SPRINGDALE -- Seemed like old times at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium on Friday, starting with pretty girls in pretty dresses on homecoming night.
That's where Springdale High defeated Rogers Heritage 42-21 in a 7A-West Conference opener. The win already surpasses last year's total when the Bulldogs finished 2-9.
Springdale High (3-1, 1-0) is nowhere near the teams that regularly won and produced five state championships under Jarrell Williams and Gus Malzahn. How could it be when the program was split in half with the arrival of Springdale Har-Ber in 2006?
But Springdale is on the upswing again under second-year coach Zak Clark after hitting bottom at 0-10 in 2014. The Zak Attack got rolling with 28 consecutive points Friday after Heritage scored first in the game.
Wide receiver Kyler Williams performs like Damien Williams, a former Bulldog who played at USC and in the NFL with Tennessee and St. Louis. Kyler Williams scored three touchdowns, including one late in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Across the field, Heritage coach Tony Travis is in the same position as Clark was last year. He's taken over a team that finished 0-10 last year and may not win more than a game or two this season in the 7A-West.
But progress is measured in baby steps and the War Eagles scored on their opening possessions in the first and third quarters.
MASKED MEN Some fans in the Heritage student section wore surgical masks while watching the game.
"Mumps, man," one of the students said. "We don't want to get sick."
The move was in reference to an outbreak of mumps in Northwest Arkansas, most of which have occurred in Springdale. But the students were obviously having fun, otherwise they wouldn't have let the mask dangle from their necks most of the game instead of covering their mouths and noses.
SPRINGDALE ROYALTY Senior Lesli Rodriguez was crowed homecoming queen at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium on Friday.
Rodriguez is the daughter of Olivia Calderon and Jose Esqeda. She was escorted onto the field by her brother, Jose Rodriguez, and Springdale homecoming king, O'Shea Zebell.
CHAIN GANG Former Bulldog standout Zack Pianalto is helping moving the chains for a third year at Springdale.
Pianalto lives in Springdale and works as a consultant for Wal-Mart. He was a junior receiver on the Springdale team that won the state championship in 2005. He played at North Carolina from 2007-2010 and in 13 NFL games with Tampa Bay in 2011.
PLAY OF THE GAME The Springdale defense gave its offense a final possession in the first half with 17 seconds left on the clock. The Bulldogs took advantage when Alex Thompson caught a short pass, broke a tackle, and scored on a 52-yard play. The Bulldogs then added a two-point pass to increase their lead to 28-7 after two quarters.
PLAYER OF THE GAME Kyler Williams, who can twist his body and adjust to any ball a quarterback can throw up. Williams led Springdale's early surge with five catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns by halftime.
He finished with 10 catches for 268 yards and three touchdowns.
QUOTABLE "All the hard work and long summers are paying off. We deserve to be where we're at right now."
-- Receiver Kyler Williams on being 3-1 after the Bulldogs finished 2-9 last season.
UP NEXT Springdale High will play at Springdale Har-Ber while Heritage hosts Rogers High on Friday.
Sports on 09/24/2016