fbschedules

Sept. 3

Sept. 10

Sept. 17

Sept. 24

Oct. 1

Oct. 8

Oct. 15

Oct. 22

Oct. 29

Nov. 4

Bryant 45, Panthers 9 #

Jacksonville 34, Panthers 10

Greenbrier

@ Pine Bluff

@ Lake Hamilton

Texarkana

@ Sheridan

Little Rock McClellan

@ El Dorado

Little Rock Fair

7 p.m.

Conference opponents underlined # - War Memorial Stadium

Hogwired.com Hawgs Illustrated SEC Football

Dallas Cowboys National Football League

www.insidesaline.com

It is the place to be for local insight, politics and news.

Home Jones Meyer Davis Health Opinion Community Guest Letters Obituaries Officials Links Calendar E-mail Us About Us Archives

JIM STILWELL

501.776.3000

Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Jim Stilwell as a Registered Representative and Investment Adviser Rep. of Nationwide Securities, LLC, P.O. Box 183137, Columbus, Ohio 43218, 888-752-7364. A Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA, SIPC. DBA Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc., in AR, FL, IL, WV. DBA Nationwide Advisory Services in MA, NY, OK. Rep. of Nationwide Life Insurance Company, affiliated cos. and other cos.

311 N. Market Street

Benton, AR 72015

Nationwide Financial

Network

FINANCIAL SERVICES

REPRESENTATIVE

stilwej1@nationwide.com

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED RESTAURANTS

KFC of BENTON

609 Military Road

KFC of BRYANT

116 Bryant Avenue

sogood

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

After School Memberships

FEE $100 PER CHILD AGES 6-UP

Soccer Pre-K & Up Football Gr. 1-6

Sports $50 Per Child Per Sport

I-30 Alcoa Exit

Susie Everett

501.303.4393

Family owned. Customer friendly.

OF SALINE COUNTY

105 Cox Street Benton 501.315.8100

Sports $35 if After School Member

Benton Booster Club Bryant Athletics Bryant Daily Hootens High School Coverage

Arkansas Sports 360 Hogwired.com SEC Sports Harry King Column

BENTON

6A South Conference

PANTHERS

Sept. 3

Sept. 10

Sept. 17

Sept. 24

Oct. 1

Oct. 8

Oct. 15

Oct. 22

Oct. 29

Nov. 4

Hornets 45, Benton 9 #

FS Northside 36, Hornets 21

@ Texarkana

@ Little Rock Catholic #

Van Buren

@ Russellville

Conway

@ Cabot

North Little Rock

@ Little Rock Central

7 p.m.

Conference opponents underlined # - War Memorial Stadium

BRYANT

7A/6A Central Conference

HORNETS

Sept. 3

Sept. 10

Sept. 17

Sept. 24

Oct. 1

Oct. 8

Oct. 15

Oct. 22

Oct. 29

Nov. 5

@ Har. Grove 35, Indians 14

Indians 26, Hector 20

Magnet Cove

Bigelow

@ Quitman

@ Two Rivers

@ Conway Christian

@ Mountain Pine

@ Danville

Open

7 p.m.

Conference opponents underlined

POYEN

5-2A Conference

INDIANS

Sept. 3

Sept. 10

Sept. 17

Sept. 24

Oct. 1

Oct. 8

Oct. 15

Oct. 22

Oct. 29

Nov. 5

@ Glen Rose 54, Miners 28

Miners 42, @ Carlisle 21

Jessieville

@ Malvern

Ashdown

@ Pulaski Robinson

Pulaski Academy

Pulaski Oak Grove

@ De Queen

Nashville

7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Conference opponents underlined

BAUXITE

7-4A Conference

MINERS

Sept. 3

Sept. 10

Sept. 17

Sept. 24

Oct. 1

Oct. 8

Oct. 15

Oct. 22

Oct. 29

Nov. 5

Beavers 54, Bauxite 28

Beavers 32, Hot Springs 14

@ Mayflower

@ Harmony Grove

Jessieville

Bismarck

@ Fountain Lake

@ Centerpoint

Cutter Morning Star

@ Prescott

7 p.m.

Conference opponents underlined

GLEN ROSE

5-3A Conference

BEAVERS

Sept. 3

Sept. 10

Sept. 17

Sept. 24

Oct. 1

Oct. 8

Oct. 15

Oct. 22

Oct. 29

Nov. 4

Cardinals 35, Poyen 14

@ Gurdon 30, Cardinals 13

Episcopal Collegiate

Glen Rose

@ Bismarck

@ Jessieville

Centerpoint

@ Fountain Lake

Prescott

@ Cutter Morning Star

7 p.m.

