Even in a loss, Central Arkansas Christian Coach Tommy Shoemaker knew better days were ahead for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs lost 55-35 to Pulaski Robinson on Sept. 11 at Mustang Mountain in a game where they trailed 28-7 at halftime and 35-7 early in the third quarter. But since that Week 2 loss, the Mustangs have won 10 consecutive and went 7-0 in the 2-4A Conference to earn the conference's No. 1 seed in the Class 4A playoffs.
Shoemaker said he believes the Mustangs' second half against the Senators set the tone for what was eventually a 2-4A Conference championship.
"We didn't quit and didn't give up. We fought and competed," Shoemaker said. "We didn't make enough plays to win that ballgame, but I knew this group would go into any place we play and give everything they had.
"After that game, we were disappointed, but I knew we were going to have a good ballclub."
CAC (11-1), which beat Gosnell last Friday in the second round of the 4A playoffs, hosts Pea Ridge (10-2) on Friday night in a quarterfinal game, with the winner traveling to Nashville or Warren in the semifinals.
It's been a balanced effort for CAC this season, as junior quarterback Noah Evans, junior wide receiver Josh Johnson and senior running back Braylon Harris have led the Mustangs' charge.
Evans, who was honored as the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's All Arkansas Preps player of the week Monday at the Little Rock Touchdown Club, has completed 191 of 335 passes for 2,752 yards with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Harris has rushed for 1,253 yards and 25 touchdowns while Johnson has caught 76 passes for 1,231 yards and 7 touchdowns.
"We've been balanced," Shoemaker said. "A lot of guys have touched the ball. It makes us tough to prepare for."
CAC has not advanced to the state semifinals since 2007, when future University of Arkansas wide receiver Joe Adams was a senior. A victory Friday night and the Mustangs will break that eight-year drought.
"It's been a special season for our guys," Shoemaker said. "They enjoy being around each other. They're a great group of kids. They love playing the game. We have great team chemistry and great leadership out of our seniors. It's one of those things where we've been playing well for quite a while. It goes back to how well they prepare each week."
RIVERCREST
Langston runs wild
Entering the 2015 season, Rivercrest's single-game rushing record had lasted 23 years.
Senior running back Cecil Langston broke the record Oct. 30, rushing for 435 yards and 5 touchdowns on 36 carries in the Colts' 49-14 victory over Melbourne at home. Tyrone Henry was the previous record-holder with 418 yards in 1992.
Just three weeks later, though, the Colts' record was broken again by Langston. This time, it was in the second round of the Class 3A postseason.
Langston finished with 437 yards and 7 touchdowns on 45 carries for the Colts in a 62-52 victory over Episcopal Collegiate. He scored on runs of 60, 5, 4, 7, 32, 46 and 71 yards.
The Colts had a 54-38 lead midway through the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats pulled within 54-52 when Kelvin Robinson stripped Langston and returned the fumble 61 yards for a touchdown.
With less than two minutes remaining, Rivercrest was facing a fourth and 4 from its 29. Coach Kelly Chandler didn't waste any time with his decision and decided to go for it despite the Colts' poor field position.
"They had all the momentum," Chandler said. "We didn't do anything on the first three downs. I didn't want to punt."
Instead, Rivercrest gave the ball to Langston, and he ran 71 yards for his seventh touchdown of the game, making it 62-52 with 1:38 left.
Langston, 5-7, 182 pounds, has rushed for 2,758 yards and 32 touchdowns on 270 carries this season. He's had five 300-yard games, including a 340-yard performance against Piggott on Oct. 2 and 305 against Cedar Ridge on Oct. 23.
Langston has rushed for 5,802 yards and 61 touchdowns in his career and needs 207 yards and 4 touchdowns to become Rivercrest's all-time leading rusher. Henry had 6,008 yards and 64 touchdowns in 1990-1993.
"You know everybody keys on him," Chandler said. "We don't have a lot of weapons. He's the main one. But everybody is still keying on him.
"He can still get his yards. Everybody knew that last play was going to him."
Rivercrest (9-3) hosts Glen Rose (10-2) in a quarterfinal game Friday. The Beavers, who won at Hoxie last Friday, are led by senior running back Jordan Johnson, who has 2,521 yards and 30 touchdowns on 278 carries.
"They're awfully good," Chandler said. "They're real balanced. They're going to be a test.
"It's going to come down to who stops the run."
EXTRA POINTS
When Nashville (12-0) plays at Warren (10-1) on Friday, it will be their first postseason meeting since 2007. The Scrappers are 4-0 against the Lumberjacks in the postseason. They beat Warren in the first round in 1995 and 2003 and won the 2006 Class 4A state championship against the Lumberjacks and eliminated the Bradley County school in the 2007 quarterfinals. ... Dardanelle (12-0) is in the state quarterfinals for the fourth time. The Sand Lizards advanced to the third round in 1985 and 2007 and are making their second consecutive appearance in the round. Dardanelle hosts Arkadelphia on Friday. ... England has allowed 89 points this season, but allowed its largest point total last season when it gave up 28 to Mountainburg in a 48-28 Class 2A second-round victory. The Lions host Des Arc on Friday in a quarterfinal game.
Sports on 11/25/2015