RISON - While eight-man football is still relatively in its infancy as far as Arkansas high school football is concerned, a quiet rivalry has emerged between the Woodlawn Bears and Strong Bulldogs.
The South Conference championship has been determined by this game over the past four seasons. Woodlawn won the 2022 title before Strong took back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024. The Bears won it last year after knocking off the Bulldogs 58-34 at Strong.
There will be playoff implications on the line again this Friday night when the two teams square off at at the Carl Jones Sports Complex. The junior high teams play at 5 p.m. followed by the varsity teams aty 7 p.m.
Both the Bears and Bulldogs come in with 2-0 marks in conference play. Lafayette County currently leads the standings with a 3-0 record.
The Bears are coming off back-to-back blowout wins over Friendship and Dermott to move to 3-2 overall while the Bulldogs have rebounded from a season-opening loss with lopsided wins over Blevins and Hermitage to get to 2-1.
“They’re big up front and fast everywhere else,” said Woodlawn Coach Doug Means in sizing up the ‘Dogs. “The same old Strong.”
Strong is led by All-Conference senior quarterback Cole Fife, who Coach David Porter told Arkansas Football “throws the ball well and can really move.” He ran for 126 yards and passed for 126 yards in last year’s game against the Bears.
Fife triggers a spread offense that uses multiple sets. The Bulldogs had their most productive game of the season last Friday night in their 76-22 win at Hermitage. They beat Blevins 64-0 the week before.
Joining Fife in the backfield will be junior running back Devon Boone, who Porter reported had 685 yards rushing through Strong’s seven games last year.
Both will be operating behind one of the largest offensive lines in eight-man football in 6-3, 275-pound senior Ga’Zayden Heard and 6-5, 270-pound freshman Caleb Goldsby.
While Strong has had a reputation of putting some explosive …