Conference opponents underlined

HARMONY GROVE

5-3A Conference

CARDINALS

Cutter Morning Star Eagles

Glen Rose Beavers

Jessieville Lions

Bismarck Lions

Harmony Grove Cardinals

Prescott Curly Wolves

Centerpoint Knights

Fountain Lake Cobras

ALL

2-0

1-1

0-2

5-3A CONFERENCE STANDINGS

CONF.

0-0

Magnet Cove Panthers

Conway Christian Eagles

Poyen Indians

Bigelow Panthers

Two Rivers Gators

Hector Wildcats

Mountain Pine Red Devils

Quitman Bulldogs

ALL

2-0

1-1

0-2

5-2A CONFERENCE STANDINGS

CONF.

1-0

0-0

0-1

Ashdown Panthers

Nashville Scrappers

Pulaski Oak Grove Hornets

Pulaski Robinson Senators

Bauxite Miners

Malvern Leopards

Pulaski Academy Bruins

De Queen Leopards

ALL

2-0

1-1

0-2

7-4A CONFERENCE STANDINGS

CONF.

0-0

Lake Hamilton Wolves

Pine Bluff Zebras

Texarkana Razorbacks

El Dorado Wildcats

Benton Panthers

Little Rock Fair War Eagles

LR McClellan Crimson Lions

Sheridan Yellowjackets

ALL

2-0

1-1

0-2

CONF.

0-0

NLR Charging Wildcats

Cabot Panthers

Conway Wampus Cats

Van Buren Pointers

Bryant Hornets

Russellville Cyclones

Little Rock Central Tigers

Little Rock Catholic Rockets

ALL

1-1

2-0

1-1

0-2

7A/6A CENTRAL

CONF.

1-0

0-0

0-1

CONFERENCE STANDINGS

6A SOUTH

CONFERENCE STANDINGS

WEEK 2 RESULTS

Jacksonville 34, Benton 10

Lake Ham. 42, Spr'dale 28

P. Bluff 20, W. Chapel 16

Sp. Har-Ber 42, El Dor. 13

Tex, Tx. 44, Texarkana 20

Pul. Robin. 41, LR Fair 7

Ar'delphia 14, Sheridan 7

CAC 40, LR McClellan 0

WEEK 3 SCHEDULE

(Thu) Lk. Ham. @ Pu. Aca.

Greenbrier @ Benton

Bryant @ Texarkana

Pine Bluff @ LR Central

E Dorado @ Magnolia

White Hall @ Sheridan

LR McClellan @ LR Mills

LR Fair @ Pul. Oak Grove

WEEK 2 RESULTS

No. LR 45, LR Catholic 14

FS No'side 36, Bryant 21

Cabot 35, Pul. Academy 34

Conway 56, Jonesboro 16

Van Buren 42, Rogers 24

Fay'ville 42, Russellville 6

FS So'side 38, LR Central 0

WEEK 3 SCHEDULE

Bryant @ Texarkana

Spr'dale Har-Ber @ Cabot

Conway @ Rog. Heritage

LR Catholic @ FS No'side

North LR @ Springdale

Russellville @ Alma

Harrison @ Van Buren

Pine Bluff @ LR Central

WEEK 2 RESULTS

Bauxite 42, Carlisle 21

Cabot 35, Pul. Acad. 34

Nashville 45, Prescott 7

HS La'side 38, Malvern 21

Cam. FV 47, De Queen 12

Ashdown 27, Hope 0

Pul. Robin. 47, LR Fair 7

Oak Grove 36, N. Pul. 12

WEEK 3 SCHEDULE

(Thu) Lk. Ham. @ Pu. Aca.

Jessieville @ Bauxite

Malvern @ Stuttgart

Marvell @ Ashdown

Cen. Ark. Chr. @ Nashville

LR Fair @ Pul. Oak Grove

Booneville @ De Queen

Pul. Robin. @ LV Lakeside

WEEK 2 RESULTS

Glen Rose 32, H. Sp'gs 14

Gurdon 30, H. Grove 13

Jessieville 40, Mt. Ida 20

CMS 8, Two Rivers 6

Horatio 43, Bismarck 33

Nashville 45, Prescott 7

Mena 40, Centerpoint 0

Booneville 28, Ftn. Lake 7

WEEK 3 SCHEDULE

Glen Rose @ Mayflower

Epis. Coll. @ Har. Grove

Jessieville @ Bauxite

Conway Chris. @ CMS

Bismarck @ Arkan. Bapt.

