The regular season is winding down, but there’s still plenty to play for across the River Valley on Friday night.
Atkins can wrap up a conference championship, Lamar faces one of its biggest tests of the season at Booneville, and Danville has a matchup that could determine whether the Little Johns reach the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Russellville heads to Little Rock looking for a much-needed win, Pottsville hopes to bounce back from last week’s loss to Lamar, and Hector can secure a postseason berth with a home victory.
With two games remaining in the regular season for most teams, Friday’s results could go a long way toward determining who gets into the playoffs, where they’ll be seeded and who will get to play at home.
All games are scheduled for 7 p.m.
Atkins (7–1) at Two Rivers (0–8)
The Atkins Red Devils have won seven straight games, climbed to No. 2 in the latest Hooten’s Class 3A rankings and now have an opportunity to claim the 3A-4 conference championship.
All they need is a win Friday night at Two Rivers.
Atkins improved to 7–1 overall and 5–0 in conference play with a 46–6 homecoming victory over Jessieville last week. The Red Devils have scored at least 40 points in every game since their season-opening loss to Heber Springs.
Senior running back Brelan Criswell has been one of the team’s offensive leaders, rushing for 1,177 yards this season and accounting for 19 touchdowns, according to MaxPreps.
The Red Devils face a Two Rivers team still searching for its first win. The Gators fell 63–0 at Perryville last week and have struggled to find consistency on either side of the football.
For Atkins, Friday represents a chance to secure both the conference championship and the top playoff seed before closing the regular season against Danville next week.
Lamar (6–2) at Booneville (7–1)
A week after winning an all-River-Valley showdown against Pottsville, the Lamar Warriors have another major challenge ahead. Lamar travels to Booneville to face the eighth-ranked Bearcats in a game that could determine the No. 2 playoff seed in the 4A-4 conference.
The Warriors moved into Hooten’s Class 4A rankings at No. 16 this week following their 36–29 victory over Pottsville.
Quarterback Karsten Schluterman threw for 86 yards and rushed for another 50 in that game. Kendrick Carr contributed 90 receiving yards and a touchdown while also recording nine tackles and an interception on defense.
Booneville, meanwhile, is coming off its first loss of the season, a 34–18 defeat against undefeated Ozark.
The Bearcats had difficulty slowing Ozark’s running game, which produced 410 yards, but Booneville remains one of the strongest teams in the conference. With Ozark sitting atop the standings at 5–0 in conference play, Booneville enters Friday at 4–1, followed by Lamar and Pottsville at 3–2.
A Lamar victory would give the Warriors a critical head-to-head advantage over Booneville as the teams battle for postseason positioning.
Waldron (4–4) at Pottsville (6–2)
The Pottsville Apaches return home Friday hoping to put last week’s seven-point loss to Lamar behind them.
Pottsville slipped from No. 13 to No. 18 in Hooten’s Class 4A rankings following the 36–29 defeat, but the Apaches remain very much in the playoff race.
Injuries have become a concern for the team.
“We are so beat up, just trying to get healthy,” Pottsville coach Bryan Rust told Hooten’s Arkansas Football.
Running back Penn Helton carried the ball 32 times for 160 yards against Lamar, providing much of the Apaches’ offensive production.
Waldron comes to Pottsville following a 41–0 victory over Subiaco Academy, its first conference win of the season.
The Bulldogs rushed for 390 yards in that game. Jaxson Brown recorded 105 yards and two touchdowns on just three carries, while Austin Hudson rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown.
History favors Pottsville. The Apaches have won 11 of their previous 12 meetings with Waldron, including victories by a combined 107–32 over the past two seasons.
A win Friday would improve Pottsville to 7–2 before the Apaches host Booneville in next week’s regular-season finale.
Russellville (1–7) at Little Rock Catholic (2–6)
Russellville will try to snap a four-game losing streak Friday night when the Cyclones travel to War Memorial Stadium to face Little Rock Catholic.
Both teams are 1–4 in the 6A West Conference, making this a particularly important game for their postseason hopes.
The Cyclones are coming off a 50–29 homecoming loss to Fort Smith Southside.
Russellville has continued to produce yards on the ground despite its struggles in the win column. According to Hooten’s, the Cyclones are averaging more than 250 rushing yards per game, led by Sam Callahan and Marcellus Olson-Patton.
Catholic is coming off one of its best performances of the season, shutting out Siloam Springs 42–0 last Friday.
The Rockets piled up 360 yards of offense, including 299 rushing yards. Quarterback Phillips Blair rushed for 94 yards and four touchdowns, while Luke Burdine added 134 yards and a score.
Catholic also holds a 7–4 advantage in the all-time series against Russellville, according to Hooten’s.
Friday’s game will serve as senior night for Catholic, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium. Gates open at 6 p.m., and parking is $5.
Russellville closes the regular season at home against Siloam Springs next week.
Hackett (2–6) at Hector (5–3)
The Hector Wildcats return home Friday night with an opportunity to lock up a playoff berth.
Ranked No. 13 in Class 2A, Hector rebounded from consecutive losses last week with a 34–20 road victory over Mountainburg.
The Wildcats got strong performances from two running backs. Cayden Manrique rushed for 197 yards and a touchdown, while Hudson McAlister added 153 yards and three touchdowns.
Hector enters Friday at 2–2 in conference play.
Hackett picked up its first conference win last week, defeating Mountain Pine 43–14.
