PHOTOS: Hutchins leads Springdale over Alma

ALMA -- Springdale High senior quarterback Conner Hutchins accounted for four touchdowns Friday night to lead the Bulldogs to their second straight victory, going on the road to topple Alma 28-13 at Citizens Bank Field.

Hutchins threw for three scores, and also ran one in from 3 yards out early in the second half to pad the Springdale lead.

"He's getting better and better and getting a lot more consistent each and every week," said Springdale coach Zak Clark said. "If he continues to improve, you better watch out. He's had a couple of pretty good weeks."

The Class 7A Bulldogs out-gained the 5A Airedales 303-195 in total offense. Hutchins finished 14-of-21 for 156 yards, while rushing 9 times for 39 years.

"The guys around me make my job a lot easier," Hutchins said. "We've got guys like Ladarius Wonsley, so we know we can throw it to him deep, short, wherever, and when they try to cover him up, we just spread it around to other guys. The defense kept us in the game in the first half, then we came out in the second half and started putting together some drives."

Springdale actually trailed 13-7 late in the first half before momentum quickly swung the Bulldogs' way. Alma muffed a Springdale punt and allowed the Bulldogs' Chase Jones to pounce on it at the Airedale 8. Hutchins needed just one snap to hit Wonsley in the corner of the end zone with 30 seconds left before the intermission to put Springdale up 14-13.

"Having that muffed punt and getting that score right before the half was probably the play of the game," Clark said. "We had six offensive penalties in the first half, so we were just shooting ourselves in the foot, and Alma did a great job of coaching and exposing us some. But that play turned it around for us."

Both teams came up empty on their opening possessions, before Alma struck paydirt first, completing an 11-play drive with a 13-yard run by Ben Henley. Following a mishandled snap on the extra point, the Airedales led 6-0 with 2 minutes, 18 seconds left in the first quarter.

Springdale followed with a 12-play drive, in which Hutchins completed 4 of 5 passes, including an 11-yard strike to Wonsley on an inside slant to get the Bulldogs on the board. Jesus Oropeza's extra point made it 7-6 with 9:16 to play in the first half.

Alma then took advantage of a short field and a 15-yard personal foul penalty against Springdale, setting them up at the Bulldogs' 29. The Airedales needed just one play for quarterback Landon Blair to hit Bobby Winfrey in the flat, who then turned on the jets untouched down the left sideline to put Alma back on top, 13-7.

After the momentum-shifting turnover to end the first half, it was all Springdale after the break.

Springdale opened the second half with a 10-play drive ending with Hutchins' scamper to make it 21-13 midway through the third. Hutchins then opened the fourth quarter with a 16-yard catch and run by Juan Martinez to put the final points on the board.

After a couple of late sacks by Bulldog defenders Andre Sparks and Dominic Trejo, Springdale had an opportunity to tack on one more. But Clark decided to take a knee and run out the clock.

"I know our guys are going to play hard, and they certainly did tonight," Clark said. "We feel like we are a second-half team because that's the way we have played in recent years. We've got to continue to get better, but I like where we are going. At least we are improving from week to week, and that's what it's all about."

Four Downs

• Springdale held Alma to just two yards of offense on three plays in the third quarter.

• Wonsley led the Bulldogs with seven receptions for 88 yards and two scores. The junior now has 31 catches in three games.

• The Bulldogs have now beaten Alma four straight years, since falling to the Airedales in 2014 and 2015.

• Springdale is off next Friday and will next travel to Rogers Heritage on Sept. 27 to open 7A-West Conference play. Alma will visit Russellville next Friday night.

Preps Sports on 09/14/2019