PRAIRIE GROVE -- Class 7A isn't the only place in the high school playoffs where rematches occur.
[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Full results + recaps, photos and more]
Three teams from the 4A-1 Conference won Friday to set up a rematch in the semifinals and ensure a league team will play for a state championship for the second consecutive year. Prairie Grove is one win away from another trip to Little Rock after beating Gosnell 48-26 in a quarterfinal game in Tiger Stadium.
Prairie Grove will host Warren while the other side of the bracket will pit 4A-1 Conference members Pea Ridge and Shiloh Christian against each other. Pea Ridge won the regular-season matchup to earn the No. 2 seed from the league.
Prairie Grove (12-0) remains undefeated after losing 39-20 to Nashville in the championship game last year at War Memorial Stadium. Nashville was eliminated last week by Pea Ridge, whose only loss this season is to Prairie Grove.
"We're definitely underrated," Prairie Grove quarterback Zeke Laird said of the teams in the 4A-1 Conference. "Week in and week out, we have some of the best players and coaches in the state."
PLAY OF THE GAME
Gosnell had pulled to within 20-12 when fullback Kyle Sam broke at least four tackles and scored on a 20-yard touchdown run. Anthony Johnson added another touchdown to give the Tigers a 35-12 lead at halftime.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Sam got the running game going for Pea Ridge by powering for more than 100 yards in the first half. He received good blocking up front and fought for extra yardage after breaking past the line of scrimmage.
THAT HURTS
Demarkus Cooper is a rugged player at tight end and defensive end for Prairie Grove. Gosnell defensive back Tramaine Anderson found out the hard way when he tried to tackle Cooper after a pass reception in the second quarter. Cooper stiff-armed a Gosnell player trying to close on him then lowered his head and sent Anderson reeling backward as both players fell out of bounds.
Prairie Grove scored a few plays later to take a 20-6 lead over the Pirates.
LONG HAUL
Over 100 fans from Gosnell made the nearly 300-mile trip to Prairie Grove for Friday's playoff game.
Gosnell is located northwest of Blytheville and its high school sits less than 12 miles from the Mississippi River. Gosnell began losing much of its population with the closing of Eaker Air Force Base in 1992.
The Pirates fielded one of the first wrestling teams in Arkansas and they have a rich tradition in basketball. In 1988, Gosnell won a state championship behind Joe Harvell, who later went to Ole Miss and became an All-SEC player.
Jeremy Parnell, who plays in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars, also attended Gosnell and Ole Miss.
NAME GAME
Fans may have recognized at least one name from Gosnell over the loud speaker Friday.
Maurice Carthon, Jr., was credited with a handful of tackles while starting at linebacker for the Pirates. Carthon is the son of former running back Maurice Carthon, who played at Arkansas State and in the NFL, mostly with the New York Giants. Carthon also played in the USFL, where he teamed with Herschel Walker in the backfield for the New Jersey Generals.
STILL WAITING
At least five players, including leading rusher Anthony Johnson, will make the transition to basketball once the football season is over at Prairie Grove.
Prairie Grove basketball coach Steve Edmiston has grown accustomed to waiting to fill out his roster, especially after last season when the Tigers advanced to the state championship in football. Prairie Grove will play at Farmington Monday after opening the basketball season with a 47-46 loss at home to Huntsville.
Sports on 11/26/2016