[00:00:00] Speaker A: The start of the high school football season is finally here. Week zero is on deck, and we're going to talk about it on prep rally.
[00:00:09] Speaker B: You're watching the prep rally podcast.
[00:00:18] Speaker A: Welcome to the Prep Rally podcast. I'm Graham Thomas from the northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. I'm joined in the studio with Rick Fires. And Leland Barclay is with us in the river valley. And, gentlemen, as it's time to get the podcast going again for this week, we can finally say it is game week. I know we had scrimmages last week, but, man, it just hits a little differently when you say it is real game week. And, you know, we're really excited about that. Ricky fires, how you doing, man?
[00:00:47] Speaker C: I'm doing well. My wife found out just this morning that football is here. She got me lined up for something Saturday, and I said, I'm sorry, I can't go. I'm not going. I got high school football. I got college football. So all them plans right there, uh, to, after football season in December. Cause I'm all football right now.
[00:01:07] Speaker A: You are a braver man than I, leland, how are things in the river valley?
[00:01:11] Speaker D: Fantastic. Nice and warm.
[00:01:13] Speaker A: Yeah, I can believe that. It's, that's all that's gonna be the case till about December, I think, with, uh, with the river valley. So, um. Well, guys, let's go. Let's dive right into the, the gimme five for this week, leland, and we're going to start with you in the river valley.
Probably a lot of highlights from the scrimmages from last week.
[00:01:34] Speaker D: Absolutely. The scrimmage tour took me to two different states, four games in five nines. Got to see a lot of local teams playing. And I know it's scrimmage action, and they usually play two timed quarters, no kickoffs. Um, you know, it's a very controlled situation for all these teams. A lot of the coaches, too. The younger the team, the more players they want to play.
So it's hard to take away a lot from the scrimmages.
But number one of the top five performances in the river valley last week, the northside Grizzlies looked very good last week. Jaleel Coven and Jaden Youngblood, two of the, uh, running backs for north side, they combined the rush 19 times for 109 yards. North side won a scrimmage over broken arrow 21 to 16. Abram Dotson had an interception.
They also, Dorian McGrew had a fumble recovery. North side had a goal line stand, had 34 offensive plays for 276 yards, and looked very good.
[00:02:42] Speaker A: Wow. In the scrimmage all in one half. Wow.
[00:02:45] Speaker D: All in one half, two timed quarters. Also on Monday night, Alma looked very impressive in a 23 to 14 win at Southside.
39 plays for 342 yards in two quarters of action. And a name that we're going to hear a lot this year, and we've already heard it some Israel Towns Robinson, eight carries, 146 yards and touchdown runs of 69 and 47 yards. He's six to 225 yards, 225 pounds, and ran away from the defense on both of those touchdown runs.
[00:03:23] Speaker A: So, and disclaimer, I'm sure he's the.
[00:03:26] Speaker D: Very, very good start.
[00:03:27] Speaker A: Disclaimer I'm sure Israel Towns Robinson is the very reason you're picking the Alma Airdales to win the five a west.
[00:03:34] Speaker D: Well, a big reason. You know, he's, he's going to have to play probably, you know, 100 snaps on every single Friday night. Some of those, I guess most of those will be determined during the game, whether they need to be on defense or offense, because he can dominate the game on both sides of the ball. And then, of course, the Greenwood Bulldogs. I know Rick went to that scrimmage 27 to 40 or 27 to 20 win over Fayetteville 47 offensive plays for 275 yards for Greenwood and two quarters. Payne Archer, 22 of 28 for 241 and two touchdowns, but they also ran for two touchdowns. So Greenwood spotted Green Fayetteville, a 14 and nothing lead, came back and, and won that scrimmage.
And then, Graham, you were at the Podo Rogers heritage scrimmage?
[00:04:29] Speaker A: On, I was.
[00:04:30] Speaker D: That was Thursday night. Jake Perry, three carries for 85 yards for podo, including an 80 yard touchdown run in that scrimmage, which bodes well for the podo Pirates this year.
[00:04:43] Speaker A: They, and then number, I was telling you, Leland, on, on that one, Rick probably doesn't know this, but Poto had about 15 kids carry the ball that night. I mean, I was writing down a new number. It seemed like every other play.
