High school report
Helena-West Helena is riding a momentum boost into the Class 4A playoffs after crushing Warren last week to close out the regular season.
Helena-West Helena knew it was going to play in the Class 4A playoffs heading into its regularseason finale at Warren on Nov. 1.
The Cougars treated their 8-4A Conference game with the Lumberjacks like a playoff game instead of going through the motions.
Led by senior quarterback Armonie Calhoun’s four touchdowns, Helena-West Helena defeated Warren 60-36 at Jim Hurley Stadium in Warren.
“We wanted to go down there and perform,” Coach Russell Smith said. “My kids did that. It was the best we looked all year.”
Smith called the victory over Warren a momentum boost for the Cougars.
“The kids believe,” Smith said. “They can play with anybody in the state. Every week we’ve been improving as a team.”
Calhoun rushed for 288 yards and 3 touchdowns on 25 carries while completing 10 of 14 passes for 174 yards and another score.
Smith was pleased with Calhoun’s performance.
“He’s done a good job for us,” Smith said. “He’s come a long way. He’s improving by running the football. He’s a dual threat.”
Calhoun has rushed for 1,584 yards and 19 touchdowns on 183 carries. He’s also completed 38 of 87 passes for 689 yards with 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Helena-West Helena (82), the No. 4 seed from the 8-4A, will travel to 1-4A No. 2 seed Pea Ridge in a Class 4A first-round game today.
Last season, HelenaWest Helena was scheduled to play Arkadelphia in a first-round game. But three Helena-West Helena school buses and one other vehicle crashed on Interstate 30 in Benton, which sent several students to the hospital. The Arkansas Activities Association announced that weekend that Arkadelphia would move on in the playoffs because of HelenaWest Helena’s accident.
“It was a hurting feeling,” Smith said. “But they have an opportunity to go back to state and try to perform.”
The Cougars are scheduled to leave for Pea Ridge at 7 a.m. today for what Smith said is scheduled to be a 5 hour, 15-minute drive. They’re scheduled to have a walkthrough at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Smith said.
Smith believes HelenaWest Helena vs. Pea Ridge has a chance to be one of the first-round matchups today.
“It will be a pretty good game,” Smith said. “They got it going on. They’ve had some great teams. We can’t go in there half-stepping. We’ll be ready.”