Fearless 40: Charging Wildcats

North Little Rock enters the 2026 season with high expectations after finishing 3-8 and falling to Bentonville West by one point in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs last year. For the Charging Wildcats, the focus this season is on finishing games and maintaining the discipline needed to compete for a state championship. "We all had the same goal, and that's to win a state championship," North Little Rock coach Brad Bolding said. "If you just focus on the goal, you've got to do the things that are required to win a state championship. That comes with discipline and holding each other accountable." The players returning from last year's team believe better conditioning and accountability will be key to improving results in close games. "We weren't much of a running team," senior athlete Matt Gober said. "A lot of us kind of checked out when it came to conditioning, especially during the season. When we got into some close games, we were tired when it came down to those final drives. That's something we've worked on." North Little Rock returns plenty of talent, including nine all-conference players. Among them is junior quarterback Robert Jackson, who threw for 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Bolding said he has seen significant growth from his quarterback during the offseason. "I think he's gotten taller," Bolding said. "He seems like he's about 6-foot-3 or 6-foot-4 now. His arm strength is something people are going to notice. He also had hip surgery because of a birth defect, but it's fixed now, and he moves around a lot better. I'm planning on probably running him more." The Wildcats will need contributions from every player as they navigate a difficult schedule in Class 7A. "I think there are a lot more teams now in 7A Central, and you better be ready to play every week," Bolding said. "It's a little different than when I was here the last time. We have very well-coached teams at every level. We're also going to Rogers and Springdale this year, and I want to maintain those games because you're going to play one of those teams eventually." North Little Rock's season begins Thursday, Aug. 27, when the Charging Wildcats travel to Rogers for their season opener. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com.