Lakeside, McClellan meet in surprise 5A quarterfinal
One of two football programs with similarly lacking traditions will be part of this year’s Class 5A semifinals.
Lakeside has two postseason playoff wins since 1975 and no state championships during the playoff era. Little Rock McClellan has just six playoff victories, last week picking up its first postseason win since 2003 and beating Hot Springs in 1971 for its only state title.
The Rams and Crimson Lions, with only 11 postseason wins between them, meet in the 5A quarterfinals at 7 p.m. today at Austin Field.
“It’s an exciting time of the year,” Lakeside coach Jared McBride said. “It’s something we shoot for every year, to be in the playoffs and to keep playing, and our guys have done a good job all year of finding ways to win. It’s just exciting knowing that we’re one of the eight teams left in the state.”
Lakeside (9-2) won its first playoff game since 2011 last week, 41-36 over Forrest City. The Rams reached the quarterfinals in the 10-2 season of 2011, losing 38-21 at White Hall.
However, McBride is 2-0 in home playoff games, and Lakeside, hosting just its fourth home playoff game, holds home-field advantage throughout this postseason as the 5A-South’s top seed.
“It means a lot to us,” McBride said. “We did a lot of good things throughout the year to deserve home-field advantage, and it helps us a lot. It helps us to be able to have confidence, to know that we can play with everybody. It’s important to us to be at home.”
McClellan (8-2) is the Central’s second seed after legitimately winning as many games this year as it has the past
five seasons combined. The Lions would’ve won five games last season, good for a fourth-place finish but had to forfeit victories over Little Rock Fair and Beebe, the latter beating Hot Springs in the quarterfinals.
Their 52-50 victory over Morrilton, denying the Devil Dogs on a late two-point attempt, was their first playoff triumph since upending Jonesboro in 2003. Third-year McClellan coach Maurice Moody continues to turn around the program after going 1-9 his first season.
“I know they’ve played good football at times,” McBride said. “I know they’re a really good football team this year. I haven’t been able to see them on film much since I’ve been here. We don’t really play the same opponents, but I know they’re going to bring a really good football team in here Friday night.”
The Lions boast one of the state’s top juniors in running back Pierre Strong. With 130 carries for 1,859 yards and 24 touchdowns, Strong has the most yards of any back still playing and is second in 5A to Beebe’s Trip Smith, 2,206 yards, on 290 fewer attempts.
“It’ll take everybody we have, for sure” to stop Strong, McBride said. “We’ll have to be in the backfield and get him before he gets going. If he breaks the line, he’s gone, and he’s done that all year long. I’m sure they’ll get some big plays, but I’m sure we’ll get some big plays, too.”
In addition, McClellan senior Trenton Lewis carried times for 116 yards and two scores against Morrilton.
“The crazy thing is that (Strong) isn’t the only one who carries it for them,” McBride said. “He’s got 1,800 yards, and he’s sharing carries with two other guys. He takes advantage of the opportunity, for sure, when he gets the ball in his hand. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen a guy with his talent.”
The Rams try to slow McClellan’s ground attack after being scorched through the air by Forrest City. Mustang quarterback Tarik Jones completed 16 of 20 (80 percent) for 306 yards and three touchdowns, Leon Smith and Trajan Norment combing for 12 receptions and 247 yards.
“There’s only so much we can shore up,” McBride said. “There’s no doubt there are people out there who are faster than we are. And if they run past us and can throw it and catch it, they’re going to do a good job. But in high school, it’s hard for people to do that all the time. We’re going to score enough to help our team, but if you can beat us deep six or seven times, you’re probably going to beat us.”
Lakeside’s defense limited Forrest City, with a 1,000-yard back, to 41 yards rushing. Sylvan Hills, which McClellan defeated 44-32, gashed the Rams on the ground Week 2, but Lakeside had its best defensive performances against 5A-South teams with run-oriented attacks.
Morrilton had to move wide receivers to running back because of injuries but still gashed McClellan on the ground. Lakeside senior 1,000-yard rushers Colt Housley (right ankle) and Maurice Bradford (right foot) nurse injuries, although McBride said they’ll be ready after combining for 373 of the Rams’ 400 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns against Forrest City.
And they’ll have a still-healthy offensive line waiting to clash with McClellan’s bigger bodies.
“Our offensive line is tough and does a good job of executing what we want,” McBride said. “They’ll definitely be one of the bigger groups we’ve faced. But we’ve handled our business for the most part this year, and we’ll be excited about getting a chance to play again.”
The only time Lakeside won multiple playoff games in a season (1975) it reached the state finals.