Arkansas high school football playoffs: Class 7A outlook

Class 7A favorites, dark horses and all you need to know for the start of the postseason

Editor's note: This is the sixth, and final, in a series of stories previewing the Arkansas high school football playoffs from Class 2A-7A. 

From the time ultra-successful head coach Buck James left Bryant in late May until last week, some wondered if Bryant is still the same Bryant.

Did the five-time state champion Hornets still the same ‘it factor’ they had when James, who left with a 53-game in-state winning streak?

The answer was an overwhelming, 'Yes' as first-year head coach Quad Sanders led his squad last Friday to a dominating 52-33 win over their former head coach and Conway, who entered the game undefeated.

We could see a rematch in the state title game in a few weeks, but Fayetteville will most likely have a say in that. The Bulldogs ran the table in the 7A-West and are undefeated conference champions for the first time since 1957. West No. 2 seed Bentonville played Bryant in the title game a season ago and now star quarterback Carter Nye is back after dealing with injury a few weeks. They could meet Bryant in a rematch of last year’s championship in the semifinals.

FAVORITES

BRYANT

The Hornets’ only blemish is a 28-27 loss to Class 5A Little Rock Parkview. The Hornets sputtered at times in big wins against the 7A-Central’s bottom teams, and only led 21-17 in the fourth quarter against Cabot before pulling away, 35-17. However, Bryant put the 7A on notice when they erased a six-point halftime deficit to roll past Conway, 52-33, for an undefeated crown.

Junior quarterback Jordan Walker leads an explosive offense and has an array of weapons to choose form including receivers Mytorian Singleton and Karter Ratliff among others. Senior running back James Martin is well over 1,000 yards rushing and has been clutch in key moments of games.

The defense is opportunistic and forced the Wampus Cats into three turnovers last week including an interception in the end zone that prevented Conway from taking an early 21-0 lead.

CONWAY

The Wampus Cats were riding high until running into the defending state champions took over in the second half of last week’s showdown. However, with a week to lick wounds, Conway is still in good position to make their first state title game since 1993.

What has aided in new head coach Buck James’s successful transition has been three-year starting QB Donovyn Omolo. Omolo already had 15 TD passes after the first three games and classmate Cris O’Neal has been his favorite target.

Entering the Bryant game, the defense had only given up just over 11 points per game. With a dangerous offense and improved defense and a Hall of Fame coach, Conway can make a deep run.

FAYETTEVILLE

Two years removed from a state title-game berth, the Bulldogs have enjoyed an historic season. Rogers did push FHS before falling 47-42 with a chance to take the lead late but the Bulldogs have pretty much cruised to the perfect mark.

Senior quarterback Drake Lindsey, a University of Minnesota commit, has been dominant with more than 40 touchdown passes and only two interceptions. Junior Arkansas baseball commit Jaison DeLamar is Lindsey’s favorite target.

The defense yields 20.6 ppg but has been opportunistic forcing six turnovers in a 56-0 win in the opener and in the narrow win against Rogers forced a fumble int its own territory to thwart a game-winning Mounties drive.

DARK HORSE

BENTONVILLE

Bentonville ended the regular season with an uncharacteristic three losses. However, they all came to powerful teams – Conway, Rockhurst (Mo.) and Fayetteville.

Conway needed a game-winning drive in the final two minutes in Buck James' first game to knock the Tigers off at home. Two weeks later, Rockhurst hit a game-winning field goal to drop the Tigers to 1-2. They didn’t lose again until a 42-21 setback at Fayetteville. Not only did BHS lose the game and a chance at a conference title, but star senior QB Carter Nye was knocked from the game and missed the next two games.

The good news is he returned last week and torched Bentonville West hitting Arkansas commit CJ Brown on a 46-yard pass on his first play and completed 14 of his first 15 passes and amassed 263 passing yards in the first half. He totaled four TDs in the 56-28 blowout that was decided by halftime.

Bentonville’s explosive offense scored 73 points against Har-Ber and 84 on Rogers Heritage.

The Tigers defense is giving up 24 points per game. They will have to tighten up to make a title run, especially if they travel to Bryant with a trip to the finals on the line. However, the Tigers are battle tested and with a healthy Nye under center could make a return trip to War Memorial Stadium.

BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP

FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE AT JONESBORO

The Mavericks are a dangerous No. 5 seed as evidenced by the close games they were involved in. They lost to Fayetteville 45-31 and Bentonville 50-35. Two games they’d like to have back are a 44-38 loss to Rogers and a 24-21 defeat to Bentonville West. The No. 3 seed in the league was within reach.

Offense is not a problem for Southside as running backs Amari Tucker and Isaac Gregory have terrorized defenses racking up more than 1,000 yards rushing apiece. However, a defense that allows 34 points per game has been an issue.

Jonesboro has found life in the rugged 7A-Central under first-year head coach Tyler George. The Hurricane have won four of their past five league games to secure a home playoff game.

Jonesboro counters with a running back duo of its own in Markevious Pickett and Jordan Daniels. The two combined for five TDs in last week’s win over Little Rock Central.

Whoever can find some defense will move on to face Fayetteville.

BEST POTENTIAL MATCHUP

CONWAY AT FAYETTEVILLE

Many would pick a Bryant/Conway or Fayetteville/Bryant title-game matchup, but we will go with Conway at Fayetteville in a semifinal game. Most would agree the five-time champion Hornets are the favorite after the statement win at Conway last week, but this game is intriguing because both teams have something to prove. Conway wants to get back to the title game for the first time since 1993 and Fayetteville wants another shot at the Hornets after losing in the final minute two years ago. A perfect record has them brimming with confidence.

This game would also feature two of the better QBs regardless of class in the Wampus Cats’ Donovyn Omolo and Fayetteville’s Drake Lindsey.

This game could mirror the Fayetteville/Rogers matchup where both offense scored at will, but it was a defensive stop late that wins the game. 

--Nate Olson I nate@scoebooklive.com I @ndosports 

Photo by Jimmy Jones