Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Tigers Feel Like Dancing
PRAIRIE GROVE CLINCHES CROWN AND NO. 1 SEED
PRAIRIE GROVE — Wearing throwback jerseys, Prairie Grove fans celebrated as the Tigers clinched home- field advantage throughout the upcoming 4A State football playoffs with a lopsided, 49-6, defeat of Berryville Friday.
The Tigers are going dancing, dreaming of doing one better than last year, when they finished as state runner-up after leading Nashville, 20-19, at halfime in the 2015 championship game at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium. So far, Prairie Grove has not played like they are taking anything for granted.
“They are a very responsible team,” said Prairie Grove head coach Danny Abshier. “I think they are as focused a unit as we’ve ever had at Prairie Grove, reflected on what good grades almost all of them make. They understand what is in front of them and what they have to do.”
There seemed little doubt about the Tiger effort Friday. Prairie Grove exploded for 28 points in the first quarter. Senior quarterback Zeke Laird opened the scoring frenzy with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Clay Fidler. Zeke Laird kicked all 6 extra-points in the first half and his boot made the score, 7-0, within the game’s first minute. Berryville punted on the next series and found themselves chasing the wind as senior Isaac Disney scored on a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown. Prairie Grove came right back with Zeke Laird’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Demarkus Cooper and the rout was on. An interception by Stone Bryant set up the Tiger offense with first and 10 at the Bobcat 36. The Tigers cashed in on the short field with senior Reed Orr’s 26-yard rushing touchdown. Prairie Grove led 28-0 at the end of the first quarter and there was no looking back.
Prairie Grove recovered a Berryville fumble and took over at their own 42. Zeke Laird capped the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run and with a 35- 0 lead Prairie Grove made certain the clock would run continually in the second half with several minutes left in the second quarter. Tiger reserves made the most of their playing time. Kaine Caswell added a 15-yard touchdown run. Prairie Grove was well out in front, leading Berryville 42-0 at halftime.
The third quarter brought more Tiger reserves and underclassmen out onto the field and they continued to exert themselves to excel. Despite a 5-yard offsides penalty for lining up in the neutral zone, the Tiger defense forced a turnover on downs, getting the ball back for
their offense at the Bobcat 45. On first down, Garrett Heltemes ran 30 yards, followed by Lane Dalton picking up 11 more inside the Bobcats’ five. Rudy Ayala carried the ball in and James Mayers came on to kick the point-after, extending the margin to 49-0.
Prairie Grove’s only hiccup came in the fourth quarter when a backup punter had trouble with a snap and couldn’t get a kick off. He was tackled at the Tiger 17 and Berryville capitalized with Bobcat quarterback Ethan Gregory scoring on 1-yard sneak. Berryville’s 2-point conversion Failed and Prairie Grove wrapped up a conference crown and first-round playoff bye with the 49-6 victory.
After the game, senior football players and cheerleaders gathered at the back of the east end zone to commemorate the occasion with a senior walk. Disney said the season has been really fun.
“The guys out here are real close,” Disney said. “When you win it’s fun all the time.”
Disney stated the team’s goal for the 2016 season is to win the 4A-1 state championship, a quest they will embark upon after Friday’s regular season finale at Lincoln.
“First of all, our biggest goal is to win the state championship,” Disney said. “Coming in, it’s what we wanted. We are all working really hard for that.’
Friday’s kickoff at Lincoln’s Wolfpack Stadium is set for 7 p.m. Abshier says “It’s a pride game for both teams.”
“I think Lincoln always gets up for Prairie Grove,” Abshier said, while assuring Tiger fans their team will be ready. “I don’t think our guys intend on doing anything, but the best they can do. They will have their mind in the right spot. We don’t want to have a slip-up at this spot.”