Instant analysis: 10 takeaways from Week 2 of Arkansas high school football

Little Rock Parkview snaps Bryant's 54-game winning streak

Here are 10 nuggets (in no particular order) that stuck out from Week 1 of the Arkansas high school football season. 

1. Bryant’s impressive streak comes to an end

Many fans and pundits almost took it for granted that Bryant would win each week. After all, before Friday night, the Hornets hadn’t lost to an in-state opponent since late in the 2018 season at North Little Rock. Heck, the Hornets only trailed in the second half twice to in-state opponents during that stretch.

Fifty-four straight games including five straight state championships.

However, Class 5A Little Rock Parkview toppled the 7A giants in an impressive 28-27 win at Hornet Stadium Friday night. Now, the Patriots have won 12 in a row, and it isn’t a stretch to predict an undefeated season and another 5A state championship this fall for Parkview.

2. Greenwood starting QB Kane Archer’s injury not serious

Greenwood friends probably held their collective breath when four-star sophomore QB Kane Archer left with an injury during the first half of Greenwood’s 55-7 6A-West Conference opening win at Mountain Home.

Archer’s dad, Adam, confirmed Saturday that the younger Archer has a broken wrist on his non-throwing arm but is only expected to miss next week’s game against Siloam Springs and return the next week with a small cast.

With Archer, who already has several Power 5 scholarship offers, leading the charge, Greenwood has been dominant racking up 153 points in three games.

3. Central Arkansas Christian starts 3-0

With CAC’s 50-45 win over Bauxite, the Mustangs are 3-0. That has only happened twice since 2005. The last time was in 2020. The win over Bauxite was a big 4-4A Conference win pushing them to 1-0 in the league.

The Mustangs, under first-year head coach Ryan Howard, play at Haskell Harmony Grove next week.

4. 3-0 Part deux

Speaking of an improbable 3-0, Pea Ridge is perfect after three games. The Blackhawks beat Gravette 38-14, Gentry 48-13 and Huntsville 46-8. The Blackhawks have won only five games combined the past two seasons under head coach Brey Cook the former University of Arkansas offensive lineman. 

However, the schedule gets much tougher now that the 5A-West Conference slate begins at Prairie Grove.

5. Benton rolls without top two running backs

No Braylen Russell. No Chris Barnard. No problem. Benton kicked off 6A-East Conference play with a 42-7 road win over Sylvan Hills without 4-star Arkansas commit Russell and Barnard, the Harding University commit, who is also a standout defensive back.

No. 3 running back Quenton Godley and Kyron Wells combined for three TDs in the win.

Benton head coach Brad Harris said that both injured running backs were dealing with high ankle sprains but will return for a big conference home showdown with Little Rock Catholic. Playmaking receiver Elias Payne, a junior, is also expected to return.

6. Malvern derails Hot Springs Lakeside’s hot start

Hot Springs Lakeside upset 6A programs Lake Hamilton and Russellville but Class 4A Malvern handed the upstart Rams their first loss, 35-34, Friday night.

Malvern took the lead with 1:30 but Lakeside answered with a score but their two-point conversion try was no good.

Malvern star running back Jalen Dupree, a Colorado State commit, ran for 272 yards and 3 scores. Dyelon Caradine caught 7 passes for 162 yards and two TDs and also had an interception on defense. Romere Bennett led the Leopards with 10 tackles.

The Rams begin 5A-South play with Camden Fairview.

7. Fayetteville’s defense dominates in blowout of Fort Smith Northside

Fayetteville’s offense and star QB Drake Lindsey have garnered much of the spotlight for the Bulldogs so far this season. But, the defense stole the show Friday night forcing six Fort Smith Northside turnovers in a 56-0 win. The defense scored directly on two of the turnovers and the offense converted the other four.

8. Ozark wins the Franklin County feud

Franklin County is one of 10 Arkansas counties with two county seats. Charleston and Ozark are both county seats separated by the Arkansas River. Both communities have a rich football tradition.

Ozark won the 79th edition of the rivalry 28-7 over the defending Class 3A champions, who are now 0-2.

The win snapped a two-year losing streak for Ozark.

9. Conway QB Donovyn Omolo on fire

Conway senior quarterback Donovyn Omolo has already thrown for 10 touchdowns in the Wampus Cats’ first two games.

He completed 28 of 48 passes for 384 yards and 5 touchdowns, in the Wampus Cats’ 42-39 comeback win over Bentonville Week 1.

Friday was a much more casual 49-0 blowout over Springdale but Omolo again tossed five TD passes with 225 yards.

10. New Gentry QB has dazzling debut

Shiloh Christian sophomore transfer Talan Williams had a memorable starting quarterback debut for Gentry Friday night. In a 63-40 win over Quitman, Williams passaed for 266 yards and a TD and ran 81 yards for another score.

Gentry (2-1) opens conference play at Hunstville in two weeks. 

--Nate Olson I nate@scorebooklive.com I @ndosports