RAZORBACKS, TIGERS HIT GRIDIRON FOR 102ND MEETING,
RADIO: KTXK 91.5 FM, 1400 AM
Ever since February when Barry Norton, who was the athletic direction and head football coach at Texas High for 18 years, retired in the Lone Star state and moved across the state line for the dual position at Arkansas High, this game has been talked about on both sides of town.
Norton's led Razorbacks host the Tigers in the 102nd meeting between the schools on the gridiron, and each team will be looking for its first win in the Battle of the Ax.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m., moved up 30 minutes from its usual start time, at the newly-renovated Razorback Stadium.
Texas High, coached by Gerry Stanford, fell to Bishop Lynch, 24-7, and Arkansas High's late rally came up short in a 27-20 loss at Pleasant Grove.
“We've got to make some adjustments this week and bounce back from last week,” Stanford said. “Just the mental and emotional sides of this game, we can't allow those things to affect us. Schematically, we've got to continue to tackle well in space. We felt like we played well last week; there were about three plays we felt like we gave up big plays.”
Norton holds a 15-2-1 record in the annual rivalry game, including last year's 37-7 THS win.
“Our plan is to compete and play a complete ball game; it's our goal and it is our job,” Norton said. “It's a good rival game. It's always been a good, clean rivalry game, at least since I've been apart of it the past 18 years. Both teams have always been really competitive with one another and it's always been a good ball game. I expect nothing less this time.”
Both teams look to improve on last week's results. The Tigers turned the ball over three times and managed just 170 yards of total offense against Lynch, the defending 6A TAPPS state champion. Vonderick Stanley hauled in a short pass from QB Coltin Clack and covered 46 yards for the first points of the Tigers' opener.
“Offensively, we've got to keep our defense off the field a little bit more,” Stanford said. “That goes along with establishing drives, protecting the football and executing a little better run game. We had a lot of new faces playing under the bright lights and in front of the big crowd, against a really solid team last week. Arkansas High is going to be the same way.”
“They've got a very experienced group back; a lot of kids played last year for them. We've got to settle down and let the motions flow out of us, to be
able to control some things. Arkansas High does a really good job of getting the ball to multiple people on offense, they're using two quarterbacks and both have things they do well, they have a pair of running backs who run hard and are patient behind a good offensive line, and they have receivers who can threaten and stretch the field vertically. Defensively, they live behind that defensive line and those linebackers; they do a really good job of controlling the front and putting pressure on their opponent.”
The Hogs fell behind 13-0 to PG in the first half and trailed 20-0 early in the fourth quarter, when Jordan Hall scored on an 8-yard run. After another Hawk TD, DeJordan Mask and Irijah Price each had receiving touchdowns from the two AHS quarterbacks—Drake Browning and Sean Foreback—in a matter of 45 seconds.
“I think we'll have an excellent ball game. I think our kids are going to have to learn how to win this game,” Norton said. “Texas High has won it, and they have expected to win that game for years. We have to flip that mentality to where our kids start believing in themselves about winning that ball game. It's a big thing to us, is believing we can win the ball game. Once you get the mindset, you have to go out and play. You have to play better than the guy lined up across from you.”
Tonight’s Lineups (Numbers in parentheses) TEXAS HIGH OFFENSE: LT-Daevion Williams (77), 265;
LG-Elian Bustos (68), 270; C-Soloman Davis (50), 250; RG-Ladd Preston (55), 255; LT-Mason Shoalmire (72), 265; HB-Riley Russell (11), 185; WR-Jaqualin Brown (7), 175; FLK-Chris Lyles (3), 165; QB-Coltin Clack (1), 220; SLOT-Vonderick Stanley (4), 160; WR-Tevailance Hunt (9), 180; TB-Chris Sutton (21), 170; PK-Logan Snell (34), 200. TEXAS HIGH DEFENSE: DE-Deidrick Reeves (25), 210; DT-Jaylin Franklin (48), 275; DE-Dejonte Harper (24), 225; SLB-Keidrick Reeves (27), 170; MLB-Chris Arnold (45), 215; WLB-Davon Williams (40), 215; OLBTim Noble (32), 175; CB-Darrell Webster (16), 170; SS-Deshaveon Burks (35), 170; FS-Davarian Malone (31), 170; CB-Chrishad Manning (26), 155; PNT-Logan Snell (34).
ARKANSAS HIGH OFFENSE: WR-Irijah Price (2), 185; WR-DeJordan Mask, (5), 175; WR-Drake Browning(4), 175; LT-Rico Thomas (74), 255; LG-Trevon Ross (63), 230; C-Austin Nix (54), 260; RG-Payton Anthony (58), 240; RT-Christian Johnson (73), 245; QB- Sean Foreback (13), 200; TE-Nick Vaughn (47), 190; TB-Jordan Hall (25), 198; PK-Patrick Cook (91), 143.
ARKANSAS HIGH DEFENSE: DE-Demetrius Charles (10), 205; DT-Dreylon Morine (94), 250; DT-Wren Williams (15), 210; DE-Marcus Turner (31), 230; LB-Travieon Cleveland (20), 190; LB-Kendricks Young (23), 200; LB-Cameron Collier (21), 190; CB-Irijah Price (2), 185; CB-Jaylon Bead (28), 150; S-DeJordan Mask (5), 170; S-Drake Browning (4), 175; PNT-Drake Browning (4), 175.