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Har-Ber Grounds Way Past Springdale High
Last updated Saturday, September 27, 2008 12:06 AM CDT in Prep Sports
By Brandon Harris
SPECIAL TO THE MORNING NEWS
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SPRINGDALE -- Springdale Har-Ber didn't need quarterback Zach Faust to throw gobs of deep passes, rack up big-time yardage or pick apart Springdale High's secondary.
That wasn't the game plan.
The Wildcats did what they'd planned for all week and went to the ground on Friday night, racking up 238 yards rushing and dominating the line of scrimmage in a 20-14 victory over their crosstown rivals at Jerrell Williams Bulldog Stadium.
"We game planned around the running game," left tackle Sam Henley said. "We knew if we could establish the running game, we could push it down (the field) and win the game. It feels good, it's always fun beating your friends. We've got bragging rights for a year, but now we've got to get ready for (Fort Smith) Northside."
Har-Ber running back Derek Brinker had 31 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown, while wide receiver Kaleb Vaughn -- the go-to weapon in the Wildcats' jet package -- had five carries for 93 yards.
Faust, who entered the game averaging nearly 250 yards per game through the air, finished with just 178.
"We knew they were going to take shots (down the field), but they didn't take as many shots as I thought they would," Springdale coach Kevin Johnson said. "It's conference (play), and conference is going to be won with the running game. They have a great running back and a big offensive line, and they pounded on us."
Springdale's defense had Har-Ber fooled for much of the first half. Faust was pressured into throwing errant passes and Brinker needed 17 carries to run his first-half total to 63 yards.
Springdale (2-2, 0-1 7A-West Conference) forced a 7-7 tie after the first half, but saw opportunity after opportunity slip away in the second.
Quarterback Ashton Glaser was intercepted while on the Wildcat 11-yard-line, which set up Vaughn's 73-yard run and a 7-yard touchdown run from Brinker to give Har-Ber (4-0, 1-0) a 13-7 lead. Kris Watson returned the ensuing kickoff 52 yards to the Wildcat 18 and Zac Guilliams put the Bulldogs at the 2, but Springdale failed to punch it in on four straight plays and turned the ball over on towns.
Har-Ber's Josh McKinney caught a 46-yard pass on the next drive before Henley recovered Faust's fumble in the end zone for a 20-7 Har-Ber lead. LaDarius Eckwood caught his second touchdown pass of the night to make it 20-14, but Springdale couldn't stop Brinker and the Wildcats ran out the clock.
GAME BREAKER
Springdale Har-Ber 20, Springdale High 14
Why The Wildcats Won
Har-Ber dominated the line of scrimmage offensively and defensively, stopping Springdale at the goal line and converting short-yardage situations offensively.
Why The Bulldogs Lost
Springdale didn't get to the door when opportunity came knocking. It threw an interception in the red zone and turned the ball over on downs at the goal line.
SPRINGDALE HAR-BER 20, SPRINGDALE HIGH 14
Spring 7 0 0 7 -- 14
Har 0 7 6 7 -- 20
First Quarter
Spring -- Eckwood 27 pass from Glaser (Negrette kick), 1:56
Second Quarter
Har -- Faust 3 run (Escobar kick), 7:03
Third Quarter
Har -- Brinker 7 run (kick failed), 4:42
Fourth Quarter
Har -- Henley 1 run (Escobar kick), 9:48
Spring -- Eckwood 9 pass from Glaser (Negrette kick), 6:21
Spring Har
First Downs 12 24
Rushes-yards 23-79 46-238
Passing yards 144 178
Comp-Att-Int 13-26-1 14-21-1
Punts 3-30 2-42
Fumbles-lost 0 4-1
Penalties-yards 1-5 7-56
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING --- Springdale, Watson 12-57, Glaser 8-6, Guilliams 2-19, Barkey 1-(minus 3). Har-Ber, Brinker 31-138, Vaughn 5-93, Faust 8-9, Henley 1-1, Tyler 1-(minus 2).
PASSING --- Springdale, Glaser 13-26-144-1. Har-Ber, Faust 14-21-178-1.
RECEIVING --- Springdale, Eckwood 5-81, Watson 4-34, Bocchino 3-21, Powers 1-8. Har-Ber, McKinney 5-103, Brinker 4-32, Vaughn 3-30, Taylor 1-8, Payton 1-5.
MISSED FIELD GOALS --- Springdale, Negrette 47.
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