SPRINGDALE VS. SPRINGDALE HAR-BER : Going on the offensive
Posted on Friday, September 26, 2008
SPRINGDALE — Who wins tonight’s game between Springdale and Springdale Har-Ber may be debatable, but one thing is almost certain.
Both offenses will move the ball and score points. Probably lots of them.
“Take the over,” Alma Coach Todd Dilbeck said, “not the under.”
If anyone has an idea of what to expect from this game, it’s Dilbeck. He has seen both teams up close in the past two weeks. Springdale Har-Ber (3-0 ), ranked No. 8 overall by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, belted Class 5 A Alma 48-10 two weeks ago, then the Bulldogs (2-1 ) hammered the Airedales 46-21 last Friday in their final nonconference game.
The budding cross-town rivals meet for a third time tonight at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium, and both offenses have been moving up and down the field during the first three weeks of the season. Har-Ber is averaging 44. 6 points a game, while Springdale is averaging 38.
The Wildcats’ offense has been particularly balanced behind senior quarterback Zach Faust, averaging 245. 3 passing yards and 220 rushing yards per game. Springdale has relied more on its passing game, which is triggered by senior Ashton Glaser and receiver LaDarius Eckwood. The Bulldogs are averaging 285 passing yards per game and just fewer than 200 yards rushing.
“Har-Ber and Springdale each have very good offenses, and their quarterbacks do a good job,” Dilbeck said. “Har-Ber probably runs the ball a little better, but Springdale has a good passing game with Glaser and Eckwood.
“ It ought to be a great game to watch.”
Har-Ber has been somewhat of a surprise after losing 10 offensive starters off a team that reached the Class 7 A state championship game last season in only its second year of varsity football.
Faust split time at quarterback last season but is now the fulltime starter, and Derek Brinker gives the Wildcats a powerful runner who has rushed for more than 1, 700 career yards. Brinker carried 26 times for 157 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 45-15 victory over Greenwood to open the season.
“Har-Ber lost some guys, but we knew they would be good this year,” said Springdale Coach Kevin Johnson, whose team is giving up an average of 36 points a game. “They just move guys up from the sophomore and junior varsity teams, like we used to do when we were one team at Springdale.
“ It’s a system, and they’ve got it going pretty well.”
The key for Springdale’s offense has been Glaser, a running and passing threat who has orally committed to the University of Missouri. He showcased his allaround athletic ability last week against Alma when he threw three touchdown passes, ran for two more and handled some of the kicking duties.
Glaser’s favorite target has been Eckwood, an emerging star who didn’t play football two years ago as a sophomore. Eckwood leads all 7 A-West Conference receivers with 26 catches for nearly 500 yards and 6 touchdowns. Last week, he repeatedly outjumped or outran Alma defenders on the way to racking up 11 catches for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Making the Bulldogs’ offense even more dangerous is David Powers, who has emerged as a second reliable receiver, and senior Kris Watson, an effective runner who keeps opponents from loading up against the pass. Watson rushed for 247 yards against Clarksdale, Miss., and had a dazzling 42-yard touchdown run against Alma when he reversed field after being stacked up initially.
“Springdale has an explosive offense, and it starts with Glaser, who is an outstanding quarterback,” said Har-Ber Coach Chris Wood, whose team is giving up an average of only 13 points a game. “He sees the field really well and knows where to throw the football.
“ Eckwood is playing with a lot of confidence, and Kris Watson gives them a threat at running back.”
Actually, neither team needs much of a scouting report on the other. The players and coaches are plenty familiar with one another after Springdale High School split into two schools in the fall of 2006.
Springdale won the first meeting between the teams, 40-8, while Har-Ber won last year’s game 38-14. That victory earned Har-Ber a share of the 7 A-West championship and helped set the tone for its run to the state championship game.
Springdale would like to use a victory tonight as a springboard to its first playoff appearance in three years.
“We all want to end our senior season on a good note, and it starts this week with our first conference game,” Glaser said. “You always want to beat your No. 1 rival.”
Wood doesn’t expect a lot of surprises in tonight’s game.
“Our players and coaches know each other so well,” he said. “The game is going to come down to whoever controls their emotions and does the little things it takes to win.” Springdale vs. Springdale Har-Ber WHEN 7: 30 tonight WHERE Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium, Springdale RANKINGS Springdale Har-Ber is No. 8 overall RADIO KAMO-FM, 94. 3, and KZRA-AM, 1590, in Springdale
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