By PATRIC
FLANNIGAN
Sports writer
The Camden Fairview Cardinals (2-1) will host the Hot Springs Lakeside Rams (2-1) at 7 p.m. tonight at Cardinal Stadium to open conference play.
Both teams will enter the contest coming off of bye weeks. For the Cardinals, their last outing was a 27-0 shutout in Pine Bluff. But for Lakeside, it was a close 24-19 loss to Joe T. Robinson.
Last year's game between the two in Lakeside was viewed by many fans as a wake up call. CF had been picked to finish second in conference but it all changed when the Rams jumped out to a 21-0 lead before ultimately defeating the Cardinals 34-20. In that game, the Cardinals gave up its only kickoff return of the season and appeared out of sync as Lakeside was able to extend drives and limit mistakes.
CF still holds the overall advantage with a 13-5 margin since the teams joined the same conference in 2006.
Lakeside traditionally has run a power-spread type of offense that is run-heavy and that looks to be what the Cardinals will expect this time around also. Returning Rams running back Grady Ohman already has over 500 rushing yards in just three games. The 6'0, 220 running back rumbled for two touchdowns against the Cardinals last year and also splits time as the Rams' middle linebacker. Ram quarterback Wally Walcott was the quarterback for Lakeside's undefeated JV team last year and has developed good chemistry with speedy wide receiver Ryan Ballard.
The Cardinals used its bye week to get healthy and are as close to full strength as they were Week 0. While the Cardinal's offense technically had its lowest output against Pine Bluff with just three touchdowns, they still moved the ball well and were fairly balanced (165 passing yards and 203 rushing yards.)
The game will kickoff at 7 p.m. with tailgating festivities beginning at 5:30 p.m.