[VIDEO/PHOTO GALLERY] Salt Bowl 2022 boasted 29,150 in attendance (that was also the heat index)

Football, Bands, Fans, Flagline, Cheer and Dancers. Salt Bowl is the rivalry between neighboring schools, Bryant Hornets and Benton Panthers. This game was hot, and not just the action. The breeze from the benches was just a tease and it was swoon-worthy in line for concessions.

This game was a tie-breaker of sorts, with the long-running dogfight of a series at 24 wins for Benton, 24 for Bryant as well, and 1 tie game. Who knows what the total number of points is for each side?

Back to the game at War Memorial Stadium Saturday night – The Hornets got the first score in, the Panthers got a pair of touchdowns and one successful field goal. But Bryant held a lead throughout the game, ending the score at 38-17. It was a great game by both teams, but with the usual criticism of the referees’ decisions. 

Some will want us to report on an incident in the stands because of what they heard. Some people heard the story 2nd- or 3rd-hand and it sounded a lot worse than it was. According to kids that came down to sit beside us afterward, it amounted to just a scuffle, but apparently one kid – perhaps not a student from either school – said something that scared others nearby so the onlookers panicked and ran. You can imagine how this could get out of hand quickly…

But the Salt Bowl Committee put security measures in place to make sure there were no weapons taken into the stadium by spectators. Law enforcement officers were also on the scene in the upper stands quickly. It’s unfortunate, but it’s certain to be dealt with. 

The quick reaction by law enforcement made it not much of a distraction from the game – no more than the heat was! Is there any way to hold this game toward the end of the season…?

MySaline had 3 photographers at the game. Myself, Dodi Miller and Matthew Burns.

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The following is a video & photo gallery from the big game:

? Video by Shelli Poole – Contact at [email protected] for a high resolution copy of any clips.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIOr5Pw4hnY[/embedyt]

? Photos below are by Dodi Miller – Contact at [email protected] for a high resolution copy of any photos.

? Photos below are by Shelli Poole – Contact at [email protected] for a high resolution copy of any photos below.

? Photos below are by  Matthew Burns – Contact at [email protected] for a high resolution copy of any photos below.

? You can also see a broadcast of the entire game, as recorded by M&M Productions:

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This is the largest high school football game in the State of Arkansas. It will be played on Saturday night, August 27, 7:00 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. See below for info on tickets and shirts, charities, Salt Bowl week activities, pep rallies, the annual press conference, tailgate, pre-game, streaming opportunities and more…

TICKETS/SHIRTS

Tickets and t-shirts are on sale now for Salt Bowl 2022 between the Benton Panthers and the Bryant Hornets. The Salt Bowl Committee announces the theme for this year is “Salt in the Rock. ”

Purchase tickets at any Saline County Big Red Stores location for $15 each. Get a t-shirt with each ticket purchase. Benton shirts are in Benton; Bryant shirts are in Bryant.

Back this year there are also Indoor Club Level tickets available, tickets are $25 which includes a Salt Bowl T-shirt and can be purchased at either the Benton Chamber of Commerce or Bryant Chamber of Commerce.  They will also have parking passes available for purchase for $25.

Tickets will be available at the stadium for $15 but do not include a t-shirt. Only AAA passes will be accepted at the gate. Remember to keep your ticket and go see Chuy’s for a free queso with the purchase of an entrée!

DONATIONS

Donate in the Skippy Salt Bowl Peanut Butter Drive by purchasing and giving right there in the Big Red Store. These donations go to the Arkansas Foodbank to be distributed to both schools and Saline County food pantries.

PRESS CONFERENCE

Game week kicked off with the Recycle Saline Coaches’ and Players’ press conference and luncheon sponsored by First Security Bank held at noon on Tuesday, August 23rd at the Saline County Career and Technical Campus-ASU Three Rivers and via Zoom. Coach Brad Harris, Coach Buck James and two players from each team spoke about this year’s game.

At the press conference (video & pics below), Benton Panthers Coach Brad Harris said his team is bigger and stronger this year and might surprise everyone. Bryant Hornets Coach Buck James says it’s hard living up to being a champion but he sees the players more than their parents do, so they work on it daily. (Video by M&M Productions/Salt Bowl Committee at Saline County Career Technical Center)

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB5r8qbMhlY[/embedyt]

Video by M&M Productions/Salt Bowl Committee. Photos by Shelli Poole.

 

 

PEP RALLIES

Tuesday evening, both teams held community pep rallies at 6:00pm. Benton at Everett Infiniti and Bryant at Everett Buick GMC.

TAILGATE

This year’s event will include the annual Arkansas’ Largest High School Tailgate Party that will include nearly 100 vendors and organizations from across Saline County and will kick-off at 4pm on the East Side of War Memorial Stadium. Anyone interested in renting a booth space should contact the Benton Chamber of Commerce at 501-860-7002.

