Football: Springdale Har-Ber has its way with Conway

CONWAY -- Springdale Har-Ber is a much-improved team over the one that finished 3-8 a year ago.

Just ask Conway, which beat Har-Ber by 16 points last year.

Springdale Har-Ber 37, Conway 7

Har-Ber^7^17^7^6^—^37

Conway^0^0^0^7^—^7

First Quarter

Har — Douangdara 36 pass from Chandler (Zizumbo kick), 1:09

Second Quarter

Har — Smith 44 pass from Chandler (Zizumbo kick), 14:08

Har — FG Zizumbo 28, 4:19

Har — Hannon 1 run (Zizumbo kick), 0:21

Third Quarter

Har — Hannon 3 run (Zizumbo kick), 8:18

Fourth Quarter

Har — Nasilia 2 run (kick failed), 8:17

Con — Dail 5 run (Leach kick), 5:13

Har-Ber dominated the rematch behind quarterback Fuller Chandler, who threw two more touchdown passes in a 37-7 victory over Conway Friday at John McConnell Stadium. Chandler had 12 touchdown passes on the year before he threw his first interception in the third quarter.

The mistake mattered little to Har-Ber, which was leading 31-0 at the time. Har-Ber increased its lead to 37-0 before Conway avoided the shutout on a 5-yard run by McCall Dail with 5 minutes, 13 seconds left to play.

"It's embarrasing to play like that at home," Conway coach Clint Ashcraft said. "They were a lot better football team than we were tonight. We've got a lot of work to do."

It was another fast start for Har-Ber (2-1), which beat Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst 49-21 last week after leading 21-0 after one quarter. Springdale led Conway 24-0 at halftime on two touchdown passes by Chandler, a 28-yard field goal by Jesus Zizumbo, and a 1-yard touchdown run by Luke Hannon.

Har-Ber scored twice after converting on fourth down and the Wildcats turned a Conway fumble into a 44-yard touchdown from Chandler to Trey Smith. Hannon added two short touchdown runs in the second half to give Har-Ber a 37-0 lead.

"Our defense continues to improve each week," Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. "There was a number of times Conway started to move the ball, but they couldn't finish drives."

Har-Ber led 7-0 when Conway fumbled at its 44-yard line in the second quarter. The Wildcats recovered and struck quickly when Chandler threw long on first down to Smith, who hauled in the pass to put Har-Ber ahead 14-0.

Zizumbo increased the lead to 17-0 with his field goal, but that wasn't enough for the Wildcats, who used some aggressive play-calling to increase their lead. Chandler kept a drive going with a 3-yard run on fourth down near midfield. He then threw long again to Smith, who caught a 36-yard pass after a Conway defender got his hands on it.

The Wildcats then turned to Hannon, who ran for eight yards before diving into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown.

Conway could get little going behind Breylin Smith, a three-year starter who is committed to Central Arkansas. The Wampus Cats reached the Har-Ber 23 in the first quarter, but penalties and a sack by Chase Anderson backed the them up to near midfield.

That was the only threat in the first half for Conway (1-2), which routed Har-Ber 31-15 last year at Wildcat Stadium. McCall Dail ran to the Har-Ber 17 in the third quarter before he was stripped of the ball and the Wildcats recovered.

Har-Ber will return home Friday to begin 7A-West Conference action against Rogers High. Conway will host Siloam Springs in a homecoming game to begin 7A-6A-Central play.

Sports on 09/19/2015

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