CAMDEN — By PATRIC FLANNIGAN
Sports editor
The Harmony Grove Hornets are set to travel to take on the Bearcats of Booneville at 7 p.m. tonight.
Booneville is coached by Scott Hyatt who already has a state title from a 15-0 season in 2013. Hyatt uses a slot wing offense and a base 50 defense.
The Bearcats dropped to 3A after winning the 4A-4 conference in 2017.
Hyatt’s squad is averaging 43 points per game and hasn’t been in a close contest since Week 2 when it defeated 4A Pottsville 28-26 at home. The high-powered offense is led by all state quarterback Brandon Ulmer who is signed to play baseball at Arkansas State next fall. The biggest weapon on the Bearcat’s offense is Carson Ray. Ray comes from a bloodline of successful 1,000 yard ball carriers in Booneville’s history.
Ray is also a big time player on defense along with the Bearcats standout interior linemen. The Bearcats have forced three shutouts on the season and are only allowing 11 points per game.
H.G. enters tonight’s game after what most high school football fans would say was an upset when it defeated the Glen Rose Beavers 47-28 last week. The Hornets were 0-5 against the Beavers and were predicted to lose by 11 points by Hootens.
The Hornets speed played a pivotal role in last week’s game and could do so again as the Bearcats are the slower team. Booneville has a better passing game than Glen Rose but is patient and are okay with gaining chunk yardage instead of relying on the big play.
This week, the Hornets are 7 point underdogs.
The is the first meeting between Harmon Grove and Booneville. The winner will play the winner of Prescott and McGehee.