McClellan returning to playoffs
Little Rock McClellan enters its regular- season finale with a Class 5A postseason berth in hand.
It’s a stark contrast to a year ago.
McClellan found itself in position to advance to the Class 5A playoffs last November but had to forfeit two 5A- Central Conference games against Beebe and Little Rock Fair after it was discovered the Lions had used an ineligible player. That violation left the Lions out of the playoffs as they finished 5- 5, 4- 3 in the 5A- Central.
The Lions ( 6- 2, 4- 1) will be the No. 2 seed from the 5A- Central this season and will host a first- round playoff game. They’ll travel to Jacksonville on Thursday with a chance to win seven games for the first time since an 8- 3 season in 2002.
“We’ve come together at the right time,” Coach Maurice Moody said. “The kids worked extremely hard in the offseason. They’ve come together as one. They believe. The attitude and effort have been brilliant. ”
McClellan is led by junior running back Pierre Strong, who has rushed for 1,509 yards and 18 touchdowns on 103 carries. He had 311 yards and 5 touchdowns on 14 carries in a 44- 32 victory at Sylvan Hills on Oct. 23.
“He has great vision as a running back,” Moody said. “He’s a great kid to coach. He’s a great kid to be around. We’re excited for him. He’s one of those guys who stays well- grounded. He’s humble. He goes about his business like he’s a regular kid. We love him for that.”
Sophomore linebacker Joseph Lewis leads the Lions in tackles with 89 and has nine sacks.
“He’s a tackling machine,” Moody said.
Moody has been pleased
with the Lions’ progress since he took over the program in 2013. The Lions won one game in 2013 and two years later are a top- two seed from the 5A- Central.
“McClellan has always had athletes,” Moody said. “There’s athletes across the school district of Little Rock. We’re fortunate to have guys like Pierre and Joseph Lewis and those type of kids on our squad. They bring an excitement not just to McClellan, but the district as a whole.”
The Lions will play Morrilton or Vilonia in the first round of the playoffs. It’s an event Moody and the Lions are excited for considering the program’s struggles over the past decade. The last time McClellan advanced to the playoffs was 2011, when they were in the Class 6A playoffs with a 1- 8- 1 record and lost to Searcy in the opening round.
“The community is thirsty for it. They’re hungry for it,” Moody said. “To be able to play at home in the playoffs, it’s huge for the community. It’s huge for our program. It’s a great bridge builder for us.”