FAYETTEVILLE — West Team Has Definite NWA Flavor
The West team in Thursday’s Arkansas High School Coaches Association Football All-Star Game had a definite Northwest Arkansas look, especially at the skill positions.
Fifteen members of the squad hailed from NWA high schools and almost all of them contributed in the West’s 42-38 win. Of the six touchdowns scored by the West squad, five were by players from area schools.
Bentonville quarterback Dallas Hardison, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, passed for four touchdowns and ran for another. Two of Hardison’s scoring passes went to Fayetteville receivers Brad Culp and Tyler Tuck. Culp had four catches for 151 yards.
“This was a very talented group,” said West coach Daryl Patton.
West linebacker Deon Clay of Farmington was a starter for the West and recorded seven tackles.
“It was special to come out here and play well for the West with my teammate Jared Martin,” Clay said. “You know he’s my brother and everything.”
Martin led the West with a team-high eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Springdale Har-Ber wide receiver Michael Fine, who is headed to Arkansas Tech in the fall, said the week of practices would make for lasting friendships among the players.
“Meeting these guys was incredible,” Fine said. “These are guys we’ll be friends with for a long time and keep up with their college careers. To go out and win in your last game at Razorback Stadium, there’s not much better.”
Hardison Starts Slow, Ends Fast
Hardison’s nine first half incompletions tied for the most incompletions he threw in any game as a two-year starter for Bentonville.
Hardison only had one game in his career when he had nine incompletions, that coming in the Class 7A state championship game against Fayetteville. Twice in his career he had eight incompletions in a game.
In 2010 he set a state record for completion percentage at 72.1 percent, then bettered the mark last season by completing 74.7 percent of his passes. He was two pass attempts from being one of the nation’s most accurate passers.
The Henderson State signee struggled in the first half under a fierce East pass rush. His second pass attempt of the night was picked off by Darius Barnes of East Poinsett County and returned 35 yards for the first score of the game.
Hardison rebounded on his next pass attempt, hitting Fayetteville’s Brad Culp in stride for an 81-yard touchdown pass. Hardison had two first half touchdown passes and led an 80-yard scoring drive to start the second half that ended with a touchdown pass to Dre Bennett.
By the time the game ended, he owned two all-star game records (most passing yards and most total touchdowns) and the MVP award.
Hardison finished the night 20-of-32 for 392 yards and four passing touchdowns, and added a 1-yard scoring run.
Ludwig Loves Razorback Stadium
Former Heber Springs quarterback Michael Ludwig had another big game in Razorback Stadium as the starting quarterback for the East.
Ludwig opened the 2011 season in Razorback Stadium on Labor Day by leading Heber Springs to a 36-17 win over Shiloh Christian. Ludwig was 5-of-10 for 137 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 110 yards that day as the Panthers handed the Saints their first loss against a Class 4A team in three seasons.
He was stellar again Thursday night in the all-star football game in leading the East to a 24-14 halftime lead. Ludwig was 5-of-5 for 110 yards and two touchdowns, including a 76-yard scoring strike to Willie Sargent. The game’s Outstanding Offensive Player finished the finished the night 10-of-13 for 169 yards and three touchdowns, and he added a late rushing touchdown.
“I try to play like that all the time,” Ludwig said. “It’s been great all week to get to play with the best players in the state.”
Ludwig is headed to Arkansas-Pine Bluff to play baseball.
West Tries Trickeration
West coach Daryl Patton went deep in the special teams trick playbook, calling onside kicks on back-to-back kickoffs following West touchdowns in the first half.
The first attempt worked to perfection as Magazine’s Cory Chambers recovered the kick, which set up a West touchdown. The West attempted a second onside kick following Hardison’s six-yard touchdown pass to Dre Bennett, but could not come up with the loose ball.