[00:04:56] Speaker D: Well. And when I went down to watch him practice, I guess, I guess it was in July.
You know, Coach Greg Warner had told me at that time that it was going to be running back by committee. And I, and I think it's not because they don't have a running back, but it's because they have several that are good. And I think you saw that on Thursday night, Graham and then number five, the Paris Eagles with a 14 to 13 win over Charleston in their scrimmage last week. So that's the top five performances from the scrimmages in the river Valley from last week.
[00:05:34] Speaker A: Interesting that Paris and Charleston were having to scrimmage each other. You know, they typically these, well, I guess they're not in the same conference. You know, Paris kind of, you know, is kind of left on an island on its own out there, and they're not in that three a one. But that's a great. That's a great moral victory for those kids.
[00:05:53] Speaker D: Absolutely.
[00:05:54] Speaker A: All right, well, that's the gimme five for this week, and we're going to roll right into our river Valley sports report. So, kind of looking ahead to this week, Leland, man, there's just about. I know there's a lot going down there, but, man, there is really two big things going on down in the river valley this week.
[00:06:12] Speaker D: Thursday night, of course, the battle of the bone, the battle of Crawford County. Van Buren travels to Alma for their annual dog fight. Two, two teams that, you know, are in different conferences. Big game for both teams. Alma's coming off a very good performance in the scrimmage against Southside Bay. Buren did not score in their scrimmage against Farmington and was limited. They had one good drive through an interception in the end zone to squelch that. Now, again, there's a lot to, you know, there's a lot to take away from the scrimmages, but also, there's a lot for those coaches to come back and work on that next week. So we'll see what happens in the battle of bone on Thursday night. And then, of course, Friday night, the Battle of Rogers Avenue.
Southside visits north side. A lot of festivities going on there. Southside won last year's meeting 42 to 35 and ended that seven year winning streak by north side. Of course, Southsides rebuilding this year, they dropped down to the six a west, which allows north side to go come back to the seven a west. So two big rivalry games there, and it's something else kind of to take away or maybe at least look at a little bit in the scrimmages. Last week, surprisingly, Boonville lost their scrimmage game to Dardanelle, scored two touchdowns and two quarters. Ozark lost a scrimmage game against Harrison. Obi will Banks had a long touchdown run early in that scrimmage, and then they didn't score again, and Harrison kind of ran away from that one. Mansfield scored just one touchdown in their scrimmage game against Mena, and then Charleston scored twice and lost a scrimmage game at Paris. Now, we know that Boonville, Ozark, Mansfield, and Charleston are all going to be very good. So we'll. We'll see if that's how indicative those scrimmage games were for the season for those teams, but I don't think they will be.
[00:08:16] Speaker A: Hey, real quick, going back to the battle of Rogers Avenue, we got an 08:00 kickoff for that on Friday night. And I want you to tell our listeners kind of the reason why. There's a lot of people think it's heat related, but actually there's just a lot of festivities going on at Mayo Thompson Stadium.
[00:08:34] Speaker D: A lot of festivities going on. I think there's going to be a fly, fly by some, by some jets prior to the game.
You know, a big, you know, United States flag that's going to be unfurled before the game. That's, from what I hear goes from the 20 to the 20. So there's a lot going on before the game that people will want to certainly get there early and enjoy.
[00:09:00] Speaker A: All right, anything else going on with the river valley this week and on the high school? I know the Greenwood, the high school volleyball season started last night on Monday and Greenwood was swept by Fayetteville. And you know, they're gonna be two or three games a week probably for these volleyball teams. And then I know there's some Oklahoma softball and all that stuff.
[00:09:23] Speaker D: Absolutely. A lot going on. Volleyball season just starting. It'd be interesting to take a look at Hackett, of course, and Mansfield Greenwood. They're always there.
And then to Alma's golf team had a very good performance yesterday in their golf tournament. And softballs really heated up in Oklahoma.
Emma Hackler, a pitcher for podo, was off to a fantastic start for the Lady Pirates. And of course, Alyssa Parker off to a terrific start for Pecola. Both of those teams are going to be highly ranked and they'll be seated one two in the county tournament, which comes up in two weeks.
