By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
HUGHES -- For the first time since the 1994 season, the Hughes Blue Devils are moving into the second-round of the Class AA high school state football playoffs.
The Blue Devils used three touchdowns by Andre Walker Friday to ground the Des Arc Eagles 26-15, on a bitter cold night at Blue Devil Stadium.
Going in to Friday's first-round game, the Blue Devils were three-point underdogs. Early in the second quarter, Hughes appeared to be on their way to an easy victory, leading 20-0.
They ended up winning by 11, which leaves the Blue Devils at 9-2 for the year, their best mark since 1998 when they finished 7-2.
The No. 2 seeded Blue Devils will make the four-hour trip to Jessieville Friday for their second-round matchup against the Lions, the top-seeded team from the 5AA Conference.
Jessieville, in the AA playoffs for the fourth straight year, defeated Stamps 38-27 in their first-round game Friday to advance to the second-round.
The win over Stamps broke a three-year streak of first-round losses for the Lions as well.
Jessieville has lost to Carlisle in 2000 and 2001 and to Harding Academy in 1999.
The Blue Devils finished with 364 total yards against Des Arc, the No. 3 seeded team from the 6AA.
Walker led the way with 193 yards on 22 carries while Ayodele Ogunsakin finished with 86 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown. Jermaine Davis had 43 yards on 13 carries while Jamal Tiggs finished with 37 yards on 10 carries.
The Blue Devils scored on their first possession, capping a 67-yard drive with Walker's nine-yard touchdown run with 3:16 to play in the first quarter. Brian Hillis' kick was wide leaving Hughes with a 6-0 lead.
The Eagles failed to convert a fourth down on their next possession and Hughes took over with 33 seconds left on the clock. From their own 40 and on the first play of the second quarter, Ogunsakin broke free for a 60-yard touchdown run. Hillis' kick made it a 13-0 Hughes lead.
Davis helped set up the Blue Devils next scoring opportunity when he intercepted a Brandon Stidham pass to give the Blue Devils control at the Des Arc 29-yard line.
On second down, Walker went 22 yards for the score and Hillis kicked the Blue Devils to a 20-0 lead with 10 minutes left in the first half.
The Eagles answered on the next possession when Stidham completed a long touchdown pass to Edward Dunlap. The PAT cut Hughes' lead to 20-7 which held through the half.
Neither team scored in the third quarter as Hughes punted twice and lost a fumble while Des Arc failed to convert two fourth downs and and punted once.
Hughes came through with their second interception of the game with 5:18 to play in the fourth quarter when Alex Chamness made the pick and returned it 43 yards to the Des Arc 28. On third and five, Walker ran 21 yards for his third touchdown of the night to make it 26-7.
The Eagles scored with seven seconds left on a short touchdown run.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
SEARCY -- The Palestine-Wheatley scored first Friday against Harding Academy but it wasn't enough as the undefeated Wildcats scored the next 49 consecutive points.
Playing at home, Harding Academy, the top-ranked team in Class AA this season, went on to secure a 49-23 win over the Patriots in the first-round of the Class AA state playoffs held at First Security Stadium in Searcy.
The Patriots end their year at 5-6. It was the third straight trip to postseason for the Patriots under coach Terry Farmer and the third straight first-round loss.
Harding, 11-0, moves on to host Hampton on Friday. Hampton downed Dermott to get into the second round.
It is the first 11-0 start for the Wildcats since the 1977 season.
Taking the opening kickoff, the Patriots drove 61 yards to score on their first possession. The kick made it 7-0 Palestine-Wheatley.
It was all Harding Academy after that as Wildcats quarterback Caleb Keese completed 11-of-23 passes for 265 yards and four touchdowns.
The Wildcats scored on eight of their next nine possessions.
That gave the Harding Academy reserves the chance to play the entire second half.
The key play of the game came when the Patriots were facing a fourth and 10 at their own 40 and the game tied at 7-7.
The Patriots, instead of punting the ball away, went for the first down and failed when a halfback pass fell incomplete.
The Wildcats responded quickly with a 24-yard pass to set up the go-ahead 16-yard touchdown run and a 14-7 lead. They would stretch that cushion to 20-7 to begin the second quarter.
The Patriots put together a threat early in the second quarter but were forced to give up the ball on downs at the Harding Academy four-yard line.
Keese then connected with Jordan Huckeba for a school-record 96-yard touchdown pass.
The two-point conversion put the Wildcats in front 28-7.
The storyline for the Patriots came down to missed opportunities as Palestine-Wheatley failed to convert a fake punt and turned the ball over on downs at their own 27.
Harding's defensive unit held the Patriots to just 75 total yards in the first half.
The Patriots scored twice in the second half and converted a pair of two-point plays to make the final score.