Cen'point @ Murfr'boro

Hope @ Prescott

HS Lake. @ Foun. Lake

WEEK 2 RESULTS

Poyen 26, Hector 20

Mag. Cove 54, Mtn. Pine 0

Con. Chr. 66, Quitman 49

Ark. Baptist 35, Bigelow 0

Cutr. MS 8, Two Rivers 6

WEEK 3 SCHEDULE

Magnet Cove @ Poyen

Quitman @ Bigelow

Two Rivers @ Hector

Con. Chris. @ Cutr. MS

Mtn. Pine @ Min. Springs

Sept. 4

Sept. 11

Sept. 18

Sept. 25

Oct. 9

Oct. 16

Oct. 23

Oct. 30

Nov. 6

Nov. 13

Nov. 20

Nov. 27

Hogs 44, Tennessee Tech 3

Hogs 31, La.-Monroe 7 #

@ Georgia

Alabama

Texas A&M %

@ Auburn

Ole Miss

Vanderbilt (HC)

@ South Carolina

Texas-El Paso

@ Mississippi State

LSU #

11 a.m.

TBA

Conference opponents underlined HC - Homecoming

ARKANSAS

Southeastern Conference

RAZORBACKS

# - War Memorial Stadium % - Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas

ASU Sports Sun Belt Conference

Sept. 4

Sept. 11

Sept. 18

Sept. 25

Oct. 2

Oct. 9

Oct. 16

Oct. 23

Nov. 2

Nov. 13

Nov. 20

Nov. 27

@ Auburn 52, ASU 26

@ La.-Lafayette 31, ASU 24

Louisiana-Monroe

@ Troy

Louisville

@ North Texas

@ Indiana

Florida Atlantic

Middle Tennessee

Western Kentucky

@ Navy

@ Florida International

7 p.m.

6 p.m.

11 a.m.

Noon

6 p.m.

2 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

TBA

Conference opponents underlined

ARKANSAS STATE

Sun Belt Conference

RED WOLVES

WESTERN DIVISION

Auburn Tigers

LSU Tigers

Alabama Crimson Tide

Arkansas Razorbacks

Mississippi Rebels

Mississippi State Bulldogs

ALL

2-0

1-1

SEC STANDINGS

CONF.

1-0

0-0

0-1

WEEK 2 RESULTS

Auburn 17, Miss. State 14

So. Carolina 17, Georgia 6

LSU 27, Vanderbilt 3

Arkansas 31, ULM 7

Alabama 24, Penn State 3

Florida 38, South Fla. 14

Oregon 48, Tennessee 13

Ole Miss 27, Tulane 13

Kentucky 63, West. Ky. 28

WEEK 3 SCHEDULE

Arkansas @ Georgia

Florida @ Tennessee

Mississippi State @ LSU

Vanderbilt @ Ole Miss

Alabama @ Duke

Clemson @ Auburn

Furman @ So. Carolina

Akron @ Kentucky

Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns

Florida Atlantic Owls

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Troy Trojans

Florida International Panthers

Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks

North Texas Mean Green

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Arkansas State Red Wolves

ALL

1-1

0-1

0-2

SUN BELT STANDINGS

CONF.

1-0

0-0

0-1

WEEK 2 RESULTS

La.-Lafayette 31, ASU 24

Arkansas 31, La.-Monroe 7

Michigan St. 30, Fla. Atl. 17

Kentucky 63, West. Ky. 28

Oklahome St. 41, Troy 38

Rice 32, North Texas 31

Mid. Tn. 56, Austin Peay 33

Rutgers 19, FIU 14

WEEK 3 SCHEDULE

La.-Monroe @ ASU

FIU @ Texas A&M

North Texas @ Army

Troy @ Ala.-Birmingham

Indiana @ Western Ky.

Middle Tn. @ Memphis

EASTERN DIVISION

South Carolina Gamecocks

Florida Gators

Kentucky Wildcats

Tennessee Volunteers

Georgia Bulldogs

Vanderbilt Commodores

ALL

2-0

1-1

0-2

CONF.

1-0

0-0

0-1

Sept. 12

Sept. 19

Sept. 26

Oct. 3

Oct. 10

Oct. 17

Oct. 25

Oct. 31

Nov. 7

Nov. 14

Nov. 21

Nov. 25

Dec. 5

Dec. 12

Dec. 19

Dec. 25

Jan. 2

@ Washington 13, Dallas 7

Chicago (Fox)

@ Houston (Fox)

Bye

Tennessee (CBS)

@ Minnesota (Fox)

N.Y. Giants (ESPN)

Jacksonville (CBS)

@ Green Bay (NBC)

@ N.Y. Giants (Fox)

Detroit (Fox)

New Orleans (Fox)

@ Indianapolis (Fox)

Philadelphia (NBC)

Washington (Fox)

@ Arizona (NFL)

@ Philadelphia (Fox)

Noon

3:15 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Noon

7:20 p.m.

