Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
CLASS 5A PLAYOFF CAPSULES
Batesville at Harrison
F.S. Garrison Stadium
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. SEEDS: Batesville is No. 4 from the 5A-East; Harrison is No. 1 from the 5A-West. COACHES: Batesville — Dave King; Harrison — Joel Wells. RECORD: Batesville 4-6, 4-3; Harrison 10-0, 7-0. POSTSEASON RECORD: Batesville 26-22; Harrison 21-23.
LAST PLAYOFF RESULT: Batesville lost to Little Rock McClellan in the 2017 first round; Harrison lost to Pulaski Academy in the 2018 semifinals.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Batesville — OL Jesse Morton (Sr., 6-4, 300), OL Nathan Pool (6-4, 220), RB Taylor Daugherty (Jr., 6-0 180), FB Cullen Hill (Sr., 5-9 175). Harrison — RB Gabe Huskey (Sr., 5-10, 170), QB Ben Johnson (Sr., 6-0, 180), LB/RB Brooks Both (Sr., 6-0, 225), WR/DB Rilee Jones (Sr., 5-11, 150), WR/OLB Colton Shaver (Sr., 5-11, 190), LB Bryant Ulrich (Sr., 5-11, 190), DE Landen Stephens (Sr., 6-0, 190).
BETWEEN THE LINES: Harrison completed its second consecutive undefeated regular season, defeating Farmington 49-20 on Friday. … Senior running back Gabe Huskey has enjoyed another banner season for the Goblins, rolling up nearly 1,200 yards and 23 TDs prior to Friday’s regular-season finale. … The Goblins high-powered offense heads into the playoff average almost 38 points per game while giving up just 8.9 points per game. … Senior Ben Johnson and sophomore Chris Keylong have split the quarterback duties. … The combo has produced more than 850 yards through the air and 12 TDs and another 700-plus on the ground. … Senior Rilee Jones leads the Goblins receivers with 14 catches for 261 yards, but Colton Shaver has 6 TDs. … All-state linebacker Brooks Both leads the Harrison defense with 90 tackles and 3 sacks through nine weeks. …
UP NEXT: The winner of this game will face the Pulaski Academy vs. Magnolia winner.
Alma at Forrest City
Sam Smith Stadium
KICKOFF: 7 p.m.
SEEDS: Alma is the No. 3 seed from the 5A-West; Forrest City is the No. 2 seed from the East.
COACHES: Alma — Doug Loughridge; Forrest City — Rich Trail RECORD: Alma 4-6, 4-3; Forrest City
8-2, 6-1.
POSTSEASON RECORD: Alma — 51-37; Forrest City — 2-18.
LAST PLAYOFF RESULT: Alma lost to Pulaski Academy in the first round in 2018. Forrest City lost to Pulaski Academy in the second round in 2016.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Alma — QB Landon Blair (Sr., 6-1 240), RB Ben Henley (Sr., 6-0 200), WR Grayson Bailey (Sr., 6-3 170), LB Gabe Jensen (Sr., 6-2 215). Forrest City — QB Kendall Akins (Jr., 6-0 177), RB Kadarius Akins (Sr., 6-0 185), WR Jaterrion Brown (Sr., 6-1 180), LB Chris Randle (Sr., 5-9 187), LB Martess Buchanon (Jr., 5-10 187), DE Trevon Norment (Jr., 6-1 200). BETWEEN THE LINES: The Airedales have righted the ship, winning four of five games since an 0-5 start. … Alma’s lone loss was to 5A-West champion and undefeated Harrison. … Senior quarterback Landon Blair has been a two-way threat for Alma. … Blair has combined for almost 1,500 yards of total offense, 1,098 through the air and 476 on the ground. … Senior running back Ben Henley has run for a team-high 794 yards but just one touchdown. … Blair has run for 8 touchdowns and also thrown for eight. … Gabe Bailey is the Airedales’ top receiver with 34 catches for 558 yards and three touchdowns. … The Mustangs managed eight wins this season after combining for just seven over the previous two seasons combined. … Forrest City has a high-powered offense that averages more than 37 points a game but the defense struggled giving up more than 31 per contest. … Senior QB Kendall Akins leads the Mustangs offense, throwing for 1,333 yards and 15 touchdowns. … He has also run for 268 yards and six touchdowns. … Junior Kadarius Akins leads Forrest City’s ground attack, rushing for 1,701 yards and 17 touchdowns. … Jaterrian Brown leads the Mustangs’ receiving corps with 36 receptions for 773 yards and nine touchdowns. UP NEXT: The winner of this game faces the Lakeside vs. White Hall winner.