The Patriots started five sophomores and one freshman on defense.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Forrest City Lady Mustangs, after playing one scrimmage game and their season-open last week, get down to business this week as they open play at the Mount St. Mary's "Heavenly Hoopfest" Tournament in Little Rock.
A year ago, the Lady Mustangs finished 1-2 in the tournament, splitting a pair of games against Morrilton and losing to Star City.
Losing only one senior from last years team, Lady Mustang Coach Sue Jayroe hopes the results this time around will be much more heavenly.
The Lady Mustangs open today against Watson Chapel at 5:30 p.m.
Win or lose, the team returns to tournament action Wednesday. A win over Watson Chapel brings the Lady Mustangs back Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. against the Sylvan Hills-Russellville winner.
A loss brings the team back at 4 p.m., against the Sylvan Hills-Russellville loser.
Jayroe said she is taking only 13 of her 18 roster players and dressing only 11 for the three tournament games.
The projected Lady Mustang starters are Caronica Randle, Trinia Wynne, Chrystal Summage, Viveca Kimble and Katrina Floyd.
The tournament finals will be played on Saturday.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
WHEATLEY -- The Palestine-Wheatley Junior Lady Patriots won the Wheatley Invitational Tournament title Saturday night, defeating Cross County 35-17 in a game played at Wheatley Gym.
Kara Lansford and Keisha Stovall each led the Junior Lady Patriots with 10 points each. Tomisha Wynne added nine points.
Palestine-Wheatley opened the tournament last Thursday with a win over McCrory.
A year ago, the junior girls finished third.
Brinkley took home the junior boy's tournament title, defeating the Palestine-Wheatley Junior Patriots in the championship game.
The Junior Patriots reached the final of the tournament by defeating McCrory last Thursday.
The England Junior High Tournament, scheduled to begin today involving the P-W teams, has been cancelled as has both senior high basketball games against Earle on Nov. 19 and 26.
*Tonight's scheduled junior high game between the Forrest City Blue Mustangs and the Hughes Junior Blue Devils, has been cancelled.
* PREP FOOTBALL
Class AAAAA
Friday's First Round Scores
West Memphis 31, Bryant 35
Russellville 38, El Dorado 37
Springdale 35, Lake Hamilton 0
Jonesboro 9, LR Central 8
Conway 27, FS Northside 20, 2OT
Cabot 21, Texarkana 0
Pine Bluff 21, Jacksonville 20
FS Southside 19, LR McClellan 18
Class AAAA
Stuttgart 42, Vilonia 15
Greenwood 19, Hot Springs 7
Wynne 35, Hel-West Helena Central 12
Pulaski Robinson 42, Harrison 14
Alma 13, Hope 3
Beebe 28, Crossett 14
Clarksville 29, Magnolia 21
Sylvan Hills 28, Batesville 20
Class AAA
Pulaski Academy 41, Mayflower 14
Star City 47, Ashdown 21
Greenland 41, Gravette 12
Rivercrest 28, Yellville-Summit 8
Nashville 48, Dumas 12
Dover 44, Central Arkansas Christian 34
Newport 25, Trumann 22, 2OT
Booneville 36, Prairie Grove 8
Warren 40, Fouke 7
Brinkley 26, Clinton 6
Gosnell 52, Highland 21
Berryville 50, Waldron 22
Pulaski Oak Grove 31, Bald Knob 21
Prescott 28, Dollarway 8
Ozark 42, Farmington 13
Pocahontas 35, East Poinsett County 14
Class AA
Harding Academy 49, Palestine-Wheatley 23
Hampton 47, Dermott 14
Charleston 47, LR Christian 14
Bauxite 24, Dierks 14
Junction City 76, Hermitage 13
Hector 42, Pea Ridge 7
Jessieville 27, Stamps 28
Hughes 26, Des Arc 15
Rison 37, Smackover 6
Elkins 33, Arkansas Baptist 0
Carlisle 26, Marked Tree 21
Mount Ida 27, Gurdon 21
Mineral Springs 47, Mountain Pine 14
Barton 22, Earle 12
Danville 41, Lavaca 0
Bearden 47, Altheimer 12
Quarterfinals
Friday, November 22
Class AAAAA
Russellville at West Memphis
Jonesboro at Springdale
Cabot at Conway
FS Southside at Pine Bluff
Class AAAA
Greenwood at Stuttgart
Pulaski Robinson at Wynne
Beebe at Alma
Sylvan Hills at Clarksville
Class AAA
Star City at Pulaski Academy
Greenland at Rivercrest
Dover at Nashville
Booneville at Newport
Brinkley at Warren
Berryville at Gosnell
Prescott at Pulaski Oak Grove
Pocahontas at Ozark
Class AA
Hampton at Harding Academy
Bauxite at Charleston
Hector at Junction City
Hughes at Jessieville
Elkins at Rison
Carlisle at Mount Ida
Barton at Mineral Springs
Bearden at Danville