SPRINGDALE -- Tyler Blackston made the most of his one catch Friday night.
Blackston scored on a 37-yard pass play with 1 minute, 7 seconds left to give Springdale Har-Ber a 20-17 victory over Conway on Friday in Class 7A state playoff action at Wildcat Stadium. Har-Ber (10-1) will remain at home to face Fort Smith Southside, a 35-25 winner over Cabot, in a semifinal game next Friday.
Springdale Har-Ber 20, Conway 17
Conway^0^3^14^0—^17
Har-Ber^7^6^0^7^—^20
First Quarter
Harb — Chandler 1 run (Zizumbo kick), 7:08
Second Quarter
Con — Underwood 26 FG, 7:30
Harb — Blackston 2 run (kick failed), 0:20
Third Quarter
Con — Pleasant 4 pass from Smith (Underwood kick), 6:07
Con — Smith 1 run (Underwood kick), 1:36
Fourth Quarter
Harb — Blackston 37 pass from Chandler (Zizumbo kick), 1:07
Conway (6-6) mostly outplayed Har-Ber after losing 37-7 to the Wildcats in Week 3. Conway took a 17-13 in the fourth quarter and appeared in good shape after a failed fake punt gave Conway the ball back at the Har-Ber 23 with just over five minutes remaining. But the Har-Ber defense forced a punt and that's when Har-Ber put together its only meaningful drive of the night.
"This was one of those events where Conway pretty much whipped us all over the place except the final score," Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. "But our guys made plays when we had to. At this point, you just want to win and advance."
Starting at its own 13, Har-Ber moved into Conway territory mostly on running plays by Luke Hannon. Fuller Chandler finally went to the air and found Blackston cutting across the middle of the field. The senior receiver caught the ball in stride and used a block by Trey Smith to get into the corner of the end zone and give Har-Ber a 20-17 lead.
It was the 11th touchdown of the season on 24 catches for Blackston, who knows how to find the end zone.
"They played with a lot of heart and beat us around quite a bit," Blackston said. "We faced a lot of adversity but was still able to come through."
Conway took its first lead in the third quarter after sophomore Will Kennedy intercepted a pass by Chandler. Conway then went 55 yards in eight plays to score on a 1-yard run by Breylin Smith. Damontay Allen highlighted the drive with a 33-yard catch to the Har-Ber 2-yard line.
Conway had a final opportunity after Blackston's touchdown, but a pass reception and lateral amounted to little and Har-Ber ended the game with a tackle near midfield.
"I'm just heartbroken for our kids," Conway coach Clint Ashcraft said. "We've made a lot of improvement and to let this game slip away in the final minute, it's just heartbreaking."
Chandler and Blackston scored on short touchdowns run to put Har-Ber ahead 13-3 at halftime. Chandler's touchdown followed a 57-yard run by Hannon on Har-Ber's first play from scrimmage.
Conway controlled the ball most of the first half behind quarterback Breylin Smith, who extended plays with his running ability. But the Wampus Cats only managed a 26-yard field goal by Christian Underwood with 7:30 left in the second quarter.
Sports on 11/21/2015