Danny Abshier gets emotional thinking about how far his program -- and his conference -- has come in his 24 years as Prairie Grove's football coach.
"You get a tear in your eye because not many people remember what it was like, but I do," Abshier said. "Riding home on a bus with tears in your eyes thinking, 'How can we get a win? How can we get a break?' And now, you see what all we've been through to get here, and it makes you happy."
The Tigers are one of three 1-4A Conference teams remaining in the Class 4A playoffs. Prairie Grove (12-0) hosts Warren (13-0) of the 8-4A, while Pea Ridge (12-1) hosts Shiloh Christian (11-2) on Friday in the semifinals. For the second consecutive year, the 1-4A will have at least one team in the state championship game next week in Little Rock after Prairie Grove's appearance in 2015.
It's the first time in Arkansas that three teams from the same conference have been among the final four teams remaining in Class 4A and below.
The playoffs expanded from two to four teams from each conference in 1995, so the feat has only been possible during the past two decades. Two teams from the same league have made the semifinals multiple times, but never three.
"That's something the entire conference can brag about," said first-year Pea Ridge Coach Stephen Neal said. "We thought it was a tough conference all year long, and I think that point has been proven here at the very end of the last two weeks of the season."
Gravette, the conference's No. 4 seed, knocked off Pocahontas on the road in the first round, and the 1-4A has more bragging rights.
"It's proof of what we already knew, that our conference is full of great coaches, great players and great programs," said Shiloh Christian Coach Jeff Conaway. "It's something that we're very proud of, but also something that we want to finish in the right way."
Prairie Grove defeated Shiloh Christian (45-15) and Pea Ridge (42-21) in back-to-back weeks. The Blackhawks beat the Saints 30-13 in the regular-season finale.
The Tigers have never played Warren, a perennial state powerhouse with Nashville, which Pea Ridge upended 53-28 in the second round of the playoffs.
Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove have never won a state championship, but Shiloh Christian has won seven. Abshier, whose Tigers are making their third semifinals appearance in five seasons, said sustaining success will be key for the rest of the state to keep considering the 1-4A a power conference.
"I can remember the ups and downs and getting sick of hearing what conference is the strongest or what is the weakest," Abshier said. "We got tired of hearing the 1-4A is the doormat ... or another conference is the strongest conference [in the state], so it's great to be able to change that around, at least for a year, and that makes you smile."
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
At War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock
FRIDAY
CLASS 7A
Fayetteville (11-1) vs. North Little Rock (12-0), 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
CLASS 5A
Wynne (13-0) vs. Pulaski Academy (12-1), noon
CLASS 6A
Russellville (11-1) vs. Greenwood (12-0), 6:30 p.m.
FRIDAY’S STATE SEMIFINALS
All games start at 7 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Shiloh Christian (11-2) at Pea Ridge (12-1) Warren (13-0) at Prairie Grove (12-0)
CLASS 3A
Glen Rose (12-1) at Charleston (12-0) Newport (11-2) at Prescott (13-0)
CLASS 2A
England (13-0) at Hampton (12-0) Camden Harmony Grove (8-4) at Mount Ida (12-1)
Sports on 12/01/2016