WEST FORK -- West Fork is headed for the quarterfinals of the Class 3A state playoffs.
The Tigers defense pitched a second-half shutout and scored twice in the fourth quarter in a 28-21 victory over Camden Harmony Grove on Friday night at Tiger Stadium.
West Fork (8-3) advances to face 6-3A champion Smackover next Friday.
The Tigers stopped Harmony Grove senior C.J. Parham for a loss on a fourth-and-1 play from the 1 with less than a minute left in the game to seal the victory.
West Fork Coach Brad Lindley said his team made great adjustments in the second half after trailing 21-14 at halftime.
"I just think after we adjusted to their speed and we took a little better angles and were able to contain them a little better," Lindley said. "Our guys put themselves in place to make plays. Our defense was big all game, but both our lines played well."
The 1-3A champion Tigers put together what proved to be the game-winning drive after stopping Harmony Grove on downs at the West Fork 36. The Tigers converted a fourth-and-3 play on a completion from Colton Wise to Briant Bowerman. Dalton Dickinson scored on a 5-yard run around the left side with 4:43 left.
Wise found junior Oshea Zebell for the two-point conversion and the 28-21 lead.
Senior Brayden Burnett made the big fourth-down stop on defense for the Tigers, but also was huge on offense. He rushed for 110 yards and 1 touchdown and caught 3 passes for 49 yards and another score.
Harmony Grove coach Tony Chambers said West Fork surprised him a little bit.
"They are a very physical team," Chambers said. "I was really surprised at how physical they were. You can't win when you turn the ball over three or four times in the second half, but hat's off to them. They had something to do with that."
Harmony Grove had some momentum thanks to a big play in the final seconds of the first half. Parham threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Jace Garcia with nine seconds left for a 21-14 lead.
Parham accounted for all three of the Hornets' touchdowns, all through the air. He connected on two short touchdown passes, including another to Garcia.
Wise threw for two first-half touchdowns, one to Burnett and the other to Bowerman. He also connected for a two-point conversion to Bowerman.
GLEN ROSE 56, HOXIE 33
HOXIE — Jordan Johnson scored the final three touchdowns on long touchdown runs to help Glen Rose (10-2) pull away from Hoxie (9-3) in the Class 3A playoffs.
Glen Rose led 35-33 in the third quarter when Johnson scored on a 48-yard run to make it 42-33. Johnson added scoring runs of 93 and 20 yards in the fourth quarter. He also had a 33-yard touchdown run in the second quarter as he finished with 236 yards and 4 touchdowns on 11 carries.
James Johnson scored on runs of 44, 15, 1 and 30 yards in the first half for Hoxie (9-3). James Johnson finished with 214 yards on the ground.
Glen Rose’s Aaron Weatherford threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter, both to Seth Davis, and threw an 8-yard pass to Austin Hughes and a 55-yard touchdown to Jarred Rogers in the second quarter. Weatherford finished 9 of 15 for 198 yards and 4 touchdowns.
DANVILLE 22, PARIS 19
DANVILLE — Jake Madding ran for two second-half touchdown and Danville outlasted Paris to advance to the Class 4A quarterfinals Friday night.
Paris led 12-7 at halftime, but Madding scored on a 3-yard run in the third quarter and a 10-yard run in the fourth to go up 22-12. Preston Drewery scored on a 4-yard run for Paris, but couldn’t get any closer.
Madding finished with 121 yards and 2 touchdowns on 28 carries for Danville (8-3). Nate Davidson scored on a 64-yard run in the first quarter for Paris and finished with 182 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also scored on a 2-yard run in the second quarter.
Danville’s Jamey Holbrook scored on a 35-yard run to go up 7-0 in the first quarter.
HARDING ACADEMY 42,
CENTERPOINT 20
SEARCY — Alex Francis threw five touchdown passes and Harding Academy (11-1) won its 10th consecutive game to move into the quarterfinals. Francis threw a 7-yard pass to Luke Fouts in the first quarter, a 66-yard pass to Peyton Harlow and a 9-yard pass to Fauts in the second quarter. Francis then found Ryan Turley for a 21-yard touchdown in the third quarter and, after Parker Harr had a 3-yard touchdown run, Francis’ 54-yard pass to Travis Turley was Harding Academy’s final score. Francis completed 19 of 30 passes for 341 yards and 5 touchdowns. Travis Turley caught 4 passes for 106 yards.
LAMAR 36, FORDYCE 35
LAMAR — Austin Henry scored three touchdowns on the ground and another receiving, while Blake Kern scored another rushing touchdown for Lamar. Henry’s touchdown runs covered 27, 48 and 60 yards and he caught a touchdown pass that went for 20 yards. Kern’s run was from 54 yards and he also had an interception on defense.
Sports on 11/21/2015