Lions, Eagles face desperate matchups
Both teams are trying to earn a playoff spot, but Jessieville is more desperate.
The Lions and Centerpoint take 2-3 conference records into their 3A-5 matchup tonight at Phillips Field. They are tied with Bismarck for fourth place, the Knights and Bismarck meeting next week while Jessieville plays undefeated — and unchallenged in league play — Prescott.
A win over Bismarck, which plays Prescott tonight, is in Jessieville’s tiebreaker favor. Without a win over Centerpoint that might not matter.
“It’s an important game for us, obviously, and them. I don’t think it’s nearly as important for them,” Jessieville coach Don Phillips said. “It’s a big ball game for us just to stay alive for the playoffs.”
Jessieville, 3-5 overall, stayed in the playoff hunt last week, defeating lastplace Horatio 22-12. Sophomore quarterback Kaleb Moody’s one-yard touchdown run with 4:30 in the third quarter sealed the win, Phillips saying his young squad left for improvement while ending a three-game losing streak.
“We saw some good things. At the same time we’re still trying to better ourselves in some areas we’re struggling in,” he said. “The bunch we’re playing this week, they’ll expose you real quick if you’re not where you’re supposed to be. They play sound football, and appear to have fun doing it.”
Centerpoint (2-6) comes in on a stronger uptick. After nearly stunning Benton Harmony Grove (4-1 in conference) two weeks ago, the Cardinals breaking a 21-all tie on a 99-yard run in the final minute, the Knights followed with a 30-12 win over Glen Rose paced by sophomore QB Keenan Owens’ two touchdown passes.
“For a 2-6 football team we feel like we’re playing pretty good,” Centerpoint coach Cary Rogers said. “We’re a world apart from where we were in our first game.”
Owens passed for 224 yards last week, Lance Chambers and Colton Bright with scoring receptions. Jared Graves ran three yards for a touchdown.
“We got off to a slow start. We’ve been better the last two weeks,” Rogers said. “It’s coming around. I think we can move the football. We’re balanced running and throwing, and that’s good for this time of year.”
Centerpoint’s defense keeps Phillips from expecting the type of shootout the teams engaged in last year, the Knights winning 55-54.
“Defensively they’re a pressure team,” he said. “They do a good job of not only bringing it but at the same time not leaving openings.”
Centerpoint tackles an offense that generated 306 rushing yards last week, sophomore Ruben de Haas with 150 on 11 carries. Juniors Nick Marshall and Wesley Castleberry added 83 and 77 yards, respectively.
“They run all that Wing-T misdirection,” Rogers said. “Their backs are going to be coming from everywhere. They like to trap you and get you out of position.”
CMS at Bigelow
Even with a game left after tonight, Cutter Morning Star coach T.C. Shamel considers it do- or- die time for both teams.
“It’s the same thing for (Bigelow) as it is for us — win and you get in and lose and you’re out,” Shamel said. “It’s a big game.”
The squads, both 4-4 overall, are battling for the last of five 2A-5 playoff spots. They are tied for fifth place at 2-3, both losing to fourth-place England (3-2) and with tough week-10 assignments, CMS closing at Magnet Cove (4-1) and Bigelow at first-place Conway Christian (5-0).
The Eagles, after losing to Poyen, England and Conway Christian, remained handicapped by injuries. The heavy damage has come up front with linemen Dane Meredith and Brett Shelton out for the season and Daniel Kimpton also sidelined. Shamel expects guard/nose tackle Darren Guilliot to play at less than full speed, but tight end/receiver/ linebacker Lee Beaty is out.
“It’s just a deal where we don’t have (replacements) left,” Shamel said. “We’ll go out and compete, I’ll say that. They want to get in(the playoffs). In all my years of coaching this is the worst for injuries. … It is what it is. You’ve got to persevere and go about your business.”
Bigelow has allowed 30 points in its last three games, losing 12-7 to Poyen and 20-10 to Magnet Cove. The most coach Jeff Starks’ Panthers have allowed is 27 to Atkins.
“Defensively they’re just real sound. Coach Starks does a real good job with them,” Shamel said. “We’ve tried to work in some things they haven’t seen. We’ll give them some new wrinkles.”
An Eagle offense led by senior running back Zack Wren and sophomore quarterback Andrew Bennett has been slowed by the injuries and stiffer competition, pressure on Bennett increasing. The Eagles scored 13 against Poyen and 19 against England before last week’s 64-35 home loss to Conway Christian.
“We’ll try to sprint him out of the pocket like we have all year, but people have seen that,” Shamel said. “In week nine and ten people know what you do. Hopefully something will click a little better.”
*** Week nine features top-of-the-league showdowns in 2A-5 and 2A7, Magnet Cove playing at Conway Christian and Mount Ida at Gurdon.
Magnet Cove (6-2), paced by quarterback Harrison Wade’s improving passing, has steadied after a stunning loss to Poyen with wins over Quitman, Mountain Pine and Bigelow. Wade threw for 198 yards and three touchdowns last week against Bigelow, hitting Jay Kelley and Tanner Clements for second-half scores as the Panthers overcame a 10-7 deficit. Clements also had a first-half TD, and Kelley had a team-high 96 yards on four catches.
Conway Christian’s Clayton Dent and Ancil Lea combined to rush for 288 yards and five touchdowns against CMS, while quarterback Jakob Henry threw for 256 and two scores. Averaging 40.3 points, the Eagles (7-1) haven’t lost since week one against Episcopal Collegiate.
Mount Ida and Gurdon match perfect conference records, both cruising through league play.
The Lions ( 7-1), led by dual- threat junior quarterback T.J. Wilson and a balanced ground game featuring classmates Austin Hickman and Cody Robertson, have scored no fewer than 38 points in five league outings. They did all of their scoring in the first half of last week’s 46-8 rout of Dierks, totaling 443 yards.
Gurdon ( 6-2) has scored no fewer than last week’s 36 points against Lafayette County in conference play, its smallest margin of victory (40-12) coming against Murfreesboro. Early-season losers to 3A power Prescott and Smackover, the Go-Devils have allowed no more than 12 points since a 27-14 nonleague win over Glen Rose.