The week that was
By Jeremy Peppas
Undefeated North Little Rock has its biggest game of the season this Friday when they host Bryant in a key Class 7A-Central matchup.
The winner will most likely be the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and the conference champ while the loser will be the No. 2 seed and both will have first-round playoff byes.
More critically, the top seed has home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
North Little Rock is 8-0 and ranked No. 1 in the Hootens.com Class 7A poll, while Bryant (7-1) is No. 2 and the game has been dubbed as “Game of the Week.”
Last week, North Little Rock rolled past Fort Smith Northside with a balanced offense.
The Charging Wildcats have three top prospects at running back in seniors Oscar Adaway and Tyler Day and junior Brandon Thomas.
Adaway, statistically, leads the pack with 1,009 all-purpose yards, while Thomas has rushed for 919 yards and Day has 792. All three should crack the 1,000 yard mark for the season.
Sophomore quarterback Kareame Cotton has been efficient through the air with 10 touchdowns and 811 yards passing.
This will be fourth time North Little Rock has faced Bryant in the last three season, with the Cats going 3-0.
Bryant has quarterback Ren Hefley back, who missed last season’s regular season game because of injury. Hefley, the brother of former Pulaski Academy and college quarterback Will.
The younger Hefley is also a college recruit and is considering Tennessee-Martin, Arkansas State and Central Arkansas.
Key to the game will be if North Little Rock’s defensive pressure can hurry Hefley and Bryant’s passing game. Hootens.com has North Little Rock as a 15 point favorite.
Photos by Sterling Imageworks (2016)
Around the conference
LR Central at FS Southside
FS Northside at Cabot
LR Catholic at Conway
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Parkview can assure itself of a playoff trip Friday night with a win against White Hall at War Memorial Stadium.
The Patriots are 3-5 overall while White Hall is 5-2 but Parkview has played a much more challenging schedule with losses to larger schools in Rogers, Springdale and Marion, while picking up two conference losses to Pulaski Academy and Little Rock Christian.
White Hall is ranked No. 10 in the Hootens.com Class 5A poll while Parkview is No. 15. White Hall is the 2-point favorite with it being dubbed the “Game of the Week” in 5A.
The winner would likely by the No. 3 seed from the 5A-Central and would get a trip West to face the No. 2 there, most likely Alma.
The loser would be mostly No. 4 in the conference and also get a trip West to face that conference champ which most likely be 8-0 Harrison.
Key to Parkview’s success is Geary Allmon, who has rushed for more than 900 yards this season.
Parkview head coach Brad Bolding. Photo by Sterling Imageworks.
Around the conference
Watson Chapel at Pulaski Academy
LR Fair at Beebe
Maumelle at LR Christian
Rock Town Sports will be covering both Parkview and North Little Rock this week.