FORT SMITH — A playoff game between Springdale Har-Ber and Fort Smith Southside was again decided by a two-point conversion attempt, just like in 2008.
GAMEBREAKER
WHY SOUTHSIDE WON
Southside took advantage of a missed field goal and a fumbled punt to take the lead over Har-Ber after trailing at halftime. The Rebels then stopped Har-Ber on a two-point conversion pass late in the game to secure the victory.
WHY HAR-BER LOST
Har-Ber managed only one score in the second half after leading 16-14 at halftime. The Wildcats also missed Tucker Lee, who suffered a concussion in the second half and was held out as a precautionary measure.
Har-Ber missed on a two-point pass with 18 seconds left and Southside held on for a 24-22 victory in the quarterfinals of the Class 7A state playoffs at Jim Rowland Stadium. Southside (8-3) advanced to the state semifinals for the fifth consecutive year and will play at Bentonville on Friday.
Har-Ber (7-5) was eliminated in the second round for the second consecutive year after falling just short of sending Friday’s game into overtime. The exciting finish was reminiscent of the team’s semifinal game in 2008, when Southside used a late touchdown pass and two-point conversion pass to win 8-7.
The Wildcats gave themselves a chance when Matt Garrison caught a 7-yard touchdown on fourth down from Kyle Pianalto to cut the Southside lead to 24-22. Pianalto tried to find Garrison again for the tie but his pass was too high and Southside held on after recovering an on-side kick.
“It was a good ball game just like every time we play them,” Southside coach Jeff Williams said. “We have a lot of respect for their staff and what they do and we were fortunate to win. This game came down to the last play, similar to 2008, and we were fortunate to stop them at the end.”
Southside took advantage of a fumbled punt in the third quarter by Garrison to take a 21-16 lead. Quarterback Isaac Jackson threw his third touchdown pass of the game when he found tight end John Hunton for a 5-yard score. Hunton and Jackson earlier connected on a 26-yard pass play in the middle of the field to put the Rebels in scoring position.
Price led Southside with 17 rushes for 98 yards. Pianalto completed 17 of 27 passes for 194 yards for Har-Ber with one interception.
“It wasn’t the cleanest we’ve played all year, but our kids were resilient tonight,” Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. “It was a nip-and-tuck game as it always is with Southside. You just hate games like this when you come up short in these playoff games.
Har-Ber held a 16-14 halftime lead after Gus Vitt made a diving, 11-yard touchdown catch from Pianalto to end the second quarter. The play began with five seconds left after Har-Ber drove from its own 30 with 1 minute, 21 seconds left. Pianalto completed passes of 22 yards to Vitt and Nick Byrne to set up the score.
Southside scored two touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 14-10 lead. Jackson threw low on a slant rout to Austin Griffin for a 2-yard touchdown then found Price out of the backfield for a 20-yard score.
Har-Ber got off to a good start when Garrison took a handoff on the opening kickoff and returned it to the Southside 16. The Wildcats went ahead 7-0 when Byrne went up high in the end zone and caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Pianalto. Byrne was hit hard and upended on the play, but hung onto the football for the score.
Southside tied the game on Griffin’s touchdown catch before Ben O’Brien put Har-Ber ahead again with a 40-yard field goal with 4:49 remaining in the second quarter.
SPRINGDALE HAR-BERFORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE
Har-Ber 7 9 0 6 — 22
Southside 0 14 7 3 — 24
FIRST QUARTER
Har — Byrne 13 pass from Pianalto (O’Brien kick), 11:03.
SECOND QUARTER
South — Griffin 2 pass from Jackson (Wooten kick), 7:03.
Har — O’Brien 40 FG, 4:49.
South — Price 20 pass from Jackson (Wooten kick), 1:21.
Har — Vitt 11 pass from Pianalto (kick failed), 0:00.
THIRD QUARTER
South — Hunton 5 pass from Jackson (Wooten kick), 4:11.
FOURTH QUARTER
South — Wooten 26 FG, 4:15.
Har — Garrison 7 pass from Pianalto (pass failed), 0:18.