Badgers redeem Cobras’ gifts, 19-14
FOUNTAIN LAKE - Arkadelphia converted four fumbles into 13 points and beat Fountain Lake 19-14 Friday night in the Class 4A playoffs on Allen Tillery Field at Beckham Memorial Stadium.
Avenging a Week 6 home loss to its 4A-7 rival, Arkadelphia (7-5) advanced to the quarterfinal round next week at Dardanelle, the Badgers winning at Helena-West Helena last week and at the home of a second-seeded team Friday.
Fountain Lake (8-4) fumbled at Arkadelphia’s 5-yard line with 2:08 left after driving 75 yards in 11 plays. Five plays later, Arkadelphia quarterback Jeff Blake barreled ahead for 27 yards on fourth and short. He led the Badgers rushing (15 carries for 100 yards) and passing (10 of 14 for 128 yards).
Senior fullback Parker Ross carried eight times for 63 yards on the final Cobra drive, finishing with a game-high 200 yards on 31 carries (the Cobras totaled 243). Defensive back Dillon Scott stopped Ross for a loss on his final carry and recovered a fumble on the subsequent play.
Arkadelphia capatilzed on two Cobra fumbles in as many plays to lead 19-14 at halftime. Scott’s 55-yard scoop and score cut Fountain Lake’s lead to 14-13 with 3:33 to play in the second quarter. Tyrel Caudle recovered a Cobra fumble on the ensuing kickoff, leading to a 19-yard touchdown pass from Blake to Shemar Dickens with 22 seconds before the break.
Ross had 17 first-half carries for 108 yards. He scored from the one with 3:13 to play in the first quarter, making it 7-7, after a 66-yard kickoff return.
JT McCoy’s recovery of an errant Badger pitch positioned the Cobras to take the lead. Adrias Turner’s 1- yard quarterback sneak capped an 11-play 60-yard drive that put Fountain Lake up 14-7 with 8:51 left in the half.
Arkadelphia drew first blood on Leotis McClure’s 6-yard run with 6:27 to play in the first quarter. Blake’s 46-yard completion on a wheel route to running back Jathan Bowens was the key play in the 55-yard scoring drive.