High school football report

Progress obvious at Searcy

Searcy football coach Mark Kelley
Searcy football coach Mark Kelley

Mark Kelley has been on the job as Searcy's head football coach for less than a month, but he did something that no coach had done since 2012: Beat Pulaski Academy in 7-on-7 tournament play.

Searcy ended defending Class 5A state champion Pulaski Academy's 75-game winning streak in 7-on-7 tournament play with a 37-35 victory in pool play Friday at Mighty Bluebird Complex in Little Rock.

For Kelley, it was proof that the Class 6A Lions could compete with the best teams in Arkansas.

"You have to have confidence," Kelley said. "Coming here, competing against great teams from Arkansas and Oklahoma, they have to see if they're good enough to compete on a state level. They have to have the confidence to know they can beat anybody at any time."

Kelley was promoted from offensive coordinator in May when Jeromy Poole resigned after two seasons. Searcy was 8-14 in Kelley's two years as offensive coordinator.

"It's been a whirlwind," Kelley said. "We're getting our base installed with all of our coaches, our responsibilities and the things we focus on most in our program. So we're building from there."

Kelley is in his second stint as a head coach, spending 2012 at Crossett before going to Searcy. When asked what he's learned from his first head coaching stint, Kelley said the most important thing is the communication between him and his coaching staff.

Searcy has at least 70 players in the program as of Friday, but should have around 80 when fall practice starts, Kelley said.

Searcy has 22 seniors and returns 12 starters (five on offense, seven on defense). The Lions will be led by senior quarterback Andrew Neaville (1,850 yards, 16 touchdowns) and senior wide receiver Wallace Robinson (40 receptions, 600 yards).

"We have a great senior class," Kelley said. "This can be a great year, with the continuity of our offense and, also, the defense continuing with what we're doing."

FAYETTEVILLE

Bulldogs win in Kansas

Fayetteville won the Kansas Qualifier of the National Select 7-on-7 Tournament on Saturday, beating host Derby, Kan., 33-7 in the championship game.

With Saturday's victory, Fayetteville has qualified for the tournament July 16-18 in Hoover, Ala.

The Bulldogs, who lost to Bentonville in the 2014 Class 7A state championship, were the No. 1 seed in the tournament. They beat Winfield (Kan.) 38-5, Derby (Kan.) junior varsity 32-7, Collegiate (Kan.) 33-0 and Derby 33-8 on Saturday to reach the final.

Fayetteville is led by junior quarterback Taylor Powell, who has received an offer from Arkansas State.

CONWAY CHRISTIAN

QB Henry progressing

Conway Christian's 2014 season was its best season since becoming a member of the Arkansas Activities Association in 2007.

The Eagles won the 5-2A Conference and earned a first-round bye in the Class 2A playoffs, but lost a home game to Des Arc 34-14 to finish 9-2.

Coach Michael Carter, though, has reason to believe that the Eagles will be successful again in 2015, beginning with his senior quarterback Jakob Henry.

Henry passed for more than 1,600 yards and 20 touchdowns a year ago.

"Last year was huge," Carter said. "He helped lead our offense. We ran the table in our conference. He had a lot to do with it, with his leadership."

The Des Arc loss still stings for Carter and the Eagles.

"We felt like we had a good game plan going into the game," Carter said. "It left a stench in us. We want to come back this year and go further. Time will tell. We got some good kids. If it happens, good things could happen to us."

AHSCA

All-Star games this week

The 60th annual Arkansas High School Coaches Association's East-West All-Star Games will be held Tuesday through Friday at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

It is the third year that the All-Star games will be held in Conway after being at the University of Arkansas in 2002-2012.

There will be doubleheaders for baseball and softball Tuesday. Baseball starts at 5 p.m. at Bear Stadium and softball at 5 p.m. at Farris Field.

The girls' soccer match will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday and the boys' soccer match will follow at 8 p.m. at the Bill Stephens Complex. The volleyball match is at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Farris Center.

Both basketball games will be at the Farris Center on Thursday. The girls will play at 6 p.m., followed by the boys at 8 p.m.

Football is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Estes Stadium.

Admission is $6 for each game.

Sports on 06/21/2015

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