FAYETTEVILLE — Two of the state’s most-highly regarded high school quarterbacks were on display Monday night in Fayetteville.
Fayetteville senior and Wake Forest pledge Taylor Powell (6-1, 202) was 26-of-37 for 276 yards and four touchdowns in a little over a half to lead his team to a 28-21 win over Greenwood in a preseason scrimmage.
Greenwood junior signal caller Connor Noland (6-2, 185) – committed to both the Arkansas football and baseball programs – split time with senior starter Luke Hales while going 8-of-18 for 104 yards and one touchdown.
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“It was finally time to get out here and compete against another team and not against our great defense every day,” Powell said. “Overall I thought it was a pretty good day, but there are still things that we can clean up on.”
The Purple Bulldogs jumped out to a 28-7 lead before both Noland and Hales tossed touchdown passes late in the contest.
“I think we did a good job,” Noland said. “It took a while to adjust to their defense. They played a lot of man and we had to get some separation. I think we started doing a better job and sort of picked it up at the end.”
The game featured the Hooten’s Arkansas Football top-ranked teams in Class 7A and Class 6A.
Greenwood will open the regular season at Fort Smith Northside on Sept. 2 while Fayetteville – which also features Alabama defensive tackle commit Akial Byers (6-4, 260) - will host Blue Springs, Mo., on the same date.
“They (the Purple Bulldogs) give us a good challenge every year and really start us off with the first game,” Noland said. “We are not going to see a team faster or better and they execute everything. I think it gives us a good challenge at the beginning and really sets us up for the regular season.”
Noland, a pitcher whose fastball has touched 92 mph, spent the summer playing baseball in showcase events.
He is getting back into the football mentality with the help of legendary Greenwood head coach Rick Jones, who led his team to the Class 6A title game last season before losing to Pine Bluff.
“It is a process switching back over, but Coach Jones does a good job in helping us out and getting me changed over,” Noland said.
Noland has been active in trying to recruit both 2017 and 2018 prospects for Arkansas.
“I am just trying to get some good guys up here,” Noland said. “We are trying to build a monster really. There is a lot to offer here at Arkansas and we are trying to get a lot of recruits in here and show it off to them.”
Powell, who passed for 3,594 yards and 50 touchdowns last season while leading his team to the Class 7A state title, has been trying to the same for the Demon Deacons.
“I think this is one of the best - if not the best – recruiting class that Wake has ever had,” Powell said. “Just trying to be a recruiter for the team and a leader for the class. That’s what the coaches want me to do.”
Noland, who has passed for 2,059 yards and 15 touchdowns entering his junior season, plans to be at a lot of Razorback games this fall.
“I think they will have a good season,” Noland said. “I think they have good coaches up there and I think some players and obviously Drew Morgan – coming from Greenwood – I think he is going to have a good year and is a solid player.
“I think at quarterback Austin (Allen) is going to step up and take the challenge that Brandon (Allen) had.”
Powell’s chief target Monday night sand likely this season was senior Barrett Bannister, who had 11 catches for over 100 yards with three touchdowns.
That included a nifty near the goal line that left three Greenwood players grasping at air.
“I think Barrett is really slept on,” Powell said. “He is easily a college D- 1 wide receiver and he just hasn’t had his chance. Last year he was a little overshadowed by the top receivers we had last year.”