SPRINGDALE — Wildcats Surge After Early Deficit
Springdale Har-Ber didn’t score in the second half of its playoff game against Little Rock Central, but no one is complaining.
The Wildcats did all their damage in the first half while defeating the Tigers 42-7. Har-Ber tied the game 7-7 in the first quarter then overwhelmed the Tigers with five touchdowns in the second quarter.
Har-Ber (7-4) pulled starting quarterback Kyle Pianalto in the third quarter and played mostly reserves while eliminating Central (4-7) in the first round of the playoffs for the third consecutive year. Pianalto overcame a slow to start to pass for 107 yards and throw touchdowns to four different receivers.
Senior running back Tucker Lee added 178 yards rushing on 13 carries and scored on touchdown runs of 33 and 47 yards in the second quarter.
“I thought the running game with Tucker Lee was real important in the first half,” Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. “The offensive line did a really good job of creating some seams and we just made plays, which is what you have to do in an elimination stage.”
Jerry Wood, Hunter Patrick, and Payne Phillps had interceptions and Jordan Kontz a sack for the Wildcats, who stopped Central on fourth-down with the Tigers leading 7-0 early in the first quarter. Peyton Squires, who made the tackle to give Har-Ber possession, led the Wildcats with six solo tackles and three assists.
Har-Ber’s victory sets up a rematch on Friday at Fort Smith Southside (7-3), which received a first-round bye. Lee scored on a 17-yard touchdown run in the third quarter when Har-Ber beat Southside 10-7 in a non-conference game at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium on Sept. 14.
— RICK FIRES
Defense Sets Early Tone For Tigers
PRAIRIE GROVE — Crossett came to Prairie Grove on Friday with hopes of giving the 4A-1 Conference champions a competitive game in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs. But almost as soon as the Eagles lined up on offense, the Prairie Grove defense took away any chance Crossett had.
The Eagles (4-7) suffered an interception on their first possession, went three plays and out on the second drive and failed on a fake punt inside their own 30-yard line on their third possession. The result was an 18-0 Prairie Grove lead out of the gate and a mismatch the rest of the way in a 52-0 victory.
“We made some plays and it gave us some short field to work with,” Prairie Grove coach Danny Abshier said. “One of the things that needs to happen in a game like this is if we score quick, great. But you need to score again and then we’re on a roll. We got a field goal on our second possession and that was ok. But if they take it down the field and score right there it’s a different ball game.”
Prairie Grove (10-0) recorded its seventh shutout of the season and the fifth straight. The Tigers haven’t allowed a single point since defeating Lincoln, 49-2, on Oct. 5. Prairie Grove hasn’t given up a touchdown since a 27-21 win against Farmington on Sept. 28.
“I continue to be surprised by their teamwork and the unity of what they want to do,” Abshier said. “I’m very pleased with this crew and they’re a good bunch to work with.”
The Tigers host Pottsville (10-1) on Friday in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.
— VERNON TARVER
Pirates Overcome Fumbling Woes
GREENLAND — Greenland hasn’t had trouble holding onto the football this season, which made Friday frustrating at times for coach Lee Larkan.
The Pirates (7-3) fumbled on their first offensive drive against Centerpoint, which the Knights turned into a touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead in their first-round playoff game at Jonathan Ramey Memorial Stadium.
Making matters worse, Greenland failed to recover the ensuing onside kick, letting the ball bounce in front of several players before Centerpoint recovered it.
Still, the Pirates overcame three fumbles, including two in the first quarter, to hold on for a 27-20 win and advance in the Class 3A playoffs. Greenland will host Osceola (8-3) on Friday in a second-round game.
“We haven’t really fumbled it all year, but tonight we just laid on the ground,” Larkan said following the game. “We had a two-touchdown lead and driving and we could have blown it open, but we laid it on the ground. You can’t do that.”
Greenland’s final turnover came as it was about to seal the win with another score in the fourth quarter. But Centerpoint turned the fumble into a 79-yard touchdown drive, cutting the Pirates’ lead to 27-20 with 5 minutes 20 seconds remaining.
Centerpoint coach Cary Rogers Rogers said the early turnovers helped, but the Knights were unable to turn them into a pair of touchdowns that would have put them firmly in control.
