The Salem (AR) varsity football team is set to face Bismarck (AR) in a neutral playoff game today at 7 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 AAA Centennial Bank State Football Playoffs, featuring teams from the 2024 3A Football State Bracket in Arkansas. The game promises to be an exciting contest.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Arkansas State Football Championship
Who: Bismarck vs Salem
When: Today, December 14, 2024
Bracket: 2024 AAA Centennial Bank State Football Playoffs (Arkansas) – 2024 3A Football State Bracket
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Live stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Bismarck vs. Salem

As the 2024 AAA Centennial Bank State Football Playoffs heat up, two teams from Arkansas are gearing up for a thrilling neutral-site showdown. The Bismarck Lions (13-0) will face off against the Salem Greyhounds (11-3) in a highly anticipated matchup that promises to deliver excitement, strategy, and high-intensity football.

Bismarck’s Perfect Season

Bismarck enters the game with an undefeated 13-0 record, showcasing their dominance across all facets of the game. The Lions have been perfect in both their conference and non-conference matchups, posting a flawless 7-0 record in conference play. They’ve maintained an excellent win percentage of 1.000, both overall and within the conference, and have shown their ability to thrive both at home and on the road with a 5-0 record at home and 5-0 away. Additionally, they’ve proven themselves on neutral fields with a 3-0 record. With 597 points scored and only 221 allowed, Bismarck has been an offensive juggernaut and a tough defense to break down.

Their offensive game has been particularly strong in the first and fourth quarters, averaging 13.1 points in the first quarter and 11.9 points in the final period, showing their ability to finish strong. Their total offensive average stands at 45.9 points per game, with consistent scoring across all four quarters, making them a well-rounded and highly effective team.

Salem’s Resilient Season

Salem, with a record of 11-3, has also had a strong season, but they enter this game as the underdog. With a 6-1 conference record, they’ve been highly competitive within their league, with an overall win percentage of .786 and a conference win percentage of .857. Salem has found success at home (5-0) and on neutral fields (3-1), but their 3-2 record on the road indicates that they’ve had a slightly tougher time away from home.

Salem’s offense averages 37.6 points per game, with a solid first-quarter performance of 12.4 points and a consistent second-quarter output of 12.4 points. However, the Greyhounds’ scoring tends to dip in the third and fourth quarters, averaging only 5.5 and 7.2 points, respectively. This will be a key area to address as they face a high-powered Bismarck team, which has been able to maintain strong offensive performances throughout the game.

A Battle of Strengths and Strategies

Bismarck’s balanced and potent offensive attack, paired with their ability to perform consistently across the game’s four quarters, gives them a clear advantage. With the ability to finish strong in the final moments, they will be a formidable opponent for Salem, who will need to capitalize on their early scoring and manage the game’s pace effectively.

Salem will need to find ways to counter Bismarck’s offensive firepower while improving their scoring in the later stages of the game. Their defense will also be put to the test, as they face a team that has averaged almost 46 points per game this season.

As the Bismarck and Salem teams prepare for their highly anticipated matchup, fans and analysts alike are eager to compare their statistics and performances throughout the season. Bismarck enters with an undefeated 13-0 record, while Salem follows with a strong 11-3 record. Here’s an in-depth look at how these two teams stack up against each other.

