Hogs post first conference loss
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Hot Springs Lakeside’s late push was the spoiler for Arkansas High’s homecoming festivities Friday.
The Razorbacks (3-2, 2-1) fell to the Rams (4-2, 2-1) on Homecoming Night at Razorback Stadium, 21-20.
“That was about as good of a football game that I’ve been in,” Arkansas High head football coach Barry Norton said. “We just didn’t play very good. We turned the ball over and we didn’t play as hard. We also had every distraction with this being homecoming week.
“We got a little too happy with who we are last week with the come-from-behind win. We piddled around and thought we were going to win and didn’t. Hats off to Lakeside, and they deserved to win.”
Isaac Echols scored his second touchdown of the game on a 2-yard dive to regain the lead for the Rams with 3:11 left in the game.
Echols finished with 83 yards on 18 totes and two scores.
Tavree Green caught a 74-yard bomb from Braylon Bishop to give the Hogs a one-score advantage with 7:47 left in the game.
Green’s touchdown also gave AHS their first lead of the game.
Green ended his night with four grabs for 108 yards and a touchdown.
The Hogs scored on their opening drive of the second half.
Bishop dashed 20 yards through the Lakeside defense to tie the game at 14-all with 9:41 left in the third quarter.
Bishop ended his night with 65 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown. Bishop also completed 9 of 20 passes for 229 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
“Like I told them last week, there’s going to be highs and lows in everything we do,” Norton said. “Last week, we experienced a high of coming back and winning. Tonight, we’re experiencing a low. We have to handle it the right way, and hopefully we will.
“Hopefully, we will grow as a team from this. Like I told them, if we win every game from here on out, we’ll probably be conference champions again. We’ve put our backs against the wall though. Hats off to those guys again. They did a great job.”
Lakeside jumped on the board first in the second quarter after Echols plunged 5 yards for a Rams score with 10:04 before halftime.
On the following drive, Louis Blackwell caught a 60-yard strike from Bishop to tie the game with 9:04 left in the second quarter.
Blackwell led the Hogs in receiving with three catches for 123 yards and a touchdown.
Jalen Pastchol snagged a Rams pass for the Razorbacks defense stalling a Lakeside drive with 6:45 left before halftime.
Will Perrigo caught an 8-yard pass from Will Gross to give the Rams a slight edge with 2:51 before the half, 14-7.
The Razorbacks are back in action next Friday, traveling to Little Rock to take on McClellan at 7 p.m.
Fortunate Barry was named Homecoming Queen of Arkansas High School.