. Rogers duo helps on both sides of the ball
Jacob Jenkins and Isaac Chapman are pulling double duty for Rogers. Both players line up at running back and linebacker for the 7A Mounties, who are 2-0. Friday night in a 35-7 win over Bishop Kelley (Tulsa), both players scored twice.
Southside's Amari Tucker (Photo by George Mitchell)
8. Fort Smith Southside runs streak to eight over Van Buren
Last week ,Fort Smith Southside beat city rival Northside for the first time in eight years. Friday night, they beat area rival Van Buren 55-28 for the eighth straight time to move to 2-0.
The Mavericks racked up more than 500 total yards including 428 yards rushing. Isaac Gregory ran for 137 yards and had 57 yards receiving with four touchdowns. Amari Tucker ran for 258 yards and 2 TDs.
9. Fayetteville’s Drake Lindsey plays in front of future college coach
Fresh off a win over Nebraska, Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck was in North Little Rock Friday night to see Fayetteville QB Drake Lindsey, a Gophers commit, take on the Charging Wildcats.
Fayetteville won 58-20 and Lindsey passed for 223 yards and four TDs. In 13 career starts, he's passed for four TDs or more in eight of those starts. Fleck reportedly was on the sideline and on moving out on to the field as he watched on as Lindsey and FHS fought back from an early deficit to dominate the struggling NLR squad.
Bryant knocked off Missouri power CBC Friday night. (Photo by Jimmy Jones)
10. Bryant beats Missouri power
Christian Brothers College (St. Louis) is one of the top programs in Missouri and has won the past two Class 6 championships. However, they were no match for five-time Class 5A state champion Bryant Friday night as the Hornets never trailed in a 45-31 victory. Bryant has won 24 straight games and will put its 54-game winning streak against in-state opponents on the line next week against Little Rock Parkview.
James Martin rushed for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jordan Walker threw for 282 on 11-of-23 passing and 2 touchdowns as Bryant led 38-21 at halftime.
Senior Mytorian Singleton caught 6 passes for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns. He had 5 for 141 and 2 scores before the intermission.
--Nate Olson I nate@scorebooklive.com I @ndosports
