SALINE COUNTY, Ark. – On Wednesday at the Salt Bowl news conference, anticipation and excitement filled the room as both the Bryant Hornets and Benton Panthers looked ahead to this year's game.

The competition between Saline County's largest cities started back in the 1970s.

Since then, the Salt Bowl has grown into one of Arkansas's biggest high school football rivalries, drawing more than 20,000 fans each year.

For many years, the game was played at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, but this season, the rivalry is returning to its roots and will be played at Benton High School.

"It's going to be an awesome atmosphere Friday night,” Benton Head Coach Brad Harris said. “They've worked extremely hard on getting extra bleachers in. It's going to be a nice setting, so I'm excited about

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