Bounce goes Prairie Grove’s way

Tigers take onside kick back for TD

Prairie Grove running back Weston Bartholomew (center) runs the ball as offensive lineman Jacob Lacey blocks Nashville’s Kyler Lawrence (right) during Friday’s Class 4A quarterfinal game in Prairie Grove.

Prairie Grove running back Weston Bartholomew (center) runs the ball as offensive lineman Jacob Lacey blocks Nashville’s Kyler Lawrence (right) during Friday’s Class 4A quarterfinal game in Prairie Grove.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

— Colby Elkins didn’t hesitate Friday night when he saw an onside kick bouncing his way late in the fourth quarter against Nashville.

Elkins grabbed the ball out of the air and ran about 50 yards for the touchdown as Prairie Grove defeated Nashville 41-34 in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state playoffs at Tiger Stadium. Elkins’ return capped a fast-paced and high scoring fourth quarter after the Tigers opened the quarter trailing 28-14

Prairie Grove’s victory was reminiscent of last week, when the Tigers rallied from a two touchdown deficit to defeat Pottsville 34-28. The Tigers (12-0) advanced to the semifinals and will play at Stuttgart next Friday.

“It’s a character deal,” Prairie Grove Coach Danny Abshier said of his team’s second consecutive comeback victory. “They don’t want to die.”

Quarterback Cooper Winters threw four touchdown passes for Prairie Grove, which scored 27 points in the fourth quarter to complete its comeback. Two of the touchdown passes were to Jon Halbert, who scored on plays of 46 and 34 yards.

Elkins scored on a 3-yard run with 1:45 left, but Nashville came right back with a 31-yard touchdown catch by Donyell King to pull the Scrappers to within 35-34 with 1:18 to play. Nashville went for two points and the lead but failed after a fumbled snap near the Prairie Grove goal line.

That’s when the Scrappers tried to get the ball back with an onside kick, but Elkins returned it for a touchdown to put Prairie Grove ahead 41-34.

“I went to get the ball, it bounced, and I just took off with it,” Elkins said.

It was a tough way to end the season for Nashville (10-3), which advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Central Arkansas Christian 49-13 last week.

“We didn’t play very well, and they made the plays,” Nashville Coach Billy Dawson said. “That’s the bottom line.”

Nashville took a 13-7 lead in the third quarter when LaVonte Thomas went high over Halbert and caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joel Hendry. Prairie Grove took the lead again after Winters scrambled around and found Halbert for a 46-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter. Landon Allen added the extra point to put the Tigers ahead 14-13.

The lead didn’t last long as Gaines scored on a 13-yard catch and a 62-yard run to put the Scrappers ahead 28-14 with 2:10 left in the third quarter. Hendry avoided a heavy rush and flipped a short pass to Gaines, who went straight ahead for the touchdown. Gaines then ran around and through the Prairie Grove defense on a 62-yard run to put Nashville ahead by two touchdowns heading into the fourth quarter.

Nashville scored first before Prairie Grove tied the game 7-7 going into halftime on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Winters to Dalton Faulk. Faulk, a starting linebacker, broke open near the sideline and scored with 3:49 left in the second quarter.

Nashville scored first when Hendry emerged from a crowd at the line of scrimmage and ran 13 yards for a touchdown. Jakaree Gaines had a 22-yard run during the series, and Nashville benefited from a pass interference penalty that gave the Scrappers a first down at the Tigers’ 33.

Nashville had another scoring opportunity in the second quarter, but Elkins ended the threat with an interception at the Tigers’ 12. Prairie Grove moved into Nashville territory on its opening series after a 20-yard run by J.D. Speed and a 21-yard run by Weston Bartholomew, but the drive ended when Allen just missed on a 40-yard field-goal attempt.

Sports, Pages 32 on 11/24/2012