FORT SMITH -- After two disappointing losses, Fort Smith Southside needed a confidence boost going into 7A-Central play next week.
Thanks to a dominant first half, the Mavericks got that much-needed victory with a 35-7 blowout of Rogers Heritage at Rowland Stadium Friday night.
"I thought we executed on both sides of the ball very well," Southside coach Jeff Williams said. "We stuffed them defensively, especially in the running game.
The Mavericks dominated the first half, scoring on all of its five possessions to build a 35-0 halftime lead. Southside had 263 total yards on offense. The War Eagles were held to just 23 total yards, including minus-3 yards rushing.
Quarterback Parker Wehunt was 11-of-14 passing for 156 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half. Running back Jay Washington rushed for 101 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.
"The offensive line played well tonight," Williams said. "Parker was able to find open receivers. Jay also had a big night running the ball. We're taking baby steps forward and trying to get better every week."
Thanks to a shanked punt, Southside needed just three plays to go 28 yards for its first score. Washington went the final 9 yards for the touchdown. Issac Banda's PAT made it 7-0 Mavericks with 9 minutes, 21 seconds left in the first quarter.
"The goal at the start of the game was to defer and kick to them and force them into a hole and get the ball back," Williams said. "Then we wanted to score and put them in a quick hole. We were able to do that. We had some short fields and offensively we took advantage of that."
On a fourth-and-10 play, Wehunt hit Jake Tyler for a 29-yard touchdown pass with 4:04 left in the opening quarter. The PAT kick failed, leaving Southside with a 13-0 lead.
The Mavericks got another short field after a second shanked punt put the ball at the War Eagle 36. Seven plays later, Washington scored from the 6 and increased Southside's lead to 20-0 with 11:56 left in the first half.
Finally, the Mavericks showed they could march the ball down the field after getting possession deep in their territory. Southside marched 83 yards in 8 plays, with Washington getting his third score of the game from 4 yards out for a 27-0 lead with 6:30 left in the second quarter.
Southside did get its last score on Wehunt's 24-yard touchdown pass to Conner Austin. Wehunt then hit Dmitri Lloyd for the two-point pass giving the Mavericks a commanding 35-0 lead.
The second half would be played with a running clock. Heritage avoided the shutout thanks to a 9-yard touchdown run by Ethan Farris with 4:04 left in the game.
FS SOUTHSIDE 35, ROGERS HERITAGE 7
Rogers Heritage 0 0 0 7 — 7
FS Southside 13 22 0 0 — 35
First Quarter
SOUTH – Washington 3 run (Banda kick), 9:21.
SOUTH – Tyler 29 pass from Wehunt (kick failed), 4:04.
Second Quarter
SOUTH – Washington 6 run (Banda kick), 11:56.
SOUTH – Washington 4 run (Banda kick), 6:30.
SOUTH – Austin 24 pass from Wehunt (Wehunt pass to Lloyd), 2:43.
Fourth Quarter
HERT – Farris 9 run (Baxley kick), 4:04.
Four Downs
• The Mavericks now has an 11-2 series over the War Eagles.
• The Southside defense limited Heritage to just 113 total yards and seven first downs.
• Since losing to Southside in the 2014 7A state quarterfinals, Heritage has a 2-42 record, including 17 straight losses.
• Next week: Southside travels to Conway to open 7A-Central play while Rogers Heritage travels to Springdale to open 7A-West action.
Sports on 09/21/2019