FAYETTEVILLE — Check out photos from Friday Night Football
Just what has happened to Prairie Grove? The Tigers are 0-3 under Danny Abshier to start the season and with high-scoring Huntsville coming to town, another playmaker may be set to have a breakout game.
It hasn't helped the Tigers' cause that they've faced three teams with dynamic offensive stars, or that it's defense has allowed several big plays on defense. This week, it was West Fork's Lee Gaesswitz, who only had two touches but made them count for two touchdowns. The receiver leads things off this week in the Northwest Arkansas Times' Friday Night Heroes.
HOW THEY STACK UP LEE GAESSWITZ WR, West Fork◊2 catches, 87 yards, 2 TDs GARRET EAKINS RB, West Fork◊15 carries, 128 yards, 1 TD BRANDON ALLEN QB, Fayetteville◊22-of-38 passing, 296 yards, 2 TDs◊14 carries, 124 yards, 1 TD KIEHL FRAZIER QB, Shiloh Christian◊32-of-47 passing, 499 yards, 6 TDs JOSH BURNETT RB, Farmington◊245 rushing yards DEON CLAY FB/DB, Farmington◊124 total yards, TD◊INT on defense
Selph: Tiger receiver showing confidence
Lee Gaesswitz came to the sideline early in West Fork's 35-16 win over Prairie Grove on Friday night, approached his coach and muttered familiar words of any confident receiver.
"He came over and said he thought he can beat his guy deep," West Fork coach Rodney Selph said. "Receivers always say that, but he was serious."
The senior wide receiver did beat his defender, once on a goroute for his first touchdown and a second on a play-action pass where he found himself wide open 18 yards behind the defense.
"And that first one was an outstanding catch in stride," Selph said.
The West Fork offense has rolled onward to a 3-0 record, but has also been helped tremendously by its defense. The Tigers' defensive stands have allowed just 22 points total in the first three games.
Meanwhile, it seems a different playmaker steps up in each game. Quarterback Isaac Muggy has proved himself with his legs, rushing for 217 yards in a 28-7 win over Pea Ridge in Week 2. Muggy hurt his ankle against Prairie Grove on Friday night, but continued to play. The ground attack was pickedup by running back Garret Eakins, who rushed for 128 yards and 1 touchdown on 15 carries.
Not bad for tailback who hasn't competed on the football field since junior high.
"They all have to understand that it's early in the year and the conference [season] hasn't began yet," Selph said. "Now is the time we really have to focus in on getting better."
West Fork opens conference play in the 4-4A with a trip to Pottsville on Friday night.
Frazier continues to impress
You'd have to be living in a cave at Devil's Den to not have heard about quarterback Kiehl Frazier's performances at Shiloh Christian.
The strong-armed quarterback continued his streak of great games Friday night, though his Saints lost to Greenwood in a 54-51 loss that had everything but defense.
Frazier completed 32 of 47 passes for 499 yards and six touchdowns as he and Bulldogs quarterback Tyler Shook combined for an amazing 988 passing yards in the marathon thriller Friday at Greenwood.
Already offered by the University of Arkansas, Frazier should be getting plenty of looks from colleges across the nation.
Fayetteville's Allen a fantasy team's dream
If such a thing as high school fantasy football was available, Fayetteville quarterback Brandon Allen would have been a great pick up this week.
Though the Bulldogs tied Russellville in a 26-26 non-conference game Friday, Allen was prolific and was able to show his athleticism for the first time this season. Allen completed 22 of 38 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns, but it was his sprint outs that provided excitement with 14carries for 124 yards and one touchdown.
He and Frazier, both recruited by the Razorbacks, will be fun to watch as the season and their high school careers progress.
The question is: Can Allen carry the Bulldogs' offense to the playoffs?
Farmington offense hits on all cylinders
Farmington fullback/ defensive back Deon Clay was all over the field in the Cardinals' 46-0 win over Marshall on Friday night.
While he accumulated124 total yards and one touchdown on just four touches, it was the Farmington offensive backfield that finally found its stride this season after scoring only one touchdown on offense in its first two games of the season.
Josh Burnett accumulated 66 yards on nine carries and had three touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Clay also had an interception on defense which almost went in for a touchdown. Burnett finished things off, though, and ran in for a touchdown after Clay's pick.
Sports, Pages 10, 9 on 09/20/2009