ROGERS — Sam Mayhall had never been involved in anything as intense as Fort Smith Northside throwing everything it had at the Heritage War Eagles late in their 7A-West Conference opener Friday night.
The junior cornerback had two second-half interceptions and the unbeaten and 10th-ranked War Eagles frustrated each and every attack by the then-No. 5 ranked Grizzlies in Heritage's 24-21 victory.
"We had some intense games last year but they never lastedthrough the fourth quarter; this was just indescribable," he said ofthe battle waged at Mayo-Thomson Stadium.
"They kept picking us apart on certain plays. When they ran the same thing over and over you had a sense of what they were going to do."
The Grizzlies, which amassed a staggering 537 total yards offense, went to their bread and butter two times too many against Mayhall, who his head coach says is sturdy under attack.
His two interceptions combined with a pass broken up and a game-ending interception by junior Jimmy Britton saved theday for Heritage (4-0, 1-0).
"My receiver came off the ball really hard," Mayhall said of his first pick. "I had just started backing up, like Coach (Jarrod) Bockburger has taught us. I got the position on him. I was on top. I saw the ball thrown. I jumped up and I was the one who came down with it."
That was at the 30- yard line. He clued in on that receiver later on, too.
"During the series my receiver had run the same route, a 10-yard curl, a few times and completed it," Mayhall said. "He ran it again and I read it, like Coach Block had told us. My linebacker was there to help me and I was able to get the pick. I just broke on it right."
He then gave credit to his defensive line, which kept the pressure on stellar Northside quarterback Tanner Knight.
"What a great kid," head coach Perry Escalante said of Mayhall. "Very, very intelligent; I had him inclass, great sense of humor, fun to be around.
"He's got some ability. He can run and he understands what he's doing. He played great defense Friday night."
Mayhall played the game with a case of bronchitis. He switched sides with senior Chris (Chaz) Nelson.
"We put Chaz Nelson on our side so Coach Blockburger could be with him," Escalante said. "Mayhall is better off on an island by himself. That worked out to our advantage, having Chaz a little closer so we could help him."
Escalante said Mayhall plays good technique at cornerback.
"He stays with his guy," he said. "As everybody knows, sometimes you're playing in the secondary and you have a tendency to peek. You take a look and the guy's gone. Mayhall played his man perfectly. When his guy turned to the ball he turned - broke on both of them (and) picked them both."
Mayhall scored the first points of the season on a 97-yard interception return, outrunning everyone.
"He's been fighting this bronchitis," Escalante said. "That probably played into why he didn't get any further down field than he did, he ran out of there at the 40Because he can go. He's not as fast as Jordan Snoderly, Grant Driver or Travis Entwisle, but he's right there."
Ironically, Mayhall never played in the secondary until his freshman year - at safety - at Rogers Oakdale Junior High.
"Ever since I played pee wee here, I was a tight end," he said. "I played corner last year - I know I didn't do that great. But we've improved this year, a lot."
Indeed, the whole team is sturdy under attack.
"It gives us a ton of momentum," he said. "Our first conference win ever? Away at Fort Smith? I think that says a lot for our team. It feels amazing, hard to describe."
NOTES: Heritage and Northside combined for 19 penalties and 190 yards. : Hayden Severs is now 5 of 6 on field goals and 19 of 19 on PATs. : Northside ran 72 offensive plays, 44 passing. : Heritage has not had a turnover ball in four games. : Heritage quarterback Reed Brown passed the 1,000-yard passing mark Friday, completing 29 of 53 for 311 yards and two scores. He has 16 touchdowns in four games. : Drive's 11 catches for 118 yards gives him 20 for 283 yards on the year. Entwisle's eight for 134 gives him 18 for 368.
Sports, Pages 5, 6 on 09/29/2009