Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Wildcats battle
Har-Ber faces North Little Rock in Springdale.
SPRINGDALE — The J.R. Eldridge era at North Little Rock was delayed a bit with no Week 0 opponent and the first game of the season pushed back by more than an hour because of weather.
But it was well worth the wait for the Charging Wildcats on Friday night.
North Little Rock pulled away with a strong effort in the second half for a 41-28 victory against Springdale Har-Ber in a nonconference game at Wildcat Stadium.
Eldridge comes from Arkadelphia, where he won 35 games and two state titles in the past three seasons. North Little Rock has high expectations as well, making it to the state finals four times in a row.
Eldridge and the Charging Wildcats delivered in their first game, especially down the stretch when it was needed most.
North Little Rock (1-0) was able to take back the lead with the first score of the second half. Fredrick O’Donald capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown. That gave the Charging Wildcats a 24-21 lead late in the third quarter.
Har-Ber (0-2) got a circus touchdown to regain the lead with about two minutes left in the third quarter. Drue McClendon found Errington McRae for a 17-yard touchdown to take a 28-24 lead. The ball was tipped in the air with a lot of traffic in the area, but McRae was able to haul it in for a score.
That’s when North Little Rock took over the game. On the very next play, North Little Rock quarterback Kareame Cotton rushed for a 73-yard touchdown to take back the lead for good. Little Rock with the score held a 31-28 edge.
Cotton scored again early in the fourth quarter. He capped a drive with a 6-yard touchdown run for a 38-28 edge.
North Little Rock added a 34-yard field goal from Liam Selhorst to help add to its lead late in the fourth quarter.
North Little Rock was able to get its offense going with the help of the defense, which stepped up down the stretch not allowing any fourth-quarter points.
The Charging Wildcats defense forced back-to-back turnover on downs late in the game. That allowed North Little Rock to have starting possession at the opposing 28 and opposing 26 that helped set up 10 points.
Cotton finished passing for 90 passing yards with two touchdowns and added 115 yards on the ground on 11 touches with two touchdowns. O’Donald added 156 yards on the ground with a touchdown on 19 carries.
Har-Ber was led by McLendon, who fishiness with 179 passing yards and two touchdowns. He also added 63 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown. Hudson Brewer carried the ball 16 times for 76 yards and a score as well for the Wildcats.
Har-Ber was able to take a 21-17 lead into the break with the help of its defense and quarterback play from McClendon.
North Little Rock took the opening kick and marched 56 yards on offense to take a 7-0 lead. Cotton found Jiquori Stewart for a 35-yard touchdown pass. Cotton helped extend the drive earlier with his legs picking up a fourthdown conversion with a rush.
Har-Ber gave the ball back after being forced to punt on a threeand-out, but North Little Rock gave it right back when Braien Williams came away with an interception for the Wildcats.
Har-Ber made the most of the turnover and turned them into points, making the score 7-7 late in the first quarter. McClendon rushed for a 65-yard touchdown to cap the drive.
Har-Ber was able to then take a 13-7 lead in the second quarter when Brewer scored on a 5-yard touchdown rush. The drive was aided by North Little Rock, which gave HarBer a first down on fourth down with a offsides penalty.
North Little Rock battled back to take a 14-13 lead on the very next drive in the second quarter. Cotton snapped a seven pass incompletion streak when he connected with Vaughn Phillips for a 12-yard touchdown pass on third down.
Har-Ber followed that possession with a touchdown of its own. The Wildcats went 82 yards to take back the lead, 21-14, late in the second quarter. McClendon found Ethan Fender for a 28-yard touchdown pass. McClendon then connected with Luke Adams on the two-point conversion.
Just one offense play later, Har-Ber got a interception from Liem Taylor. But the North Little Rock defense held, forcing a four-and-out with the drive starting at its own 40.
North Little Rock got a 40-yard field goal from Liam Selhorst. That made it 21-17 with about a minute left in the game.
Har-Ber took over at its own 35 with 1:06 left in the game and was able to get the ball down inside the opposing 15-yard line but couldn’t come away with points.
FOUR DOWNS
• Kickoff was delayed by about an hour and 15 minutes because of lightning in the area.
• Both teams combined to fumble the ball three times but none were lost..
• North Little Rock hasn’t lost to a team from the 7A-West in five years.
• North Little Rock next week stays home to face Fayetteville. Springdale Har-Ber now heads into an open week.