TEAMS: Arkansas High (2-5, 1-3) vs. Russellville (6-1, 3-1)
LAST YEAR: This is the first meeting between these two 6A schools.
GAME FACTS: Illustrious coach Billy Dawson leads Russellville to take on the Hogs. He won three straight titles (2005, 06, 07), five conference championships, and also left Nashville with a record of 91-14. While at Nashville, Dawson once boasted a 24-game winning streak. Heading into his second season at Russellville, this is the first head-to-head match-up with Todd Ledford. Ledford and Dawson were college roommates at Southern Arkansas University. Arkansas High is coming off a very productive offensive outing against Sheridan, with the ardent sophomore tandem of Jordan Hall and Drake Browning, both topping the century mark rushing. With one more win, the Hogs become playoff eligible. Standout sophomore, DeJordan Mask looks to continue his touchdown marathon campaign from last week. The cardiac 'Backs have given up 226 points this year, while scoring 125 points. Russellville has scored 217 points, while only allowing 115 points this season.
COACHES' COMMENTS: Arkansas High's Ledford-"To beat good football teams you can't be penalized. If it's an aggressive type of penalty that's one thing but to have pre-snap penalties we must continue to address those. The season is far from over and that's what I've said since jump street. We got a chance to do somethings early and that's the only way we're going to do business around here."
"They got beat by Greenwood. Greenwood is a good football team we faced them earlier in the year. They were 6-0 heading into that game for a reason. They have a good team. They have a lot of seniors on defense. They have experience but that's the biggest thing, I think we caught a little bit of a spark for the rest of the way. I'm interested to see how we'll respond."
Russellville's Billy Dawson-"I think Arkansas High has gotten better every week. I think getting their quarterback this week gave them a jump start and they were able to score some points. They're going to get better as the year goes; they're young. They have a lot of good looking athletes and I know Todd will have them ready to play."
"We have to tackle better, we missed a bunch of tackles Friday night. We have to tackle better defensively. Offensively, we played really well in the second half but we didn't execute very well in the first. Arkansas High is so athletic we're going to have to really tackle well."
"They're going to be really good in space and really good at the quarterback position. We're going to have to get those guys on the ground and run after the ball."
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TONIGHT'S LINEUPS
(Number in parentheses)
ARKANSAS HIGH OFFENSE: WR-Irijah Price (1), 170; WR-Jadas Ross (3), 150; WR-Korleon Campbell (13), 170; WR-Tristen Koller (34), 160; LT-Rico Thomas (74), 255; LG-Bailey Bates (51), 230; C-Austin Nix (54), 260; RG-Chris Scott (56), 225; RT-Christian Johnson (73), 240; QB-Tyler Braswell (14), 165; FB-Wren Williams (15), 185; TB-Jordan Hall (25); PK-Tyler Braswell (14).
ARKANSAS HIGH DEFENSE: DE-Elijah Hayes (33), 230; DT-Michael Daniels (92); DT-Chase Cook (55), 245; DE-Trayvon Robinson (78), 265; LB-Travieon Cleveland (20), 190; LB-Kendricks Young (23), 200; LB-Demetrius Charles (39), 180; CB-Jordan Sanders (7), 175; CB-Cameron Grissom (10); S-DeJordan Mask (5), 170; S-Cameron Collier (21); PNT-Braswell (14).
Russellville's lineups were unavailable.