ALMA -- Noah Dotson accounted for three scores -- one running and two passing -- and Alma's defense bottled up Harrison's rushing attack in a 49-14 rout Friday, setting up a showdown next week at Greenbrier for control of the 5A-West.
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The Airedales (5-3, 4-1 5A-West) and Goblins (6-2, 3-2) entered Friday's game tied for second behind Greenbrier, but Alma got off to a fast start and never let up.
Alma was already up 21-7 when Dotson floated a pass to a wide-open Brayden Johnson, who sprinted untouched down the Airedales' sideline for a 70-yard touchdown. It was one of six receptions for 152 yards for Johnson by halftime.
"It was a great call from Coach [Chris] Gunter," Alma Coach Doug Loughridge said of his offensive coordinator. "He saw something he liked. It was a good time to take a shot. We got a big play, and I think it was kind of a back-breaker for them."
Despite a sloppy first half that included a combined 98 yards in penalties and five turnovers, Alma took a 35-7 lead into the break. Two Airedales turnovers near the Goblins' goal line kept the score from being more lopsided.
Alma held Harrison's rushing attack to 117 yards and added a defensive touchdown late in the third quarter on Nathan Alexander's 12-yard interception return.
"I think we've got the right guys on the field right now," Loughridge said. "We've toyed around with some different people, had some guys step up. We've been a little more aggressive since Morrilton [a 28-26 loss Oct. 7]. Our defense has played really well against the run all year; even against Morrilton, we took away their run game. We felt good coming into this game against the run. They did get some big plays on us here and there and we still had too many penalties, but we were able to overcome those with quick scores and it worked out for us."
Dotson led all rushers with 62 yards on 9 carries, and Garrison Jensen added 2 touchdown runs for the Airedales.
Loughridge said his team is focused and is exactly where it wants to be as it battles for playoff positioning.
"Morrilton's not going to come back to haunt us unless we slip up in one of these next two weeks, but right now, we're just focusing on one at a time," he said. "Now we've got to go to Greenbrier. It's going to be a good road trip and they're a good football team, but I think we'll be ready to go and I know our coordinators will have us ready."
Sports on 10/22/2016