Hot Springs and Hope meet as winless teams for the second-straight year tonight at Reese Memorial Stadium.
The Trojans nearly stunned Watson Chapel last week on the road. Leading 14-13, Hot Springs blocked a field goal attempt with 4:10 remaining but fumbled on its ensuing drive and the Wildcats scored a go-ahead touchdown to escape 21-14.
Hope has lost 15 straight games since sharing the 5A-South championship with Lakeside in 2015.
With Kenny Byrd out for at least another week, Damien Walker and Deante Sanders are expected to shoulder the load offensively for Hot Springs. Walker finished with 70 yards on 15 carries last week while Sanders added 50 yards on 12 attempts.
Making his season debut, junior quarterback Chris Stewart connected with Terrance Floyd for a 25-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Ranked No. 29 out of 32 teams in Class 5A by Hootens Arkansas Football, Hope has been outscored 194-44. The Bobcats trailed De Queen 40-0 after three quarters last week before scoring two touchdowns in the fourth.
Hope has won five of the last eight in the series, but the Trojans are looking for their second straight after a 22-7 victory last season.
Elsewhere in Garland County, Cutter Morning Star (2-2, 0-1) hosts visiting Quitman (1-3, 0-1) at Eagle Field.
CMS has alternated wins and losses since a season-opening 46-0 rout of Fountain Lake junior varsity. The Eagles struggled to contain Hector's potent Spread offense in a 35-6 loss last week, but still boast the No. 1 scoring defense in 2A-5, surrendering just 12 points per game.
Senior quarterback Michael Kimpton, a first-year starter for the Eagles, has 422 yards and six touchdown rushing and 112 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
Quitman has a dual-threat quarterback in senior Donovan Foley, who has completed 52 of 94 passes for 808 yards and eight touchdowns with 132 yards and three touchdowns rushing.
Hootens ranks the Eagles No. 32 and the Bulldogs No. 37 in Class 2A.
Sports on 09/29/2017