VIDEO, PHOTOS: Har-Ber defense pops Russellville

Springdale Har-Ber receiver Hunter Wood (2) reaches for an overthrown pass while Russellville defensive back Caleb Gray defends in the Wildcats’ 49-0 victory at Wildcat Stadium in Springdale. For more photos, go to arkansasonline.com/914russellville.
Springdale Har-Ber receiver Hunter Wood (2) reaches for an overthrown pass while Russellville defensive back Caleb Gray defends in the Wildcats’ 49-0 victory at Wildcat Stadium in Springdale. For more photos, go to arkansasonline.com/914russellville.

SPRINGDALE -- JuJuan Boyd was likely speaking for the entire Springdale Har-Ber defense when he said the Wildcats were eager to get on the field Friday night.

Fifteen days ago, Har-Ber opened the season by giving up 84 points and 1,025 yards in a loss to Pulaski Academy. Although Boyd didn't play in that game, the Springdale High transfer said the Wildcats felt like they had something to prove in their home opener.

Boyd and company did just that in a 49-0 shutout of Russellville, scoring a pair of defensive touchdowns and shutting down the Cyclones' offense in a mercy-rule rout.

"We took it personally because we expected to play a lot better that we did," Boyd said. "We had to come out here tonight and do work. We were motivated to play tonight and put that game behind us."

Boyd impacted the game on special teams with multiple tackles that kept the Cyclones (0-2) bottled up in their own 20. On defense, he recorded three tackles for loss and had three pass break-ups. The senior saved his best for last with a 39-yard pick-six interception return in the fourth quarter. Cole Bowen also had a pick-six for the Wildcats (1-1).

Har-Ber led 14-0 at halftime and struggled at times offensively in the first half. The Wildcats scored a first-quarter touchdown when quarterback Blaise Wittschen hit tight end Errington McRae for 79 yards to set up a short keeper for a score, then later Liem Taylor on an 11-yard touchdown pass.

"I thought Russellville did a really nice job schematically in the first half," Har-Ber Coach Chris Wood said.

"I thought their defensive gameplan was really good. They had a lot of movement upfront and their stunt game was really impressive. It took us a little while to figure it out. In the second half we settled down and executed a lot better."

Har-Ber running back Jay Burns didn't play in the first half, but made a quick impact in the second, taking a Wittschen handoff and racing 60-yard down the left sideline on his first carry for a score. Burns later added a 15-yard touchdown run that put Har-Ber up 28-0.

"Bar none, I think Jay Burns is one of the top three running backs in the state of Arkansas, and it's really not even close," Wood said.

"We have some great backs in the state. Jay is a dynamic runner and he makes us a little more versatile offensively. I was proud of him. He came out there and competed hard in the second half."

The Wildcats put the game away in the third quarter, scoring 21 points.

Wittschen found Hunter Wood on a 6-yard slant route for a score with 1:31 left in the quarter to invoke the 35-point mercy rule with Jesus Barroso's extra-point kick.

Springdale Har-Ber 49, Russellville 0

Russellville 0 0 0 0 — 0

Har-Ber 7 7 21 14 — 49

First Quarter

Harb — Wittschen 2 run (Barroso kick), 6:08.

Second Quarter

Harb — Taylor 11 pass from Wittschen (Barroso kick), 3:55.

Third Quarter

Harb — Burns 60 run (Barroso kick), 11:47.

Harb — Burns 15 run (Barroso kick), 5:08.

Harb — Wood 6 pass from Wittschen (Barroso kick), 1:31.

Fourth Quarter

Harb — Boyd 39 interception return (Barroso kick), 11:01.

Harb — Bowen 68 interception return (Barroso kick), 2:53.

Sports on 09/14/2019

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