Arkansas high school football notebok (11/20/2023)

News and notes from Week 12 of the Arkansas prep football season

Grayson Wilson has been a game changer for Central Arkansas Christian's dynamic offense in 2023 and he shined big under the bright postseason lights while leading his team to a 59-50 win over Nashville in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs on Friday night at Mustang Mountain. 

The standout junior quarterback, who was the first to commit to the University of Arkansas for the 2025 class, completed 16 of his 27 pass attempts for 308 yards and four touchdowns to three different receivers against the Scrappers, along with an additional two scores on the ground with 116 yards. 

"We had two weeks to prepare for Nashville because we felt like they would beat Crossett, but we really went through their game plan and defense," Wilson said. "They ran some of that tonight and others it was just normal man coverage. We have faced that all year and we face Cover 3 in practice because this is a lot of what we do so it was a good advantage to us." 

On the season, Wilson has completed 192-of-280 passes for 3,127 yards and 39 touchdowns to just two interceptions - both picks were off tipped passes - while he has also utilized his legs well with 753 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. 

Wilson took over the Mustang offense during the final two games of his freshman season in 2021 and then last season compiled over 2,300 total yards and 26 touchdowns, but CAC struggled to a 2-8 record. Head coach Ryan Howard, a former quarterback himself and certainly a strong candidate for Coach of the Year, has mentioned multiple times about the importance of high-level play from your signal caller as well as grasping the knowledge of what you are supposed to do. 

"He just stuck to what he does," Howard said. "We knew coming into the game that they were not a man (coverage) team, but knew they would probably play us man. We felt like they knew they could hold up with our receivers and what an adjustment on Grayson's part understanding how our reads changed. 

"But it also credits him for knowing the offense and we talk about that all the time - if it is man what is your answer for each play? He knows it and he is able to execute it."

Defeating the Scrappers was the first postseason victory for CAC since 2019 and their first win over Nashville since 2011. 

Some expected Nashville to be a shoe-in as one of the Final 8 4A teams, but the road to War Memorial Stadium will continue to go through Mustang Mountain as CAC (9-2) welcomes 4A-1 No. 1 seed Elkins (12-0), another extremely high-powered offense currently averaging 54.6 points per game. The Elks' defense has also been outstanding, surrendering just 8.1 points per contest.

--Kyle Sutherland 

Undefeated Little Rock Parkview rolling on another deep playoff run

The Little Rock Parkview Patriots ended a 44-year drought when they defeated Shiloh Christian 31-21 a year ago for the Class 5A state championship.

Now, the Patriots (12-0) are one game away from getting back to the state-championship game after a 35-6 victory over Mills at War Memorial Stadium Friday night.

“Beating another Little Rock school is great,” said Parkview head coach Brad Bolding. “We’ve taken the reigns as the team in Little Rock that has it going on. Our kids embrace it. Mills is a good team; don’t take anything away from them.”

The Patriots dominated, collecting five sacks, holding the Comets to minus-11 yards rushing on 17 attempts. Cobey Davis scored a 4-yard touchdown run with 8:41 left in the third quarter to put the Arkansas Activities Association’s mercy rule into effect. Parkview rushed for 255 yards on 33 attempts, picking up 17 first downs. Monterrio Elston had 83 yards rushing on six carries and Cameron Settles and had 71 yards on 7 carries as eight players carried the ball.

It was another night on domination for the Patriots, who took over the No. 1 spot in SB Live’s Arkansas rankings after a 28-27 victory over Bryant on Sept. 8, ending the Hornets’ 54-game winning streak against in-state competition. The Patriots, who have won 22 games in a row, have outscored the opposition 557-115.

“They’re a super fun bunch to coach,” said Bolding. “The practices are a lot of fun. They compete against each other which makes our team so much better and then they get to go out and compete in front of their families and friends and not let anyone down.They enjoy it and keep focusing on next opponent.”

Next up is Camden Fairview, which the Patriots beat 42-14 on Nov. 3. The Cardinals, who were the No. 4 seed from the 5A-South, knocked off Farmington, the winner of the 5A-West, 43-29 and went on the road Friday night to beat Batesville Southside 47-30.

While his team dominated the Cardinals the first time around, Bolding knows with a trip to the state finals at stakes, the rematch won’t be easy.

“It’s always tough to beat somebody twice,” said Bolding. “We know we have to be ready to play because teams are not going to show up flat in the state semifinals.

For the Comets (9-3), the season that featured several emotional ups and downs comes to an end. After a 24-21, double-overtime victory over Pine Bluff on Oct. 6, Mills had 23 players suspended for its next game against Joe T. Robinson following a post-game fight. The Comets beat the Senators 30-21 to stay alive for the 5A-Central title. Mills lost 36-33 to Vilonia, which finished 3-7 and missed the playoffs, when it had a chance to win the conference title. The Comets beat Wynne 35-21 in the first round of the playoffs.

“This season was an excellent job by the guys,” said Mills head coach Cortez Lee. “We continue to improve our program. Our guys played their hearts out, but ran into an excellent team. I’m proud of them.”

--Jeff Halpern

Photo by Jimmy Jones