LITTLE ROCK — Warriors count on defense
Lamar has relied on a ferocious defensive effort the past two weeks to compensate for an offense that has struggled to finish off productive drives, but the 3-0 Warriors aren't complaining too much.
Eight times this season, Lamar has reached the red zone but has come away without any points. That helps explain why the Warriors scored just 19 and 14 points, respectively, in victories over Pottsville and Dover.
Of course, both of those teams compete in Class 4A while Lamar is a member of Class 3A. That may explain part of the reason Warriors Coach Jay Holland isn't too concerned about his team's offense heading into 4-3A Conference play this week against Mountain View.
"We've scored enough points to win three games," said Holland, whose team beat Johnson County Westside 47-6 in Week 1.
"That's just part of it."
Defense could carry the Warriors in conference play.
They have allowed only 26 points this season, and the defense has allowed just one touchdown per game.
"It's one of those things where your defense can open up scoring opportunities for your offense," Holland said. "We just haven't put it in the end zone as much as we would have liked to.
CHARLESTON
QB coming along
Senior quarterback Derrik Haney wasn't perfect Friday in Charleston's 34-0 victory overClarksville, but that doesn't matter to his teammates.
They trust their senior leader, who despite being in his first year as astarter has made plays when necessary.
"He may have made a couple mistakes, but you're going to sometimes make mistakes," senior receiver Michael Meador said.
Haney overcame twointerceptions to throw for 134 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers as he bounced back nicely from his tough throws. He's averaging 117.7 passing yards per game for a team that traditionally establishes its offense with its running game. Haney has six touchdown passes and only two interceptions for the season.
"Derrik puts more pressure on himself than anybody," Coach Doug Loughridge said. "He's a guy that worries about stuff, but when he figures out how to be loose, he can play." MOUNTAINBURG Ready for Pirates
Mountainburg's 1-3A Conference opener is a roadtrip, but it will travel fewer than 30 miles to Cedarville (1-2).
The Pirates are considered a rival, if for no other reason than geography.
"To me, I don't know if it feels different to any other conference game," Coach Tom Harrell said. "But to our kids and the people in this community, they treat it a little differently.
Next season, when the Dragons (1-2) go down to Class 2A as part of the latest Arkansas Activities Association enrollment cycle, the Cedarville game will be the opener of the regular season.
"I grew up that way.
We always played Alma-Van Buren the first week," said Harrell, an Alma graduate who has been at Mountainburg for the better part of two decades.
Defense is keeping the Dragons close so far this season. They allowed 20 points at Waldron and 13 to Paris, but both were losses. Linebacker Trey Stanfill, who had 16 tackles against Paris, safety Jimmy Wakefield and defensive end Taylor Nolen are leading the way.
Still, Mountainburg's offense had two turnovers after driving inside the Paris 20 on Friday.
"That's something we need to eliminate," Harrell said. "Turnovers have hurt us." MAGAZINE Handling business
Magazine is rolling at 3-0 and has outscored its opponents 130-45 entering Friday's 4-2A Conference opener against Hackett.
The Rattlers were considered the conference favorite with 16 starters back, but Coach Josh Jones said his players haven't let preseason expectations be a distraction.
"I don't think our kids read too much into the hype," Jones said. "They just go out and play."
Sports, Pages 23 on 09/23/2009