Thanksgiving Practices in Arkansas

For people that do not follow football closely, football practice on Thanksgiving Thursday does not sound like a great way to spend the morning. However, to football families across the state of Arkansas it is the goal at the beginning of the season to have the opportunity to practice on Thanksgiving. We are going to take a look at some teams practicing on Thanksgiving and maybe even give the matchup for the week. Starting things off in Northwest Arkansas. The Fayetteville Bulldogs will be hosting the Conway Wampus Cats tomorrow night at 7:30. Players to watch in this matchup are Bladen Fike Bladen Fike 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Fayetteville | 2022 State AR , Isaiah Sategna Isaiah Sategna 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Fayetteville | 2022 State AR , Jalen Blackburn Jalen Blackburn 6'2" | 190 lbs | WR Fayetteville | 2022 State AR , Dylan Kittell Dylan Kittell 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR Fayetteville | 2022 State AR , Cade Fields Cade Fields 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Fayetteville | 2022 State AR , Ryan Maxwell Ryan Maxwell 5'8" | 155 lbs | DB Fayetteville | 2022 State AR , and Kaiden Turner Kaiden Turner 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Fayetteville | 2022 State AR for the Purple Dogs. As for the Wampus Cats, Donovyn Omolo Donovyn Omolo 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Conway | 2024 State AR , Troy Wiseman Troy Wiseman 5'10" | 150 lbs | DB Conway | 2022 State AR , Javion Ware Javion Ware 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB Conway | 2022 State AR , and Manny Smith Manny Smith 5'7" | 155 lbs | RB Conway | 2022 State AR . Enjoy the practice on Thursday guys! North Little Rock and Bryant are getting in some practice time on Thanksgiving as well. Both teams have had terrific seasons and earned the right to have a practice Thursday morning. Players to watch for the Charging Wildcats are Malachi Gober, Braxton Johnson Braxton Johnson 6'0" | 300 lbs | OL North Little Rock | 2022 State AR , Jiquori Stewart, and Jace White Jace White 6'3" | 175 lbs | WR Little Rock Parkview | 2025 State AR . Meanwhile for the Hornets of Bryant, Carson Burnett Carson Burnett 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB Bryant | 2022 State AR , Mytorian Singleton Mytorian Singleton 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Bryant | 2024 State AR , Chris Gannaway Chris Gannaway 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Bryant | 2023 State AR are all players to keep an eye on this week for the Hornets. The matchup on Friday should be a hard-hitting affair between two central Arkansas powerhouses. The Hoxie Mustangs have been on a roll this season and secured the right to practice on Thanksgiving as well. Hoxie will take on a talented and undefeated McGehee Owls squad on Friday. Both Hoxie and McGehee have grown used to and enjoy practicing on Thanksgiving. Players to watch for the Owls are Samuel Polite Samuel Polite 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB McGehee | 2022 State AR , Jody Easter Jody Easter 5'10" | 165 lbs | RB McGehee | 2022 State AR , and Jac Cox. For the Mustangs, Cade Forrester Cade Forrester 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Hoxie | 2022 State AR , Jace Benesch Jace Benesch 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Hoxie | 2022 State AR , and Seth Brooks Seth Brooks 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Hoxie | 2022 State AR . I expect this game to go right down to the wire on Friday night. The level of play in each matchup is terrific and that is the case for Arkadelphia and Crossett. Arkadelphia and Crossett both have a 9-3 record, and both are playing with plenty of momentum. Congratulations to those teams for practicing on Thanksgiving. Players to keep an eye on this week for the Badgers are Max Wilson Max Wilson 6'2" | 250 lbs | LB Arkadelphia | 2023 State AR , Donovan Whitten Donovan Whitten 6'3" | 220 lbs | QB Arkadelphia | 2023 State AR , and Jaishon Davis Jaishon Davis 6'2" | 200 lbs | ATH/TE Arkadelphia | 2022 State AR . As for the Crossett Eagles, Tayshawn Paskel, Dewayne Ashford Dewayne Ashford 6'2" | 170 lbs | WR Crossett | 2022 State AR , and Jackson Moore. This another matchup that has the potential to be decided in the fourth quarter. The bottom line is congratulations to all the teams still practicing at this point in the season. To be playing up to this point is not a small accomplishment. Teams started working in late June and early July to get to this point in the season. Enjoy the practice guys, and from everyone at Prep RedZone Arkansas have a Happy Thanksgiving and good luck the rest of the season!