Time has arrived for Bryant-Conway showdown for Class 6A-Central crown

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

It’s not surprising at all that the Class 6A-Central conference championship will be decided Friday night between a pair of gridiron unbeatens.

Bryant (9-0, 6-0) will host Conway (9-0, 6-0) in a 7 p.m. battle between two programs that have steamrolled their foes this season.

The subplot is former Hornets head coach Buck James has his Wampus Cats on the verge of a league title in year two at the helm.

That’s after winning six league titles and five state titles while at Bryant.

“Well, it’s for a conference championship so there is some extra incentive,” James said. “We are trying to get where they are at and they only way we are going to be able to do that is to go out and compete with them and play at that level.

“Conway hasn’t had a lot of success against Bryant and I think we have got to go out there and make it happen, not think it is just going to happen. We have to go out there and do it.

“If our kids play well, we’ve got a chance. If they don’t we are not going to be able to stay on the field with those guys.”

Bryant head coach Quad Sanders, a long-time Hornets assistant for James, led his team to a 10-2 mark last season and has outscored its foes 454-127 during this campaign.

“Man, it is always exciting when get a chance to play football and I guess the championship adds to that, but the biggest thing right now is trying to keep these guys under control and make sure they understand that it is just another game,” Sanders said.

“It doesn’t make or break the season because the biggest game is yet to come and that’s to be playing in the final game in December.”

Bryant downed Conway 52-33 last season, but Sanders believes the Wampus Cats are an improved squad from the one that went 10-2 in 2023.

“I definitely think they are a better team,” Sanders said. “Last year they had a couple of guys that they could get the ball to and make some plays, but this year have more real threats everywhere.”

Donovan Whitten was a three-year starter at quarterback for the Wampus Cats, who now have University of Arkansas commit Grayson Wilson and Wesley Tapp running the offense with Wilson was injured.

“Donovan was heck of a player as a three-tear starter for them, but now they have Grayson that is going to Arkansas and Tapp has been waiting his turn and doing a heck of a job filling in for Grayson while he is out.”

Conway is coming off a 42-10 road win at Little Rock Christian and has blitzed its opponents 452-107.

“Well, we have played well I think the last three or four weeks, we have played really well defensively and now we just find out where we are at,” James said. “This will be a big test for us.”

“Our defensive line and secondary have played really well. Those guys have played probably a lot better than we anticipated this year. They have made great strides this year.

“We had two of our three linebackers back that started for us last season and overall 8 or 9 starters back that should be and are playing at a high level.

The Conway running back duo of Amari Davis ( 216 yards and three touchdowns) and Trey Harris (105 yards and two TDs) shined in the win over Little Rock Christian.

“We just have to keep putting it together on offense, we keep getting better and have really ran the ball well the last couple of weeks. We don’t necessarily have to run the ball, but have to be willing to run the ball when we have to…Hopefully we can run the ball well enough to keep them honest and be able to throw it off that.”

James sees another strong Bryant squad.

“They’re good and can run at every position on defense and I don’t see a weak spot,” James said. “Offensively they can run and throw it, got tall receivers with speed and a quarterback who can run and throw.

“They pose a bigger problem then anybody we have faced this year because they are so good at running and throwing the football.”