Central Arkansas is guaranteed its first representative in a final in the state’s largest classification since 2004.
But will it be Cabot or North Little Rock playing for the Class 7A state championship Dec. 6 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock?
That will be decided tonight when Cabot (11-0) hosts resilient North Little Rock (10-2) in a semifinal match up at Panther Stadium.
It will be the fourth meeting in the past two seasons between the 7A/6A-East rivals. North Little Rock beat Cabot twice last fall, 33-14 in the regular season at Panther Stadium and 28-0 in a quarterfinal playoff game at home.
Cabot won the 2013 regular-season meeting 48-32 in the Sept. 27 conference opener at North Little Rock Stadium.
“They haven’t been challenged since,” said Panthers Coach Mike Malham, whose team is ranked No. 2 overall. “That was their first game without Juan Day. They’ve just gotten better and better.”
Day, North Little Rock’s standout senior tailback, suffered a season-ending knee injury Sept. 20 at Pine Bluff. The Charging Wildcats lost another tailback, junior Fabian Lewis, to a season-ending knee injury Oct. 4 at West Memphis.
But senior Deion Tidwell, 5-10, 207 pounds, has more than shouldered the load in North Little Rock’s eight-game winning streak. Tidwell, a three-year starter at fullback, moved to tailback following Day’s injury and has emerged as one of Class 7A’s leading rushers with 202 carries for 1,481 yards and 16 touchdowns.
In last week’s 28-7 quarterfinal victory at Bryant, Tidwell carried 42 times for 346 yards and 1 touchdown.
“He’s just solid muscle,” North Little Rock Coach Brad Bolding said.
Tidwell wasn’t a factor in the Sept. 27 meeting as North Little Rock ran for only 65 yards.
Junior quarterback Heath Land threw on almost every down in the second half and finished 26 of 47 for 334 yards and 4 touchdowns. Junior wide receiver K.J. Hill caught 8 passes for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns (88 and 18 yards).
Cabot stretched a 21-18 halftime lead to a 41-18 advantage early in the fourth quarter behind senior fullback Zach Launius, who finished with 231 yards and 4 touchdowns on 39 carries. The Panthers finished with 431 rushing yards on 65 attempts.
“We knew we were getting into a buzz saw with Cabot,” Bolding said. “Cabot’s good. It’s not any secret. Those suckers are good. This is the group he’s been waiting on.”
But North Little Rock has stonewalled most teams since the Cabot game, recording three shutouts and holding three others to seven points or less.
Bolding said North Little Rock didn’t make any significant personnel changes following the first meeting with Cabot, adding it’s a case of inexperienced players growing up the last two months.
“We had a lot of kids that weren’t starters last year that have a lot more game experience now,” Bolding said.
Cabot has continued to roll since the first meeting with North Little Rock, with most games in hand at halftime.
Behind a seasoned offensive line anchored by senior identical twins Heath and Keith Pledger, who play guard and tight end, respectively, Launius has rushed 191 times for 1,569 yards and 26 touchdowns. His long run is 80 yards.
“I hope we can take care of the football and don’t give them the big play,” Malham said.
Malham said senior linebacker Jake Vaughn, a three-year starter, won’t play tonight because of complications from mononucleosis.
Little Rock Central was the last central Arkansas team to reach a final in the state’s largest classification, claiming the Class AAAAA title in 2004. Another central Arkansas team, Conway, meets Bentonville in the other Class 7A semifinal tonight.
At a glance NORTH LITTLE ROCK VS. CABOT
WHAT Class 7A semifinals WHEN 7 p.m. today WHERE Panther Stadium, Cabot RECORDS North Little Rock 10-2; Cabot 11-0 RANKINGS North Little Rock is No. 4 in Class 7A and No. 5 overall; Cabot is No. 2 in Class 7A and No. 2 overall SEEDS North Little Rock is No. 3 from the 7A-Central; Cabot is No. 1 from the 7 A-Central
Sports, Pages 30 on 11/29/2013