Even the best football teams have their share of problems during a season, and West Memphis has been no exception to the rule.
The Blue Devils’ biggest problem this year: When they get one issue resolved, a new one has risen to take its place.
“We have played decent at times this year,” said West Memphis coach Lanny Dauksch, whose team travels to Bentonville for a Class 7A state quarterfinal game Friday night. “But at times, we’ve had our problems.
“When you’re facing good teams and not playing that well, you’re going to get beat. That’s happened to us a few times.”
It’s happened three times to the Blue Devils (8-3) this season. West Memphis’ first loss came when Jonesboro tailback Martin Stafford ran for 227 yards and three touchdowns in a 30-21 decision.
The Blue Devils limited North Little Rock tailback Altee Tenpenny, who as orally committed to Alabama, to 45 yards rushing the following week, only to lose 42-0 after allowing three passing touchdowns and giving up two scores on turnovers.
West Memphis then self-destructed with turnovers — two inside its 20 — in a 23-15 loss to Searcy.
“The problems depend on who we are lining up against,” Dauksch said. “One week, it’s turnover problems, then another week it’s penalty problems.
“One week, we have trouble defending the run. Last week, we couldn’t cover the pass.”
The Blue Devils allowed Rogers Heritage quarterback Josh Qualls to throw for 387 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s playoff game. West Memphis, however, survived a 43-36 shootout when Kendall Allen scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 45 seconds left.
Allen and his backfield partner Jarvis Cooper have more than 1,000 yards rushing each and have combined for 30 touchdowns this season. Allen (6-foot, 190 pounds), is the outside running threat in the Blue Devils’ traditional Wing-T offense, while Cooper (6-2, 235) is the tough inside runner who also starts on the defensive line.
“We have a couple of kids that can run,” Dauksch said. “But it’s not like it has been in the past. We’re having to grind things out, but we still run the ball more than we throw.
“Now we’re going against Bentonville, which just dominated us in every aspect of the game last year. Bentonville has a fine team and a fine program. They’re a complete team, and there are no flaws to be found there.”