[00:10:04] Speaker A: Oh, wow.
[00:10:05] Speaker C: So they play softball in Oklahoma in the fall instead of spring.
[00:10:10] Speaker D: And the spring pitch, fast pitches in the fall and then slow pitch, which doesn't get much attention, but they play slow pitch in the spring. I wish it was the other way around where some of these Arkansas teams could play. Some of the Oklahoma teams, absolutely. But it's fast pitch right now, which is the one that, you know, really counts over there. And Alyssa Parker had a game last week. I think she hit three home runs. She's already, you know, got a couple of double digits or several double digit strikeout games and just four innings. So the county tournament will be, be very interesting. That championship game is set for Thursday, September 12.
[00:10:49] Speaker A: All right, well, we're going to take a break when we come back, we will join Rick Fires in the northwest.
[00:10:56] Speaker B: Arkansas top five to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette or the River Valley Democrat Gazette. We have a special offer for our podcast listeners, so visit nwA online.com nwapodcast to get started. You can also click the subscribe button on our websites, nWA online.com and rivervalleydemocratgazette.com, or call us at 479-684-5509 and be sure to say that you're a podcast listener. Now back to the show.
[00:11:27] Speaker A: And we're back on the prep rally podcast, and it's time for the northwest Arkansas top five. So without any further ado, we're gonna give it over to Rick fires for his top performances of the week.
[00:11:41] Speaker C: Okay, you know what? I saw some scrimmages last week as well, but I'm going to start to the games that actually count. And volleyball. Fable, four time defending champion, swept Greenwood. Greenwood got a fantastic program as well, but Fable won this one. Ella Bryant, eleven kills for Fayetteville. Moving over to tennis. Fayetteville swept Bentonville and tennis. Six three boys, six three girls is a quick turnaround for Fable, which played all weekend in the Texas heat down there in Plano, Texas. I think they played, you know, some tournament games. And so I kind of surprised they come back on Monday, and they look really good.
[00:12:21] Speaker A: Now, that was a big deal, them sweeping Bentonville because big deal.
[00:12:25] Speaker C: They are rivals right there. And it was a good day for the Phelan fam. Darren Phelan is the coach of the tennis team. Jessica, the, the volleyball coach, and Lucas, their son, he resigned the winning doubles team for fable. But I got to tell you about Bentonville. They've got a outstanding tennis player, Glenna Langford. She's a tall, blonde, left handed girl. She won easily. Number one singles. I got a kick out of our, sitting there, I heard somebody in the background, one of the Bentonville fans, after Glenn had won her mad, said, she's too big, she's too fast, and she's too strong. And that lady was exactly right on all three counts. I think she's the number one player in Arkansas. And she showed it going back to some scrimmage. Now, people just, I'm not a big.
I don't put a lot of stock in scrimmages. And even during that fabled Greenwood game, you know, the quarterbacks got tapped out. You know, they won. Run five, six, eight yards. They get tapped out.
The green jersey, even some of the running backs got tapped out. So if you brag about what you're doing, this has nothing to do with what's going to end up in December, but it's nice to get out there, rotate players in and out.
But I can tell you these two standout quarterbacks Leland mentioned, Kane Archer, just absolutely a fantastic quarterback. Garrett Odom. It's a different style this year for Fayetteville. Drake Lindsey, big six four guy stands in a pocket. Odom is much more elusive. And both of these, man, they got a slew of receivers. I don't know, maybe 13 different guys combined on two teams that had receptions.
Let me see. I also saw a scrimmage over at Prairie Grove. One of the things is they got a. They were one of the last teams up here that has artificial service. It's top of the line. It looks fantastic. I played on artificial surf in the seventies where it's like concrete. The technology has come along so far. It is superb. But I'll tell you what's not superb. You know, Prairie Grove looked like they always do. They're going to run to wing t, run all kind of plays. I think it was like 68 21 if anybody's keeping score.
But the story here in this game is Clarksville. Man, they are so down.
They've gone 00:10 the last couple years. And coach Mitchell Powers, man, they really got a major rebuilding project going down there. They're a five a school and they got waxed by Prairie Grove, which is now four a. So that's my observations from the top highlights from last week.
[00:15:16] Speaker A: Okay.
