Fort Smith-area high school football predictions for Week 8's best games
Who makes it to the playoffs will begin to be determined this week as area teams look to shore up their seedings.
Class 3A No. 5 Charleston (6-1) at No. 2 Booneville (6-1)
The battle for the 3A-1 title is on the line Friday night. Both teams will likely land in the postseason, so the game also goes a long way to determine the seeding.
Both teams are unbeaten in the league. Booneville has Lavaca (3-1) and Cedarville (1-3) remaining on the schedule. Charleston finishes with West Fork (1-3) and Lavaca.
Prediction: Booneville 34, Charleston 31
North Little Rock (4-3) at Northside (3-4)
The Grizzlies eye securing the No. 4 seed for the Class 7A playoffs. North Little Rock is 3-1 in 7A Central but was only tested against Conway this season and still has No. 1 Bryant and No. 2 Cabot remaining.
After back-to-back league wins, Northside suffered a 63-20 setback to Conway last week.
Prediction: Northside 34, North LR 31
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Prairie Grove (6-1) at Alma (5-2)
Alma looks to upset Prairie Grove at home to help solidify its postseason berth. The Airedales suffered a setback last week at Harrison. Joe Trusty had 120 yards passing with three touchdowns and an interception with 97 yards rushing. Harrison rolled out 472 yards on the ground to defeat the Airedales.
Prairie Grove is on a four-game winning streak before it faces Shiloh Christian (4-0) and Farmington (3-1).
Prediction: Alma 36, Prairie Grove 33
Lavaca (6-1) at Mansfield (4-3)
The Golden Arrows aim to get back on track after a late two-point conversion handed Lavaca its first loss of the season as Greenland won, 29-28.
Maddox Noel completed 12 passes for 102 yards and had 172 yards rushing for two touchdowns. Mansfield has struggled with three straight losses.
The Golden Arrows are 7-5 against Mansfield since 2001.
Prediction: Lavaca 27, Mansfield 23
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Hector (4-3-1) at Magazine (3-4)
The Rattlers are fighting to secure a higher seed for the playoffs after a 43-14 loss to Bigelow. Hector tries for back-to-back 2A-1 conference wins.
Magazine leads the series 5-2, but the Wildcats won last season 42-3.
Prediction: Hector 29, Magazine 25
No. 6 Greenwood (6-1) at Russellville (4-3)
The Bulldogs take the show on the road to Cyclone Stadium. After dropping its first two, Russellville has won its last four 6A West contests this season.
Russellville has been a regular opponent for Greenwood since 2011, but the Cyclones' only win is a 2016 post-season game.
Greenwood can't look past Russellville with the inevitable showdown against No. 5 Pulaski Academy (7-0) next week.
Prediction: Greenwood 36, Russellville 31
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Madill (3-4) at Stilwell (4-3)
Stilwell is fighting to stay in the playoff hunt, and with Poteau (5-2) and Broken Bow (6-1) remaining on the schedule, it controls its fate.
Stilwell was shut out by Ada last week, 55-0. Madill snapped a three-game loss string to beat Ft. Gibson, 58-27.
Prediction: Stilwell 31, Madill 26
Roland (1-6) at Tahlequah Sequoyah (1-6)
The Rangers aim to snap a three-game loss string with a trip to Sequoyah. Both teams are 1-3 in the 2A-5 District, along with Henryetta, who Roland plays next week.
Roland came up short on Okemah last week, 32-27. Sequoyah lost to Okemah, 42-26, back on Sept. 23
Prediction: Roland 29, Sequoyah 24
Haskell (4-3) at Pocola (4-4)
Pocola eyes getting back on the winning track after last week's two-point loss to Panama, 30-28. Haskell has won its last three games this season but has not faced Gore (7-0) or Panama (5-2).
Prediction: Pocola 35, Haskell 30
Southside (2-5) at Har-Ber (1-6)
The Mavericks will secure their second 7A West game with a trip to Northwest Arkansas. Southside will need another big game from Isaac Gregory to keep the momentum.
Gregory had one of his biggest games of the season with 249 yards as the Mavericks defeated Rogers Heritage, 45-19. Gregory has rushed for 1,118 yards this season.
Prediction: Southside 36, Har-Ber 31
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Fort Smith high school football: Predictions for Week 8 games
