ROGERS — In a offensive shootout, Rogers High came up with two defensive stops when it mattered most.
Make that Mounties linebacker Zach Jones who came up with two defensive gems.
Leading by five points and with Springdale 10 yards from the Rogers end zone with under two minutes left, Jones stopped Springdale running back Deandre Murray for a 4-yard loss on third down, then the senior batted down a pass on fourth down as the Mounties held on for a 47-42 victory in the 7A/6A-West Conference opener at Mountie Stadium.
Rogers is 4-0 for the first time since 2006, and the win against Springdale was the first since 2007.
Gamebreaker
Rogers High 47, Springdale High 42
Why The Mounties Won
Rogers rushed for 344 yards and Nick Wary was 3-for-3 passing for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Preston Young (127) and Ty Galyean (101) both rushed for more than 100 yards against a Springdale defense that entered the game with two shutouts.
Why The Bulldogs Lost
After scoring five touchdowns in the first half, Springdale managed just one touchdown the final 24 minutes. They were driving for a possible go-ahead touchdown late in the game but turned the ball over on downs after having a third-and-1 at the Rogers 10.
“Plays of the game, no doubt,” Rogers coach Shawn Flannigan said. “I hope that we are moving in the right direction.”
Rogers took a 47-42 lead with 3 minutes, 51 seconds left when quarterback Nick Wary capped a 75-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. Rogers failed to convert on the two-point conversion.
But the momentum quickly shifted back to Springdale as Murray took the ensuing kickoff back 64 yards to the Mounties 35. Springdale had third-and-1 at the Rogers 10 but Jones delivered two big stops to stop the drive.
“They came up with a stop,” Springdale coach Shane Patrick said. “Rogers made a play, and we didn’t.”
Jones is usually a wide receiver but played on both sides because of an injury to starting linebacker Bryan Gibby.
“I was determined to make those plays,” Jones said. “Springdale’s line is huge, and they were getting me. Those last two plays, I knew I had to make some plays.”
Murray finished with 271 yards rushing, but he managed just 39 yards in the second half on 10 carries. Springdale scored just one touchdown in the second half.
“Holding them to just a touchdown in the second half, our defensive coaches did a great job of making adjustments,” Flannigan said. “Obviously, we didn’t have a stellar first half, but they got the job done.”
7A/6A-WEST CONFERENCE
ROGERS HIGH 47, SPRINGDALE HIGH 42
Springdale 14 21 0 7 — 42
Rogers 14 21 6 6 — 47
First Quarter
Spring — Murray 6 run (Sidon kick) 8:11
Rog — Young 5 run (Griffin kick) 4:30
Spring — Murray 77 run (Sidon kick) 4:13
Rog — Wenzler 46 pass from Wary (Griffin kick) 0:10.5
Second Quarter
Spring — Murray 18 run (Sidon kick) 9:02
Rog — Galyean 5 run (Griffin kick) 4:35
Spring — Murray 2 run (kick blocked) 1:41
Rog — Young 1 run (Griffin kick) 0:43.1
Spring — Murray 80 run (Wymer pass from Whatley) 0:27.7
Rog — Young 58 run (Griffin kick) 0:16.5
Third Quarter
Rog — Wenzler 10 pass from Wary (kick failed) 4:50
Fourth Quarter
Spring — Murray 8 run (Sidon kick) 9:51
Rog — Wary 2 run (run failed): 3:51
Rogers finished with 344 yards rushing as fullback Preston Young had 129 yards on 18 carries while Ty Galyean finished with 101 yards on six carries. Wary completed all three of his passes for 114 yards, including touchdown throws of 46 and 10 yards to Stokes Wenzler.
The two teams traded touchdowns the entire first half and were tied 35-35 at the break.
Murray scored five touchdowns and ran for 232 yards on just 13 carries in the first half. He had touchdown runs of 77 and 80 yards. Quarterback Will Whatley added runs of 24 and 31 yards during two Springdale scoring drives in the first half.
Wary completed two passes for 104 yards in the first half, including a 46-yard scoring strike to Stokes Wenzler. Wary’s other completion was a 58-yard catch and run by Jones that sent up a 1-yard touchdown run a play later. Ty Galyean added an 80-yard run that setup another Mounties touchdown.
Fullback Preston Young had a 58-yard touchdown run 16 seconds before halftime that tied the game at 35-35.
Rogers scored on five of eight first half possessions while Springdale found the end zone on five of eight touches.