Scrappers, Leopards to meet Friday at De Queen
Scrappers, Leopards to meet Friday at De Queen
By Mark Trout
The Nashville Scrappers are hoping to regain their winning form from week 1 as conference play opens this week at De Queen. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Both teams in the long rivalry are 1-2.
The Scrappers are looking to regain their winning form that helped them defeat Hope 48-21 in the first week of the season.
“We would love to be sitting here undefeated right now, but we’re not,” said Nashville head coach Tim Perry. The Scrappers scheduled a rigorous nonconference schedule to help the team prepare for what would surely be a very competitive season in the 7-4A district, followed by the playoffs. The Scrappers lost to Prescott, one of the top teams in class 3A, and to Central Arkansas Christian, a regular in the 5A playoffs.
“Our non-conference games were to help us prepare for our conference. We know where we are and what we need to do to get better,” said Perry.
Now with the district portion of the schedule about to begin, every game takes on more meaning as the Scrappers will be looking to secure not only a spot in the playoffs, but also a favorable seed.
“We’re entering a very important part of our season. We need to go out and play well this week. Our conference is very competitive,” said Perry.
The De Queen Leopards are in a similar situation. The Leopards began the season with a solid win over Mena, 31-26. The team then fell to class 5A power Camden Fairview, which reached the state finals last year, and Booneville.
“They’re a lot like us. They’ve played some very good people. I think both teams are looking to play a complete game,” said Perry.
In addition, the two teams have a long, storied rivalry. And this year could be the last time the two teams meet, at least as conference foes as De Queen is scheduled to move up in classification to 5A during the next cycle.
“Beside it being a conference game, it’s also a historic conference rivalry game. There’s a long history between the two teams. There’s going to be a lot of emotion.”