And that leads us into our northwest Arkansas sports report. And, you know, kind of hit on those same, some more of those same elements there. Rick, I was going to ask you a little more about that tennis. You hit on a lot on your, on your, on your top five there. But, man, that, you know, early season matchup with Bentonville and Fayetteville, you almost think that that could have been a state championship preview there.
[00:15:43] Speaker C: Most definitely. But the thing is, I'm confused. I don't cover a lot of tennis during fielding. Try to explain it to me. This game did not. This math did not count in conference. But when they do play in a couple weeks, it will conference, but it goes on their overall record. It's something with the aaa. And Darren was trying to explain to me, I said, darren, explain to me like I'm a fourth grader and I still couldn't figure it out. But anytime they, I don't care. Anytime they get together, these are going to be two teams you're going to see in the conference. And the state and these athletes in the overall. So it's quite an event. And these kids out there in that hot, blazing sun, there's no shade out there. And they went for about three or 4 hours and just watching these athletes boom, boom, back and forth, back and forth.
Quite a mass to watch.
[00:16:37] Speaker A: You know, we got a really exciting week or exciting Thursday and Friday coming up with football season. And in northwest Arkansas, we're going to have some really good football games to get to watch.
You know, I'll start with the exciting thing in Springdale. Little Rock Central is coming up to play Springdale, and I believe there's a big celebration going on with the football stadium there and Gerald Williams and, and all that. You know, there's a Farmington at Shiloh Christian matchup on Friday night. Those two teams battled out for the conference title last year, which Farmington was number one seed. And, man, it's gonna be rocking over at champion Stadium over in Springdale for the, for the Farmington Shiloh game. Rick.
[00:17:22] Speaker C: Yeah. And moving on a little bit from that you talked about, I like the seven a west against seven a central teams fable is going to be playing down a cab at Rogers North, Little Rock. You know, the central been owning the west the last few years. Let's see if the west can get off to a good start and win some of these early games.
[00:17:41] Speaker A: How about this one? You know, Greenwood's going to travel to play Bentonville west, and that'll be a terrific environment over in Centerton at Bentonville West High School. Man, Greenwood, they're going to be, they're going to be Greenwood and Bentonville west. I'm sure their guys have been staying up all night trying to figure out how to slow those guys down.
[00:18:00] Speaker C: Greenwood's a football town, just like the song says, so very impressive with what those guys do. And they just keep Rick Jones and then, and they're just the same as they've been for the last, what, 15 plus years or so.
[00:18:15] Speaker A: Springdale harbor is making the trip over to broken Arrow, and we'll see how coach Eckley and the Wildcats do over there.
Silent springs going to play at Rogers Heritage. And, you know, there's lots of, just lots of football games, more than you can shake a stick at over here this weekend. But the really big one is going to be Tulsa Union at Bentonville. And, you know, they're, they're getting, they're replacing light poles this week at Bentonville Tiger Stadium, the ones that were damaged in the May Memorial Day storms. And, man, nothing like waiting till the last minute. But I'm excited because, Rick, you and I will be there for the, the Tulsa union Red Hawks at the Bentonville Tigers.
[00:18:57] Speaker C: You know what, I like these boys, especially with Oklahoma now coming in the SEC.
I like the bragging rights here on the high school level, too. So Bentonville, so these lights aren't going to fall on our heads or nothing, right? We're okay?
[00:19:12] Speaker A: Yeah, as far as I know. I mean, we should be good to go.
[00:19:16] Speaker C: But this is Tulsa unit. They're a regional power, have been for a long time. Bentonville's also won top programs in Arkansas. So I like, see them go head to head and, you know, kind of post be neutral, but I gotta say, kind of pulling for Bentonville. But my man, Tulsa union, I think they were ten and two last year, made it to the semifinals and six a one, their highest classification. So game, love that game. Can't wait to get there.
[00:19:44] Speaker A: All right. Well, when we come back, we'll get to what everybody's been waiting for, the who you got? Segment where we get to give our picks for this week.
