RISON - Fresh off their first win of the season, the “banged up” Rison Wildcats will try to extend their momentum for another week when they host the Barton Bears Friday night in a crucial 6-3A Conference clash at George Walker Field of Champions. Kickoff time for the homecoming game is scheduled for 7 o'clock.
Barton will bring a record of 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the conference into the game, the Bears’ only league loss a 29-28 overtime heart-breaker at Fordyce back on Sept. 22, a contest Rison head coach Caleb Carmikle says Barton probably should have won. The Bears fell behind, 14-0, before coming back to go ahead, 22-14, and then falling in the extra period.
“I believe they (Barton) should have won that game,” Carmikle said Monday, commenting about the Bears’ narrow defeat to the Redbugs. “They certainly played well enough to win it. They still have so much to play for, because after their game here, they have Harmony Grove at home next week. They beat Harmony Grove last year, and if they do it again, a win against us and then next week will give them a share of the conference championship. So, we know what we’re up against. They are a very good, a very athletic and aggressive team, and they will be ready. It’s going to be tough.”
Of course, Rison is well aware of the toughness of the Bears, who carried the Wildcats downto- the-wire at Barton a year ago. In that game, Rison had to rally twice to avoid the upset, scoring a pair of touchdowns in the closing moments to escape with a 29-16 victory. The ‘Cats lost a pair of starters to injuries in that physical contest.
And once again, the Bears are led by senior Conner Willis, the Bears’ big and strong quarterback, who is hard to bring down.
“He (Willis) is a good one,” Carmikle said. “But they have athletes all over. Defensively, we’re going to have to make them snap the ball. If we allow them to make big plays on us, it will be a l...
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