3:15 p.m.

Noon

3:15 p.m.

7:20 p.m.

Noon

6:30 p.m.

Noon

Division opponents underlined

DALLAS

NFC East

COWBOYS

HORNETS' CALLEY USING SALT BOWL SERIES TO GAUGE TEAM'S PROGRESS

Posted on insidesaline.com September 4, 2010

Is he serious? Bryant Coach Paul Calley is really using

the Salt Bowl series to gauge progress with the Hornets foot-

ball program?

Interesting, if not altogether perplexing. But that's what

he told the media after Bryant cruised past Saline County rival

Benton 45-9 before a War Memorial Stadium crowd of

20,206 on Friday night to continue its dominance in the Mis-

match Series.

Calley said the Hornets' 9-1-1 series lead "shows

where our program's gotten, It really shows we we are."

OK. If he says so. But it's difficult to imagine a coach

attaching that much importance to winning five straight

games against an opponent that has managed 10 victories

since the start of the 2006 season.

Maybe Calley was trying to patronize Benton and make

it feel better, especially since players from both teams en-

gaged in an on-field fight Friday night that led to ejections

and gave the Salt Bowl a black eye. Or, maybe Calley hasn't

paid much attention to what the Panthers have done the past

four seasons after opening with a loss to the Hornets. In that

case, here's an overview:

-- Including this loss, Benton has amassed a record of 10-31 since 2006. That's a .244 winning percentage and an average of 2.5 victories per season. The reality would be uglier if the Panthers had not gone 5-5 in 2006.

-- Benton has had three different head coaches since 2006 -- all in the last three years. Marc Jones was fired at the end of the 2008 season after lasting 10 years despite a .460 winning percentage. Steve Quinn was brought in from the small college ranks but was given a year to clean up Jones' mess. Quinn went 1-9 a season ago. Former Athletic Director Scott Neathery switched places with Quinn. Neathery began his second season as a head coach with Friday night's loss.

-- Benton lost nine games last season by an average score of 40-8. Its lone victory was a 9-6 nail-biter in overtime over Little Rock Fair, another 1-9 team.

"I think the tide has turned," Calley said. "Fourteen years in a row, we lost to Benton, up until 1999. We've been to the playoffs nine years in a row."

The tide has turned? A classic understatement. Benton held a 22-4 overall series lead against the Hornets before the Salt Bowl series began in 2000. The Panthers' lead is now 24-13-1. Their only two wins against Bryant came in 2005, when Benton won the Salt Bowl 14-7 to open the season and defeated the Hornets 35-28 in the first round of the state playoffs.

Not to detract from Bryant's superiority in the Salt Bowl series, but Coach? The field has been anything but level.

The Hornets' 36-point win Friday night was the largest in the Salt Bowl series. Bryant posted a 31-point victory (44-17) in last year's game.

Bryant has won the past five Salt Bowls by the average score of 33-8, and has averaged winnings its nine Salt Bowls by a 29-11 count.

Friday night's game, like some of the others, was decided by halftime. The Hornets led 31-2.

Next week: Now that the latest Little Rock Lickin' is out of the way, Benton will make a bittersweet deubt at home. The Panthers will play host to Jacksonville to begin the final season of Friday night football at historic C.W. Lewis Stadium downtown.

The School Board voted 4-3 recently to end a 76-year tradition at one of the state's most unique venues. The school district will borrow $11 million more in bond money to finance a new stadium indoor practice facility that, judging by the plans, will be more lavish than some small college facilities.

Bryant will play host to Fort Smith Northside. Both are nonconference games.

Other season openers: The Jimmy "Red" Parker era had a successful beginning Friday night at Haskell, where two teams made their high school football debuts. (Please see related story.) The legendary coach guided the Cardinals to a 35-14 nonconference win over Poyen.

The start of the Shane Clancy era at Bauxite was not nearly as successful. The Miners opened with a 54-28 loss at Glen Rose under their new coach. Clancy is succeeding Jon Watson, a legendary coach in his own right who became a fixture at Bauxite. These teams were conference rivals, but Bauxite moved to Class 4A this year. The Miners will compete in the 7-4A Conference and Glen Rose the 5-3A Conference. Harmony Grove also is a member of the 5-3A Conference.

All four teams continue nonconference play next week. Bauxite goes to Carlsle, Harmony Grove travels to Gurdon, Glen Rose plays host to Hot Springs and Poyen entertains Hector.

