FORDYCE, Ark. – One among Arkansas’ most intense rivalries options the very best stakes in over a decade at Paul “Bear” Bryant Stadium on Friday evening. Within the collection’ seventieth assembly, Rison will make the 18-mile drive southwest down Freeway 79 hoping to snap a three-game dropping streak to Fordyce, in addition to take the highest spot within the 3A-6. It will likely be the primary time since 2011 that the 2 packages are competing in the identical convention.
“Whenever you play Rison, it’s at all times going to be essential,” Fordyce head coach Tim Rodgers mentioned. “Each of us are undefeated in convention and identical to it was earlier than once we performed them within the convention, you might be at all times going to play for first.”
Fordyce has performed for the Class 2A state championship the previous three seasons, successful the primary two.
Advertisement
Rodgers, who received back-to-back 2A state championships with Fordyce in 2020-21, has been the top coach of the Redbugs since 2010 and his staff holds a 38-27-5 benefit over the Wildcats within the collection.
Rison head coach Clay Totty may be very aware of this collection having led the Wildcats since 1998, however he additionally skilled the rivalry nicely earlier than then – solely it was on the opposite sideline.
Totty, a Fordyce native, performed for the Redbugs from 1986-88 and returned to be an assistant after graduating from Ouachita Baptist College.
“For those who reside right here, there is no such thing as a clarification that’s vital,” Totty mentioned, referring to the rivalry. “It’s a lifestyle and a giant deal. The entire interconnections, the ties backwards and forwards, the historical past of it. Lots of the identical names performed on either side and a few crossover. If you’re not from right here, there’s actually no clarification that’s passable.”
Rison head coach Clay Totty performed at Fordyce and served as an assistant coach for the Pink Bugs earlier than changing into Rison’s head coach in 1998.
One other crossover instance was the legendary Jimmy “Pink” Parker, a Rison native. Parker, who coached for over six many years in each the highschool and collegiate ranks, performed on the primary ever convention championship staff for the Wildcats. He started his profession as head coach at Fordyce from 1953-60, the place he coached Totty’s father, Gerald, and received 37-straight video games from 1957-60, earlier than venturing into the faculty ranks. A few of his stops included The Citadel, Clemson, Vanderbilt, and Ole Miss.
Advertisement
Parker returned to Arkansas highschool soccer in 1993, taking the job at his alma mater and received the Class A state championship in 1995 when the Wildcats defeated Bauxite 41-21. He ultimately made his approach again to Fordyce for another stint between 2003-05.
“The cities are so shut, and you’ve got a bit of that crossover stuff that provides a bit gasoline and pleasure to it,” Totty added.
Corridor of Famer Jim Cox, who Totty performed for and later served underneath, coached Fordyce from 1986-96 and received this system’s first two state titles going back-to-back in 1990-91.
“If Fordyce was going to play at Rison you knew these stands can be packed, and the hedges would have folks throughout them,” Cox mentioned. “We (at all times) knew we had been in for a very good recreation, and we actually had some good video games. It didn’t matter what city we performed in, there weren’t many individuals left in both place as a result of they had been going to be at these soccer video games. It was a very good, clear rivalry and was what highschool soccer is all about.”
Fordyce head coach Tim Rodgers has led the Pink Bugs since 2010.
Generally, animosity is among the first phrases you consider significantly in crosstown rivalries. Although it has since modified lately, the cities had been supportive of one another for 364 days, however would put all of that apart for the one evening that recreation was performed.
Advertisement
“After I was rising up Rison and Fordyce rooted for one another,” Totty mentioned. “After the sport you’ll collect round and shake fingers speaking backwards and forwards. It was very comparable cultures, each blue-collar, hard-working folks. I can bear in mind me and my daddy driving to observe Rison play in championship video games after Fordyce was out. It was actually a clear rivalry.”
The 2 could have been pleasant foes at one level, however prior to now decade or so there was no love misplaced between some throughout the cities. Information broke final week of a social media menace by way of YouTube of violent exercise occurring in the course of the recreation which prompted the Fordyce Faculty District to take further measures.
Each faculties wish to be sure that security is the No. 1 precedence within the matter, for anybody in attendance.
“Legislation enforcement has relayed to us that will probably be the most secure place in Arkansas,” Totty, who can be Rison’s athletic director, mentioned.
Together with Totty’s reassurance, Fordyce athletic director Anthony Socia reiterated that they aren’t taking any possibilities.
Advertisement
“In the end, it’s concerning the security of our youngsters and followers,” Socia mentioned. “We could also be going above and past, however with regards to the protection of our college students, that’s what we’ve got to do. Higher protected than sorry.”
Fordyce (5-2, 3-0) is at present a half recreation behind Rison (5-0, 2-0) within the convention standings. Protection for the sport, together with the SBLive Halftime Present, will be heard on 103.7 The Buzz starting at 6:45.
Sequence Notes:
-Rison received the primary contest 37-7 in 1952.
-Fordyce owns the longest successful streak successful thirteen-straight from 1956-68.
