Washington County Enterprise-Leader
All-star Week Has Local Flavor
U. S. 62, NW Ark. — Two local coaches, six area athletes and one cheerleader were selected to participate in various sports during the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star week.
The campus of the University of Central Arkansas at Conway has been busy this week with various All-Star games. Among those selected are: Jay Harper (Farmington), head baseball coach for the West; Hannah McDonald (Prairie Grove) assistant volleyball coach for the West; Spencer Boudrey (Farmington), baseball; Justyne Huber ( Prairie Grove), girls basketball; Taylor Burba (Farmington), baseball; Caleigh Sue Moyer (Prairie Grove), volleyball; Jared Murphy (Prairie Grove), football; Kassidy Rice (Farmington) West cheerleader; and Payton Wiedner (Farmington) softball.
Two athletes chose not to participate. Mitch Cameron, Prairie Grove baseball coach, wasn’t
Abshier said. “It’s great when somebody comes through on a level like Jared did. You’ve got to be happy for him.”
This past school year, Abshier welcomed Tiger fans to celebrate the signing of Murphy on a football scholarship with Pittsburg State, of Kansas.
“It’s a terrific university, they’ve won four national championships,” Abshier said.
“He’s getting a good deal. It’s kind of fulfilling the dream he’s wanted to do. He’s talked about playing college football since the seventh grade.”
Murphy will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Biology with an emphasis on Kinesiology or pre-physical therapy.
“It’s a tough role. It takes a long time to get it. I just want to be around sports,” Murphy said.
“We were very impressed with the facilities and coaches. The atmosphere is unbelievable, everybody is friendly. It had the small school feel coming from a small school,” said Julie Dodd, Murphy’s mother.
Murphy anchored a Prairie Grove defense that posted seven shutouts en route to a 12-1 record with a conference championship and appearance in the state 4A semifinals. Murphy played nose guard on defense making 100 tackles including 9 for losses. Playing tight end on offense, he added to the Tigers blocking up front and helped them team rush for 3,546 yards.
If Abshier had one regret, Murphy concluded his Tiger career without ever scoring despite catching nine passes for 150 yards as a senior from the tight end position.
“We never put him in the end zone. We’re a product of our own creation. We used to be able to get our tight ends open whenever we wanted, now it seems like everybody covers them all of the time,” Abshier said. “Jared has terrific hands. He was tied for our second-leading receiver. We used him extensively. He got more than one big first down, he got a big first down at Stuttgart.”
Murphy literally had a hand in a play leading to a Prairie Grove touchdown in the state 4A semifinal against the eventual champion, Ricebirds, busting through the middle to block a punt with teammate, Jacob Kahl, returning the ball for a score.
“He pulled it off. It was designed. We like to try and go get blocked punts. [I knew] these guys wanted to go block a punt and they’d go after it,” Abshier said.
“It was Coach Abshier’s play right there. He threw everybody in there,” Murphy said. “I just threw my arms up there and got it. It was like a miracle. It happened, it bounced Kahl’s way and he scored.”
Murphy said the Prairie Grove coaching staff have been like second fathers to him and wanted to go to a school where he could receive further mentoring.
“Pittsburg fit, I felt like they can bring me in and it won’t get personal, it’s something they can help me with.”
The Gorillas compete in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and their opponents include Northeastern State, of Tahlequah, Okla. Abshier said he will probably get a Pitt State hat. “I’ll be pulling for him. Maybe we can slip away one Saturday or something. It’s only two hours away. Maybe the whole coaching staff can slip away one Saturday.”