Bryant gets by hapless Benton again

BOTH TEAMS BEGIN QUEST TO BUILD HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TRADITION

John McMahan, special to insidesaline.com on September 4, 2010

Legendary football Coach Jimmy

“Red” Parker, 78, is back. His Harmony

Grove Cardinals defeated the Poyen In-

dians 35-14 on Friday night in Haskell.

It was the maiden high school varsity

football game for both schools in their

journey to join the state’s Friday Night Lights

elite and build a football tradition.

Parker reached the pinnacle of the

coaching fraternity when he was the head

coach at Clemson University in the 1970s.

His last head coaching experience was at

Rison Woodlawn two years ago.

A large home crowd filled the stands

at Haskell on a perfect weather night for

football.

“I didn’t think we played real good,

but I think we played hard at times," Parker

said. "There were some things we didn’t do as well as I thought we would do, to be honest, but I think we are OK where we are.”

The Cardinals lead 14-0 at halftime and stretched the lead to 28-0 before Poyen scored twice in the second half to make it a respectable game.

Tyler Smart scored three times for Harmony Grove. Poyen quarterback Tyler Emerson threw touchdown passes of 32 yards to Luke Nannemann 34 yards to Johnny Reed. Nannemann also caught a two-point conversion pass from Emerson.

Parker era starts at Harmony Grove;

Cards whip fellow newcomer Poyen

Harmony Grove's Jarrod Robinson steps into one of his five extra points in the Cardinals' 35-14 victory over Poyen at Haskell.

Photo by John McMahan

FOOTBALL 2010: SCHEDULES

STANDINGS, NEWS & NOTES

ANOTHER RECORD CROWD POSSIBLE FOR SALT BOWL NO. 11 FRIDAY NIGHT

Posted on insidesaline.com August 29, 2010

It's Salt Bowl Week.

It also could be labeled Mismatch Week, because that's what the Benton-Bryant football rivalry has been since organizers anointed the annual matchup the Salt Bowl starting in 2000, and then moved it away from Saline County for good in 2005.

Somehow, the lopsidedness of the Salt Bowl certainly has not diminished fan interest, with organizers hoping for another record crowd for the 11th edition Friday night at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

But, the fact remains that Benton's once-proud football tradition has been in the tank for a number of years while Bryant has been building the foundation for tradition. This is, after all, a Benton football program that owns two state championships, has won 15 district or conference championships since 1948 and used to produce major college players with some regularity.

Here's a statistic that illustrates just how unlevel the playing field has been during the Salt Bowl series: Benton's winning percentage for the decade of the 2000s was .436.

The Panthers were 44-57-1 in that forgettable stretch, and thank goodness for a couple of nice seasons in 2004 (9-3) and 2005 (8-2) to prop up the winning percentage. Half of the decade was an exercise in futility: Benton limped to a 9-41 record during the 2000, 2002 and 2007-09 seasons -- a winning percentage of .180 and an average of fewer than two wins per season.

So, it's understandable that Bryant leads the Salt Bowl series 8-1-1, and has outscored Benton by average of almost three touchdowns each game (27-11).

Benton did, by the way, have a decided 22-4 series lead over Bryant dating to 1974 before 2000.

No offense to Bryant, however; it's not the Hornets' fault that Benton football hasn't been able to flex much football muscle the past 10 seasons.

Benton's only Salt Bowl victory was 14-7 in 2005. Since then, the Panthers have been inept offensively and porous defensively, losing the past four Salt Bowls by the average score of 30-8.

Speaking of the 2005 season, some believe the second game Benton and Bryant played that year -- the only non-Salt Bowl game since 2000 -- was the most exciting and memorable in the teams' 37 meetings all-time. More than 10,000 fans filled C.W. Lewis Stadium in Downtown Benton and saw the Panthers stage a dramatic second-half comeback to win 35-28 in the first round of the state playoffs.

The crowds have been twice that and more at War Memorial Stadium, but, frankly, it may be difficult to match that atmosphere of that November 2005 game if and when Benton regains respectability in football.

Benton's woes began in earnest when Marc Jones succeeded Dwight Fite as head coach in 1999. Benton's winning percentage from 1999-2009 is .427. Jones' teams went 46-54-2 during his 10 years in charge. Coach Steve Quinn's only team salvaged one win last year when Quinn spent the season trying to point the program back in the right direction.

For Bryant, the 1999 season was an altogether different benchmark for Hornets football. Bryant won 11 consecutive games and spent six weeks ranked No. 1 before falling 14-0 in the Class 5A playoffs to eventual state champion Fort Smith Northside.