Advertisement
-Fordyce received 41-0 in 1997, the most important margin of victory of any conferences between the colleges.
-The 2 packages have by no means met within the postseason.
Arkansas Razorbacks (5-1) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (5-1)
Kansas City, Missouri; Thursday, 4 p.m. EST
Advertisement
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Fighting Illini -2.5; over/under is 154
BOTTOM LINE: Illinois plays No. 19 Arkansas in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Fighting Illini are 5-1 in non-conference play. Illinois leads the Big Ten in rebounding, averaging 46.3 boards. Tomislav Ivisic leads the Fighting Illini with 8.7 rebounds.
The Razorbacks are 5-1 in non-conference play. Arkansas averages 12.5 turnovers per game and is 4-0 when turning the ball over less than opponents.
Illinois scores 89.0 points, 29.8 more per game than the 59.2 Arkansas allows. Arkansas averages 8.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 more made shots on average than the 5.5 per game Illinois gives up.
Advertisement
TOP PERFORMERS: Will Riley is scoring 17.2 points per game and averaging 5.3 rebounds for the Fighting Illini.
Boogie Fland is shooting 48.1% from beyond the arc with 2.2 made 3-pointers per game for the Razorbacks, while averaging 17.2 points, 5.5 assists and 2.2 steals.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The No. 21 Missouri Tigers enter their final regular season game with the least injury questions than they have had for most other games since the beginning of November.
But, there was a few new additions to the team’s availability report ahead of the Week 14 game against Arkansas. Below is the full availability report for the Tigers and the Arkansas Razorbacks.
This post will be updated throughout the week with new availability reports posted Thursday, Friday and 90 minutes before the 3:15 p.m. kick off.
Missouri Initial Availability Report:
Advertisement
Note: Missouri players with injuries previously reported to be season-ending are not listed on this post.
• DB Shamar McNeil – OUT • LS Brett Le Blanc – OUT • OL Logan Reichert – OUT • RB Kewan Lacy – QUESTIONABLE
True freshman running back Kewan Lacy took one carry against Mississippi State in Week 13 before exiting the game with injury. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz said in the week leading up to that game that he would expect Lacy to see more opportunities going forward.
Le Blanc handles punting long snapping duties for Missouri, while Trey Flint takes care of field goals and extra points. Expect Flint to slide in for Le Blanc Saturday.
Arkansas Initial Availability Report:
Advertisement
• DL Nico Dalliver – OUT • DB Jaylon Braxton – OUT • K Kyle Ramsey – OUT • DL Anton Juncaj – DOUBTFUL • RB Braylen Russel – QUESTIONABLE • DB Anthony Switzer – QUESTIONABLE
Passion and Patience Fuel a Fairytale Ending to Drake Heismeyer’s Mizzou Career Brady Cook Reflects on Legacy Ahead of Senior Day Mizzou Receiver Undergoes Season-Ending Surgery
The partnership will improve Arkansas Children’s service and care for patients and their families. Credit: Vita Monart/Shutterstock.
Arkansas Children’s, a private, non-profit paediatric care organisation, has partnered with Press Ganey to improve paediatric patient experience.
Beginning 1 January 2025, this collaboration is aimed at bolstering the paediatric care organisation’s commitment to improving service and care for patients and their families.
Advertisement
Arkansas Children’s executive vice-president and chief operating officer Jamie Wiggins said: “We believe that every interaction with our patients is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
“By leveraging Press Ganey’s expertise and industry-leading pediatric benchmarks, we will gain valuable insights that will empower our teams to continuously improve and innovate in delivering compassionate care.”
Press Ganey will offer its patient experience and provider star-rating solutions to help Arkansas Children’s monitor feedback and enhance care quality.
The partnership will enable Arkansas Children’s to leverage Press Ganey’s AI-powered text analytics.
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles
on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Advertisement
Company Profile – free
sample
Your download email will arrive shortly
We are confident about the
unique
quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most
beneficial
decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by
submitting the below form
By GlobalData
Advertisement
Advertisement
This will help analyse open-ended feedback from online reviews and post-visit surveys, providing an understanding of patient and family perspectives.
The goal is to gain actionable insights that can further improve the patient experience.
Advertisement
Press Ganey provides experience measurement, data analytics and insights to health systems and caters to more than 65% of all freestanding paediatric hospitals.
This partnership will allow Arkansas Children’s to benefit from shared learning and innovation within Press Ganey’s network of institutions.
Press Ganey CEO and chairman Patrick Ryan said: “Families trust Arkansas Children’s to provide the highest quality care for their children.
“This partnership reflects their dedication to listening to families, responding to their needs, and innovating to create a world-class paediatric healthcare experience.”
Arkansas Children’s network includes two paediatric hospitals, a nursery alliance, statewide clinics, a research institute, a USDA nutrition centre, and numerous education and outreach programmes.
Advertisement
Sign up for our daily news round-up!
Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25739950/247386_Elon_Musk_Open_AI_CVirginia.jpg "Inside Elon Musk’s messy breakup with OpenAI")
