Bentonville High

Bentonville will close out the nonconference portion of its schedule by finally coming home.
The Tigers (1-1) will host Conway this week after making starting their season with road trips to Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst and Bixby, Okla. Even Bentonville’s scrimmage was away from Tiger Stadium this year.

“Our kids are excited about playing in front of our home crowd and playing on our home turf,” Bentonville coach Jody Grant said. “It will be nice to wear our black uniforms and play out here where we have had a lot of success.”

Conway (1-1), like Bentonville’s first two opponents, provides the Tigers with the type of competition they need before heading into 7A-West Conference play the following week. The Wampus Cats opened the season with a loss to Springdale but bounced back in a big way with a 49-18 victory over a Jonesboro team many expect to contend for the Class 6A state title.

Conway scored on all six of its first-half possessions and built a 42-6 halftime cushion. Quarterback Andrew Hreha threw for three touchdowns, two to Nick Richmond, and tailback Michael George ran for three more scores.

“They look like two different teams,” Grant said. “In Week One, it probably wasn’t their best outing. When they lined up against Jonesboro — a good Jonesboro team — they did some things and looked impressive doing it.

“It’s a very talented Conway team. I think they are similar to us in they’re breaking in some new faces and each week they will get better. That’s why I like the nonconference games we play because everybody we play is a quality opponent.”