High school football report

Mount Ida leaning on its seniors

Mount Ida's senior class is small in numbers, but it has helped lead the Lions to eight consecutive victories.

Quarterback T.J. Wilson, running back Cody Robertson and wide receiver Jesse Lowry are three of the Lions' eight seniors, and they have put Mount Ida (8-0, 5-0) in position to clinch the 7-2A Conference championship with a victory Friday night against Gurdon.

"Our skill players know the system," Coach Michael White said. "We have great leadership in the locker room and on the field."

Robertson has rushed for 573 yards and 11 touchdowns. Wilson has completed 33 of 52 passes for 825 yards with 15 touchdowns without an interception while Lowry has accounted for more than 900 offensive yards, including more than 500 receiving.

"Cody is a physical runner," White said. "T.J. can get us in the right play on the field. Jesse is our fastest kid. They all make things happen."

Gurdon (5-3, 5-0) is led by senior running back Jackie Harvell, who has scored 23 touchdowns. White said the Lions will have to be sound fundamentally on defense and gang-tackle him.

"He's by far the best back we'll see, or have seen," White said. "He's very legit."

Mount Ida has outscored opponents 380-58 and recorded four shutouts, but the Go-Devils present the Lions' toughest test so far.

If they pass it, they'll clinch the 7-2A's No. 1 seed in the postseason. White said the Lions understand the magnitude of Friday's game.

"This will tell the tale of how good we really are," White said. "To win a game like this, it won't hurt a kid's confidence. It will paint a picture of how far you go in the playoffs."

DES ARC

Balancing out

Des Arc has two weeks left in the regular season, but it's already preparing for the Class 2A playoffs, most likely as the 6-2A Conference's No. 2 seed.

The Eagles (7-1, 5-1 6-2A Conference) were as balanced as they have been all season in last Friday's 42-16 victory over Hazen, rushing for 322 yards and passing for 197.

Achieving that type of balance was the most impressive thing for Coach Drake Widener, because he knows the Eagles will have to be more than just a running team in the playoffs.

"Any time you can get your passing game going in our offense, it makes for a good night," Widener said.

Moving senior Colt Covington from running back to wide receiver has been a big part of Des Arc's newfound balance. Covington (501 rushing yards, 6 touchdowns) has caught 16 passes for 352 yards and 4 touchdowns since moving to receiver Oct. 16, including 8 passes for 131 yards and 1 touchdown against Hazen.

"It's more of a natural position for him," Widener said. "He's a great space player. Any time you get an athlete like him out in space, he feels better about his chances to score."

Senior running back Daylon Conway rushed for 137 yards and 1 touchdown on 19 carries and had 13 tackles on defense. Conway has a team-high 741 yards and 6 touchdowns on 101 carries.

"He's our workhorse in the run game," Widener said. "If I ask him to carry it 40 times a game, he'll do it. There's no slowdown in his mind. He can handle the pounding, but most of the time he can give the pounding."

The Eagles also have been led by senior quarterback Noah Kennedy (563 passing yards, 4 TDs), senior fullback Trey Lee (474 rushing yards, 7 TDs) and senior tight end Jacob Adams (1 touchdown). Widener believes having multiple threats could be a problem for opposing defenses come playoff time.

"You can't stop all five of them," Widener said.

Des Arc is at Palestine-Wheatley on Friday night.

HS LAKESIDE

Game moved

Hot Springs Lakeside's home game against Watson Chapel has been moved to 7 p.m. Friday.

The teams were scheduled to play at 1 p.m. Saturday at Austin Field in Hot Springs, but Lakeside Athletic Director Don Pierce posted the date change Tuesday on Twitter, citing weather concerns regarding Saturday.

Originally the Rams (7-1, 5-0 5A-South) and Wildcats (4-4, 4-1) were scheduled to play Friday. But after Lakeside's team was involved in a bus accident last Friday along U.S. Highway 70 near the Newhope community in Pike County while en route to a game in De Queen, there were several scheduling changes.

Lakeside's game at De Queen was postponed until Monday, which the Rams won 21-20, and the Watson Chapel game was moved to Saturday.

A Lakeside victory will give it the 5A-South's No. 1 seed in the Class 5A playoffs.

Sports on 10/28/2015

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