Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

8/26/2010 at 2:40pm

Image by Tre Baker

Parkview Coach William Hardiman (left) and Little Rock Mills Coach Patrick Russell comment on their crosstown rivalry and its benefits as they prepare for Tuesday's game at War Memorial Stadium.

Today's Arkansas High School Kickoff Classic focus is on Game 1 of the second day of the event: Little Rock Parkview vs. Little Rock Mills.

Parkview Coach William Hardiman and Mills Coach Patrick Russell met Monday with the media at War Memorial Stadium to preview their game, which will kickoff at 5 p.m. The nightcap on Tuesday is the long-running rivalry between Cabot at Jacksonville, kicking off at 7:30 p.m.

Read all about Parkview's team, with notes and a roster, in the August 2010 digital issue of ArkansasSports360.com, by clicking here.

We focus on Parkview's talented duo of running back/receiver Chris McClendon and linebacker Michael Johnson, both of whom should be targets of college recruiters this fall.

Mills' preview in the August digital can be found by clicking here. Versatile quarterback Chris Hampton will lead the Comets' flexbone offense, and he has plenty of backfield talents to make the ball-control offense go.

Both Parkview and Mills were playoff teams last year. Hardiman has brought a disciplined approach to Parkview that has correllated in success on the field the past two seasons and is reminding Little Rock football fans of the days when Parkview dominated the city behind coaches Sam Goodwin and John Kelley. Last year's Patriots team battled Jonesboro and West Memphis for supremacy in Class 6A-East and figures to again by in the running for a playoff spot of Adam Butler or one of the other sophomore quarterbacks can operate the offensive efficiently. Watch, also, for sophomore quarterback/receiver Caelon Harden.

Mills' Russell has improved his program one win a year starting in 2007, making the playoffs last year with a 6-4 regular season. He's in perhaps the toughest 5A conference in the state in 5A-Southeast, with defending champion Monticello and newcomer Watson Chapel, dropping down from 6A, along with White Hall and Sylvan Hills. The Comets have as much as experience returning as anyone playing in the Kickoff Classic.

Tickets for both Tuesday games are $7 and are available though this week at Parkview or Jacksonville schools. They will be available at the War Memorial ticket office on Monday. Also, a limited number of club seats in the new $7.3 million War Memorial press box are being sold for $100 each per night, and that includes full food service and wait staff. Call the stadium office for more information.

Tagged: Patrick Russell, Little Rock Parkview Patriots, Little Rock Mills Comets, War Memorial Stadium, William Hardiman, 2010 Arkansas High School Kickoff Classic