Scott Neathery, former athletic director, will get his feet wet as the Panthers' new coach at Friday night's Salt Bowl. Quinn was moved to athletic director and Neathery took control of the program earlier this year. He has one year of experience as a high school head coach. Sheridan finished below .500 under the former Benton and Bryant assistant coach.

Benton returns 10 starters, including four on offense, from a team that lost its nine games last year by an average score of 40-8. The lone victory was over Little Rock Fair, another 1-9 team. That win prevented Benton from finishing last in the potent 6A South Conference.

Coach Paul Calley returns nine starters at Bryant and the roster is loaded with seniors. The Hornets were 8-3 a year ago, ending the season with a loss to Fort Smith Southside in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs. Bryant finished second behind Cabot and North Little Rock in the 7A Central Conference.

Any guess on which team will the heavy favorite when the Panthers and Hornets kick off the 2010 season at 7:30?

Tickets and T-shirts -- Organizers are hoping for another record crowd at renovated War Memorial Stadium. A record 26,316 fans saw Bryant win 38-7 last year. The previous record for a high game at the stadium was 25,386 in 2005 when Springdale and West Memphis met in the state championship game. Advance tickets are $10 and each ticket comes with a "Show Your True Colors" T-shirt. Tickets are available at area Big Red locations. Tickets will be $8 at the stadium and T-shirts will cost an extra $10. Limited club seating tickets also are available at the stadium for $100 each. The seats are in the remodeled press box. Call 663-6385 for club seating information.

Salt Bowl Banquet -- The teams will be recognized at 7 Thursday night at the new Bishop Park Community Center on Boone Road in Bryant. Cheer squads and bands from each school will attend and former Arkansas Razorbacks Clint Stoerner and Anthony Lucas will be guest speakers. State Sen. Shane Broadway, D-Bryant, will serve as master of ceremonies. A limited number of tickets are available for $15 each. The banquet will be catered by Western Sizzlin restaurant of Benton. Call the Benton administration office at 778-4861 or the Bryant administration office at 847-5603 for ticket information.

Largest Tailgate Party -- What is billed as the largest tailgate party in Arkansas will start at 5 Friday evening on the west side parking lot at War Memorial. Saline County-area banks are sponsoring the tailgate party and will offer free hot dogs, chips and Coca-Cola products. Bryant's Midtown Church will sponsor a Kid Zone below the parking lot. Children will be treated to games and carnival rides.

Win a GMC Pickup -- Six people will have a chance at halftime to win a GMC pickup from Everett Buick GMC by throwing a football into the back of the truck from a predetermined distance. To qualify, visit the Everett booth at the tailgate party and participate in a pre-game football toss. The top six contestants will advance to the halftime competition. Fans also may register at Chick-fil-A in Bryant for a chance to out-kick the Chick-fil-A cow. Winners receive free Chick-Fil-A food for a year.

Pre-Game Activities -- The Salt Bowl will this year assist the American Cancer Society and Arkansas Rice Depot. Pre-game ceremonies on the field will include a check presentation at 7. Saline County peewee football teams and spirit groups will then be recognized.

Golf Tournament -- A Salt Bowl golf tournament will be held Monday, Sept. 6, at Longhills in Benton. Call Longhills at 316-3000 to register. The cost is $50 per person and lunch will be provided by Rib Crib before golfers tee off.

Sponsors -- Corporate sponsors for this year's Salt Bowl are Everett Buick GMC, Big Red, Jones Heating & Air and Coca-Cola.

Benton has not been formidable foe

but Saline rivalry still tops with fans

Benton's Brooks Balisterri (center) looks for running room after catching a pass in the first half of the Panthers' 34-10 loss to Jacksonville before a spotty crowd Friday night at C.W. Lewis Stadium. It was the first game of what appears to be the final season of high school football at the historic downtown venue. The play set up a field goal for a short-lived 10-7 Panthers lead.

Photo by James Lee Harper

BRYANT LOSES HOME OPENER, BAUXITE GETS FIRST WIN AND CARDS FALL

Posted on insidesaline.com September 10, 2010

Benton showed some improvement Friday night, but still lost to Jacksonville 34-10 in the Panthers' home opener in what appears to be the final season of high school football at historic C.W. Lewis Stadium downtown.

The Panthers, 0-2 after another nonconference defeat, scored first and led for a short time after quarterback Grant Jones passed 2 yards to Brooks Balisterri with 2:19 left in the opening period. Sean Carrigan's extra point made it 7-0.

