SPRINGDALE -- The Springdale High offense lined up to go for it on a crucial fourth-and-1 from the Alma 25-yard line with the game still very much up in the air during the third quarter Friday night.
The Bulldogs were flagged for a false start, then failed to pick up the fourth-and-6. Alma marched down the field on the ensuing drive and scored the game's final points in a 28-10 Airedales win.
That Figures
7.3 — Yards per carry for junior running back Malcolm Neal through two games.
75 — Percent completion percentage allowed by the Springdale defense through two games.
47 — Percent completion percentage by the Springdale offense through two games.
58 — Percent of the offensive plays have been running plays through two games.
The penalty was just one example of untimely mistakes which have have plagued Springdale (0-2) through its first two games.
"It was everything," coach Shane Patrick said of what errors stood out. "We would make good blocks and then run a wrong route or make a wrong read or miss a tackle or jump offside or we'd flinch. We had three times we're down third (or fourth) and (short), we jump and they'd back us up and it's third-and-6.
"Just mental mistakes."
In week one, the miscues were turnovers, like a lost fumble into the end zone that turned a Bulldog go-ahead touchdown into a spark as Greenwood scored 49 straight points in a 56-26 win. Or an interception returned for a touchdown as the Bulldogs tried to rally.
"We've got to mentally be prepared to play and we've got to carry out our assignments and execute," Patrick said.
Player Of The Game: Junior running back Malcolm Neal had his first career 100-yard performance, running for 104 yards on 19 carries in only his second varsity game. He had 92 yards on 14 carries in the first half and has established himself as Springdale's top back.
Play Of The Night: Multiple Springdale defenders swarmed to the ball to tackle Curtis Lloyd for a 3-yard loss on third-and-3 from the Springdale 47 to force an Alma punt. Springdale scored on its ensuing drive, marching 72 yards in 12 plays to take a 10-7 lead in the second quarter.
Notable: Senior right tackle and team captain Jose Ambriz (leg) was cleared Friday and started after missing the first game. Springdale also started Steffan Bonilla (LT), Adam Thompson (LG), Daniel Salas (C) and Alex Davis (RG) on the line. Bonilla, who started at right tackle against Greenwood, started Friday in the left tackle spot Kaleb Wade manned the first game. ... The Springdale offense sputtered in the second half for a second straight week, totaling just 114 yards in the second half after having 181 in the first. Through two games, the Bulldogs are averaging 197 yards in the first half and 129.5 in the second. ... Springdale's defense again struggled against the pass, but was improved overall, giving up 346 yards of offense, which is markedly better than the 568 it allowed against Greenwood.
Up Next: Springdale will go out of state to try and pick up its first win at Bixby, Okla. The Class 6A Division II Spartans (1-1) rebounded from a season-opening 66-20 loss at Oklahoma power Jenks with a 51-21 win against at East Central on Thursday. Bixby beat Springdale each of the last two years, including staging a huge comeback in a 45-38 victory last season.
Sports on 09/14/2014