Arkansas High
LAST WEEK: The Razorbacks edged Maumelle in the first round of the 5A playoffs, 24-21.
THIS WEEK: Arkansas High (7-3) hosts Morrilton (7-4) for a 5A quarterfinal playoff game.
OFFENSIVE STANDOUTS: Braylon Bishop scored two rushing touchdowns for the Razorbacks on runs of 3 and 4 yards. Bishop ended the night with 16 totes for 25 yards and also completed 11 of 22 passes for 100 yards. Christian Stewart booted a 34-yard game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter. Torie Blair led the Razorbacks rushing with 66 yards on 21 carries.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS: Tylee Green intercepted a Maumelle pass for a Arkansas High touchdown, while collecting two tackles and a fumble recovery in the game. Larry Jefferson led AHS with nine tackles. Graydon Martin grabbed a interception for the Razorback defense and also added six tackles. DeShannon Patterson collected a fumble recovery for AHS. Christian Torres finished with four tackles and a fumble recovery for the Hogs.
COACH BARRY NORTON’S COMMENTS: “On paper, Maumelle gives us a thumping; they have a really good football team. Our kids did everything the other night that you have to do to win.
“We played flawless in the kicking game; our kicking game was outstanding. We got hands on two punts — we didn’t block them — but we got hands on them, which shortened their punts and gave us great field position. They had zero return yards on punts or kickoffs; we did a great job on our coverages and kicked a 37-yard field goal, which ended up being the difference in the ball game.
“Defensively, our kicking game gave them long fields, and we weren’t going to allow their receivers to beat us. They had two receivers who were over 1,000 yards apiece, and we were able to take them away and make them try to beat us, what we say, left-handed.
Our kids did a great job on defense, and our offense was very opportunistic.
“We found ways to score and played from the lead, most of the night, and we talked about going in that a bad offensive possession for us was to get two first downs and punt, to win the field position game. When we didn’t score, we were able to do that. And then at the end of the game, we ate up nearly all the clock, giving it back to them with six seconds left after we got it with over eight minutes, and they had 90 yards to go.
“It was by far the most complete game we’ve played all year against a team that very few outsiders gave us a chance to win.”