QB reroutes Wynne after lone loss
Wynne entered the middle of October as the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s No. 1 team in Class 5A with a 6-0 record as it prepared to face 5A-East Conference rival Batesville.
The Yellowjackets led 2817 in the third quarter against the Pioneers, but Batesville came back to win 34-28 to hand Wynne its first loss Oct. 17 at Yellowjacket Stadium. Batesville went on to win the 5A-East and the league’s No. 1 seed, while Wynne settled for the No. 2 seed.
Wynne (12-1) has won six consecutive games since that loss and will play in its first state championship game in 10 years Saturday night against Pulaski Academy (121) at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
“You never know how kids are going to respond, but it made us refocus,” Wynne Coach Chris Hill said. “It made us as coaches look back and see if we let anything slide.”
Senior wide receiver Zach Morris said Wynne’s season turned after the loss.
“That was a big game,” Morris said. “We all knew that. The conference championship was going to be determined that night. Batesville was a very good football team, but we’ve been focused.”
Batesville lost 42-25 at Pulaski Academy last Friday in the semifinals while Wynne held off Beebe 35-28.
Senior quarterback Ross Trail accounted for all five of Wynne’s touchdowns. He completed 11 of 17 passes for 246 yards and 3 touchdowns and rushed for 32 yards and 2 scores.
Trail returned to Wynne for his senior season after spending his junior season at Olive Branch (Miss.) High School. He was declared ineligible by the Mississippi High School Activities Association because of residency issues, but he was allowed to play after a stay from a Mississippi judge.
Trail, who has orally committed to the University of Cincinnati, has thrown for more than 3,000 yards this season with 29 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 15 touchdowns.
Trail said his return to Cross County has worked out as well as he could have hoped.
“The team, the coaches and town, they all accepted me back,” Trail said. “It’s almost like I never left. The town is great. The support is great. My teammates are awesome. It’s been perfect.”
Hill said Trail is what he wants in a quarterback.
“We were tickled to death when he moved back,” Hill said.
“He’s done a great job. He’s really taken on a leadership role. He’s done a great job of protecting the football.”
Wynne turned to sophomore running back Jamar Dixon after junior Antonio Davis — who scored 31 touchdowns last season — was declared out for the season in September because of a hip injury. Dixon has responded with more than 1,200 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.
“We were hoping to use him later on to get him ready for next year, but he’s done a great job of stepping in,” Hill said. “He’s done a great job of protecting the football. When you lose 31 touchdowns, that’s hard to replace, but Jamar has done a great job.
“He’s a hard-nosed, tough kid. He’s not scared of anything.”
Wynne has won four state championships (1950, 1986, 2001, 2004) and will appear in its sixth title game Saturday. Hill said he and the Yellowjackets understand the tradition the program has built over the years.
“It means a lot to the city of Wynne,” senior linebacker DeAndre McGill said. “We pride ourselves on football.”
Hill echoed McGill’s comments.
“Wynne has been very successful for a long time,” Hill said. “Football is important to our kids, our parents and our community. It demonstrates to the kids that hard work pays off.
“Hopefully we’ll have a good showing Saturday.”