Huntsville Tangos With Tigers

Prairie Grove (4-0, 1-0 4A-1) came in heavily-favored to win at Huntsville (1-3, 0-1 4A-1) Friday, but the Eagles tangoed with the Tigers for much of the first half — thanks to a pair of touchdown passes caught by Blake Whittington.

Huntsville closed to within a touchdown twice in the second quarter. The Eagles answered a pair of early Tiger touchdowns by executing a double-pass which resulted in a 58-yard touchdown pass from Zach Elsey, who caught a backwards pass across the field from quarterback Sean McCone, then threw long. That made the score 13-6 with the Tigers’ lead shrunk to seven less than a minute into the second quarter.

Huntsville rallied again after an 18-yard touchdown run by Prairie Grove’s Anthony Johnson although the Eagles punted away the ensuing possession. Prairie Grove had a 67-yard touchdown pass from J.D. Elder (7-of-7, 103 yards) to Stone Bryant called back because of a penalty, then lost the ball on a fumble on the next play.

Huntsville drove 57 yards in 15 plays, aided by 20 yards of penalties and McCone’s efficiency. He completed 8 of 9 passes for 98 yards in the first half. The Eagles converted on fourth-and-1 at the Tiger 9 with McCone’s quarterback sneak. Four plays later they faced a fourth-and-goal situation from the four. McCone once again bailed them out by passing to Whittington. Austin Roach caught a 2-point conversion pass from McCone closing the gaps on the Tigers to 21-14 with 33 seconds left in the half.

Senior Stone Bryant restored some composure to Prairie Grove with a thrilling kickoff return that went 95 yards for a touchdown. The kick turned him around and he caught the football with his back to the coverage. Stone Bryant broke three tackles before he reached the 20, then streaked along the left hashmark. Ben Beason kicked the point-after and Prairie Grove owned a 28-14 lead.

They had one more gut-check before halftime with Huntsville’s Riley Robinson returning a kickoff to the Eagles’ 39. The Eagles were content to take a knee down by 14 at intermission.

The Tigers had no more lapses on defenses and put the game away in the third period. After an exchange of punts, Johnson intercepted a Huntsville pass and ran the ball back 42 yards for a defensive touchdown. Beason’s kick extended the margin to 35-14.

Huntsville threatened on its next drive. A penalty moved the ball to the Tiger 33, but the Eagles’ inability to run the ball against Prairie Grove’s defense was telling. They had 6 total rushing yards for the game. Chuckie Edwards rushed McCone forcing an incomplete pass. On second down Elder belted a ball-carrier on a jet sweep. Huntsville tried to set up a screen, but the pass was dropped. On fourth down, Collin Bryant delivered a jarring hit that caused a dropped pass and Prairie Grove took over on downs.

The Tigers put together a six-play, 69-yard drive capped by Garrett Heltemes’ 14-yard

touchdown run. Neither team scored in the fourth and Prairie Grove claimed a 41-14 conference win.

Prairie Grove started out business as usual, scoring on the game’s opening drive with backup tight end Ethan Guenther (3 catches, 52 yards), who moved into the starting lineup in place of DeMarkus Cooper, catching a 13-yard touchdown pass from Elder. Prairie Grove tried an onside kick, but Huntsville recovered.

The Eagles moved into Prairie Grove territory on a completion to Elsey, but were penalized five yards for having an ineligible man downfield. Ben Beason and Dustin Burton combined for a sack. Huntsville could not take advantage of the field position and punted.

Prairie Grove drove 74 yards in 9 plays to score again on Burton’s 4-yard carry. Hunter Vanderpool returned the ensuing kickoff to the Eagles’ 43. On third-and-1 they pulled off a bit of trickery with the double pass going 58 yards for a touchdown.

Smarting from the defensive lapse, the Tigers sent their offense out and the unit immediately responded after Ethan Scates 13-yard kick return to the Tiger 33. Prairie Grove needed only three plays to march 67 yards. Elder hit Johnson with a pinpoint pass at the 45. He accelerated for a 43 yard gain. An option play resulted in a pitch going out-of-bounds, still with a six-yard gain to the Eagles’ 18. Johnson (10 carries, 154 yards; 2 catches, 60 yards) did the rest by breaking a tackle at the line, then stiff-arming a second defender away on his way to the end zone. Burton took a shovel pass and scored a 2-point conversion staking the Tigers out to a 21-6 lead at the 10:04 mark of the second.