Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Nashville Scraps Tigers’ Upset Plan
PRAIRIE GROVE FOOTBALL SEASON ENDS IN SECOND ROUND
Nashville’s prolific offense added plenty of plays to their highlight reel but the resilient Prairie Grove Tigers wouldn’t let them breathe easy until an incomplete pass on fourth down.
The critical change of possession came with five minutes and four seconds to go in the fourth period and Nashville leading, 49-32. Bobby Catt carried the ball the final 5 yards to conclude Prairie Grove’s 77-yard, 14-play drive for a touchdown in 4:23. Quarterback Ryan Marrell then ran in a two-point conversion to keep the Tigers within three scores with 6: 15 left to try and extend their season.
Tiger fans erupted with excitement when Prairie Grove recovered an onside kick, their second such successful play of the contest and set up shop in Scrapper territory at the 49.
Eli Lopez ran behind right guard then shifted over to his left finding 13 yards and a first down at Nashville’s 36 but the desperation drive stalled and Nashville escaped a missed assignment when they left Blake Faulk uncovered split out on the left side.
That was one of few opportunities Prairie Grove couldn’t capitalize on after falling behind, 28-8, at halftime. Isaac Disney recovered an onside kick to start the third quarter and the Tigers drove 48 yards in six plays scoring on a quick-pitch right with Faulk dashing inside the right pylon.
Marrell executed a fake handoff and passed to Lopez for a two-point conversion narrowing the gap to 28-16 with 10:10 remaining in the third frame.
Nashville answered with Leonard Snell’s 56-yard touchdown run but again Prairie Grove cut into a 35-16 deficit.
Facing third and 4 on their opening series of the ensuing possession, Marrell hit Leigh- ton Smith for 13 yards on a slant. On a wingback reverse Faulk got outside around right end and ran 18 yards. After taking a sack, Marrell, who was under pressure throughout the game, threw to Dylan Soehner sandwiched between a double- team for 15 yards.
A penalty moved the ball to the Scrapper 12 where Faulk exploded for 9 yards off right tackle.
On third down, Marrell passed to Jack Stone for a 5-yard touchdown.
The Tigers tacked on 2 more points with a rushing score to stay within striking distance at 35-24 while 3:52 yet remained in the third.
Darius Hopkins ran 41 yards with a facemask penalty added and Snell scored from 7 yards out to push Nashville’s advantage back to a three-score margin, at 42-24.
Three plays into the fourth frame, Hopkins again scored stretching the Scrappers’ lead to 49-24, but Prairie Grove refused to throw the towel in and made the contest interesting until turning the ball over on downs late in the fourth.
Prairie Grove took the game’s opening kickoff and covered 79 yards in six plays. Marrell converted a third down by passing to Elliot Chamberlain for 21 yards and Lopez exploded through a big hole for 39 yards. On first and goal from the Nashville 8, Faulk scored standing up on a misdirection play.
Marrell ran in the two- point conversion and Prairie Grove led 8-0
Nashville then scored four unanswered touchdowns on a Hopkins’ 2-yard rush, and a trio of LaMicheal Pettway catches of 37, 47, and 12 yards.
Prairie Grove concludes the 2014 season with a 7- 4 record having reached the secondround of the 4A state football playoffs for the fourth straight year.
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