Springdale Har-Ber junior receiver Gus Vitt (11) scores a touchdown against Little Rock Central in the first half last week at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium in Springdale. Vitt is the second-leading receiver for the Wildcats, who play tonight at Fort Smith Southside in a Class 7A state playoff game.
Gus Vitt has emerged as a reliable receiver in his first full season with Springdale Har-Ber.
That’s an important development for the Wildcats (7-4), who will face Fort Smith Southside (7-3) tonight in a second round Class 7A state playoff game at Jim Rowland Stadium. Har-Ber relies mostly on a running game led by tailback Tucker Lee and a receiving corps headed by tight end Nick Byrne.
Profile
Gus Vitt
SCHOOL: Springdale Har-Ber
POSITION: Wide receiver
CLASS: Junior
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 175
NOTEABLE: Second on the team with 24 catches for 369 yards and seven touchdowns. ... Leads the Wildcats with 17.5 yards per catch. ... Missed most of sophomore season with a broken wrist. ... Plays outfield for Har-Ber baseball team.
Byrne leads the Wildcats with 40 catches for 663 yards and nine touchdowns. Vitt, a junior, is now a solid No. 2 receiver with 24 catches for 395 yards and seven touchdowns. He caught three passes for 53 yards last week against Little Rock Central, including a 15-yard reception for a touchdown.
“We knew coming into this year that Gus had a chance to be a special player,” Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. “He has great hands and the speed to run the deep game for us. We knew we had to get him on the field 50 percent of our offensive snaps, if not more.”
Vitt still shares playing time with senior Austin Pierce and together, along with Matt Garrison and Miguel Salgado, they help steer coverage away from Byrne, who recently committed to Louisiana-Lafayette.
“Everybody knows we’re going to try and get the ball to Nick, so it’s huge to have Gus out there making plays,” Wood said. “Gus is not just a possession receiver. He’s a game-changer and he’ll make those plays to win ball games.”
Vitt (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) is taking advantage of his opportunities after missing most of his sophomore season with a broken wrist. He had only two catches, both against Rogers Heritage, after getting hurt right before the season started.
“I was just getting used to the varsity feel, then I got hurt,” said Vitt, a multi-sport player who played basketball last year and will play baseball again this season for the Wildcats. “Having a setback like that was kind of rough, but coach Wood helped a lot with keeping me comfortable in what we were doing.”
Vitt has caught touchdown passes in six games, including two against Siloam Springs, when he had a season-long 47-yard reception for a score. He also caught a 42-yard touchdown pass against Rogers Heritage, when Har-Bar began to turn its season around with a 56-20 victory.
“Gus is a big addition to the passing game with his athletic ability and speed,” said junior quarterback Kyle Pianalto, who threw four touchdowns to different receivers in last week’s 42-7 victory over Central. “When teams key on Nick, it’s important to try and get other people the ball. Gus is a good friend, he works hard, and he helps us get the ball to whoever we want.”
Vitt did not have a catch earlier this season when Har-Ber beat Southside 10-7 at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium. But he is eager to contribute to another victory tonight when the Wildcats and Rebels meet for the eighth time in five years.
Har-Ber hopes to advance to the semifinals after losing 41-37 to North Little Rock in the second round last season.
“Just like the first game (against Southside), we have to grind it out,” Vitt said. “You just can’t show up and expect to win. We have to compete and work hard on every down we’re out there.”