Memories stir as Razorback Stadium set to host Fayetteville-Fort Smith Southside clash

By Steve Andrews | Photo courtesy of the University of Arkansas 

For the first time since 2015, Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium will play host to a high school football game. And the echoes from the past are sure to be heard.

Ironically, when Fayetteville and Fort Smith Southside hit the field Friday night, it will pit two head coaches who once called that hallowed ground home as members of the Arkansas Razorbacks. 

Southside’s Kim Dameron was a wide receiver and defensive back for Lou Holtz’s Hogs from 1979-82. The Rogers High graduate began as a walk-on and eventually earned a scholarship. After his playing days, he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for Holtz’s final season at Arkansas.

“For us to be able to play a game there it is something that is really cool, probably more for our kids, because the chance of them ever getting to play in Razorback Stadium is rare,” said the 61-year-old Dameron. “So, for them to get to play in that stadium and feel what its like to be in that kind of surrounding is something pretty special. I’m excited for our kids.”

He also admits that the stadium remains “a place that’s near and dear” to his heart. He got an opportunity to return in 2018, while he was the head coach at Eastern Illinois and the Panthers opened the season in Razorback Stadium with a 55-20 loss.

But his most cherished memory of that day was it being the last game his dad got to see him coach a game, before passing away.

“So, the fact that it was in Razorback Stadium was something that was pretty special to me,” he said. “That to me is hallowed ground, so any time I get to go back there and compete, it’s a big day.”

His fondest memory of playing there came in 1981, when Arkansas throttled Texas 42-11.

“I don’t think I have ever seen it any better than that,” he said with a laugh. “But we played in some big games in that stadium, and I played with some great players. I was lucky enough to be a part of some really great teams.”

He spent a year coaching with Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman, when both were members of the University of Cincinnati staff in 1996. He is thrilled to see Pittman back on the Arkansas sideline and returning the program back to respectibility.

“The atmosphere in that stadium during my playing days was just unbelievable, and that’s what’s been so great to see since Sam has returned, is that the atmosphere is back,” he said. “The home-field advantage is back. Now, it is now much more of a stadium than what it was back in the ‘80s, but it’s a point of pride for me, as an alum, that we have a stadium that now looks like that we can compete with anyone in the SEC and anyone in the country.”

As far as Friday’s game, Dameron knows his Mavericks (1-4, 0-2 in the 7A-West) face a staunch challenge but hopes they can bounce back after conference losses to Rogers and Bentonville the past two weeks. He has struggle to find any flaws in Fayetteville’s performance thus far.

“Well, I think everything starts with the quarterback for them,” he said. “Drake Lindsey is a good quarterback. He throws the ball with velocity and accuracy, and he’s more athletic than what some people might think. He can run a little bit, so he does a good job of moving in the pocket. And he’s got a pretty darn good quarterback coaching him.”

Lindsey leads all of Class 7A in passing with 1,729 yards and 16 touchdowns.

“The thing that we are going to have to try to do is get him off his mark and pressure him, as well as being able to handle their speed and quickness on the outside,” Dameron added. “That’s been a difficulty for us is being able to match speed for speed and being able to tackle on the perimeter.”

Now in his third season at Southside, Dameron is aware that the Bulldogs are efficient at the run-pass option and have the ability to get the ball out quickly to leading receivers Kaylon Morris and Jaison DeLamar. Morris has 745 receiving yards with 5 touchdowns, while DeLamar has 436 yards and 3 scores.

“Those two guys can go, along with the rest of them,” he said. “If they get loose, we’re not going to catch them. We’ve got to be able to stop the run, obviously, but we’ve got to be able to affect the passer, as well. And be able to tackle in space.”

Southside’s starting quarterback a season ago David Sorg had arm surgery after getting injured in the playoffs and was ruled out before the season. Then after entering this season with an already shallow roster, Mavericks’ starting tailback Amari Tucker tore his ACL during warmups of the season-opener against Northside.

Junior Isaac Gregory has filled in nicely, but he is now having to pull double-duty in the slot and in the backfield.

Gregory is rushing for over 150 yards per game with 7 touchdowns. He also has 108 receiving yards.

“Isaac has been the biggest weapon we’ve had, so far,” Dameron said. “He has to handle all of it, and he’s done a great job. The thing that has plagued us is coming out in the second half in games, especially against some of the better teams in our league and being able to maintain competitiveness. We have a tendency to kind of wear down, because we don’t have a real deep roster. Our guys play a lot of snaps.

“And Fayetteville has got a heck of a defense that can just shut you down with all the guys they have over there. We’re going to have to control the line of scrimmage if we are going to have a chance.

For Fayetteville head coach Casey Dick, a return to the field in Razorback Stadium will be equally as special. Dick was a quarterback for the Hogs from 2005-08.

“I think anytime you get to go back to what you consider home, you obviously want to go out and put on a great showing,” Dick said. “But it’s really about our kids getting an opportunity to play in there. We’re just thankful to (Arkansas athletics director) Hunter Yurachek, the chancellor, Coach Pittman and everyone else over there for working with us to make this thing happen.”

Dick will always cherish running out of the “A” before every home game, but his fondest memory will forever be when ESPN’s College GameDay came to town on Nov. 11, 2006. Along with Darren McFadden, Dick led the No. 11 Razorbacks to a 31-14 victory over No. 13 Tennessee.

“Being the only team to host College GameDay there was pretty special,” he said. “I have a lot of great memories playing in there. But to go back in there with this group of guys is going to mean a whole lot, as well.”

Fayetteville (3-2, 1-1) looks to be one of the upper-echelon teams in the 7A-West this season, despite losing two games by a combined three points. That includes last Friday’s 29-28 loss to Rogers. But he is also not looking past Southside, expecting to coast to a victory. He has seen positive things from them on film.

“I think they are a good football team,” he said. “They execute well up front on the offensive line, they are big, so they do a good job running the football. And defensively, they are a sound unit. They will mix in some even and odd fronts and do some different things. So, we are going to have to show up and play our game like we know we can, to be successful.”

After getting sidetracked a week ago, Dick is focused on getting his squad back to the basics for the upcoming stretch run.

“We know we’re certainly capable of playing with a wide variety of teams,” he said. “Like I told our kids, this week it all needs to be brought back to alignment, assignment and execution. Which just boils down to everybody doing their jobs.”

The Bulldogs will also host Springdale in Razorback Stadium on Oct. 21.