Photo by Rick Nation
The Bryant Hornets had a very good season in 2014. A playoff win over Springdale Har-Ber made it special and, in its own way, a second-round game in Bentonville added to it as the Hornets led the eventual State champion through three quarters before falling short 17-7 in the end.
The regular season had a number of highlights but it didn’t start nor end in fabulous fashion. For openers, the Hornets tied their archrivals from Benton 14-14 in the Salt Bowl. And, after going undefeated through nine weeks of the season, they played what head coach Paul Calley called their worst game of the season against Conway in a week 10 battle of unbeatens.
Fast forward to this season and, again, the Hornets have been splendid if not dominant every week. They have just one blemish on their record, a loss to unbeaten Greenwood four weeks ago. And they’re 8-1 despite major injuries to key players. Though Conway’s not 9-0 this time — the Wampus Cats are 5-4 — the Hornets have to avoid any letdown. After all, Conway’s beaten Bryant in each of the last three seasons and of their four losses this season, three have been against teams (Cabot, Springdale Har-Ber, Greenwood) that are among the best in the state with a combined record of 26-1. (The other loss was to a 6-3 Alma team.)
So a win would be significant, particularly for the Bryant seniors, who have not been a part of a victory over the Wampus Cats to this point. And a victory would make them the senior class that’s been involved in the most wins over three years in the history of Bryant football. They’re currently tied with the classes of 2011 and 2010 with 25 wins.
Though both teams have already qualified for the Class 7A playoffs, the game will impact their post-season. The winner will be the top seed from the Central Conference and earn a bye to the second round of the playoffs on Friday, Nov. 20, when they’ll probably face a rematch with Bentonville (though this time at home) or Fayetteville where former Bryant coach Daryl Patton is the head coach.
The loser will host Springdale or Rogers on Friday, Nov. 13 then visit Har-Ber, the top-ranked team in Class 7A, which has already defeated both Bentonville and Fayetteville.
Injuries have also hampered Conway this season, though some of the fallen have started to filter back into the lineup. The defense has been most affected. Though they have reportedly been better over the last two weeks, the Cats are ranked last defensively in the Central Conference giving up an average of 445.4 yards per game including 240 on the ground.
That’s where Bryant has been strongest, despite the loss of two of their best running backs along the way. The Hornets have compiled a league-best 2,350 yards rushing this season, led by junior DeAmonte Terry, with 795 yards on 127 carries.
Bryant quarterback Gunnar Burks has rushed for over 400 yards and, though the Hornets don’t pass as much as many teams in the conference including Conway, over the last two games, Burks is 20 of 29 for 227 yards.
And, with four field goals last week including a career-long 41-yarder, junior Hayden Ray is two field goals shy of the school’s single-season record of 13 booted by Todd Bryan in 2002.
Meanwhile, the Bryant defense has been the most stingy against the run in the league (122 yards per game) and the fewest yards overall. Opponents average just over 273 of total offense per game against the Hornets, who feature a tremendous front seven and an improving secondary. Defensive linemen Cameron Murray, Mario Waits and Madre Dixon have led the way.
But they face a tough assignment tonight. Conway, behind three-year starter Breylin Smith at quarterback, is second only to Greenwood in offensive production in the conference, averaging 404 yards a game. Smith is the league’s leading passer, completing 118 of 222 attempts for 1,758 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s suffered six interceptions. He’s also an effective scrambler.
But the ground game is led by a trio of backs, much the way Bryant’s started this season. McCall Dail (703 yards, 13 touchdowns), Mark Odom (427 yards) and Shamar Harper (220 yards) make up the Conway crew.
Speedy Damontay Allen is the Cats’ leading receiver. His 44 catches are second only to Greenwood’s Ryan Padilla (74 receptions) in the conference. Marquis Pleasant is fifth with 37 catches.
