Instant Analysis: 10 takeways from Week 5 of Arkansas high school football
Here are 10 nuggets (in no particular order) that stuck out from Week 5 of the Arkansas high school football season.
1. Lindsey, Williams combine for 12 touchdowns in shootout
Last week, Fayetteville quarterback Drake Lindsey and Rogers QB Dane Williams each passed for six touchdowns. On Friday night, they did it again against each other in a class 7A-West shootout that might be the game of the year so far in Arkansas prep football. Fayetteville pulled out the win, 47-42.
Williams passed for 494 yards and Lindsey 530.
“It was a crazy game,” Lindsey said. “All shout-out to Rogers. They are a great football team. Physical, very smart. And hats off to Dane, because he played a great game, too. It was obviously a legendary game, so it was awesome to be a part of it.”
Late in the game, Rogers had a chance to take the lead after a bad punt snap set them up in the red zone. However, a few plays later the Mounties fumbled and Fayetteville notched a first down and ran out the clock.
2. Russellville makes history with blowout
Russellville picked up its first 6A-West Conference win, 61-17 over Siloam Springs Friday night. That is the largest Cyclone point total since 1971.
Mykai Foster returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and Kyron Clendenin returned one 56 yards for a score. Bo Mosley returned a fumble 50 yards for a TD. Running backs Ladarreus Prince and Franklin Guzman each scored his first career TD.
3. Alma QB sets school record in win
Alma senior quarterback Jackson Daily fueled the Airedales’ big conference win over Farmington on Friday night. Daily ran for a school-record 320 yards and six TDs in a 56-35 win over Farmington. He passed for 153 yards and a TD.
Alma racked up a school-record 650 yards of total offense.
The Airedales are 2-0 in league play for the first time since 2018.
4. West Memphis moves to 4-0 in 6A-East play
West Memphis hasn’t lost a game since a 30-16 loss to Class 7A Jonesboro in the season opener. With a 21-14 win over Catholic on Friday night, the Blue Devils are 4-0 in the 6A-East, tied atop the standings with Benton. The Blue Devils host the Panthers Oct. 27.
5. Searcy kicker misses first PAT in win
Sara Daniels entered Searcy’s game with El Dorado hitting all 21 of her PATs. That streak came to an end Friday night, but she still drilled five of her six kicks in a 47-35 win.
Daniels is an all-state soccer player and plays on the Lions basketball team all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.
On the football team, she handles all PATs while sophomore teammate Cooper Jones takes all the kickoffs and longer field goals. He has a 36-yarder to his credit this season.
6. Bryant struggles again but blows out another opponent
Last week, Bryant led struggling Fort Smith Northside just 10-0 in the first half before rolling to a 48-7 win.
On Friday night, Bryant was tied 14-14 with Jonesboro before taking a 21-14 halftime lead which led to a 42-14 win. Last season, the Hornets led by only seven at halftime.
The Hornets continue their tour of 7A-Central lesser opponents when they travel to Little Rock Central next Friday.
7. Kane Archer returns for Greenwood’s easy victory
Greenwood star sophomore QB Kane Archer returned to the starting lineup Friday night after missing two games with a wrist injury.
The Bulldogs beat Greenbrier 35-7 on Friday but didn’t need Archer to do much. He was 10 of 15 for 137 yards and a touchdown. Senior running back Brayedan Davis carried Greenwood with 183 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
Archer will get another week to heal as the Bulldogs are on a bye next week.
8. Junior quarterback stars in Booneville win
Running back Dax Goff, a Harding University commit, has gotten a lot of credit, and rightfully so, as Booneville chases another Class 3A state championship-game appearance this season.
However, it was junior quarterback Jace Washburn who starred in a 40-0 win at West Fork on Friday night. Washburn ran 12 times for 183 yards and a TD and completed 8 of 10 passes for 109 yards and a TD.
Booneville is 2-0 in league play and hosts Greenland next week.
9. Pulaski Academy bounces back
Many wondered how Pulaski Academy would react on the heels of its worst defeat in 18 years. After a 55-13 shellacking at the hands of neighborhood rival Little Rock Christian last week, the Bruins righted the ship and ran past Mountain Home 35-13 on Friday night.
Senior quarterback Brandon Cobb, who is nursing a thumb injury on his non-throwing hand, was 34 of 54 for 353 yards in the victory. PA plays at Siloam Springs next week.
10. Bentonville’s Nye has career night in win
Bentonville quarterback Carter Nye started hot Friday night, which was a sign of things to come in a 50-35 win over Fort Smith Southside.
Nye connected with Arkansas commit CJ Brown on a 75-yard touchdown pass on the Tigers’ first offensive possession. When the smoke cleared, he finished with a career-high 486 yards passing and 6 scores.
The career night comes just two weeks after Nye threw four interceptions in a close loss to Rockhurst (Mo.).
--Nate Olson
Photo of Fayetteville's Drake Lindsey by Steve Andrews
