Game's of the Week: Week 2

Week 1 provided a plethora of intense match-ups from a small-town rivalry in the Hazen v. Des Arc game to the firework show Bentonville and Conway gave their audience across the state. There are plenty of teams who are still looking for their mid-season while teams like Bryant (7A), Mineral Springs (2A), CAC (4A), and Greenwood (6A) seem to have the kinks worked out early and are potential threats come November.   Game's of the Week from week 1 results:   Week 1's Games of the Week included three thrillers in Conway v. Bentonville, Hazen v. Des Arc, in a game that needed an overtime period to decide the winner, and El Dorado v. Camden Fairview where a last-second heave fell short for the Cardinals. Others gave the sense of an early season upset with 5A powerhouse Shiloh pulling off the road win at Little Rock Christian who was a unanimous top-three team in the 6A classification.   Conway 42 v. Bentonville 39   Little Rock Mills 59 v. Rivercrest 34   Shiloh Christian 43 v. Little Rock Christian 22   Elkins 49 v. Charleston 13   Hazen 34 v. Des Arc 36 (OT)   El Dorado 21 v. Camden Fairview 20   Week 1 Record: 3-3   Overall Record (through 2 weeks): 8-4   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5A Game of the Week</h2>   No. 1 Little Rock Parkview v. No.1 (7A) Bryant   Prep Redzone's Game of the Week is not short from a talent perspective, both of these teams boast an abundance of division-1 talent. Little Rock Parkview comes into week 2 ranked no. 1 in Redzone's 5A poll and Bryant comes in atop the 7A classification.   Bryant hosts defensive backs [player_tooltip player_id='752271' first='Bryson' last='Adamoh'] and [player_tooltip player_id='337883' first='Drake' last='Fowler'] who have committed to UNLV and Air Force, respectively. Others, such as receiver [player_tooltip player_id='166998' first='Mytorian' last='Singleton'] (108 yards/game, 4 TDs), safety [player_tooltip player_id='314061' first='Brenden' last='Bennett'], and running back [player_tooltip player_id='262854' first='James' last='Martin'] (102.5 yards/game) have provided the Hornets with play-making abilities. Through two contests, Bryant is putting up 40 points per game, putting pressure on every opposing offensive unit to match score for score.   For the number of play-makers the Hornets have, Parkview can match step by step. [player_tooltip player_id='865679' first='Cameron' last='Settles'], [player_tooltip player_id='865680' first='Kevin' last='Ellis'], Monterrio Elston, and O'marion Robinson are all top-tier athletes and should be heavily recruited by collegiate coaches. The Patriots come into week 2 with a 1-0 record with a 52-21 win over Springdale Har-Ber. Monterrio Elston took 3 carriers for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns and senior [player_tooltip player_id='271144' first='Jaden' last='Ashford'] toted the rock 7 times for 74 yards.   Prediction: Bryant   For as much talent Parkview has and while they will heavily compete for the 5A title this season, the Patriots will find tough sledding to match score for score with Arkansas' best high school team.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">6A Game of the Week</h2>   No. 6 Marion v. No. 5 El Dorado   The Marion Patriots are coming off of a bye week in week 1, however, they disposed of a proud Wynne program 27-7 in week 0. Junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1421353' first='Jalen' last='Smith'] carried the offensive load for the Patriots with 17 carries, 148 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Senior Jamar Foster added in three more carries for 74 yards and another score. Defensively, senior Kendal Brister led with 10 tackles and was backed up by fellow senior Dewayne Williams who recorded 9 tackles and 2 tackles for loss.   El Dorado came out of Camden Fairview with a tightly contested matchup which finally concluded on a last-second throw by the Cardinals that fell short of the goal line. Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='866986' first='Mitchell' last='Polk'] will be a difference-maker for the Wildcats each week.   Prediction: Marion   If Marion can control the line of the scrimmage with their large offensive line that includes three potential collegiate signees, I believe the Patriots can pull off the road win and jump into the top 5 in the 6A classification.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A Game of the Week</h2>   No. 9 Bauxite v. No. 10 CAC   Bauxite makes the short trek to the campus of CAC in week 2 for a top-10 match-up in the 4A classification. Both teams have Razorback commits on the roster with Bauxite's [player_tooltip player_id='264998' first='Marcus' last='Wimberly'] and CAC's [player_tooltip player_id='361302' first='Grayson' last='Wilson'], both players anticipate to hold major impacts on this contest Friday night.   The Bauxite Miners enter week 2 with a 1-1 record that includes a three-point win over Star City and a twelve-point loss to Monticello. Wimberly plays a colossal part for the Miners as the premier target in the offense playbook and acts as a coach on the field for the defensive unit at his safety position. Wimberly and teammate Garret Oliver are tied for the team lead in tackles with 12.   