RISON - Similar to the Arkansas Razorbacks, who are on the brink of starting a daunting four-game stretch, head coach Caleb Carmikle’s Rison Wildcats also find themselves in the midst of a grueling span of contests against five non-conference opponents who, up to this week, have a combined record of 15-2.
And here Friday night at George Walker Field of Champions, the Wildcats will face yet another huge test when they host the Hoxie Mustangs, who will come galloping into town with a perfect 4-0 record and number five ranking in Class 3A in the state, according to this week’s poll in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Kickoff time is scheduled for 7 o'clock.
Rison, coming off its bye week, is still searching for its first win after losses to Dumas, Bismarck and Dardanelle. Also, to look ahead momentarily, the ‘Cats will go on the road next week to face currently undefeated Bigelow in their final non-conference test before a road game at Camden Harmony Grove to start their 6-3A Conference campaign.
“We knew this was going to be tough,” Carmikle said Monday, commenting about the difficult slate of games to start the 2023 season. “But I’m anxious to see this week if we can continue the momentum we saw in the second half at Dardanelle, the intensity and passion from the team we had not seen up to that point in our season. I know that we have to get off to a better start this week than we did at Dardanelle (a 7-35 halftime deficit), because we’re going up against a good team. And they aren’t making the three and a half hour trip down here to come and lose. They played on the road at Melbourne last Friday (a 42-13 Mustang victory), so I don't think they’re going to be fazed coming down here. If anything, they will have plenty of confidence and will be ready to play, that's for sure.”
In their win last Friday at Melbourne, quarterback Kayden Glenn rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown, while Camden Brooks added 139 ...
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