SPRINGDALE -- John-Marcus Carruthers got up from the turf and trotted to the sideline, then did a u-turn and ran back to his spot in the backfield.
With two Shiloh Christian running backs out with knee injuries, Carruthers had no choice but to get back on the field. The Saints were glad he did.
Seniors Kyle Freeman and Chandler Smith stood on the sideline in street clothes as Carruthers shouldered the load and led Shiloh Christian to a 43-15 victory against Jonesboro Westside on Friday night in a first-round Class 4A state playoff game at Champion Stadium.
Shiloh Christian will travel to Pocahontas next week for the second round of the playoffs.
" I'm just trying to do what I can to help the team," Carruthers said. "It means a lot to me just to be able to help out."
He did more than just help out. Carruthers had 2 rushing touchdowns, returned 3 kickoffs for 90 yards and added a 44-yard pass reception that nearly added to his touchdown total. By the time his night was done at the end of the third quarter, Carruthers had amassed 272 all-purpose yards.
Carruthers finished the night with 20 carries for 138 yards.
"He knew that he was going to have a greater role this week," Shiloh Christian Coach Jeff Conaway said. "He's been very consistent all year, but he knew he was going to have to do a lot more this week with some of the injuries we've had. He accepted the challenge and did very well."
The Saints (8-3) scored on five of their six first-half possessions and cruised to a 35-7 lead going into halftime. The only possession they did not score on was the final play of the first half when Westside (5-6) managed to grab Carruthers' jersey as he was racing down the middle of the field on a screen pass.
Shiloh Christian drove 74 yards on its opening drive, and Carruthers put the Saints on the scoreboard with a 37-yard touchdown run with 7 minutes, 33 seconds left in the first quarter.
Westside bounced back and drove 65 yards to take a 7-6 lead. Michael Carr ripped off a 36-yard gain to get the Warriors inside the Shiloh Christian 15, then Casey Storey went 10 yards for a touchdown on a reverse at the 4:12 mark.
It was all Shiloh Christian after that. Carruthers returned the ensuing kickoff 50 yards to the Warriors' 37. The Saints took advantage of the long return as Ben Olsen ran 4 yards out of Wildcat formation, and ran in the two-point conversion for a 14-7 lead.
"We needed to get off to a fast start," Conaway said. "When a team like Westside travels all this way, we really wanted to have a sense of urgency. We did a good job of starting fast."
Shiloh Christian's defense forced four turnovers with two fumble recoveries and two interceptions by Doug Burke. Burke's first interception set up the Saints' third score, a short run by Carruthers. Christian Hood's fumble recovery set up another score before halftime and the Saints never looked back.
Shiloh Christian quarterback Connor Reece finished the night 8 of 12 for 136 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Cody Banda led Westside with 20 carries for 112 yards rushing.
POCAHONTAS 24, PULASKI ROBINSON 15
POCAHONTAS — Barkley Sorg ran for three touchdowns and Josh Kestor returned an interception for a touchdowns as Pocahontas (10-1) beat Pulaski Robinson (6-5) in a Class 4A first-round playoff game. Sorg’s touchdowns included runs of 43 and 11 yards, and Kestor returned his interception 35 yards for a score. The Redskins defense intercepted four passes and recovered two fumbles.
WARREN 45, GRAVETTE 7
WARREN — Warren fumbled on its first offensive play, but the Lumberjacks cruised from there as it defeated Gravette in the opening round. Warren led 14-0 after one quarter and scored three more times to take a 35-0 lead into halftime. Gravette never could get its offense untracked and had only three first downs through the first 24 minutes. The Lions avoided a shutout midway through the fourth quarter when Bryce Moorman hit Michael Fowler with a 6-yard touchdown pass, and Cedric Duarte added the extra point.
HEBER SPRINGS 57, CROSSETT 28
HEBER SPRINGS — Hunter Chandler ran for three touchdowns and passed for two scores as Heber Springs (8-3) moved to the second round of the Class 4A playoffs with a victory over Crossett (6-5). Chandler scored on runs of 2, 20 and 16 yards. He tossed scoring passes of 68 yards to Pierce Mitchum and 40 yards to Chandler Jones. Jones added an 11-yard scoring run, and Chandler Marquardt scored on a 12-yard run for the Panthers.
