The ArkansasVarsity.com Game of the Week for week 1 will be between the Rison Wildcats and the Fordyce Redbugs! The two teams will meet for the 55th time at Wildcat Stadium in Rison with kickoff being a at 8:00PM. Both teams are expected to have good seasons this year, which should prove to make this years rivalry game that much better!

We will now take a few minutes to break down both teams, list a few key players, and give our final prediction of what we feel the outcome of the game will be.

The Fordyce Redbugs are led by Head Coach Clark Watkins, who is in his second year as head coach of the Redbugs. Coach Watkins led his team to a 3-7 record last season, to include a 24-19 victory over the Rison Wildcats.

On offense, the Redbugs are led by QB Clint Fawcett, who is 6-foot-2, 175 pounds with a 4.7 forty. Fawcett, who is a dual threat, as he can pass the ball, and can run the ball when needed. Jerrion Sparks should see snaps at the runningback position, followed by Deronn Ashford, and Darius Matthews.

The wide receiver corps will be led by 6-foot-1, 175 pound Nick Clary. Clary posts a 4.5 forty, and caught 5 touchdown passes last season. Terrell Morris who is 6-foot-4, 200 pounds will see time at tightend and receiver as well. Other players seeing time at the receiver position include Everett Green, Michael Hubbard, and Tolefree. Neither Hubbard or Tolefree saw any playing time last season, but showed poise in spring ball.

Taylor Fuller (6-0, 225), Nick Vaughan (6-2, 260), Cameron Jackson (6-2, 220), Winston Raney (5-10, 200), and Mark McMillan (5-9, 260) will lead the Redbugs on the offensive, and defensive lines.

On defense, Jonathan Smith, Jarrion Sparks, and Darius Matthews should see time at the linebacker positions. Darius Cleaves, Nick Clary, and Terrel Morris should see time on the field in the secondary for the Redbugs.

The Redbugs should prove to be a improved team in Coach Watkins second season, and look to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

Coach Clay Totty enters his 10th season as Head Coach of the Rison Wildcats, posting a record of 100-26-1 and 2 State Championships. Coach Totty's Wildcats posted a record of 7-5 last season.

On offense, the Wildcats will be led by QB Trey Gerard. The 6-foot-1, 195 pound senior has a 4.7 forty, and looks to have his best season yet after showing promise late in his junior season.

Senior Athlete Keelyn Bourn is 6-foot-4, 185 pounds, and a 4.5 forty. Bourne had 22 tackles and 2 interceptions last season on defense, while rushing for 376 yards and 2 touchdowns on offense, including a 55 yard run against Little Rock Episcopal. Kerrick Donson ran for 1,179 yards last season for the Wildcats with an average of 6 yards per carry. Donson is 5-foot-7, 160 pounds and has a 4.6 forty. Donson also had 13 touchdowns last season. Raphael Caldwell is 5-foot-10, 160 pounds and has a 4.6 forty. On offense, Caldwell ran for 443 yards and 8 touchdowns last season. Donson, Caldwell, and Bourne should all see time in the backfield, with Bourne also seeing time at the receiver position for the Wildcats. Timothy Wells (5-10, 145) should see time at runningback as well.

Joining Bourne at the receiver position will be Matt Morrison (6-0, 155), Shawn Leopard (5-11,150), while Zack Crouse (5-11, 185) should see time at tightend.

Hunter Taylor (5-11, 215), Cody Keaton (5-10, 185), Justin Wilson (5-11, 130), and Corey Keaton (6-0, 160), Jacob Wilson (5-7 160), Tyler Post (5-11, 210), Robert Cummings (5-9, 160), Justin Lash (6-4, 280) and Jacob Rivers (6-2, 185) should all see time up front on the offensive and defensive lines for the Wildcats.

On Defense, the Wildcats will be led at Linebacker by Marvin Suggs who is 5-foot-10, 190 pounds and posts a 4.7 forty. Ben Gillette (5-10, 165) Caldwell, Suggs, and Gerard should see time at the linebacker positions as well.

Bourne, Donson, Leopard, Morrison, and Post should all see time in the secondary for the Wildcats.

Rison looks to return to glory, after posting to below average seasons (by Wildcat standards) and have the experience to make a deep playoff run this season.

This game is always a barn burner, as fans pour into this standing room only game about 2 hours before kickoff, and the game never disappoints. Fordyce has won the last two meetings between the two teams, but we feel that given the senior leadership, and the very wet and sloppy field conditions following this weeks storms, that the Rison Wildcats will over power the Fordyce Redbugs and win this one in a nail biter.