Last year, Rogers High came up with two key defensive stops in the fi nal seconds and beat Springdale High 47-42 in a win that helped propel the Mounties to the Class 7A State Playoff s.
Friday, the Mounties couldn’t stop a game-winning drive as Bulldogs quarterback Fuller Chandler connected with Drake Wymer for a 24-yard touchdown with one second left that lifted Springdale to a 32-28 victory.
Rogers took the lead when Ty Galyean scored a touchdown, but the Bulldogs needed just 1 minute, 1 second to drive for the game-winning score.
The loss sets up what looks like a must-win game with Van Buren. Rogers (3-1, 0-1 7A/6A-West) probably has to win three of its remaining seven league games to make back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in more than four decades.
Rogers coach Shawn Flannigan said the loss can’t be pinned on the Bulldogs’ fi nal drive.
“We gave up some plays and didn’t make them throughout the game when we needed to,” Flannigan said. “It didn’t come down to that last drive. There’s a lot of stuff that happened throughout the game that we didn’t do right to get ourselves the victory.”
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Senior Galyean moved from slot back to quarterback during the game and fi nished with 129 yards rushing on 19 carries. He scored three touchdowns, including a one-yard score that gave the Mounties a 28-25 lead with 1:02 left in the game.
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: Safety Zack Wary missed the game after suffering a high ankle sprain against Fort Smith Northside. He is wearing a protective boot and his status for Friday’s game will be evaluated this week.
NOTABLE: Wary took an unofficial visit Saturday to Arkansas for the Texas A&M game. Wary also has a visit scheduled for next weekend at Oklahoma State, and he visited Tulsa earlier this month. Wary has already received several scholarship offers, including Arkansas State and Air Force. … Mounties off ensive lineman Bryce Bray took a visit Saturday to Harding and will visit Arkansas-Monticello, Ouachita Baptist and Missouri Southern next month. He has already visited Arkansas Tech.
UP NEXT: Rogers returns home to face Van Buren at Whitey Smith Stadium.