MALVERN 44, CAVE CITY 22
MALVERN — Trace Collie threw for four touchdowns to lead Malvern (8-3) past Cave City (5-6) in a first-round Class 4A playoff game. Collie, who completed 13 of 17 passes for 128 yards, threw touchdown passes of 11 yards to Devin Carpenter, 12 yards to Jacquez Lock, 12 yards to Devin Bradford and 6 yards to K.J. Felders. Montae Hernandez ran for 168 yards and scored on a 40-yard run for the Leopards.
CLINTON 34, HIGHLAND 28
CLINTON — Fielder Dufrene ran for two touchdowns and threw for two scores as Clinton (8-3) edged Highland (7-4) in a Class 4A first-round game. Dufrene ran for 96 yards for the Yellowjackets, and Harrison Lester added 87 yards rushing. Avery Johnson scored two touchdowns for Highland.
DOLLARWAY 47, GENTRY 0
PINE BLUFF — Donald Robinson Jr. recovered a high snap and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown and Kendrick Hunter intercepted three passes, returning one for a touchdown, as Pine Bluff Dollarway (9-2) shut out Gentry (3-8). Dollarway advances to the second round, where it will face Clinton.
Keshawn Williams had eight carries for 89 yards to lead Dollarway, and James Smith ran for two touchdowns. Simeon Blair added a 20-yard touchdown run.
The Cardinals intercepted Gentry quarterback Kevin Easter four times and held the Pioneers to 114 total yards.
STAR CITY 41, NEWPORT 30
NEWPORT — Dajunn Harris scored on two long runs in a decisive third quarter to help Star City (8-3) hold off Newport (8-3) for a first-round 5A playoff victory.
The Bulldogs scored 21 points in the quarter after building a 10-0 halftime. Harris led the way with an 85-yard touchdown run and a 62-yard touchdown run. Tye Brown scored the other touchdown.
The 31-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter allowed Star City to hold on for the win even though the Greyhounds outscored the Bulldogs 16-10 in the quarter.
MENA 40, CAC 9
MENA — Sage Kesterson, Jackson Daugherty and Brady Davis each scored two touchdowns to lead Mena (9-2) to victory over Central Arkansas Christian in a first-round Class 4A playoff game Friday night.
Kesterson opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and added a second rushing touchdown just before halftime. Daugherty scored in the first quarter on a 4-yard run and in the fourth quarter on a 50-yard run. Both of Davis’ scores, an 8-yard run and a 23-yard run, came in the final quarter.
GOSNELL 35, DOVER 7
GOSNELL — Carlos Blackman ran for 131 yards on 14 carries and scored 2 touchdowns to lead Gosnell (9-1-1) over Dover (8-3).
Pyberius Real added 88 yards rushing on six carries and also scored twice for the Pirates, who also got a rushing touchdown from Brian Anderson.
Dover was led by Ben Dale, who rushed for 95 yards on 18 carries and scored once.
ARKADELPHIA 40,
POTTSVILLE 21
POTTSVILLE — Arkadelphia (8-3) outscored Pottsville 33-7 in the second half to eliminate the 4-4A Conference’s No. 2 seed Pottsville (7-4).
The Badgers, the 7-4A Conference’s No. 4 seed, trailed 14-7 at halftime, but took advantage of five Apaches turnovers in the second half. They will travel to Gosnell, the No. 2 seed from the 3-4A, next Friday in the second round. Fullback Ty Kosters scored three touchdowns, from 2, 5 and 2 yards. He finished with 27 rushing yards on 4 carries.
Running back Alex Buckley rushed for 175 yards and 1 touchdown on 19 carries. Buckley scored from 5 yards out in the first half.
Quarterback Jeff Blake completed 13 of 15 passes for 100 yards and 1 touchdown and rushed for 67 yards on 12 carries and another score.
Wide receiver Bryant Robinson caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Blake in the third quarter.
Sports on 11/15/2014