Offensive Comparison

• Rushing Yards Per Game
  Salem leads in the rushing category, averaging 322.0 rushing yards per game, largely due to the stellar performance of Kaden Brink, who racks up 151.4 yards per game. In contrast, Bismarck averages 211.5 rushing yards per game, with their leading rusher, Caedmon Keithley, gaining 85.5 yards per game. Salem’s dominant rushing game could be a key factor in their success, but Bismarck is also highly capable of gaining yards on the ground.
• Passing Yards Per Game
  Bismarck edges out Salem in passing, averaging 164.7 passing yards per game, led by Ben Keithley, who averages 144.1 yards per game. On the other hand, Salem averages only 67.7 passing yards per game, with Jackson Taylor contributing 71.4 yards per game. Bismarck’s ability to move the ball through the air may provide a significant advantage, especially if Salem’s defense focuses heavily on stopping the run.
• Receiving Yards Per Game
  Bismarck also leads in receiving, averaging 160.5 receiving yards per game, with Preston Hughes contributing 39.5 yards per game. Salem, however, manages just 62.3 receiving yards per game, with Kaiden Hollis contributing 36.6 yards per game. The difference in receiving yardage indicates that Bismarck’s offense is more balanced, able to attack both through the air and on the ground.
• Total Yards Per Game
  Salem averages 389.7 total yards per game, slightly ahead of Bismarck’s 376.2 total yards per game. Both teams demonstrate impressive offensive efficiency, with Salem’s strong rushing attack being complemented by solid overall yardage. Bismarck, while slightly trailing in total yards, is a balanced team capable of generating consistent offense across both passing and rushing.

Defensive Comparison

• Tackles Per Game
  Both teams have shown strong defensive play, with Salem averaging 51.9 tackles per game, and Bismarck averaging 51.7 tackles per game. Both teams are evenly matched defensively, indicating that this game could come down to which team is better at making big plays when it counts.
• Sacks Per Game
  Salem has been more effective in pressuring the quarterback, averaging 3.5 sacks per game, compared to Bismarck’s 0.7 sacks per game. This could be a key factor in disrupting Bismarck’s passing game, especially since they are more reliant on the air attack.

Scoring Comparison

• Points Per Game
  Bismarck averages 39.7 points per game, while Salem is not far behind, averaging 36.5 points per game. Both teams are capable of putting up significant points, with Bismarck having a slight edge in offensive production.

Team Leaders

• Bismarck:
  • Caedmon Keithley leads the team with 85.5 rushing yards per game.
  • Ben Keithley has been solid through the air, averaging 144.1 passing yards per game.
  • Preston Hughes leads in receiving with 39.5 yards per game.
  • Ben Keithley also leads the team in total yards with 209.4 total yards per game.
• Salem:
  • Kaden Brink has been a standout player for Salem, leading in both rushing (151.4 yards per game) and points scored (12.0 points per game).
  • Jackson Taylor has contributed in the passing game, with 71.4 passing yards per game.
  • Kaiden Hollis has led the receiving corps, with 36.6 receiving yards per game.
  • Kaden Brink also leads in total yards with 151.8 total yards per game.

Record Breakdown

• Bismarck:
  • 7-0 in league play
  • 3-0 in non-league games
  • 5-0 at home
  • 5-0 away
  • 4-0 in playoff games
• Salem:
  • 6-1 in league play
  • 1-2 in non-league games
  • 5-0 at home
  • 3-2 away
  • 4-0 in playoff games

Bismarck’s perfect regular-season record shows their dominance, while Salem’s performance in league play and away games highlights their resilience. Salem also has a strong postseason presence, with a perfect playoff record.

Common Opponents

• Bismarck:
  • Mansfield (W, 35-31)
  • Prescott (W, 33-29)
  • Atkins (W, 55-14)
• Salem:
  • Mansfield (W, 38-20)
  • Prescott (L, 31-22)
  • Atkins (L, 40-36)

Bismarck and Salem faced some of the same teams, with both having success against Mansfield and Prescott. However, Salem fell short in their matchups against Prescott and Atkins, showing that they can be vulnerable in certain situations.

Conclusion

The Bismarck vs. Salem game promises to be an exciting and high-stakes matchup, with both teams bringing impressive offensive and defensive capabilities. Salem’s dominant rushing game, led by Kaden Brink, gives them an advantage in controlling the clock, but Bismarck’s balanced attack and solid passing game could pose significant challenges. With both teams strong on offense and defense, this game could very well come down to which team can execute better under pressure and take advantage of key moments.