WEST FORK — West Fork coach Rodney Selph isn’t ready to say the Tigers are playing their best football of the season, but he is confident in saying they’re playing very well.

Coming off a 34-14 victory over Ozark last week, West Fork (7-2, 4-2 4A-4 Conference) is hoping it can beat Subiaco Academy on Friday to wrap up a No. 2 seed.

“Our offense has been playing extremely well recently, and that’s been led by Isaac Muggy, Garret Eakins and Logan Genz,” Selph said. “All those guys are doing a great job. We couldn’t really ask for much more.”

This season, Eakins has carried the ball 135 times for 1,026 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Tigers are also averaging 25.9 points per game and are only allowing an average of18.8 points per game.

“We’ve got to find a way to keep playing well; it’s the time of the year we need to be playing fundamental football,” Selph said. “Right now, we’re happy that we’re in the playoffs, but we want to host a game in the first round, so to do that, we need to beat Subiaco.” - NATHAN ALLEN Cardinals Face Tough Challenge FARMINGTON - Farmington may be a heavy underdog this week against Shiloh Christian, but the Cardinals certainly believe they have a shot at knocking off Class 4A’s top team.

“They’re high school kids, so they’re looking forward to it,” Farmington coach Mike Adams said. “... We understand that it’s a big challenge.”

Big may be an understatement, especially when Farmington(6-2-1, 5-1 4A-1 Conference) lines up on defense. The Saints are not lacking in size or strength.

“Every player on their team is bigger than everybody on our team,” Adams said.

The only exception may be nose guard J.J. Clay, who weighs 270 pounds.

“They’re going against guys that are 270, 280 and 290 pounds,” Adams said of the challenge his defensive linemen will face Friday. “We’ve got to be good tacklers. They’re going to get guys in space and we have to get them on the ground. We can’t let an 8-yard reception turn into a 50-yard touchdown.”

Farmington has shown discipline on defense and only allows 10.8 points per game.

- BRANDON MARCELLO Shiloh Christian Hopes

To Clinch Home Field SPRINGDALE - There’s a lotat stake Friday night when Shiloh Christian (8-1, 6-0 4A-1 Conference) travels to Farmington.

Not only can the Saints wrap up the outright league title and the No. 1 seed for the playoffs, Shiloh can also secure a bye week for the first round and lock up home field throughout the playoffs, coach Josh Floyd said Tuesday.

“This is a huge game for us,” Floyd said. “Farmington has a good team. Their sophomore class is really good.”

The Saints will again be without back Garrett Harper (elbow), but Floyd said the rest of the team is healthy. Still, a bye week for the first round would be a welcome prize and a chance for the team to recover from the normal bumps and bruises a 10-week season inflicts.

Sports, Pages 10 on 11/04/2009

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