One down, two to go for Goblins

Harrison made it past the first part of its tough threegame stretch last week when the Goblins came from behind for a 33-29 victory at Greenbrier.

It doesn’t get any easier this week as Harrison takes on Vilonia in a key 5A-West Conference contest Friday at F.S. Garrison Stadium. The winner gets to pull into a tie with Morrilton, which already has three conference wins but had its game Friday against Alma canceled, and Harrison travels to Morrilton next week.

“These are obviously difficult games,” Harrison coach Joel Wells said. “Vilonia will be wellprepared, and we better expect a four-quarter game, just like it was last year.

“Vilonia is playing a lot of juniors this year. They are a good team, but they have also struggled at times in their games against Clarksville and Farmington. They have been dominant, but they also find a way to win.”

Harrison (5-1, 2-0 5A-West) needed a 3-yard touchdown run by Brody Gilliam to take the lead with just under 4 minutes remaining against Greenbrier, then Kaden Quandt made it stand when he intercepted a pass inside the Goblins 10 with 1:25 remaining.

“We had them down 2610, and I thought we were just one stop away from putting the game away,” Wells said. “But they hit a 70-yard touchdown pass, and all the momentum went Greenbrier’s favor.

“But we talk all the time about any type of win on the road being a good win, whether it’s 2-0 or 49-48. We just had to figure it out, then keep battling until we found a way to win.”

— Henry Apple

• @NWAHenry