Jason Hopkins
Texarkana Gazette
TEXARKANA, Ark. -- It hasn't been the start Arkansas High was hoping for.
At this point last year, the Razorbacks were 4-0 and were enjoying the program's best start since the early 90s when future Nebraska and NFL star Eric Warfield was walking the hallways. They posted big wins against Watson Chapel, Hamburg, Arkadelphia and Magnolia, which got a redemption win last week, to begin their campaign.
This season, however, the script has flipped. Arkansas High heads into Friday night's matchup against No. 9 Camden Fairview with an 0-4 record and is needing a win to gain momentum going into a tough stretch of games in hopes of making the playoffs.
During the four-game skid this season, the Razorbacks have been outscored, 140-76. But, those four teams -- Little Rock Catholic, Morrilton, El Dorado and Magnolia -- have a combined record of 14-3, and the first two still remain undefeated going into Week 5. So the path hasn't been easy for the Hogs.
And it doesn't get any easier this week with a salty Camden team en route to Texarkana.
Camden Fairview (2-2, 0-1 5A-South) is coming off a heartbreaking 43-36 loss to Hot Springs Lakeside last week, where it was barely outgained on offense -- 488-411 yards -- and held a late lead in the fourth quarter.
Cardinals QB Darrell "Juney" Atkins Jr. threw for 179 yards and a touchdown in the loss, while running for 66 yards and two trips to pay dirt. Senior running back Trent Haygood was also a thorn in the Hot Springs' side, rushing for 163 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.
Arkansas High (0-4, 0-1 5A-South) also played in a tightly contested game against Magnolia.
The Razorbacks were tied, 14-14, at halftime in front of the Panthers' Homecoming crowd before the second half turned into a defensive battle. With Magnolia leading 27-14 late, the Hogs made a push toward the end of the game with their own touchdown, but a failed onside kick attempt with just over a minute remaining stymied any comeback attempt from the Texarkana team.
Arkansas High QB William Dunbar threw for 235 yards and a touchdown on 14 completions, but also threw two interceptions in the loss. Sophomore running back Tony Noble Jr. rushed for 61 yards on nine carries and three receivers had 60-plus yards with Malek Dangerfield (2 catches, 74 yards), Xavier Crawford (4 catches, 69 yards) and Deandre Burnell (2 catches, 60 yards, 1 TD).
Camden Fairview won last year's meeting, 28-8, but the Razorbacks are 5-3 against the Cardinals since 2016 -- though all three losses have come in the past three years.
A win against the Cardinals could revitalize playoff hopes for an Arkansas High program that has its tough part of the Conference 5A-South schedule coming up against Hot Springs Lakeside, back-to-back state champion Little Rock Parkview and Hot Springs High School, before ending league play against Hope and and a much-improved De Queen team.
The Hogs need to win at least four of those matchups to snatch a postseason berth.
It all starts at 7 p.m. on Friday night against Camden Fairview at Razorback Stadium.