Tomas Ruiz rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns for the Hornets, while Remington Hodges contributed defensively with seven tackles, a sack, an interception return for a touchdown and two fumble recoveries.
The Wildcats can secure a postseason spot with a win over Hackett before wrapping up the regular season at home against Bigelow.
Cutter-Morning Star (2–6) at Danville (4–4)
Few local teams have more riding on Friday night’s game than the Danville Little Johns.
Danville has lost three consecutive games, including last week’s 51–17 defeat against Glen Rose, and now faces a Cutter-Morning Star team fighting for the same playoff opportunity.
Both teams enter the game with 2–3 conference records. According to Hooten’s, the winner will likely secure a playoff berth.
The matchup features two capable quarterbacks, Danville’s Jake Crane and Cutter-Morning Star’s Jacob Smith.
The Eagles are coming off a 42–36 victory over Conway Christian, while Danville is looking to recover from a difficult stretch against some of the conference’s stronger opponents.
The schedule makes Friday’s outcome especially important.
Danville must travel to second-ranked Atkins for its regular-season finale next week. Cutter-Morning Star, meanwhile, finishes against winless Two Rivers.
A victory Friday would put Danville in a considerably better position heading into that final game.
Ozark (8–0) at Dover (3–5)
The Dover Pirates face one of their toughest assignments of the season Friday when undefeated Ozark comes to town.
The Hillbillies are ranked fourth in Class 4A and are coming off a 34–18 victory over previously unbeaten Booneville.
Ozark rushed for 410 yards in that game, with John Skolarski accounting for 211 yards and two touchdowns. Easton Fox added 189 yards and a touchdown.
The Hillbillies also showed their strength defensively. Linebacker Deacon Gage recorded 17 tackles and an interception, while Canyon Connelly contributed 10 tackles.
Dover enters the game following a 42–14 loss to Mena. Fullback Zeke Brown provided a bright spot for the Pirates, rushing for 87 yards and a touchdown in that defeat.
Ozark has won eight consecutive meetings against Dover, including a 71–7 victory last season.
The Pirates are 1–4 in conference play and will need a strong finish to improve their postseason chances.
Dover closes the regular season at Waldron next week.
Farmington (7–1) at Dardanelle (2–6)
Dardanelle’s difficult stretch of conference play continues Friday with a home matchup against fourth-ranked Farmington.
The Sand Lizards have lost four consecutive games, including last week’s 63–23 defeat at Harrison.
Dardanelle found some offensive success against the Goblins, but the defense has allowed 178 points over the past four games.
Farmington enters Friday with a 7–1 record and sits one game behind Greenwood in the 5A West standings. The Cardinals bounced back from their only loss of the season, a 42–14 defeat at Greenwood, with a 38–2 victory over Clarksville last week.
Dardanelle enters at 1–4 in conference play, and its path to the playoffs has narrowed considerably.
Hooten’s reports that the Sand Lizards still have a mathematical path to a No. 4 playoff seed, but it would require victories in both remaining games by sufficient margins, along with several favorable results elsewhere in the conference.
The Sand Lizards finish the regular season next week at Clarksville.
Clarksville (0–8) at Greenwood (6–2)
The Clarksville Panthers are still searching for their first win of the season, and Friday’s opponent presents an enormous challenge.
Clarksville travels to face second-ranked Greenwood, which has won six straight games and is undefeated in 5A West conference play.
The Bulldogs have outscored their five conference opponents 248–51. Greenwood quarterback Cruz Coatney completed 16 of 19 passes for 173 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s 56–7 victory over Pea Ridge.
Clarksville, meanwhile, is coming off a 38–2 loss to Farmington.
The Panthers have scored just 25 points through five conference games and have already been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
Greenwood can clinch the conference championship with a victory Friday.
For Clarksville, the remaining games offer a chance to finish a difficult season on a positive note before next week’s home finale against Dardanelle.
Perryville (4–4) at Jessieville (3–5)
Perryville is coming off a 63–0 homecoming victory over Two Rivers, and the Mustangs now head to Jessieville for a game with significant playoff implications.
Both teams are 3–2 in conference play, and the winner will have the inside track toward the No. 3 playoff seed and a home postseason game.
The matchup features Perryville quarterback Tanner Frith and Jessieville quarterback Jacob Graves.
Jessieville will be looking to bounce back from last week’s 46–6 loss to Atkins, while Perryville is trying to extend its winning streak.
Perryville closes the regular season against Conway Christian next week, while Jessieville finishes against Glen Rose.
That remaining schedule could make Friday’s head-to-head result especially important in determining final conference standings.
There are several other games worth watching Friday, particularly for their impact on River Valley teams.
In Class 5A, Harrison travels to Alma for a matchup between two 5–3 teams fighting for playoff positions behind Greenwood and Farmington.
In Class 6A, Mountain Home and Van Buren meet with matching 7–1 records in a game that could help determine the 6A West championship.
And in Class 4A, Subiaco Academy has forfeited its scheduled game against Mena, according to Hooten’s. It is the Trojans’ third forfeit in five weeks. Subiaco is scheduled to host Lamar in next week’s regular-season finale.
The most consequential local results may come in Class 3A, where Atkins can celebrate a conference championship with a victory at Two Rivers, while Danville and Perryville try to secure their places in the postseason.
By the time Friday night’s games are finished, the playoff picture across the River Valley should be a good deal clearer.
