SPRINGDALE -- Senior running back Nic Roller ran for 330 yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries as Bixby, Okla., outlasted Springdale 57-38 at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium.
Bixby junior quarterback Tanner Griffin also had a big game, throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns as the Spartans totaled 671 yards. Bixby held off Springdale after breaking open a 22-17 lead going into halftime by scoring two touchdowns early in the third quarter while Springdale sputtered without receiver Kyler Williams, who briefly left with an injury.
"I felt really good at halftime and then coming back out," Springdale Coach Zak Clark said. "Then we lost Kyler the first play of the second half and that's when we got behind. That's a learning opportunity. We've got to get stops on defense right there, and we've got to have somebody else on offense to make plays."
Bixby overcame huge performances by Williams and senior quarterback Jack Lindsey. Lindsey completed 23 of 40 passes for a career-high 396 yards and 3 touchdowns and repeatedly found Williams for big gains.
Williams missed those first two drives early in the third quarter after suffering a stinger but returned and promptly hauled in an 80-yard touchdown pass. He finished with 13 catches for a career-high 263 yards and 2 scores.
"I was a little bit surprised that they played man and singled him up as much as they did tonight," Clark said. "He's our guy."
Springdale was in the game at halftime, but two Roller touchdown runs extended the Spartans' lead to 36-17 and the Bulldogs could never make it a one-score game again as Bixby's size took its toll as the game wore on, with Roller bouncing off tackles and the Spartans controlling both lines of scrimmage. Whenever needed, Bixby and Griffin were able to hit big pass plays over the top of the defense.
"Nic's obviously the man no matter, but it helps that we can throw it a little bit," Bixby Coach Loren Montgomery said.
ALMA 45, HARRISON 21
ALMA — Junior quarterback Noah Dotson completed 12 of 21 passes for 257 yards and 3 touchdowns to help lead Alma (2-1) over Harrison (1-2). Senior running back Landon Brigance rushed for two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass for the Airedales. Dotson’s touchdown passes went to Brigance for 73 yards, Brayden Harris for 42 yards and Heath Friddle for 7 yards. Brigance scored two 3-yard runs.
VAN BUREN 32, FARMINGTON 12
VAN BUREN — Jaylynn Dye scored three touchdowns to lead Van Buren past Farmington.
Jordan Barlow threw a touchdown pass to Brad Rodriguez. Ethan Hudspeth added a rushing touchdown for the Pointers.
POTTSVILLE 32,
RUSSELLVILLE 24
POTTSVILLE — Pottsville forced four turnovers in a victory over Russellville.
The Apaches intercepted Cyclones quarterback Michael Mullen four times.
Pottsville trailed 24-20 in the fourth quarter, but came back with two rushing touchdowns from Ty Manness and Austin McNeely.
Sports on 09/19/2015