SPRINGDALE — History is on Springdale High’s side after its last-second 32-28 win over Rogers High on Friday.
The winner of the schools’ last five meetings has gone on to make the playoff s, while the loser has missed the postseason.
The Bulldogs (3-1, 1-0 7A /6A-West) earned the victory in the conference opener thanks to Fuller Chandler’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Drake Wymer with one second remaining.
Springdale’s comeback win helped it avoid a second consecutive loss in the fi nal minutes after blowing a 24-point lead in a 45-38 loss to Bixby. The dramatic fi nish also ensured the Bulldogs have plenty of momentum heading into the rivalry showdown at Fayetteville.
“I was real pleased with our team,” Springdale coach Shane Patrick said. “Very resilient. I don’t think our offense ever doubted that we were going to be able to get out there and move down the field. If we had any time left on the clock, we were going to be able to move the ball down the fi eld.”
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Senior running back Deandre Murray kept Springdale in the game by running for a season-high 312 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. He had highlight-reel touchdown runs of 77, 65 and 48 yards to account for almost three-fourths of the Bulldogs’ offense by himself.
PLAY OF THE NIGHT: Wymer’s contested game-winning touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone was as big as it gets. The 6-foot-6 sophomore adjusted to the ball and wrestled it away from a Rogers defender to give Springdale the win in thrilling fashion.
INJURY UPDATE: Free safety Zach Burton (concussion), offensive guard
Edwin Espinoza (knee) and offensive tackle
Jose Ambriz
missed the Rogers game with preexisting injuries, but Patrick said he expects each to play next week. The Bulldogs didn’t suffer any injuries Friday.
NOTABLE: Springdale is 3-0 when Murray has rushed for 200 yards this season and 7-1 the last two years. … Chandler completed all three of his passes on the game-winning drive to Drake or Josiah Wymer. Josiah caught a 31-yarder down the seam on the first play of the drive. Drake had a 9-yard catch later in the drive before hauling in the 24-yard game-winning touchdown. … Springdale recovered a fumbled lateral on the fi nal play of the game for its 12th takeaway of the year, improving the Bulldogs’ turnover margin to plus-nine.
UP NEXT: Springdale will try to remain undefeated in conference play at rival Fayetteville (4-0, 1-0). Fayetteville has won four straight in the series by an average of 18.3 points per game.