SPRINGDALE -- Springdale Har-Ber used the passing game and a pair of interception returns for scores to put Springdale High in an early hole Friday night at Wildcat Stadium and earn a 38-7 win.
[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Full results + recaps, photos and more]
On Har-Ber's first offensive possession, quarterback Payton Copher found Trey Smith for a 23-yard score to put the Wildcats up 7-0 with less than five minutes off the clock. Copher finished 5 of 7 passing for 65 yards and Smith grabbed his sixth touchdown catch of the year.
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First Quarter
Har — Smith 23 pass from Copher (Zizumbo kick), 7:03
Har — Collins 5 run (Zizumbo kick), :30
Second Quarter
Har — Eckwood 35 interception return (Zizumbo kick), 10:25
Har — Smith 14 run (Zizumbo kick), 5:55
Har — Pounders 27 interception return (Zizumbo kick), 4:32
Har — FG Zizumbo 51, :45
Fourth Quarter
Spring — Vaughan 3 run (Barroso kick), 7:49
Following a 35-yard Tevin Eckwood pick-6 to put the Wildcats (4-1, 2-0 7A-West) up 21-0, Smith put Har-Ber up four touchdowns with a 14-yard run. Altogether, he racked up 86 yards of total offense. Har-Ber coach Chris Wood knows, though, balance and being able to make the key throws will be vital moving forward.
"We're getting better (in the passing game) every week," Wood said. "It's something we focus on every week in practice. You've got to call it in a game and execute it. We're getting closer and closer. We've got to have that balance if we want to move on and do some things."
Less than six minutes after Eckwood took a Layne Hutchins pass the other way for a score, Brock Pounders nabbed one of his own, pushing the score to 35-0 approaching halftime.
"I thought our defense came out and played well. Anytime you can get 14 points off turnovers, that's huge," Wood said. "Springdale's scheme was good. They got after us and really made us work offensively. It was a good night for our defense, and our offense fed off of it."
Har-Ber placekicker Jesus Zizumbo then put a cap on the first half with a 51-yard field goal. Springdale, on the other hand, was hurt by three first-half turnovers. Hutchins, after a rocky start, displayed composure in the pocket and completed 13 of 18 passes for 101 yards on the night.
Jayden Minchew led the Red'Dogs with six catches for 49 yards. Springdale coach Zak Clark, throughout the week, was impressed with Minchew's leadership.
"I'm so proud of the guys and how they've handled everything in just an impossible week, but Jayden Minchew, his character showed up this week," Clark said. "He's the glue, he's the guy who held us together. He's going to continue to do that."
Garrett Vaughan had a productive night on the ground, finishing with 68 yards on 10 carries and the lone Springdale touchdown. Har-Ber was led on the ground by Copher, who totaled 36 yards on seven carries. Logan Collins, who had a five-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, finished with 14 yards on seven touches.
Springdale is back on the road next week at Bentonville West, and Har-Ber hosts Bentonville in a matchup of conference powers.
"It's been a long, emotional week for these guys," Clark added. "We'll get better."
Sports on 10/01/2016