Arkadelphia in hunt for first state football title in 30 years

LITTLE ROCK — Much has changed in 30 years for Arkadelphia.

Since defeating White Hall 21-6 for the Class 3A State football title in 1987, Arkadelphia has struggled to make a deep run in the playoffs, compiling a 10-8 playoff record since 2006.

The head coach who led the Badgers to its two state titles moved to Texas following the 1987 title and passed away in 2011.

At noon today, Arkadelphia will be taking the field at War Memorial for the first time in 30 years to face off against the Warren Lumberjacks in the Class 4A state championship game. Warren is looking for its 14th consecutive win and fifth state title since 2000.

The last time the Badgers and Lumberjacks took the field was the day after Thanksgiving in 2013. Warren took a 31-24 win at its own Jim Hurley Stadium. Many Arkadelphia fans recall several Badger football players spent much of the second half of the game doubled-over due to tainted water from an old spigot that had not been used in more than a year.

Arkadelphia’s only loss this season came on Week 5 as the Badgers fell 21-17 to Joe T. Robinson, the only week that the Badgers’ star running back junior Zion Hatley was unable to take the field.

Hatley averages 139.9 yards per game and 8.2 yards per carry, and he has put up more than 40 percent of Arkadelphia’s rushing yards. He has tallied 1,679 yards on 206 carries in 12 games with 34 touchdowns. His season-high total came against Hot Springs on Sept. 15 when he put up 191 yards and four touchdowns on only 16 touches.

Sophomore quarterback Cannon Turner is second in rushing yardage for the Badgers with 1,004 yards on 146 carries with 11 touchdowns. He also has completed 74 of 133 passes for 1,071 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Senior wide receiver Logan Lucas has 29 catches for 433 yards and three scores while junior Alec Ruble ranks second among Turner’s targets with 21 receptions for 361 yards and five scores.

Defensively, the Badgers are led by Josh Wallace and Kyren Harrison. Wallace has 77 tackles on the season, including eight tackles for a loss, and Harrison averages 5.6 tackles per game for 73 with 12 tackles for loss.

Warren is led by junior wide receiver Treylon Burks, who rushed for 93 yards and tour touchdowns on 25 carries last week at Robinson. He also caught six passes for 72 yards in the game. Burks has accounted for over 40 of the Lumberjacks’ touchdowns while playing at receiver, running back and quarterback, and he has also seen time on special teams and defense, including stopping Robinson’s Caezar Warren on fourth-and-goal in overtime last week to secure the Warren win.

Arkadelphia has outscored its opponents 599-131 while Warren has compiled a 13-1 record, outscoring opponents 552-208.