ALL 7A-WEST FINAL: Har-Ber Earns Title Shot

LAST-MINUTE TOUCHDOWN PASS LIFTS WILDCATS PAST PANTHERS

By Nathan Allen

Posted: November 28, 2009 at 4:23 a.m.

Karen E. Segrave Springdale Har-Ber’s Kaleb Vaughn, left, tries to elude Cabot’s Logan Spry during the Class 7A state semifinal game Friday night in Cabot.

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CABOT — Springdale Har-Ber quarterback Ryan Luther jumped in the air and pointed to his teammates as soon as the pass left his hands.

And for one brief moment, the junior was finally able to celebrate after a tough offensive night for the Wildcats.

Luther completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to senior Jordan Nicholson with 24 seconds left in Friday’s Class 7A semifi nal game to beat Cabot 14-10 in Panther Stadium.

The victory not only gave the Wildcats (11-1) their third straight playoff victory over the Panthers, it sealed their second trip to a state championship game in three years.

Har-Ber will play Fort Smith Southside (9-4) in Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5 for the state title.

“We just stepped it up; we knew the game was on the line,” Luther said. “Our offensive line stepped it up, our receivers knew what they had to do and we did it all to win the game. It’s the greatest feeling of my entire life.”

Luther completed 21 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns, both of which were caught by Nicholson. Nicholson’s gamewinning catch, which came on second-and-5, was a play specifi - cally designated for the senior, Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said.

“When (Jordan) caught the ball, it was a huge relief,” Wood said. “That’s the reason right there that we travel all over the place in the summer for 7-on-7; that was a 7-on-7 play. It was a perfect pass and a perfect catch.”

Har-Ber’s game-winning drive was a far cry from what happened in the fi rst three quarters, as Cabot (10-2) controlled the tempo and all momentum in the game.

The Panthers, who totaled 199 rushing yards, dominated time of possession and consistently kept Har-Ber’s defense off balance.

After taking a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run from Matt Bayles, the Panthers continued to find ways to convert first downs and extend drives.

Regardless, Cabot coach Mike Malham Jr. said the loss is especially frustrating after his team played so well through 3 1 /2 quarters.

“The last two years, we’ve played barnburners with them and they’ve managed to come out on top,” Malham said. “It just didn’t happen for us. Har-Ber hung in there and played their game and found a way to win that thing.”

Fullback Michael James led the Panthers offense with 23 carries for 99 yards.

Quarterback Seth Bloomberg also had nine carries for 55 yards.

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