SPORTS
The
Daily Citizen SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011
SECTION B Sports Editor Kyle Troutman 501-268-8621 ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com
Wildcats’ title dreams still alive BY M. A. WEBB Special to The Daily Citizen
Beebe takes pride in success BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com
The Badgers knew they had a tough road in the 5A state playoffs, and they were sad to see the 2011 season end Friday at the hands of Camden Fairview. They also take pride in how well this season went. Head coach John Shannon said the loss is disappointing, but he is proud of his team and the effort they’ve shown all year. “We knew going in it was going to be a tough game,” Shannon said. “ They’re a very talented team and we played with them for the first quarterand-a-half, but then they just exploded on us.” Senior running back Matt Pursell said he is saddened by the loss and the season’s end, but proud of how his team played in the playoffs. “It was a tough loss,” he said. “We did a pretty good job in the first quarter, but in the second quarter we just fell apart and ended up down 28-3 at the end of the half.” Playoff loss aside, the
With only two more wins, the Wildcats are heading back to Little Rock. Harding Academy hit double digits in consecutive wins and is ready to face off with Charleston after sailing over Greenland in the second round of the playoffs Friday night. The Wildcats, who have been red hot since Week 3, picked up their 10th straight win and made winning a playoff game look easy in the 42-7 win over the Pirates. Head Coach Roddy Mote is ready to move forward and told his team after the win that they were going to face a good football team in Charleston on the road next week. “You know what,” he told
them, “I’m fired up about going on the road.” Mote said the team was not planning on making any adjustments. “We are going to go to work and get prepared,” he said After the Wildcats botched the Jacob Brower/jbrower@thedailycitizen.com snap on their opening drive, they Harding Academy’s Trey Davis jukes past two Greenland defendrecovered quickly as they picked ers and into the end zone Friday during the Wildcats’ 42-7 win at First Security Stadium Friday. The Wildcats travel to play a quarPlease see HA | 3B terfinal match Friday against Charleston at 7:30 p.m.
PLAYOFF LOSS DISAPPOINTING FOR SEARCY
Please see BEEBE | 3B
Wilson shines in Hogs’ victory BY KURT VOIGT Associated Press
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Tyler Wilson made sure Arkansas didn’t stumble on its way to Baton Rouge, La. Anything but. The Razorbacks and their quarterback now have the chance to make their case in the national championship debate. Wilson had a school-record 32 completions and threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns as the No. 6 Razorbacks made quick work of Mississippi State in a 44-17 win on Saturday. The win is the seventh straight for Arkansas (101, 6-1 Southeastern Conference), which travels to No. 1 LSU next week for a game with conference and national implications. Before the Razorbacks could turn their collective attention to the Tigers, though, they first had to deal with the Bulldogs (5-6, 1-6). Arkansas did just that — and how. The Razorbacks outgained Mississippi State 539-211 and scored 30 straight points after the Bulldogs closed within 1410 in the second quarter. They’ve now outscored South Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi State 137-52 over their last three games in an attempt to crash both the SEC and BCS national title game parties. Please see HOGS | 2B
Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com
Searcy’s Jared Eades tackles a Pine Bluff runner during the Lions’ 35-14 loss at home to the Zebras Friday night in the quar-
Lions thankful for strong season BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com
Emotions ran high as tears streamed down the faces of Searcy football players, parents, coaches and fans following the Lions’ 35-14 loss to Pine Bluff at home in the quarterfinals of the 6A state playoffs. Head Coach Tim Harper said the loss was obviously disappointing, but it doesn’t take anything away from the Lions’ stellar season. “I’m hurting. Everybody’s hurting,” he said. “It’s disappointing and it hurts, but you can’t help but be proud of what this team has accomplished this season and take this experience and learn and grow from
it. We missed some opportunities tonight that we’d like to have back, but that the great thing about the game of football is you never know which way the ball will bounce.” Senior quarterback Dezmond Stegall, fighting back his own emotions, said the game did not go how the Lions had hoped, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.
“I don’t know what to say,” Stegall said. “We can’t get anything back and I knew that last run would be my last touchdown at Searcy, and I’m proud to be a Lion.” The Lions’ 9-3 season may be hailed as one of the best ever for the Lions, pulling off a memorable 28-24 road win over Jonesboro in Week 8 and keeping a perfect record at home throughout the regular season. Stegall hopes the team’s success will give future Searcy football players a base from which to build. “I hope we laid a foundation and that future teams can build off this season and bring Searcy football back where it
needs to be,” he said. Harper took moments after the game to congratulate his seniors, which he felt meant a great deal to the program and its success. “The seniors taught these other kids how to win,” Harper said. “I’d like to thank all three of my senior classes for the work they’ve put in and the heart they’ve shown playing for this team.” Stegall said his pride is in his teammates who shared with him the thrill of victory and despair of defeat. “I’m proud of each and every one of my teammates,” he said. “The odds were against us all year and we came out and performed.”
HU breaks numerous records in 2011 BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@thedailycitizen.com
Harding University’s football team may not have had the number of wins it would have liked, but the Bisons went over the top when it comes to breaking school records. As a team, the Bisons broke records in eight statistical categories. Harding’s 38 rushing touchdowns seat a new school record, as did its 360.9 rushing yards per game and 28.2 average yards per completion. The Bisons scored an all-time high 390 points in 2011 with 52 touchdowns scored, 48 pointafter attempts made and 10 good field goals. The 52 touchdowns also beat the previous record of 50, while the 48-of-52 point-after attempts set records for mode point-after attempts made and most point-after attempts. “Obviously, we would have
liked to have won more ballgames, but we had a very productive offense,” Head Coach Ronnie Huckeba said. “There was a stretch in there where turnovers were causing problems, but for it only being our second year in that offensive system, we’ve done well. We will continue to improve and take care of the football and expand our abilities. We think Jacob Brower/jbrower@thedailycitizen.com we can throw the ball a little bet- Harding University senior kicker Eddy Carmona kicks a field goal ter next year, so that’s something during the Bisons’ 31-27 loss to Ouachita Baptist University at First Security Stadium Oct. 29. Carmona set numerous school rePlease see HU | 3B cords for the Bisons this season.