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4 PREP RALLY | 8.30.2020 O u r T e a m P r o u d l y S u p p o r t s O u r L o c a l F o o t b a l l T e a m s ! RICK FIRES NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Reclassification that split the Fort Smith schools into separate conferences was expected to be the primary story heading into the high school football season in Northwest Arkansas, but it's not. The fact Northside and Southside will play in different leagues for the first time since the 1980s is still a major development. But the impact of this story was surpassed beginning in March by the coronavirus that shut down team sports for 2 1/2 months. Whether championship games in football will be held in December as usual depends on several factors, including strict adherence to protocols established by the Arkansas Department of Health. Assuming football is still moving forward, here are some top high school games in Northwest Arkansas for 2020. Remember, time, date, and opponents are subject to change. Coming attractions for high school football. … maybe Aug. 27, Fort Smith Southside at Fort Smith Northside The "Battle of Rogers Avenue" moves from Week 10 to Week Zero for the first non-conference game between the two since the 1980s. Former Razorback Kim Dameron makes his coaching debut for Southside, a change which adds a bit more spice to the rivalry. Aug. 28, Fayetteville at Conway Fayetteville looked really good in its scrimmage against Greenwood. That'll give the Bulldogs confidence against Conway, which has won at least nine games two of the past three seasons. These teams could meet again later this fall in the Class 7A state playoffs. It's a much better test for Fayetteville than opening against St. Louis (Mo.) Vianney, which the Bulldogs outscored 115-28 in two games. Aug. 28, Springdale Har-Ber vs. Jenks, Okla. I'll never forget the look of accomplishment on Gus Malzahn's face minutes after Springdale High whipped Jenks 44-0 on the way to a 14-0 season in 2005. Not predicting that'll happen here with Har-Ber, but beating an Oklahoma power like Jenks can provide a major boost in confidence for any team moving forward. Aug. 29, Bentonville West at Broken Arrow, Okla. No SEC? No problem. Bentonville West at Broken Arrow, Okla., on ESPN fills the void for high school football fans in the region. Sept. 11, Springdale High at Farmington What's so interesting about teams who were a combined 9-11 last season? Glad you asked. Zak Clark was a quarterback at Fayetteville High School before he became a head head at Springdale. His coach at Fayetteville was Mike Adams, the Farmington coach. Yes, this will be fun. Sept. 25, Springdale Har-Ber at Bentonville I have to quote a great American philosopher when thinking about this game to open 7A-West Conference play. "To be the man, you have to beat the man," Ric Flair says. "Woo!" Those words are appropriate here about Bentonville, which has won 12 of the past 13 league titles. Sept. 25, Pea Ridge vs. Alma Pea Ridge has been preparing for the move up in classification by playing 5A schools the past three years. It gets real on Sept. 25 when the Blackhawks play their first 5A-West Conference game against Alma. This game also marks for Pea Ridge the debut of Jeff Williams, a longtime coach who won a state championship at Southside. Sept. 25, Dardanelle vs. Ozark. This game matches two of the best mascots in the entire country, Ozark Hillbillies and Dardanelle Sand Lizards. Throw in the fact Dardanelle and Ozark combined for 22 wins last year, and you could have another showdown for the championship in the 4A-4 Conference. Oct. 2, Cedarville at Charleston "To be the man, you've got to beat them man" Part II. Cedarville is picked No. 1 in the preseason coaches' poll ahead of Charleston, a traditional small-school power in Arkansas. Oct. 23, Charleston at Lincoln Lincoln should be have more success after dropping from Class 4A to Class 3A because of reclassification. The question is whether the Wolves will be good enough to challenge for championship in the 3A-1 Conference. They'll know for sure after tangling with the Tigers. Oct. 23, Benton at Greenwood What's this? Benton — not Greenwood — won the conference championship last year in the 6A-West? That won't sit well in a "Football Town" former Greenwood quarterback Jabe Burgess titled for his debut single. Nov. 6, Springdale at Fort Smith Southside Nothing says 7A-West Conference football to me more than the renewal of the Springdale vs. Fort Smith Southside rivalry. I covered a lot of good games between the two when Barry Lunney, Sr. coached Southside and Jarrell Williams led Springdale. Welcome back Rebels. … I mean, Mavericks.