[00:19:55] Speaker B: Get the latest breaking news on all Arkansas Razorback sports at whole hogsports.com. our award winning reporters and photographers go beyond game recaps to bring our subscribers the most trusted Razorbacks news anywhere. With expert analysis, the latest in recruiting, plus unique and compelling stories of your favorite teams. Subscribe
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[00:20:17] Speaker A: All right, we're back with the prep rally podcast, Graham Thomas and Rick fires here in the Fayetteville studio. And Leland Barclay joins us from the river valley. All right, boys, it's time for who you got? Who you gonna pick this week? And we're gonna start on Thursday night in the river valley. Leland, we got Van Buren at Alma. Who you got?
[00:20:37] Speaker D: Well, I've, you know, it's a dog fight, but I'm gonna have to go with the home team has won the last three of these, I think after Friday nine, it's number four in a row for the home team. You know, the Alma Airedales, like I said, looked very good in the scrimmage game. I know that was a long time ago now, but, you know, I just think that Israel towns Robinson, you know, starts off his senior year with a bang.
[00:21:01] Speaker A: So you got Alma Airedales. I'm going to, I'm going to go again. You like Rick Fires, likes to say, give me the Van Buren pointers to make it two in a row in the battle of the bone. Rick fires, Alma van Buren. Who you got?
[00:21:15] Speaker C: I'm going again. You so I got Alma.
[00:21:18] Speaker A: Alma. All right, moving right along. We're going to stay in the river valley. Fort Smith, south side at Portsmouth, north side. The battle of Rogers Avenue.
Rick, I'm going to let you lead us off this time. Who you got?
[00:21:32] Speaker C: I'm going to go north side. I've seen a lot of these games. I've seen it go back and forth. I love that. I think it's still the best rivalry in Arkansas. One time, one town, two teams. I'm going north side.
[00:21:45] Speaker A: I have also got north side. Leland, who you got?
[00:21:49] Speaker D: You know, Southside won last year's game. That that ended a seven year winning streak by the Grizzlies. I think the Grizzlies start a new winning streak with a win on Friday night at home.
[00:22:00] Speaker A: All right, we're all going north side there. So that means south side will definitely probably win the game.
All right, how about a little mini battle of Benton county here. Used to be conference rivals. Not anymore because peerage is in five a and gravit will one day be in five a and enjoying them. I almost have no doubt about that. Grab it at Pea Ridge. I'll start us out and I will take. Who you got? I will take the gravit Lions to get a win over Pea Ridge on the road. Rick fires, who you got?
[00:22:33] Speaker C: Same here. Gravit lions.
[00:22:35] Speaker A: Leland, who you got?
[00:22:37] Speaker D: Yeah, I think Gravitz, you know, they built them some momentum last year and I think they keep that up and they win their opener this year.
[00:22:44] Speaker A: All right. That'd be a big win for the, for the Lions at the Blackhawk Stadium. Not an easy place to go play for sure.
Another key matchup, and we're going from former conference rivals here to Farmington and Shiloh Christian. Farmington's still in the five a west. Shiloh is down the six a west, and they're going to open up the year against each other. And Tommy Tice making his official head coaching debut for the Farmington Cardinals coming out of retirement. And leland, who you got?
[00:23:22] Speaker D: I think, you know, Shiloh Christian is just.
I think they're going to make the move to class six a very well. And I think it starts Friday night with a win over Farmington.
[00:23:33] Speaker A: I am in complete agreement. Getting Shiloh Christian gets a little payback from. For last year. Rick fires, who you got?
[00:23:40] Speaker C: Even though I got Farmington winning five a west, I'm going Shiloh Christianity.
[00:23:44] Speaker A: Yeah.
If it were at Farmington, I might, you know, think a little bit differently. Shiloh Christian's got a great home field advantage over there in Springdale.
Seven a, class seven a matchup, Fayetteville at Cabot.
Long trip for Fayetteville to make here.
I'll lead us off on this one, but I'm going to go with the Fayetteville Bulldogs to defeat the Cabot Panthers, closer than the experts think, but they'll get it done. Rick fires, who you got?
[00:24:16] Speaker C: I'm going to go fable. And by at least two touchdowns.
[00:24:20] Speaker A: All right, Leland, who you got?
[00:24:22] Speaker D: You know, Cabot's one of those teams that we really don't know much about them from year to year, but we do know a lot about the Fayetteville Bulldogs, and I think they open the season up with a, with a road win.
