Hot Springs will face its first major test since a 27-22 come-from-behind victory at McClellan as the Trojans travel to Magnolia to take on the Panthers.
The Trojans (4-2, 3-0 5A South) have turned their season around and are leading the conference in both wins and point-spread. Hot Springs, which garnered just a single win a year ago, has outscored its conference opponents 113-29 as it enters the heart of the season.
The Panthers (3-3, 1-2) have struggled in conference play, dropping games at Texarkana and against Lakeside before taking a 7-6 win over Camden Fairview last week.
Last week Hot Springs cruised to a 35-0 win over winless De Queen, but there are still things that head coach Darrell Burnett wants to improve going forward.
"We did what we were supposed to do," he said. "We came out and played hard and took advantage of what we could on offense and then on defense, got as many hits on the running back as possible. He's what makes them go, so we had a good a good week of practice. Offensive game plan was good. Defense, we have them to 90 yards. We want to eliminate two turnovers, which was two interceptions."
Magnolia has rushed for 1,429 yards on 213 carries this season while tossing for 304 yards, but they have lost 14 of 17 fumbles in their first six games. They have also compiled 373 tackles to this point in the season for an average of 62.2 per game.
"They'll come out and play super hard," Burnett said. "It's going to be one of the most athletic teams we've faced since McClellan, so we've got to get used to that speed -- their speed on offense, their speed on defense. If we can eliminate the turnovers, make them work for everything they get and play sound on all three phases of the game, we have a good chance. They have a very good team, an athletic team that lost close ballgames with real good teams."
The Panthers are led on the field by senior quarterback Braelyn Beasley, a dual-threat player who has rushed for 306 yards and passed for 235.
"It's an entire team thing, but they have a quarterback Beasley, No. 5, he's real athletic," Burnett explained. "He's got Division I potential, so he's what make them go. He can turn a 1-yard gain into 40. He's got a live arm, releasing it's going 40-50 yards. And then we've got to be sound as far as the option. It's a tough battle, and we've got to make sure we have a good practice tomorrow before we head out to Magnolia."
Magnolia also uses an older offensive scheme that can be difficult to replicate and defend against, Burnett said.
"They do a lot of old-school triple option, mid-line veer," he said. "You know, read one guy, pitch off another one, so it your old-school option ball. So that's what makes it a little more tougher. You've gotta be aggressive, but you gotta be smart and disciplined at the same time."
The Trojans are mostly healthy entering tonight's game, which is something that Burnett is glad to see going forward in the second half of the season.
"We've got Elias Parker back," he said. "We held him out for cautionary issues, but he's back. Everybody should be full speed. We're all go.
"That's the big thing. We've got to stay healthy to make a run. Before we can make a run, we gotta secure this win Friday; that'll put us 4-0 in conference. Then we can go from trying to make this playoffs to competing for a championship if everything's worked out. So it's a big game for us. We've just got to come out and play like it."
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Panther Stadium.
Sports on 10/18/2019