Red’Dogs Hope For Big Performance

LAST WEEK’S WIN HUGE FOR SPRINGDALE

By Nathan Allen

Posted: November 13, 2009 at 5:27 a.m.

FILE PHOTO
Springdale High senior receiver Justin Bocchino runs for extra yards after making a catch against Fort Smith Northside on Oct. 16.

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SPRINGDALE — Last week was a culmination of sorts for the Springdale High Bulldogs.

After all the distractions that have happened this year, Springdale still found a way to make the Class 7A playoffs by winning a game it absolutely had to win.

The Bulldogs not only overcame an early nine-point deficit, they scored two touchdowns in the second and fourth quarters, including a game-winning touchdown pass from Joseph Calcagni to T.C. Barkey with 9 seconds left, to beat Rogers High 29-22.

The victory not only clinched the No. 6 seed for Springdale from the 7A-West Conference, but helped the Bulldogs mentally overcome an extremely up-an-down season.

“It was a great feeling, seeing the kids’ faces after the game was really fun to watch,” Springdale interim coach Dennis DeBusk said. “They’ve worked so hard this season and then to finally break through with a huge win and do what we wanted to do, it felt pretty darn good.”

Springdale (4-6) will try to refocus tonight when it travels to Russellville (7-2-1) to face the No. 3 Cyclones in the first round of the playoffs.

Although Russellville is coming off a 26-22 loss against Cabot, coach Jeff Holt said his team is mentally and physically prepared for tonight’s contest because they all know what’s at stake.

“I always tell my kids that when the playoffs roll around, you can’t take anything lightly,” Holt said. “This is a one-game season, and if we lose, we’re done. We have to play our best on every play because that’s what we’re expecting from Springdale, their very best.”

The biggest challenge for Springdale is stopping the big play, something that has plagued the Red’Dogs’ defense all season. In 10 games, Springdale gave up an average of 378.4 yards and 30.2 points per game.

The biggest problem for Springdale has been stopping the run, as it’s given up an average of 223.6 rushing yard per game.

That may not bode well for the Red’Dogs, who are facing a Russellville team that is hoping to run the ball more with senior running back Jacob Sparks than it has all season.

“(Sparks) has been a huge force for us this year, and frankly, we need to use him more and more,” Holt said. “He’s really led our offense during several games, and I expect him to keep doing the same in the playoffs.”

Regardless, because it plays in one of the toughest conference’s in the state, DeBusk said his players feel tonight’s game is a winnable one if they play their type of game.

“All it takes is for us to be completely in sync,” DeBusk said. “If we can get our offense going, get our defense making some stops and just make a few big plays, I think we’ll have a shot. It won’t be easy, but I think we’ll have a shot.”

Today’s Class 7A State Playoff Ticket

Springdale High at Russellville

WHERE: Cyclone Stadium.

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Springdale Red Bulldogs, 4-6; Russellville Cyclones, 7-2-1.

ON THE AIR: KQSM-FM 92.1.

COACHES: Springdale interim, Dennis DeBusk; Russellville, Jeff Holt.

LAST WEEK: Springdale defeated Rogers High 29-22; Russellville lost to Cabot 26-24.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Springdale, QB Joseph Calcagni (6-1, 183), WR Blake Fogg (6-2, 161), WR/RB TC Barkey (5-11, 181), DL Blake Griffith (6-0, 215), DB Chris Clinard (6-1, 184). Russellville, QB Barrett Hughes (5-9, 170), RB Jacob Sparks (5-7, 170), TE Damarius Neal (5-10, 235), WR Matt Lutz (6-1, 190), FS Bradford Webb (5-10, 175).

HOOTEN’S RANKINGS: Springdale is No. 10 in Class 7A; Russellville is No. 5.

HOOTEN’S LINE: Russellville by 10.

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