Class 3A/2A report

— Tigers getting physical

Charleston should get its fill of physical football before heading to the Class 3A playoffs.

It started last week in the Tigers’ 48-20 victory over Lavaca, and Coach Doug Loughridge expects it will continue through the rest of conference play with games against Cedarville and Mansfield.

Lavaca did its best to retain possession of the football Friday night, using a ball-control offensive attack to limit Charleston’s possessions and keep the ball out of running back Ryan McDonald’s hands.

It worked well for awhile, with McDonald managing only 36 yards on five carries in the first half as Charleston went into halftime leading 22-14.

The second half was a different story.

Charleston’s defense came up with a big stop after its offense had turned over the ball, and McDonald took it from there as the Tigers (7-1, 5-0 4-3A) scored on the rest of their offensive possessions. McDonald finished with 184 yards and three touchdowns as Charleston ran for 228 yards in the second half. The Tigers finished with 280 yards rushing in the game.

“Ryan had another great night offensively and defensively,” Loughridge said. “When he goes, we go.

Our kids kind of feed off him.”

Loughridge expects another physical matchup this Friday against Cedarville (2-6, 2-3). The Pirates like to pound the ball out their Diamond-T formation, and Loughridge expects they’ll try to limit Charleston’s offensive possessions just like Lavaca. He also expects Mansfield to go with a similar plan out of their Dead-T formation the following week.

Loughridge said that iswhy it’s important to shore up his defensive front, where the team is still using seven or eight players.

“We’ve got to keep maturing up front,” he said. “Even here in Week 8, we’re still trying to find our identity on our defensive line. These last two opponents, they are physical offenses that run right at you. We’re going to have to get those key stops and get the ball back to our offense.” WEST FORK Finishing strong

West Fork is in good shape for the Class 3A state playoffs, but it still has plenty to play for heading into Friday night’s game at Elkins.

West Fork (6-2, 5-0) has a one-game lead over Elkins (6-2, 4-1) and Greenland (6-2, 4-1) in the 1-3A Conference, and it can secure the conference’s top seed for the playoffs with a victory Friday. West Fork closes out the regular season next week against Lincoln.

“Our kids know it’s a big game with some implications as far as the playoffs go, and their kids know that too,” West Fork Coach Rodney Selph said.

“We know that Elkins is going to give us everything they’ve got, and it’s going to be a tough game and we’re going to have to play well.”

West Fork got off to a bit of a slow start after competing at the Class 4A level last season. The Tigers were considered an overwhelming favorite in the 1-3A going into the season, but a tough nonconference schedule left them 1-2 going into conference play.

West Fork lost 6-3 to Magazine, which remains undefeated and ranked No.

4 in Class 2A, and 14-6 to Prairie Grove, but it has been solid since conference play began. West Fork is averaging 37.2 points per game and is giving up 11.4 in conference play.

“We really feel like those tough nonconference games have helped us in conference play,” Selph said. “I’d like to think our kidsare confident right now.

We’re playing with a lot of enthusiasm, and hopefully we’ll continue to do that.

JOHNSON COUNTY WESTSIDE

On the right path

Johnson County Westside’s progress this season is showing up in places other than just on the scoreboard.

The Rebels are 5-3 overall, 3-3 in the 4-2A Conference, heading into Friday night’s game against Hackett (5-3, 4-2). The Rebels are currently fifth in the league standings, a game behind Hackett, after losing 41-0 to 4-2A leader Magazine (8-0, 6-0) last week. Danville (7-1, 6-1) is second in the league, and Mountainburg (6-2, 5-2) is third.

While the Rebels haven’t been mathematically eliminated from the Class 2A playoff race, the odds aren’t in their favor. This week Westside hosts a Hackett team that has won five consecutive games, and next week it gets No.

5 Danville, whose only loss came against league leader Magazine.

Coach Jeff Stewart said advancing to the playoffs would be nice, but he’s more interested in making sure his team finishes strong. The Rebels were 2-8 last season, and Stewart said a victory over Hackett would be a significant accomplishment for a senior class that has done its part to help build a foundation for his program.

“Mathematically I guess we’re still in playoff contention, but that’s a tough row to hoe,” Stewart said. “It’s senior night and everything, and we’d like to see our kids go out with a victory. You know, 6-4, that would be a nice turnaround for our program.

“We’re thankful for everything we’ve been able to accomplish, but it still leaves us wanting more.”

Stewart has been encouraged by his team’s physical play this season.

That, he said, is the type of reputation he wants to build.

“We’ve been a very physical ball club,” Stewart said. “Some teams have come in and beat us, but they know they’ve been in a ballgame.”

Sports, Pages 20 on 10/27/2010

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