Panther Ryne Keene intercepted a pass that led to a 25-yard Carrigan field goal and a 10-7 Benton lead with 4:30 remaining in the first half. The Panthers drove to the Jacksonville 7-yard line before Carrigan booted the field goal on fourth down.

Jacksonville (1-1) went ahead for good 20-10 by scoring twice in the final two minutes of the first half.

The 7A/6A East Conference Red Devils scored twice in the fourth period to put the game away.

“I thought we played hard, but we got beat in all phases of the game," first-year Benton Coach Scott Neathery said. "We need to get back and evaluate everybody and every position and just see where we are."

Benton is now 5-27 since the 2007 season. The Panthers won once in 2009 and twice in the previous two seasons. Benton last had a winning season (8-2) in 2005 and managed a 5-5 record in 2006.

Here's what happened with other area teams in Week 2 of the season:

Fort Smith Northside 36, Bryant 21 -- Bryant may not care to see the Fort Smith teams come to town for a while. Fast-paced Northside spoiled the Hornets' home opener 36-21 on Friday night. It's the most points Bryant has surrendered since visiting Southside beat the Hornets 35-24 in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs last season.

Bryant is 1-1 with one nonconference game remaining next week at Texarkana. The Hornets started the season with a 45-9 win over Saline County rival Benton in the 11th annual Salt Bowl.

Northside is 1-1. The 7A West Conference Grizzlies opened with a 51-35 loss to Pine Bluff, one of the favorites in the 6A South Conference. Benton and Texarkana are 6A South members.

Bauxite 42, Carlisle 21 -- The Miners recovered from their season-opening whipping at Glen Rose to give Coach Shane Clancy his first victory since succeeding Jon Watson. Bauxite plays host to Jessieville next week in its home opener at The Pit before beginning 7-4A Conference play at Malvern. Carlisle had opened the season with a 28-6 win over Riverview.

Gurdon 30, Harmony Grove 13 -- The Cardinals' first road trip wasn't successful one. Harmony Grove opened the season with a win over Poyen, another fledgling program, but wasn't able to handle the Go-Devils. The Cardinals play host to Episcopal Collegiate of Little Rock next week.

Glen Rose 32, Hot Springs 14 -- The Beavers' offense continued piling up impressive numbers in another comfortable nonconference victory. Glen Rose opened the season with a 54-28 win over Bauxite. The Beavers go to Mayflower next week for their first road game before opening 5-3A Conference play at Harmony Grove.

Poyen 26, Hector 20 -- The Indians' first win in school history and home opener also marked the start of 5-2A Conference play. Poyen opened the season with a loss to Harmony Grove. The Indians resume league play next week against visiting Magnet Cove.

Jacksonville handles Panthers 34-10

as win-thirsty Benton opens at home

WEEK 2: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Benton report special by John McMahan

CALENDARS TO HELP PLAN YOUR FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

BENTON 14

8/30/05 @Little Rock

BRYANT 7

BRYANT 10

8/31/04 @Little Rock

BENTON 2

BRYANT 38

9/4/09 @Little Rock

BENTON 7

BRYANT 36

8/26/08 @Little Rock

BENTON 12

BRYANT 20

8/29/06 @Little Rock

BENTON 7

BRYANT 25

8/31/07 @Little Rock

BENTON 7

BRYANT 28

11/1/01 @Benton

BENTON 23

BRYANT 44

11/2/2000 @Bryant

BENTON 17

BRYANT 16

9/13/02 @Little Rock

BENTON 13

BRYANT 34

9/12/03 @Benton

BENTON 34

SALTY

SERIES FOR THE

PANTHERS

SWEET

SERIES FOR THE

HORNETS

BRYANT 8-1-1

BRYANT 45 BENTON 9

9/3/10 War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock

BRYANT, GLEN ROSE WIN; BENTON, BAUXITE, POYEN ALSO ON LOSING END

Posted on insidesaline.com September 18, 2010

Legendary Coach Jimmy "Red" Parker did not mince words after his fledgling Harmony Grove Cardinals were thumped 41-14 by visiting Episcopal Collegiate of Little Rock on Friday night.

“We were terrible, we were just absolutely awful," Parker said. "I just never dreamed we would play that way."

Parker isn't the only Saline County-area coach singing the blues this weekend; Bryant and Glen Rose, which went on the road to com-

plete their non-conference work, are the only two teams

that found success in Week 3 of the high school football

season. The Hornets handled Texarkana 35-6 and Glen

Rose disposed of Mayflower 39-14.

In other games, Benton lost at home to Class 5A

Greenbrier 34-20; Bauxite could not find home field ad-

vantage or the end zone, falling 34-0 to Jessieville in a

non-conference matchup at The Pit; and Poyen was

beaten up 48-14 by visiting Magnet Cove, leaving the Indians 1-1 in 5-2A Conference play.

