Blue Devils Score Late To Edge War Eagles

Saturday, November 10, 2012

— The West Memphis running game was too much for Rogers Heritage to stop at Hamilton-Shultz Field on Friday night.

The Blue Devils managed to grind out a 13-play, 70-yard scoring drive in the final five minutes to lift West Memphis to a 43-36 victory over the War Eagles in the first round of the Class 7A state playoffs.

Gamebreaker

West Memhis 43 Heritage 36

Why The Blue Devils won

West Memphis managed to grind out a 13-play, 70-yard drive and scored in the final minute to earn a win in a back-and-forth game.

Why The War Eagles lost

Rogers Heritage committed a crucial holding penalty to push the War Eagles out of field goal range in the fourth quarter despite a strong passing effort by quarterback Josh Qualls.

Running back Kendell Allen plowed into the end zone from the 1 with 51 seconds left to snap a 36-36 tie and give the Blue Devils (8-3) the lead for good.

West Memphis coach Lanny Dauksch praised the work of Allen and fullback Jarvis Cooper, who combined for 375 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

“We went to our goal-line offense and that worked for us,” Dauksch said. “They were ganging up on us, but they ran really well. They did a great job, and they had some creases to run.”

Heritage coach Perry Escalante lamented his team’s mistakes, which gave West Memphis too many chances.

The War Eagles put together a drive late, getting to the West Memphis 15, but a holding penalty pushed Heritage out of field goal range. Two incomplete passes turned the ball back to the Blue Devils on downs and set the stage for their final scoring drive.

“We just had too many mistakes that kind of kept them in the ball game,” Escalante said. “If you make a mistake at this level, they’ll make you pay. I just hate it for these guys because they play so hard.”

Heritage quarterback Josh Qualls threw for 386 yards and four touchdowns, much of that going to senior receiver Forrest Johnson.

The War Eagles got out front early and led 29-14 at one point in the second quarter, but West Memphis scored twice in the final two minutes to pull within 29-28 at halftime.

Dauksch said Qualls and Heritage’s receivers presented quite a challenge.

“I thought they would score 100 there for a little bit,” Dauksch said. “He’s very good. He hits what he’s aiming at like a baseball pitcher, and they have some talented receivers.”

Qualls’ 20-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Hernandez in the third quarter pushed Heritage’s lead to 36-28, but West Memphis tied it in the waning seconds of the third quarter. Allen got loose for a 38-yard run around the end, and Cooper added the tying two-point conversion heading into the fourth quarter.