Crashing the party

Conway spoils Springdale Har-Ber’s stadium debut

NWA Media/ J.T. Wampler - Har-Ber High School's Trey Smith picks up a loose ball Friday Sept. 19, 2014 during the Wildcats' first home game against Conway.
NWA Media/ J.T. Wampler - Har-Ber High School's Trey Smith picks up a loose ball Friday Sept. 19, 2014 during the Wildcats' first home game against Conway.

SPRINGDALE -- Conway knows how to spoil a good party.

The Wampus Cats scored 31 unanswered points to overcome an early deficit and defeat Springdale Har-Ber 31-15 Friday night in front of a crowd of more 4,000 in the first game played at Har-Ber's new $5.5 million stadium.

Tehre was plenty of excitement on the home side when Har-Ber scored on its opening possession to take a 7-0 lead, but it was all Conway (3-0) from that point.

"We told our kids it was probably going to take a series to get settled in," Conway Coach Clint Ashcraft said. "After that, we just started playing."

Conway quarterback Breylin Smith threw for 349 yards, and Brock Mitchell had 10 catches for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Har-Ber used three quarterbacks -- Trey Smith, Brandon Still and Caleb Daniels -- but could not generate much offense besides the opening drive. Sione Nasilia scored on two short runs for the Wildcats (0-3).

"Offensively, we didn't produce at all," Har-Ber Coach Chris Wood said. "We got the running game going early, then just faltered."

Sophomore Trey Smith, working out of the Wildcat formation, led an eight-play, 66-yard drive that was capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from Nasilia. Trey Smith had a 17-yard run and Luke Hannon a 25-yard run to highlight the drive.

Conway grabbed the momentum with 17 consecutive points. Breylin Smith passed 27 yards to Mitchell for a touchdown and Matthew Cummins kicked a 34-yard field goal to give the Wampus Cats a 10-7 lead.

Conway, which lined up with five receivers on occasion, went ahead 17-7 on an 18-yard run by Mark Odom midway through the second quarter. The play was set up by a 47-yard completion from Breylin Smith to Mitchell, who turned and made the catch despite being well-covered on the play.

NO. 8 WYNNE 42,

WEST MEMPHIS 12

WYNNE — The Wynne Yellowjackets relied on the right arm of quarterback Ross Trail to get a first-half lead, but it took the legs of running back Antonio Davis to put the game away.

Davis rushed for 104 of his 143 yards in the second half and he scored two of his four touchdowns in the final two quarters to lead Wynne to a 42-12 victory over West Memphis.

Trail had the hot hand early, connecting on his first three passes on the Jackets’ opening drive, culminated by a 19-yard touchdown pass to Zack Morris for a 7-0 lead after Beau Sherland’s extra point.

Wynne (3-0) kept passing on its next possession, but it was Morris’ pass on a reverse to teammate Devontae Pounds that went for a 33-yard touchdown.

Trail, a University of Cincinnati commitment, completed 10 of 15 in the first half for 133 yards and he finished 15 of 23 for 182 yards.

Wynne decided on a different look to open the second half, riding the quick feet of Davis.

“We wanted to put a little different formation in and we got a little momentum going with it,” Wynne Coach Chris Hill said. “I think we got the defense a little tired by doing it.”

But West Memphis (1-2) put up an early battle.

The Blue Devils got to within 14-6 on a 3-yard touchdown by Quintavious Coleman with 1:39 to play in the first quarter.

The Blue Devils sacked Trail six times and harassed him at several points in the second half, particularly when Coleman returned a Wynne kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown with 6:23 to play in the third quarter that gave Wynne a 28-12 lead.

Sports on 09/20/2014

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