VB, NHS set for rematch to begin 7A playoffs

When Van Buren and Northside squared off in early September, it seemed as if a postseason rematch was highly unlikely to take place. Though the Pointers were coming off a win against Alma, Van Buren hadn’t been in the playoffs for several seasons and was learning a new system under a new coach. In that Sept. 7 game at Van Buren, Northside got the win, which moved the Grizzlies to 3-0 going into conference play. Even as recently as a week ago, when the Pointers did qualify for the playoffs, a game with the Grizzlies wasn’t on the radar. But unusual circumstances last Friday resulted in the rematch between the two River Valley 7A squads. Van Buren appeared to go into the playoffs as the No. 6 seed from the West. But right before kickoff of the Pointers’ regular-season finale against Springdale, word filtered that Springdale Har-Ber was forced to forfeit several wins, including one against Van Buren, for using an ineligible player. The Pointers lost the game to Springdale and as a result, the Pointers ended up with the No. 5 seed. It also meant after originally thinking they had to travel to the Little Rock area, it will be a shorter trip for the Pointers and their fans going to Mayo-Thompson Stadium to play Northside, which got the No. 4 seed from the Central by virtue of its win last week against Southside. “We’ve watched them on film and they’ve gotten better every week, so our kids have got to understand that what happened (nine weeks ago) doesn’t matter,” Northside coach Mike Falleur said. “Everybody’s got the same record now at 0-0, and they’re going to come over here looking for a playoff win just like we are, so we’ve got to be ready to play against a team that’s very talented on offense and has gotten way, way better on defense and they’re going to be hungry for a win.” On the subject of being hungry, the postseason drought is finally over for Van Buren. The Pointers are making their first playoff appearance since 2011 when they were in 6A, and this will be Van Buren’s first postseason game as a 7A school since 2008, when coincidentally the Pointers played Northside in a game eventually won by the Grizzlies. “It’s something that we want to get accustomed to here,” Van Buren coach Casey Dick said. “I think the kids have done a good job as far as getting prepared and getting mentally ready for a game. “Obviously, it’s a little bit new; it’s something that every one of these kids hasn’t been a part of and this community hasn’t been a part of in a while, so it’s a good little stepping stone for us to kind of get back in the routine of doing that.” Dick also realizes it won’t be any easier facing Northside a second time than it was the first, but added his team is eager for the rematch. “They’re a good football team, obviously,” Dick said of the Grizzlies. “We’ve played each other earlier in the year, so you know they’ve gotten better since the beginning of the year and they’ve done a great job as far as getting better with their scheme and what they do, so we’re excited to play them for a second time. “We’ll have to go out and just play fast, physical football, and go out and establish those things and go out and trust ourselves and trust each other and if we do that, I think we’ll be OK.” In the game played at Van Buren on Sept. 7, the Grizzlies out-gained the Pointers, 472-194, with Northside holding the Pointers to just 15 yards rushing. Northside senior quarterback Derrick Wise completed 14-of-16 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 139 yards and a TD and even caught a TD pass. Van Buren senior quarterback Christian Morrow went 18-of-26 passing for 179 yards and two TDs and added a TD run of his own. But now the stakes are much higher for both teams Friday. The winner will move on in the 7A playoffs and a quarterfinal date next week at Bentonville, while the loser will begin off-season workouts. “Everybody has to realize, especially our seniors, you’ve got one game,” Falleur said. “You’ve done this your whole life and for most of us, when that final game’s over, that’s it and now you know, there’s one game left. “If you win, you get one more game. If you lose, it’s over, so you’ve got to approach it like this is it because it could very well be.”

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VB, NHS SET FOR REMATCH TO BEGIN 7A PLAYOFFS

BUCK RINGGOLD

Times Record | 11/9/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Brian D. Sanderford