Here's a little closer look at what happened:

Benton -- The Panthers (0-3), possibly playing their final season at venerable C.W. Lewis Stadium, could not overcome another Panthers team that had 15 penalties for 164 yards. Greenbrier (3-0) rode the arm of quarterback Neal Burcham, who was 25 of 28 passing for 334 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Hunter Winston caught seven of those passes for 144 yards and two TDs and rushed for 82 yards and two more scores. Benton quarterback Grant Jones went 19-of-24 passing for 238 yards and three TDs. Brooks Balisterri had six catches for 166 yards.

Benton's record is now 5-28 since the 2007 season, and the

Panthers have lost 12 of their last 13 games. Benton opens 6A

South Conference play next week at Pine Bluff (2-1).

Bryant -- The Hornets (2-1) recovered from a loss to Fort

Smith Northside to blank penalty-prone Texarkana and get

read to open 7A/6A Central Conference play next week. Bryant

will meet Little Rock Catholic (1-2) at War Memorial Stadium in

Little Rock. Catholic won its first game by beating Northside.

Bauxite -- It's been an early-season roller coaster ride for

Coach Shane Clancy's Miners (1-2). Bauxite was shellacked in

its opener by Glen Rose, recovered to win handily at Carlisle and then could not muster any offense against Jessieville (3-0). The Miners go to Malvern next week to begin 7-4A Conference play.

Harmony Grove -- The Cardinals (1-2) lost their second consecutive game since opening the season with a win over Poyen. Episcopal had the game in hand in the first half, leading 28-6.

Episcopal took the opening kickoff, marched 62 yards in eight plays to score and never looked back.

The Cardinals put a 65-yard, 10-play drive together for their only score of the first half. Austin Traylor scored from the 1 with 2:16 left in the half. A two-point conversion try failed.

The Wildcats scored at their leisure and the game was never in doubt. The Cardinals scored with 8:44 left in the game on a 1-yard run by Traylor.

“We didn’t coach very well," Parker said, "and because we didn’t coach very well, we didn’t play very well and we got embarrassed."

Harmony Gove plays host to neighbor Glen Rose (3-0) next week to start 5-3A Conference play.

Poyen -- Magnet Cove (3-0, 2-0), a 5-2A Conference favorite, made easy work of the Indians (1-2, 1-1), leading 42-0 at the half. Poyen resumes league play next week by playing host to Bigelow (1-0, 1-2).

Glen Rose -- The Beavers (3-0) didn't have much trouble remaining unbeaten at Mayflower (0-3). Steven Kehner rushed for 160 and scored five touchdowns for Glen Rose, including a kickoff return. The Beavers open 5-3A Conference play next week at neighboring Haskell against Harmony Grove.

Harmony Grove report special from John McMahan.

Parker disappointed with Cardinals;

only two area teams are successful

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: WEEK 3

Pine Bluff Zebras 34, Benton Panthers 7

Benton remains winless in 6A South Conference opener for both. Panthers (0-1, 0-4) did keep it close for a half but Zebras (1-0, 4-0) woke up. Benton at league foe Lake Hamilton next week. Panthers have lost 13 of last 14 and stand 5-29 (.147 winning percentage) since 2007 season.

Bryant Hornets 31, Little Rock Catholic Rockets 7

Bryant (1-0, 3-1) pretty well controlled things versus hapless Catholic (0-1, 1-3) in 7A/6A Central Conference opener for both at Little Rock. Hornets welcome league foe Van Buren next week.

Glen Rose Beavers 54, Harmony Grove Cardinals 8

Not a pretty sight for fans of a fledgling Harmony Grove program in 5-3A Conference opener for both. Beavers (1-0, 4-0) rolled the Cards (0-1, 1-3) at Haskell. League play resumes next week with Beavers playing host to high-flying Jessieville (4-0) and the Cardinals traveling to Bismarck.

Malvern Leopards 41, Bauxite Miners 10

Malvern (1-0, 3-1) handed visiting Miners another lopsided loss in 7-4A Conference opener for both. Bauxite (0-1, 1-3) has three losses by 129-38. League foe Ashdown pays a visit next week.

Bigelow Panthers 41, Poyen Indians 6

Visiting Bigelow no match for fledgling Poyen in 5-2A Conference game. Bigelow (2-0, 2-2) had a 21-0 first-quarter lead against Indians (1-2, 1-3). Poyen visits league foe Quitman next week.

AREA FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: WEEK 4

Posted on insidesaline.com September 25, 2010