In the decade prior to Buck James' arrival as head coach at Conway, the program had five trips to the state semifinals but could never get over that hump and to a state championship game.
When James was hired after winning five straight Class 7A titles with Bryant, the goal was for him to bring Conway its first state championship since the state playoff era began in 1968.
Conway cruised through the 2023 regular season before falling to Bryant in the final week. The Wampus Cats then fell in the semifinals for the fourth season in a row to close James' first in charge.
The Wampus Cats (7-0, 4-0 7A-Central) have won all of their games this season by 21 points or more, putting them in a tie for the top of the conference standings with the Hornets. But it was obvious from the second their schedule came out that it would all come down to the final few games.
That all starts with Friday's game against Pulaski Academy, a first-time opponent for Conway, but no stranger to James.
"It's a tough type of game to get ready for," James said. "What they do is very difficult to prepare for, and that's what gives them their edge. They expect to win, they do what it takes to win, they have good football players and they have a great scheme."
James has reiterated multiple times over the past two seasons that he believes there is a gap between where Conway is as a program and where teams like Bryant, Fayetteville and Pulaski Academy are at.
Conway went 0-2 against that group last season and will face at least two of them this time around.
"I think we're gaining ground, but I don't think we're at that level, and we won't be at that level 'til we can go out there and play with those guys," James said. "We haven't shown that we can. That's sort of been the MO of what we've done here forever. We beat the teams we're better than, but we don't beat the teams that are as good as we or better. That's going to be proven, that can't be talked about."
Conway and Pulaski Academy (6-1, 3-1) are the two highest-scoring teams in 7A at 54 and 51 points per game, respectively. The Wampus Cats have allowed just 92 points all season, so this will be the biggest test yet for their defense.
"Our defense line (has) got to play well for our secondary to play well," James said. "We can't give him all day long to run around and throw the football. The secondary can be tested because the D-line doesn't play well, and we've got to do a great job up there to be able to give those guys a chance to be able to make some plays."
MARION
Record-setter
Jalen Smith has rarely gotten the praise his numbers may suggest he deserves.
Smith, listed at 5-7 and 187 pounds, has been overlooked by college coaches due to his size and his 4.6-second time in the 40-yard dash.
In spite of those limitations, he's done nothing but produce for the Patriots.
He was named all-state as a sophomore, then topped that with a 1,600-yard, 17-touchdown junior campaign to earn another all-state nod.
Smith has 836 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. With 126 rushing yards in last week's win over Jonesboro, he broke Marion's all-time career rushing record. He now has 3,671 yards on 501 carries for a career average of 7.3 yards per carry. He also has 47 career touchdowns.
"If Jalen Smith is healthy, you can pencil in 100 (yards)," Marion Coach Lance Clark said. "He's fast, but not lightning fast. He's strong, but not a big bowler, not a big kid. He's just consistent, man. He knows how to read our zone scheme very well, and he knows how to find his (hole). He has the best vision in the state, I really don't think that's debatable."
Smith's junior season was overshadowed by all-state quarterback Ashton Gray, who totaled over 3,000 yards, including more than 1,900 yards rushing.
Without Gray, who is now a running back at North Texas, Smith hasn't missed a beat. He's averaging more 7 yards per carry and nearly 120 yards per game.
"I'd be pretty irritated if I averaged almost 9 yards a carry (with) 1,600 yards in 17 touchdowns and nobody was talking about me, but they're talking about all these other guys I think I'm better than," Clark said. "(Smith) just doesn't get caught up in all that. He really just does his thing, and he does it for us."
SEARCY
Ready for battle
Seven wins is the number for Zak Clark and the Searcy Lions.
Searcy (6-1, 4-0 5A-Central) has the chance to clinch win No. 7 on Friday. It would be the first time the program has reached that mark since Clark arrived in 2021, and it would be the second time in 10 seasons that any team of his has reached it.
In Searcy's way stands Joe T. Robinson (6-1, 4-0), the benchmark for any team in the 5A-Central in recent years.
The Lions' first season in Class 5A since 2005 has gone about as well as one could expect. Following a nonconference loss to Valley View, Searcy has won five games in a row and is tied with Robinson for the top spot in the conference with three games to go.
"We knew going into the year that this (was) the best team that we've had since I've been here," Clark said. "We really revamped our offseason and in season strength and conditioning program. And I think that improved (our) physicality and you know, we're bigger and stronger, we weigh more. If I was gonna pinpoint one thing, I think we're a lot better up front and in the box than we have been since I've been here."
To win this game, Searcy will need to take the next step as a team and play a complete game.
"We certainly didn't start the season where we had hoped," Clark said. "But we have gotten better and better each week, and I like our competitiveness. We've played really well in the second half all year, every game we play well in the second half. We have not always started well, and we're certainly going to need to play four quarters on Friday."
Searcy has relied on a pair of running backs to lead its team this season. Senior Rickey Love is following a 1,000-yard season as a junior with 469 yards and five touchdowns so far. Junior Curtis Goodrich has 578 yards and 14 touchdowns as he's taken on the role of the Lions' goal line back.
At quarterback, senior Johnny Bell has stepped up after former all-state quarterback Tyler Strickland graduated. He has 1,365 passing yards and 11 touchdowns.
It's all but guaranteed that the Lions make the playoffs this season. But with three games to play, the 5A-Central is anything but a certainty.
"This game isn't a make or break deal," Clark said. "If we lose, we're going to have to turn around and bounce back and compete well the following week. If we win, we're going to have to do the exact same thing. Where we need to get to as a program is to where we compete week in and week out, and we're able to turn the page."