Weather Short-Circuits Black And Gold Game

JUNIOR HIGH SCRIMMAGE; PIES AUCTIONED

PRAIRIE GROVE — Weather cut short Prairie Grove’s annual Black and Gold game and pie auction Thursday with storms forcing varsity players off the field.

The evening began with kiddie camps, followed by introductions of Pee Wee football and cheerleaders, seventh-grade football and cheerleaders, and introduction of the junior high football team intermingled with pie and goodie auctions. The junior Tigers warmed up and scrimmaged.

“We had a shortened version of it,” said head junior high coach John Elder, noting they pretty much got the entire scrimmage in.

The offense had mixed results, scoring on big plays, but also turning the ball over. Ethan Miller scored on a fullback 10-yard run by cutting back against the grain on third-and-seven. Quarterback Paytin Higgins completed a touchdown pass to Trevor May on first-and-10 from the 13.

Defensive touchdowns were scored by two different junior high players, Ash Campbell and Davis Stephens, on interception runbacks.

“You’re going to see that in the first scrimmage,” Elder said. “It’s kind of typical.”

As for the effort, Elder said the junior Tigers did fine. The junior Tigers host Elkins Thursday in a benefit game starting at 7 p.m. at Prairie Grove’s Tiger Den Stadium.

“I’m looking forward to Thursday to see what we do against somebody else,” Elder said.

Prior to the weather interruption, booster club members were busy selling reserved seats and parking passes and collecting laundry detergent and cash donations to benefit the football program.

The booster club wants fans to know they sincerely appreciate all Tiger fans who make the pie auction such a success every year. This year, in addition to the auction, an “Express Table” was set up and manned in hope to serve students, those unable to stay for the auction, or anyone inclined to indulge in sweet treats while bidding on pies.

All the pies and treats were sold in spite of the weather.

Also on the agenda were the junior high cheerleaders and pom squad as well as their senior high counterparts. The event ended before head coach Danny Abshier and the senior high boys could take the field due to storms moving in that produced lightning.

The senior Tigers at last got in a scrimmage Tuesday when they traveled to Van Buren.

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Brothers Guenther, Ethan, a senior (left); and Graham, a junior, provide Prairie Grove with a pair of talented, versatile athletes, who can each play multiple positions.