The Glen Rose Beavers (7-1, 5-0) face one of the toughest road tests of the year in Week 9. However, it’s not necessarily the opponent in question as much as it is the route it takes to get there.
Horatio, nestled only miles from the Oklahoma line in southwest Arkansas, poses a problem for nearly every visiting team.
For Glen Rose, the 4.5-hour round trip with take the Beavers more than 250 miles — there and back — on a school bus Friday.
“It is miserable,” said Head Coach Mark Kehner. “I hate going there. There is no good way to get there, but you have to do what you got to do.”
Horatio (5-3, 3-2) is coming off back-to-back wins over Bismarck and Jessieville after outlasting the latter Lions squad 39-32 in Week 8.
Horatio makes its living on the ground, having thrown the ball only 36 times this season.
Zach Izzo leads the charge from the backfield with 99 carries for 681 yards and 11 TDs thus far.
Kelton Turner is the team’s second-leading rusher with 365 yards on 55 touches.
“The double slot option will be a different look for us since the Bauxite week,” Kehner said. “I felt like we did a decent job then, but it has been a while since we have seen it.
“A little bit of rain is a possibility too, so then you have do deal with the elements so we have to take care of the football.”
This week’s matchup is set for 7 p.m.