DIRECTIONS

RULES/SECURITY

It is also important to remember there are security procedures at War Memorial Stadium including a clear bag policy and each fan will go through a metal detector.  A list of permitted and prohibited items can be found on the Salt Bowl website at www.saltbowlar.com. Gates to the stadium will open at 5:00pm and fans are encouraged to arrive early. 

PRE-GAME

The Panthers will be the visiting team this year and their fans will sit on the east side of War Memorial Stadium. The Bryant Hornets will be the home team and sit on the west side.

Pre-game festivities will begin at 6:30p.m. and will include a flyover after the National Anthem by Bulldog Flight-Mid South RVators and the Arkansas National Guard.  We will recognize the recipients of our Community Service Awards, the Rob Patrick Award and the Donnie Burks Awards, all sponsored by McFarland Eye Care.

The Future Panthers and Future Hornets sponsored by ACDI, will be back on the field this year to be recognized and form the line for the teams to enter the field.

The Honorary Coin Toss Captain sponsored by Republic Services will be former Arkansas Razorback and NFL tight end and now co-host of KARK 4 Today, DJ Williams. The Honorary Co- Captains will be members of Benton’s 2004, 2005, 2014, 2021 and 2022 Softball State Championship Teams. For Bryant it will be members of their 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 State Championship Football Teams. At halftime, both bands will perform on the field together. Cheer and dance squads will perform from both schools.

STREAMING/RADIO

If you can’t attend in person, purchase your pay-per-view voucher at saltbowlar.com/saltbowlathome. All revenue benefits Benton & Bryant School Districts.

The game will also be carried on 103.7 The Buzz, sponsored by Big Red Stores.

SOCIAL MEDIA

For updates regarding this year’s game, fans can visit the website, our Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram @SaltBowlAR. Comment using the hashtag #SaltySaturday.

SPONSORS

Salt Bowl 2022 “Salt in the Rock” would not be possible without the support of our community and our great sponsors.  The sponsors this year include Big Red Stores, Everett Buick GMC, ACDI, Wood Grill Buffet of Benton, McFarland Eye Care, Chuy’s Restaurant, Jones Heating and Air, Arkansas Urology, Skippy Foods, Arkansas Copier, Recycle Saline, Bin There Dump That, Ortho Arkansas, Arkansas Bone and Joint, Republic Services, Saline Memorial Hospital, Pafford Medical Services, Mascot Media, The Kinzler Family, Silver Eagle GPX, Bryant Chamber of Commerce, and the Benton Chamber of Commerce.

The Salt Bowl Committee is pleased to once again work with great organizations to give back to our community: The Arkansas Foodbank, the Arkansas Blood Institute and Goodwill Industries of Arkansas.  These organizations and the work that they do are even more important given the impact of Covid-19 on our communities.

The Arkansas Foodbank will again be partnering with Skippy Foods for the annual Peanut Butter Drive. The peanut butter collection will begin August 1 at Big Red Stores.  As you purchase your Salt Bowl ticket, you will have the opportunity to purchase a jar of peanut butter for $2 and donate it in the Arkansas Foodbank collection barrel located at the store.  Big Red Stores will be collecting the entire month of August.  The School Districts collection and competition will BEGIN at the Salt Bowl game this year and run the entire month of September, which coincides with Hunger Action Month. The goal is to provide a nutritious staple food item for children and families in Saline County, as well as educate students of the impact of hunger in our community. Teachers will receive instructional packets from the Foodbank to use in their classrooms. With the goal of 25,000 pounds, schools from Bryant and Benton compete to see which one will collect the most peanut butter.  Skippy Foods generously matches the communities donation each year with their donation of 21,800 pounds of peanut butter last month to the Arkansas Foodbank to help feed children and families this Summer due to the increased need. 

The peanut butter collected at the Big Red Stores and the school districts will be donated to Arkansas Foodbank member pantries located in Saline County to be distributed immediately to children and families in our communities.

The Arkansas Blood Institute will be holding Blood Drives at both high schools. The dates of the drives at both schools will be shared closer to game day.  The districts will be competing for a trophy to the school that donates the most pints of blood.

Goodwill Industries of Arkansas is another strong partner of Salt Bowl. Beginning August 15^th through August 26^th, Goodwill stores in Benton and Bryant will collect Salt Bowl donations. Students, families and the community are encouraged to donate gently used clothing and household items at their respective Goodwill locations. In addition to helping fund numerous programs that provide education, training and employment assistance, donations collected will mean money for the school districts and gift cards for families in need. Fans can also make a monetary donation at GoodwillAR.org designating the school to support.

The donations will be totaled and the winning district named at the game. The district with the most donations will receive a check for $1,500, along with $500 in gift cards to give to families in need. The second-place district will also receive $500 in gift cards, plus with a check for $1,000.

The tradition of the Salt Bowl continues to be togetherness and helping those in our community. The Salt Bowl Committee said they are excited that they will again have “Salt in the Rock.”