“At that point, we’re thinking that things are going well. You can’t ask for more than that. You got a turnover and an onside kick,” Rogers said. “The downside to that was we needed 14 points instead of seven at that point.
—ALEX ABRAMS
Big Plays Fuel Blackhawks
PEA RIDGE — Pea Ridge is moving on in the Class 4A state playoffs thanks to several big plays in its 42-0 win over Monticello on Friday.
The Blackhawks’ run game was somewhat contained, although Dayton Winn finished with 115 yards. With Monticello playing tight to the line of scrimmage, the Blackhawks (10-1) used several big passes to blow the game open.
In the second quarter facing a third-and-15, quarterback Austin Easterling hit Daniel Beard streaking down the right sideline. The result was a 70-yard touchdown.
“I blew the play before when we got a delay of game penalty,” Pea Ridge coach Tony Travis said. “That was on me. That put us in a hole, but the kids made a great play. Daniel got behind them and a big, long touchdown on third-and-15 is a huge momentum swing.”
Later in the quarter Easterling hit Jack Rapp on another big scoring play that invoked the mercy rule.
“Daniel and Jack both made great catches,” Travis said. “Great. And that word is overused a lot, but they were great catches.”
The Blackhawks will host Heber Springs on Friday in a second-round game. Pea Ridge last won a playoff game in 2003.
— CHIP SOUZA
Big Offensive Numbers Not Enough For Heritage
WEST MEMPHIS — Quarterback Josh Qualls, running back Brandon Gates and receiver Forrest Johnson all enjoyed huge nights offensively, but it wasn’t enough to get Rogers Heritage its second playoff victory in school history Friday night.
Qualls completed 28 of 45 passes for 389 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson had 18 receptions for 287 and a touchdown, while Gates rushed for 129 yards on 17 carries and also had a touchdown reception.
The War Eagles rolled up 543 yards of total offense, but ultimately couldn’t hold off a potent West Memphis rushing attack as the Blue Devils scored in the final minute for a 43-36 victory.
Heritage coach Perry Escalante said mistakes ultimately did in the War Eagles, who enjoyed an incredible turnaround from 1-9 a year ago to finish 7-4 this season.
“I felt like we just kept shooting ourselves in the foot,” Escalante said. “I hate it for them because they played so hard.”
A couple plays late in the first half helped give West Memphis momentum, after Heritage had taken a 29-14 lead.
The Blue Devils converted a fourth-and-12 into a 20-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Kody Frasure, then stopped Heritage short on a fake punt, which Escalante admitted was not called from the sideline.
West Memphis scored again with less than a minute left in the first half on another pass play, but missed the extra point and trailed 29-28 at halftime.
“We told them they were gonna throw the football on that fourth down play,” Escalante said. “We have a brain fart there and another brain fart on the fake punt. It was just a list of things. We overcame some of them. But it allowed them to stay around and that’s disappointing.”
— PAUL BOYD
Fourth Down Gamble Proves Costly
CONWAY — An early gamble by Rogers High didn’t pay off for the Mounties Friday night against Conway.
Rogers quickly moved to midfield on its first possession, but quarterback Nick Wary was stopped for a five yard gain on third-and-seven from the Mounties’ 45.
Rogers coach Shawn Flannigan opted to go for it, but Wary was stopped a yard short of the first down.
Conway then scored on the next play when quarterback Cody Rhoades hit Jeff Anderson for a 51-yard touchdown to start a 42-6 victory over the Mounties.
Flannigan said he knew the Mounties would have to gamble against the Wampus Cats.
“We came out sluggish and not mentally sharp,” Flannigan said. “We tried to get some momentum, and we knew we had to maximize every possession. I felt that we would be able to get it, we just didn’t execute it.”
The playoff game marked the first postseason appearance since 2006 and the Mounties (6-5) had their first winning season since 2007. The triple option offense was much more effective in its second season and Flannigan is looking forward to next season.
“We took positive strides forward,” Flannigan said. “The second part of the year we were plagued with injuries, kind of dampens the first half of the year. Playing in the playoffs is a big deal for the team, the school and the community. I’m real proud of the players.”
— PAUL NIELSEN