THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Van Buren High School Athletics

Last week, both Northside and Van Buren registered resounding wins against a pair of area rivals. Now, the Grizzlies and Pointers want to keep that momentum going when the two square off today in Van Buren’s home opener. It will also be the first road game for Northside, as well as the first of four consecutive weeks without playing at Mayo-Thompson Stadium. The Grizzlies are coming off last week’s win against defending 6A champion Greenwood. As for the Pointers, they are still basking in the glow of defeating arch-rival Alma for the first time since 2010. Not to mention the Pointers having already won at least one more game this season than they did all of last season. “I’m very impressed with the improvement they made from a year ago,” Northside coach Mike Falleur said. “They’ve got good players, they do a really good job; we went to watch them play Alma and was impressed, they got after them. ... I was impressed with the offense and defense, they were solid in the kicking game, so we know we’ve got our work cut out for us.” While Northside averaged 50 points in each of its first two games of the season, both wins, first-year Van Buren coach Casey Dick is just as impressed with the Grizzlies’ defense. The Grizzlies have allowed just one touchdown in that same two-week span. “There’s no doubt about it, they’ve got some guys on defense that fly around and get to the ball, and they play with an awesome effort,” Dick said. “I think that’s the big thing they do well is fly around to the football and get to the football, and they bring some pressure and different things with those guys, so any time you do that, I think you’re putting yourself in a positive situation.” One player charged with the task of solving Northside’s defense is Pointer quarterback Christian Morrow, himself a former Grizzly. Morrow threw for 219 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win at Alma, and even caught a TD pass. “I know Christian, he was here as a 10th grader for a little while,” Falleur said. “I know number one, he’s a good young man and number two, very athletic. “He did play very well against Alma; threw the ball well, ran the ball good. So our guys are aware of him and know that we’re going to have to be disciplined and do a good job to contain him; I don’t think you can stop him but just to contain him.” The Pointers also want to avoid turning the ball over in order to keep things going their way so far in 2018. “We’ve got to take care of the football, that’s number one,” Dick said. “Any time you’re playing a team that’s as athletic as they are and have some things going for them, then we want to take care of the football and make them earn everything they get and every point that goes on that scoreboard.” In last week’s win against Greenwood, the Grizzlies rushed for 265 yards. Senior tailback Eli Bolton had 105 of those yards, while senior quarterback Deuce Wise added 97 more. Next week, Northside will have a bye week before opening up 7A-Central play with road tilts at Bryant and Little Rock Central. So there’s no doubt that there will be incentive for the Grizzlies today to move their record to 3-0 heading into the bye week. “That was kind of our goal when we started, get to play these first three (games) and be 3-0 and be able to take a week where mentally, and I’m not going to use the word relaxed, but you get a couple of days and not have to worry that it’s Friday and I like that, I’ve always liked it,” Falleur said. “And then it gives us a few extra days to prepare for Bryant without the pressure of having to play that Friday. “So I’m looking forward to (the bye week) and if we can go into it 3-0, I think it would really be good for us as a team physically and mentally.”

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Van Buren High School Athletics

VB SEEK TO BUILD OFF OF RESOUNDING WINS

BUCK RINGGOLD

Times Record | 9/7/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Van Buren High School Athletics