The CAC Mustangs have been one of the surprising storylines of the 4A classification. The Mustangs began the season near the bottom of our state rankings and have since risen into the top 10 for their debut in week 2. Led by quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='361302' first='Grayson' last='Wilson'] the offensive unit has been lighting up scoreboards by averaging 46 points through the first 3 weeks of the season. CAC has scored 46 points, 52 points, and 40 points all the while playing stout on the defensive side as well only giving up 14.65 points.   Prediction: CAC   This match-up will be a confirmation that the CAC Mustangs are indeed a threat throughout the 4A. Bauxite, who isn't a slouch by any means, will find it difficult to maintain the pace needed to keep up with this red-hot Mustang squad.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3A Game of the Week</h2>   No. 4 Booneville v. No. 10 (5A) Camden Fairview   The Booneville Bearcats take the mighty step up in competition to the stout 5A and travel to Camden Fairview. Booneville won on the road last week at Ozark 48-35. Booneville, a traditional powerhouse and a proud program, will have a difficult offense to keep up with this season. However, they did give up a 250-rushing-yard game to [player_tooltip player_id='1194170' first='Koby' last='Wilbanks'] of Ozark last week.   Camden Fairview fell in a heart-breaker at home to El Dorado last week 21-20. Before the loss, the Cardinals were able to get a week 0 victory on the road over the Arkadelphia Badgers in a 43-27. Sophomore running back Jaden Porchia has played a major role offensively for the Cardinals, averaging 97 yards through the first 2 contests. However, the offensive has been mainly shouldered through the air with Jaylen Goodwin. Goodwin (123 yards/game) has 14 receptions, 246 yards, and 1 touchdown through two games. Defensively, seniors Jabauree Lockhart (20 tackles, 2 TFL) and Adrian King (14 tackles, 2 TFL) have been the leaders through the early portion of the season.   Prediction: Camden Fairview   Following a hard loss in a game that could've gone to either team, the Cardinals will find a way to get back in the win column behind the strong running game.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2A Game of the Week</h2>   No. 2 EPC v. No. 9 (3A) Walnut Ridge   EPC opened the season with a blowout win over Manila. In 2A there are only a handful of teams that will be able to match the sheer athleticism the Warriors have on each side of the ball. Senior Omar McCuiston is a do-it-all guy for the EPC squad and has the "alpha" attributes to take over games.   Walnut Ridge makes their debut in Prep Redzone's rankings and quickly gets a difficult task as they host the Warriors. The Bobcats have beaten a proud Highland program in overtime and pitched a shutout at home against Cave City. The running attack for Walnut Ridge is elite, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1333974' first='Jersie' last='Cunningham'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1334033' first='Enrique' last='Perez'] both have over 200 yards accompanied by the five touchdowns from senior Robbie Tate. Junior Gunnar Thielemier leads the Bobcats defensively with 24 tackles.   Prediction: Walnut Ridge   Running the ball is key for high school football. Walnut Ridge will be able to control the tempo leaving little time for Omar McCuistion to take over the game for the Warriors.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">7A Game of the Week</h2>   No. 8 (5A) Farmington v. No. 3 Rogers   Starting the year 1-1, the Cardinals gained a season-opening victory over fellow 5A team Greenbrier and dropped the next contest to the Springdale Bulldogs with a score of 42-38. Junior Russell Hodge has been busy in the backfield for the Cardinals with 43 touches and 202 yards, averaging 101 yards/contest, not including his three scores. On the defensive side of the ball Farmington already has three players with 15-plus tackles; senior Charlie Mobley (22), Ryan Berger (18), and Michael Douglass (15).   No other team in the state has backed up preseason expectations in a better manner than the Rogers Mounties. Coming into the season the Mounties were anticipated to have one of the better passing attacks in the 7A and ultimately compete for a trip to Little Rock in early December. Through two games Rogers has put up 98 points, 49 points/game. The Mounties have been holding their own against opposing offenses as well, only giving up 19 points. Rogers has put up 63 points against preseason darling Little Rock Southwest and played Bishop Kelley (OK) to a 35-7 win.   Prediction: Rogers   Rogers will roll to another easy win over a good Cardinals squad, continuing to stake their claim among the best in the entire state with Bryant and Fayetteville.

Week 1 provided a plethora of intense match-ups from a small-town rivalry in the Hazen v. Des Arc game to the firework show Bentonville and Conway gave their audience across the state. There are plenty of teams who are still looking for their mid-season while teams like Bryant (7A), Mineral Springs (2A), CAC (4A), and Greenwood (6A) seem to have the kinks worked out early and are potential threats come November.