"We have a great team coming in and it will be a great challenge for us. We have to be ready to go."
The journey for a state championship begins now for the 5A-South conference champions.
Top-seeded Arkansas High kicks off its postseason campaign tonight as it hosts Nettleton, which will represent Conference 5A-East as the co-conference champion, in the first round of postseason play at Razorback Stadium.
Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on KKTK 1400 AM.
"Nettelton is coming in here with just two losses, which both came at the end of the season, so I don't see them being in a good mood," Arkansas High head coach Barry Norton said. "I think they have a great football team.
"They're the fourth seed, but in reality they tied for first in their conference. Tiebreaker system put them in the fourth slot, so it's not like we are facing the worst team."
The Razorbacks (9-1, 7-0) will look to keep to their winning ways, with defense and special teams setting the tone and their offense-which puts up an average of 37 points a game-scoring early and often.
Cameron Collier, who took over after Jordan Hall suffered an injury early in the season, leads the Hogs' backfield with 1,015 yards and 14 touchdowns on 45 attempts, with an 11.7 average.
He has also contributed to three more scores on defense and special teams, which has recorded a touchdown in eight games this year.
"A concern going into this game is (Nettleton) plays in a 3-3-5 defense, which can create angle problems, so we will have to maintain our balance and be effective throwing the football," Norton said. "We will have to create some leverage in our run game and protect the ball if we want to have success rushing."
In the passing game, quarterback Sean Foreback has multiple options to look to, but none as prevailing as wideout DeJordan Mask. The senior receiver is leading the team in receptions (19), yards (431) and touchdowns (6).
Mask, who has also made his presence well-known on defense, has also returned two interceptions back for scores.
Along with Mask on defense is the likes of Demetrias Charles, Tre Cleveland and A.C. Williams, who all have helped hold teams to just 17.1 points per game. Charles has recovered three fumbles and recorded 87 tackles. Cleveland leads the team with 120 tackles, which is the second most in the area, and Williams has added 52 tackles on the season.
On the other sideline is Nettleton (8-2, 5-2), which boasts an offense with a scheme focused on running and averages 24.8 points per outing. The Raiders lost their last two games of the season to fall in a four-way tie for the conference championship.
"They are a really big and physical team," Norton said. "They have a big offensive line and will try to pound it to us, along with their play-action pass. We will have to do a great job defensively."
Running back Nathan Young has rushed for 771 yards and eight touchdowns on 108 carries for the Raiders. Damien Phillips, who has played running back in just four games this season to fill in for an injured Young, also runs the ball well and has added 354 yards and six scores on 56 tries.
In their loss to Wynne last week, Young went over the century mark with 109 yards and a touchdown on 18 attempts.
"As long as I have been coaching, my philosophy has always been to stop the run," Norton said. "That's the first thing you have to do if you want to be successful.
"We have done an excellent job all year defending the run, but with the size difference we are going up against, we will have to be creative on what we are going to do defensively. We will have to move around more than we usually do and be more physical."
Linebacker Marcus Isom leads the Raider defense, which is only allowing 11.2 points per game, with 60 tackles and also has brought down two interceptions this season. Cornerback Kevin Seals leads the Raiders in interceptions with four and also has 23 tackles.
"We have a great team coming in and it will be a great challenge for us," Norton said. "We have to be ready to go."
Tonight's winner will advance to next week's second round to play either Little Rock Christian Academy or Greenbrier.