OPINION | RICK FIRES: Fayetteville takes on PA in 7A matchup | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Fayetteville fans have become accustomed to seeing teams like Cabot, Conway and Bryant compete against the Bulldogs in the postseason.

But there is a team other than 7A-Central that will make the trip to Fayetteville on Friday and this newcomer will bring plenty of credentials with him.

Pulaski Academy rose to Class 7A this season after winning eight state championships in various classifications in nine seasons from 2014 to 2022. The Bruins continue to adapt very well as they move up in classification due to the Competitive Equity Factor as it relates to private schools.

Pulaski Academy is 9-2 this season with only losses to Bryant (48-29) and Conway (32-12), the top-ranked teams in Class 7A. Fayetteville is 8-2 with losses to Texarkana, Texas (55-54) and Bentonville (41-10), conference champions of the 7A-West.

Fayetteville received a first-round bye for the playoffs, while Pulaski Academy, which finished third in the 7A-Central with a 5-2 record, warmed up for Friday’s meeting by beating Springdale Har-Ber by 58- 20 to beat. Quarterback Brandon Cobb threw five touchdowns in the game for the Bruins, who led the Wildcats 51-7 at halftime.

Fayetteville has a larger roster than Pulaski Academy, which will test the endurance of the frontline players for the Bruins in what is expected to be a hard-fought game. But PA routinely succeeds when faced with teams with more players.

This is an interesting matchup between former University of Arkansas football players Casey Dick and Anthony Lucas, who will lead their respective teams onto the field Friday night. But the friendship ends as soon as the whistle blows for kickoff at Harmon Field.

Pulaski Academy has won almost everywhere over the years, including out-of-state games against quality opponents. But PA hasn’t been to Fayetteville where a bunch of Purple’Dogs were salivating at the chance to knock the Bruins out of the Class 7A playoffs in Arkansas.

RICK’S CHOICE Fayetteville

(Other games involving teams from our coverage area. Choices are capitalized).

CLASS 7A

Rogers at CONWAY

Bentonville West at BENTONVILLE

CLASS 6A

Van Buren at SHILOH CHRISTIAN

El Dorado at GREENWOOD

CLASS 5A

CAMDEN FAIRVIEW in Farmington

CLASS 4A

Mena at ELKINS

PRAIRIE GROVE in Dardanelle

Gentry in ARKADELPHIA

CLASS 3A

CHARLESTON at Osceola

Mayflower in BOONEVILLE

NEWPORT in Mansfield

LAST WEEK 13-4 (76%)

TOTAL 182-64 (74%)