The Booneville Bearcats had last week off, giving them two weeks to prepare for Harding Academy, the school responsible for knocking them out of the Class 3A state playoffs the last two seasons.
The Bearcats hit the break 2-0 with wins over Dollarway (Pine Bluff) and Ozark, both in convincing fashion.
However, Harding Academy is also 2-0 with, also, convincing wins over Class 5A Valley View and 3A contender Camden Harmony Grove, and also had the week off to get ready for the Bearcats.
Unlike the first three times the two schools met, Friday’s game will be held at Bearcat Stadium. Also unlike the previous three games, this is not a playoff game.
In fact, the schools cannot meet in the playoffs, at least not for now. That’s because Harding moved to Class 4A due to the competitive equity formula.
The Wildcats won the last three Class 3A state titles. That also means the two schools responsible for the last four Class 3A titles are meeting tonight.
The Bearcats are led by junior Dax Goff who has a team best 245 rushing yards through two games as well as a team best 20 tackles.
MASCOTS: Booneville Bearcats; Harding Academy Wildcats
WHEN: 7 p.m., 9-16, at Doug Scheel Field at Bearcat Stadium
SERIES: Harding Academy leads 3-0-0 (0.000)
LAST MEETING: Harding Academy 56 Bearcats 27 on 12-3-2021
STREAK: Harding Academy has won last 3
FIRST MEETING: Harding Academy 53 Bearcats 21 on 11-13-15
CONFERENCE AFFILIATIONS: Bearcats are 3A-1, Harding Academy is 4A-2
THIS DATE IN BEARCAT FOOTBALL HISTORY: The Bearcats are 6-4 all time in games documents to have been played on September 16, with the most recent being a 24-20 loss to Vilonia in 2016.
Anthony Napier ran for 209 yards and 4 touchdowns against De Queen on September 16, 2011.
Tobler Turner had an 84-yard touchdown run and finished with 133 yards in a 35-7 win over Clarksville on September 16, 2005. Derek Davis also had a 62-yard touchdown run.
THIS WEEK IN THE 3A-1: Booneville v Harding Academy; Cedarville v Green Forest; Charleston v Nashville; Lavaca v Mount Ida; Mansfield v Waldron; Greenland is open; Hackett is open; West Fork is open.
