It bears repeating for teams fortunate to play in August at War Memorial Stadium, but Lakeside and Pulaski Robinson would like to end the season where it starts today.
The Rams and the Senators kick off at 5 p.m. in the aptly named Kickoff Classic on the first football playing date of 2016 for Arkansas high schools. Baptist Prep (formerly Arkansas Baptist) and McGehee play in the second game. A doubleheader Tuesday at War Memorial pits Central Arkansas Christian vs. Mayflower and Little Rock Christian vs. Warren.
Elsewhere today, it's Little Rock McClellan vs. Dallas Episcopal and Centerpoint vs. Mount Ida in a doubleheader at Cliff Harris Stadium (Ouachita Baptist University) in Arkadelphia.
The Little Rock games are played at the home of the state finals, War Memorial serving as the Arkansas' Razorbacks home away from home (although not so often in recent years) since 1948.
"Seeing these kids play at War Memorial Stadium and the communities who come cheer them on is one of the highlights of the season," Signal Media of Arkansas general manager Steve Jonsson said when the Little Rock games were announced.
Lakeside and Robinson would like to extend seasons that last year ended in the state playoffs, the Rams falling to McClellan at home and the Senators at Pea Ridge. Lakeside went 9-3, winning 5A-South with a 6-1 record after prevailing 44-42 against Little Rock Central in a Thursday-night opener at War Memorial.
Robinson, which started 7-0, finished 9-3 with a pair of one-point losses (Pottsville at home and Pea Ridge). The Senators are picked third in 4A-7 behind defending 4A champion Nashville and Ashdown.
Hooten's Arkansas Football picked Lakeside second in 5A-South behind Watson Chapel, which went 4-7 last year and lost 52-48 to the Rams at Austin Field.
Lakeside has the more experienced quarterback tonight in senior Fisher Alexander, whose 30-yard pass to Caleb Dean completed a comeback from 12 points down against Central last year. Alexander earned all-conference honors with 2,142 yards and 14 touchdowns against eight interceptions.
"He made some big plays last year, but we'll put even more on him," Lakeside coach Jared McBride told Hooten's Arkansas Football. "We'll throw the ball because he makes good decisions and has a strong arm."
Lakeside may have to throw more after losing all-state performers Maurice Bradford and Colt Housley, both of whom ran for more than 1,000 yards and were college signees (Bradford with Cornell, Housley with Arkansas Tech). To that end, Dean returns after 47 catches for 882 yards and nine touchdowns last year. Although only 5-8, Dean has a knack for getting open -- a trait that his head coach, a former quarterback, appreciates.
"He's a great route-runner," McBride told Hooten's. "He's strong, physical and understands the game. Other teams look at him, don't think they need to double team, and he makes them pay."
Lakeside returns solid defensive performers in all-conference end Zyquan Russell, linebacker Jack Henry Hill (a two-time all-state tennis player) and safety Kelen Bland. The Rams won their share of offensive shootouts last year, including 41-36 over Forrest City in the first round of the playoffs, before a 50-37 loss to McClellan, which fell to Pulaski Academy in the 5A finals.
Robinson, like Lakeside, wanted to keep going last year after a 28-27 loss to Pea Ridge, which scored a two-point conversion with eight seconds left.
"We preach to our kids all the time, 'Don't try to be good. Shoot to be great,"' coach Todd Eskola said in Sunday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. "Anybody can be good. So that's kind of our motto. We don't want to be good. There are times we could have been better. That's what we're pushing.
"We have to set the bar higher," Eskola said. "When you think you're doing good enough, you have to do more or you're going to lose in the second round. Good teams get beat early in the playoffs. We don't want to do that anymore."
The Senators have a new quarterback, senior Hunter Eskola, the coach's son, and picked up former Little Rock Parkview quarterback Kollan Jackson during the offseason. Jackson, who has verbally committed to Arkansas, will play wide receiver for the Senators, already well fixed at the position with junior Nathan Page (44 catches for 731 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore).
Including junior tight end Hunter Swoboda, "I don't think anyone can match that. The talent is there," Eskola said in the Democrat-Gazette.
Senior running back Myles Fells was slowed early by a knee injury last year after playing at Pulaski Academy as a sophomore in 2014.
Swoboda and senior David Porter anchor the Senators' defensive line.
Robinson plays Central Arkansas Christian and Baptist Prep before its Sept. 23 conference opener at home against Fountain Lake. Lakeside, meanwhile, follows up against Sylvan Hills (Sept. 9 at Austin Field) and Malvern before its 5A-South campaign starts Sept. 23 at Camden Fairview.
Sports on 08/29/2016