[00:24:35] Speaker A: All right, we're all going with Fayetteville on that one.
Rogers at North Little Rock. Now, I was talking to Coach Chad Harbison because, you know, these two teams just played each other in the playoffs last year, and North Little Rock, a three and seven north little rock team, made the trip up here and got shellacked 44 to six by the Mounties.
Coach Harbison, when talking with him, you know, he, he. This is kind of the way he described it. He said that it was almost like North Little Rock didn't want to be there last year. But, you know, coming up on this game, this is a new season, a new team. Everything's fresh. North Little Rock's gonna be excited. They're gonna be ready, and he expects a real battle out of the, out of the charging wildcats.
With that being said, I think Rogers has a really good team. May get off the bus a little bit slow, maybe, and maybe sort of like what they did in their scrimmage. Leland. But I think Rogers is going to defeat North Little Rock on Friday in North Little Rock. What do you got, Leland?
[00:25:39] Speaker D: I agree. I think this Rogers team, it's going to be different than most of the Rogers teams we've seen. But Jeff Regan at quarterbacks, you know, he's, he's got firm control of that offense. And then also watch Lindsey, the receiver, man, that's going to be a dynamic duo, and I think Rogers is very good, and they get the win.
[00:25:57] Speaker A: Rick, who you got?
[00:25:58] Speaker C: It wasn't long ago this wouldn't even be in a game. North Little Rock would have belted Rogers, their speed alone. But times change. Things are different. I think Rogers goes down there and wins.
[00:26:10] Speaker A: All right, just a couple left here, guys. We're talking Greenwood at Bentonville west. And, you know, the heart really wants to pick Bentonville west here, because I know, they've got a really good football team over there, but I tell you what, I just don't know that they can slow down Greenwood. So I am taking Greenwood to beat Bentonville West. Rick, who you got?
[00:26:34] Speaker C: I got Greenwood.
[00:26:36] Speaker A: Greenwood. Leland, what say?
[00:26:38] Speaker D: You know, the, the Arkansas sports media poll came out earlier this week. Greenwood's number two, Bentonville west, is number ten. So this is the first top ten matchup of the season, and I think it ends up playing like that. I have Greenwood by a narrow margin, winning at west on Friday night.
[00:26:57] Speaker A: Close. I like it. I like it. And that'll lead us to what's going to be our game of the week. Tulsa Union at Bentonville west. And, you know, guys, this is just a titanic matchup. These two teams have scrimmaged each other every year, I think, for the last 20 years, dating back to the Barry Lunny era at Bentonville.
You know, it's hard picking these games.
You know, you could go either way, just, just from that outside looking in, and I'd be thrilled to be wrong. It just seems like Tulsa Union may just have a little bit more than Bentonville does, but the game is at Bentonville. However, I'm going to go with Tulsa Union and a close one over the Bentonville Tigers. Leland, who you got?
[00:27:45] Speaker D: You know, Rick mentioned Arkansas and Oklahoma. Oklahoma's coming into the SEC Friday night. I think it's Boomer sooner. Tulsa union.
[00:27:55] Speaker A: Tulsa Union.
[00:27:56] Speaker C: Rick, Tulsa union. They picked up a couple guys, same kind of thing going. Transfers, transfer, couple guys from Broken Arrow. Makes them a little bit stronger. I got Tulsa union.
[00:28:06] Speaker A: Wow. So that's eight games there for you folks. We'd love to get some feedback on who you think is going to win.
Be sure and gthomas.com. if you feel differently, be sure and email me, and we'd love to get some feedback on that. That's going to wrap us up for this week's prep rally podcast.
The podcast is going to be available wherever you get your podcast, but you can watch it at nwA online.com or on YouTube.
I tell you what, man, I don't know how I'm going to sleep the next couple nights. Only three more sleeps until football season for us.
We're just. We're really excited over here.
Rick, we'll see you Friday night at Tiger Stadium. Leland, I know you got a. You're going to the Van Buren alma game on Thursday and Southside Northside on Friday, so get double the fun for you. And that's going to do it for us, though.
This is Graham Thomas for Rick fires and Leland Barclay. We love.
