High school football coverage,
TEXARKANA, Ark. — There will be another playoff game at Razorback Stadium.
Arkansas High (7-3) beat Maumelle (8-3) in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs, 24-21, Friday night.
“Well, we really changed our defensive scheme all week,” Arkansas High head coach Barry Norton said. “We’re normally a fourdown defensive football team. We went to a threedown set and brought a lot of pressure. We knew we couldn’t let the quarterback sit back and throw.
“I think our defensive staff did a heckuva job this week putting a plan together and putting our kids in position to be successful. That’s what it’s about, giving your guys a chance to succeed.”
Graydon Martin stopped a Maumelle drive with his interception and return, setting the Hogs up in the midfield with 7:40 left in the fourth quarter.
Christian Stewart gave the Hogs the lead at start the fourth quarter with his 34-yard field goal with 11:54 left in the contest.
Brian Worsham scored his third touchdown of the night for the Hornets on a 15-yard run in the third quarter with 7:07 on the clock.
Braylon Bishop scored his second touchdown of the game on a 4-yard run to the outside, to give AHS the 21-14 lead in the third quarter with 10:04 remaining.
Bishop ended the night with 16 carries for 25 yards and two touchdowns. Bishop also completed 11 of 22 passes for 100 yards.
“Braylon played his best ball game of the year,” Norton said. “The offensive line did a tremendous job blocking against a loaded box all night long. The coaches did a tremendous job of managing this football game today. We asked our offense to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them tonight and they did everything we asked them.”
Arkansas High recovered a Maumelle fumble, flipping possessions with under 1:00 left in the first half.
Zyon Slade caught a 2-point conversion pass from Jonathan Reyes to tie the game at 14-all in the second quarter with 1:30 before intermission.
Worsham scored his second touchdown of the night out of the Wildcat formation from 3 yards out.
Jalen Pastchol stopped a Maumelle drive with his
interception in the second quarter with 7:25 left.
Torie Blair topped the Razorbacks ground attack, rushing for 66 yards on 21 carries.
“We told them before the game that there would be some highs and lows,” Norton said. “We’ve been in those situations this year and we did a good job. With a team as explosive as they are, you have to be able to manage those situations and keep playing.
“If it’s a great play, we can’t celebrate that long or if it’s a bad play, don’t get your head down. We want our guys to just keep playing the next play. Our guys did a great job with that tonight.”
Worsham put Maumelle on the board on his 15-yard dash to the end zone with 0:45 left in the first quarter.
Tylee Green picked off a Maumelle pass for a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown for Arkansas High with 1:30 showing in the first quarter.
Bishop opened on the scoring for AHS, on his 3-yard dive to the corner of the end zone with 7:10 left in the opening period.
Arkansas High recovered the opening kickoff, after a Maumelle special teams player muffed the kick.
The Razorbacks will face the Morrilton Devil-Dogs (7-4) in the second round next week.