RISON - After getting past a preseason Top 5 team in Walnut Ridge last week, the Rison Wildcats’ playoff draw doesn’t get any easier this week as they make the nearly 200 mile trip to Wilson (Mississippi County) to take on the seventh-ranked Rivercrest Colts in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs.Kickoff is at 7 p.m. The Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) accepts only digital tickets to playoff games, which can be purchased through the gofan app. Rivercrest, 10-1 overall and the no. 2 seed from the rugged 3-3A conference, advanced to the second round by knocking off Fouke, 35-7, last week at home. Rison enters the game at 10-1 after beating 3-3A conference no. 4 seed Walnut Ridge, 49-21, last Friday night at George Walker Field of Champions.The Colts’ only loss this season came on Oct. 25 when they suffereda 28-20 setback at eventual 3-3A champion Osceola. Among their notable victories this year includes a 56-32 win over 2-2A conference champion East Poinsett County on Sept. 13 and a 48-44 conference win at Newport on Oct. 4. Newport is currently ranked among the Top 10 teams in Class 3A as well.Rivercrest and Rison do have a common opponent in Walnut Ridge with both teams getting wins over the Bobcats at home. Rivercrest beat Walnut Ridge 51-20 on Oct. 18.The Colts dropped down to Class 3A this season after going 12-3 last year and advancing to the Class 4A state championship game before falling to Harding Academy, 43-35. Rivercrest returns five offensive and defensive starters from that team.Rivercrest Coach Johnny Flemming, who has a 70-18 record at the school, uses the spread on offense with a good mix of run-and-pass. The Colts are averaging 42.5 points per game while the defense is giving up an average of about 20.2 points per game. Rison Coach Chris Vereen said the spark plug to the Rivercrest offense is its quarterback, Cavonta Washington. The 6-0, 165-pound senior has been t...
To access content, please login or purchase a subscription.