ROGERS — Rogers High took away Fort Smith Northside’s passing game but that didn’t stop the Grizzlies offense.
Quarterback Kenrick Burns and running back Donnie Jones combined to rush for 288 yards as Northside overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to defeat the Mounties 31-24 in a 7A-West Conference game Friday night.
Burns rushed 15 times for 143 yards and Jones added 145 yards on 17 carries. Burns also passed for 219 yards as the Grizzlies (4-5, 2-4 7A-West) scored the game’s final 17 points.
“Rogers was going to make us run by taking away the pass,” said Northside coach Darrell Henry. “Rogers did a good job of that and we had to do the other. Our offense is designed to make opponents change and then we change. That was one of Kenrick’s better rushing nights. That is what he is capable of doing. If everyone is covered, he can take it out and run.”
Rogers led 21-7 in the first half and 24-14 with 4 minutes, 40 seconds left in the third quarter. But Rogers lost one of five fumbles and three interceptions, including two the final 14 minutes of the game, proved too much to overcome.
Rogers finished with 193 yards rushing but they managed just 40 yards after halftime.
“We couldn’t move the ball in the second half and that was the difference,” said Rogers coach Shawn Flannigan. “All the turnovers were key and critical and at a tough time.”
Northside spread out its defense after halftime and Henry said that proved to be the difference in holding Rogers to just a field goal in the second half. Northside lost three fumbles in the first half as Rogers led 21-14.
“We gave them 14 points in the first half , but the kids overcame it,” Henry said. “We came out and got after it. We moved our linebackers out and had them go at different angles to give them a better chance to get that toss. We wanted to make Rogers run sideways a little more.”
The win keeps Northside in the playoff hunt as the Grizzlies play Fort Smith Southside next week.
“We got our shot,” Henry said.
Rogers (2-7, 1-5), despite the loss, is still not eliminated from the postseason chase. But the Mounties will have to defeat Springdale High next week and then hope they are on the right side of any tiebreakers.
Why The Grizzlies Won
Northside rushed for 288 yards and Kenrick Burns passed for 219 more.
Why The Mounties Lost
Rogers had four turnovers and the triple option offense accounted for just 40 yards rushing in the second half.
FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE 31, ROGERS HIGH 24
Northside 0 14 3 14 — 31
Rogers 7 14 3 0 — 24
First Quarter
Rog — Rojas 6 run (Griffin kick), 5:39.
Second Quarter
Rog — Blume 6 run (Griffin kick), 10:34.
Nor — Burns 6 run (Martinez kick), 7:14.
Rog — Young 24 fumble return (Griffin kick), 3:25.
Nor — Jones 7 run (Martinez kick), 2:31.
Third Quarter
Rog — Griffin 24 FG, 4:40.
Nor — Martinez 25 FG, 2:55.
Fourth Quarter
Nor — Jones 1 run (Martinez kick), 9:03.
Nor — Burns 21 run (Martinez kick), 3:03.