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Coaches Trying To Quiet Emotions Of Rivalry Game
Last updated Thursday, September 25, 2008 9:38 PM CDT in Prep Sports
By Brandon Harris
SPECIAL TO THE MORNING NEWS
SPRINGDALE -- With all of the emotion that will undoubtedly be put into tonight's matchup between Springdale High and Springdale Har-Ber, there's just as much effort by each team's coaches to keep their players grounded.
Sure, it's the battle for bragging rights in the city of Springdale. Yes, the all-time series is tied 1-1. And, of course, a win would taste a little sweeter -- neither side denies that -- than a win over another conference opponent.
But there are seven games in the 7A-West Conference season, and this is but the first.
"You want to win it, of course, but if you don't, it's not the end of the world," Springdale coach Kevin Johnson said. "We've got to get ready to go again the next week against Fayetteville. We're prepared and we want our kids to do well, but after this, we'll have another game next week."
Springdale (2-1) and Har-Ber (3-0) have much in common, which provides much of the substance for the budding rivalry.
Both play their home games in Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium. Har-Ber offensive coordinator Don Struebing, for example, is in the Bulldog Athletic Hall of Fame. And with both schools being so new, many of the players are friends have known each other for some time.
Still, the last thing any of the players want to do is lose a game to the other.
"Even though it's just another game, (the coaches) emphasized more that we're playing Springdale and that we have to win this game," Har-Ber quarterback Zach Faust said. "But if we don't win this game, we're going to have to hear it from them all year. Last year, it was the last game, so it was less important. If we lost, it was the end of the season for them because they weren't going to the playoffs. This year, it's different. We have a whole season left. If we lose, we've got to hear it from them all year."
Har-Ber dispatched of Springdale last season in convincing fashion, much like the Bulldogs did to Har-Ber two seasons ago.
"It's a rivalry game, but the most important thing is that it's the first conference game," Johnson said. "I know (Har-Ber) coach Chris Wood is telling his kids the same thing. We want to play hard, but we try not to treat it like anything special. We have six more after this one. We've got to get ourselves into the playoffs."
But beating the other wouldn't feel all that bad, either.
TODAY'S TICKET
Springdale High at Springdale Har-Ber
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS: Springdale is 2-1 overall, 0-0 in 7A-West Conference; Har-Ber is 3-0.
RANKINGS: Springdale is No. 11 in Class 7A by Hooten's Arkansas Football. Har-Ber is No. 4.
HOOTEN'S LINE: Har-Ber by 10.
RADIO: KYNG-AM 1590, KAMO FM 94.3
Projected Starters
SPRINGDALE HAR-BER
Offense Defense
Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
QB Zach Faust Sr. 5-10 189 DE Jeremy Pianalto Sr. 6-2 200
RB Derek Brinker Sr. 6-0 207 NG Eric Pearce Jr. 6-2 242
WR Kaleb Vaughn Jr. 6-0 168 DE Stephen Needham Sr. 5-11 201
WR Brad Taylor Sr. 6-5 200 LB Austin Otwell Sr. 5-10 162
WR Brye Payton Sr. 6-2 175 LB Jacob Bundrick Jr. 6-0 199
WR Josh McKinney Jr. 6-1 189 LB Daniel Andreadis Sr. 5-10 174
LT Sam Henley Sr. 6-3 237 OLB Berkley Cox Sr. 5-9 177
LG Eli May Sr. 6-1 265 CB Zach Smith Sr. 5-9 142
C Kent Woodard Sr. 6-1 237 CB D.J. Donahew Jr. 5-6 145
RG Daniel Garcia Soph. 6-0 245 SS Chandler Collyar Sr. 5-8 172
RT Brandon Thayer Sr. 6-3 244 FS Houston Pruitt Jr. 5-11 170
SPRINGDALE
Offense Defense
Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt.
LT Michael Smothers Soph. 6-4 250 DE Bryan Cossey Sr. 6-3 237
LG Daniel Chavez Sr. 5-8 232 NG Blake Griffith Jr. 6-0 225
C Dakota Evans Sr. 5-9 197 DE Bryan Jones Sr. 6-2 242
RG Cody Coston Sr. 6-2 257 LB Zach Watkins Jr. 6-0 215
RT Matt Montgomery Sr. 5-11 230 LB Bradley Little Sr. 5-10 187
WR LaDarius Eckwood Sr. 6-1 173 LB Carlos Negrette Sr. 5-7 165
WR Justin Bocchino Sr. 6-1 173 LB Cole Sizemore Jr. 6-1 187
WR Tevin Parkey Jr. 5-11 174 CB James Shorter Jr. 5-7 135
QB Asthon Glaser Sr. 6-2 205 S Antonio Caldera Jr. 5-9 152
FB Dylan Marrs Jr. 6-1 224 S Chris Clinard Jr. 6-1 181
TB Kris Watson Sr. 5-7 166 CB Zac Guilliams Sr. 5-6 165
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