Chapple, NLR get rolling

FORT SMITH — North Little Rock used the efforts of quarterback David Chapple and its defense to rout Fort Smith Southside 49-7 in a 7A-Central game Friday at Rowland Stadium.

The Charging Wildcats (60, 3-0 7A-Central) dominated from the start as it took just eight seconds to score, eventually building a 35-0 halftime lead to force the second-half running clock via the mercy rule.

Offensively, North Little Rock gained 604 total yards (439 rushing, 165 passing) and gained 22 first downs. Chapple threw for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns and also rushed for 2 touchdowns. Running backs Oscar Adaway (180 yards, 10 carries, 2 touchdowns) and Brandon Thomas (113 yards, 9 carries) led the way on the ground.

“I thought we operated at a very high rate of efficiency [on offense],” North Little Rock Coach Jamie Mitchell said. “We got weapons, and Chapple is really throwing the ball well now. He is the big reason why we are clicking so well.”

While the offense was rolling, the Wildcats shut down the high-scoring Mavericks. Southside (1-5, 0-3), which had scored 88 points in its first two conference games, was limited to just 177 total yards and 8 first downs.

“I don’t think we played as well on the offensive side of the ball like we’ve been playing,” Southside Coach Jeff Williams said. “We had an off night. Those things are going to happen. You have to give North Little Rock credit. I thought their defensive line controlled the game.”

North Little Rock gained 381 yards in the first half (224 rush, 157 pass) while limiting Southside to 83 yards and 3 first downs.

The Charging Wildcats dominated from the start as Chapple hit Aaron Montgomery for a 60-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.

On its next possession, North Little Rock marched 62 yards in six plays, capped by fullback Tyler Day’s 2-yard run with 8:27 left in the first quarter.

Chapple capped off the Wildcats’ third drive with a 1-yard sneak with 4:08 left in the opening quarter to finish off a 6-play, 63-yard drive that was all on the ground.

In the second quarter, Chapple threw a 10-yard scoring pass to Deontae Montgomery, then kept on a nifty 15-yard bootleg on fourth and 1 for another touchdown for a 35-0 North Little Rock lead.

Southside’s only offensive success was on the opening drive of the second half. The Mavericks marched 70 yards in 10 plays, capped by Taye Gatewood’s 13-yard pass to Brenden Ulrich.

But Adaway added touchdowns of 6 and 4 yards in the final two quarters for the Charging Wildcats.