It’s game week, Arkansas! Welcome to this edition of the Varsity Vibe Bulletin, where we’re counting down to kickoff!

Coming up in today’s newsletter:

🎙️ What it’s like to replace a legend
📈 What’s trending
👀 Who we’re keeping an eye on

Let’s dive right in!

🎙️ Varsity Vibe Today. It's no secret Rogers Heritage Football hasn't been able to find steady success since the school opened in 2008. Head Coach Eric Munoz understood what he was walking into when he accepted the job in 2022. Heading into 2025, the War Eagles are hoping to break a 19 game losing streak, and start to turn things around. 

Then, in today’s episode of Varsity Vibe Stories, we find out that it's never easy to take over for a legend, especially when that legend is eight-time state champion Barry Lunney Sr. at Bentonville High School. When Jody Grant was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach in 2015, he knew he had big shoes to fill. Grant joins Alyssa Orange to look ahead to 2025, look back at what he's learned as a head coach, and how the Tigers can finally bring home another state title. 

🏌️‍♀️ Better Than Par. In just three seasons, Rogers Heritage’s Ava Henshaw has racked up a variety of honors and awards. She earned first-team all-conference honors as a sophomore before adding both first-team all-conference and first-team all-state accolades to her résumé last season. Her next match is Aug. 28, when Heritage faces Bentonville West.

🐗 Staying Home. Fayetteville’s Kyndrick Williams is staying close to home to play at Arkansas. The class of 2026 safety had offers from several programs, including UNLV and Central Arkansas. Williams has been a key part of the Bulldog defense, registering more than 20 tackles last season.

🐶 Rematch for the Dogs. The Fayetteville Bulldogs open their season by hosting Cabot. The two teams met last season and Fayetteville beat the Panthers 48-13. The Bulldogs have junior QB Hank Hendrix leading the offense this year. The transfer from Texas passed for 4,200 yards and completed 52 touchdowns last season. The game is scheduled for 7pm, and can be watched here. 

Quarterback Tre’ Thompson, son of Bentonville West defensive coordinator John Thompson, put on a show last season with 3,134 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. Thompson set a school record against FS Northside last season with 426 passing yards and six touchdowns. Not only does Thompson provide the Wolverines with an accurate arm and ability to run the ball, but the senior also punts. 

“He’s a gamer,” head coach Bryan Pratt told Hooten’s. “He’s not looking to run it, but keeps plays alive with his legs, then makes the defense pay with his arm strength.”

🏈 August 29:
Bentonville at Tulsa Union (OK), 5:30 pm
Rogers vs North Little Rock, 7:00 pm
Fayetteville vs Cabot, 7:00 pm
Bentonville West at Greenwood, 7:00 pm
Springdale at Little Rock Central, 7:00 pm
Har-ber vs Broken Arrow (OK), 7:00 pm

👋 Hello There!

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