LITTLE ROCK — Unbeaten Hornets are taking baby steps
Bearden Coach Mike Cox has lost only seven gamessince he began coaching the Class 2A Bears in 2006.
The f irst six losses were to teams that won a state championship or played for a state championship.
The jury is still out on No. 7, but Camden Harmony Grove (3-0) appears to be a candidate to reach Little Rock, too.
“Baby steps,” first-year Harmony Grove Coach Tony Chambers said. “One step at a time. It’s good to be in that company, I guess. But we’re not getting ahead of ourselves.”
Harmony Grove already owns victories over Bearden, No. 1 in Class 2A, and Class 4A Star City heading into Friday night’s 6-3A opener at Rison.
The Wildcats (2-1) are No. 5 in Class 3A.
Rison’s only loss came to Star City, 28-13. Harmony Grove beat Star City 21-13 last week.
“I don’t read anything into scores,” said Chambers, previously an assistant at Hamburg. “That was nonconference for both of us. They’re going to play harder Friday night, and I hope we play harder Friday night.”
CONWAY CHRISTIAN
Isom sets record
Conway Christian senior fullback Bates Isom ran for a school-record 306 yards in Friday night’s 50-20 victory at Cutter Morning Star, Conway Christian Coach Chuck Speer said.
Isom broke the record on just 15 carries. He scored four touchdowns.
Senior running back Adam “Fuzzy” Ragland ran 10 times for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns.
“Usually, Fuzzy leads us in rushing, but it’s Bates right now,” Speer said. “It’s kind of choose your poison on those two guys. If you want to try tostop Fuzzy, then Bates is going to kill you.”
Ragland and Isom, the son of former Central Arkansas football Coach Mike Isom, are the two most prolific rushers in Conway Christian’s three-year history of 11-man football.
Ragland ran for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore and junior. Isom had more than 900 yards last fall.
But Isom, 5-8, 170 pounds, has a team-high 659 yards this season. Ragland, 5-8, 170, has 501 rushing yards.
Speer said Isom’s production has increased because he’s receiving more carries after moving from wingback to fullback.
The Class 2A Eagles (2-1) are seeking their third consecutive playoff berth since starting their 11-man program in 2008.
“We replaced a lot of linemen this year, and we were worried about that,” Speer said. “But these linemen have been giving us a good push so far.”
Based on enrollment figures the Arkansas Activities Association used to classify schools in the 2010-2012 cycle, Conway Christian is the state’s second-smallest football-playing school with only 95 students.
Speer said he has 22 players.
MINERAL SPRINGS
Williams runs wild
The numbers don’t belong to a wide receiver, but to Mineral Springs sophomore running back Rashad Williams.
On just 32 carries this fall, Williams has rushed for 577 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Williams’ per-carry average is a staggering 18 yards.
In last week’s 55-6 victory over Mountain Pine, Williams ran 11 times for 278 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Hornets Coach Vince Perrin said Williams, 5-6, 170 pounds, possesses outstanding vision, toughness, balance and speed.
“He’s very coachable, unselfish and does a great job in the classroom,” Perrin said. “He’s always wanting to do better.”
Williams also has 3 receptions for 49 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Mineral Springs (3-0) hosts Mount Ida on Friday night in the 7-2A opener.
Sports, Pages 21 on 09/22/2010