'Rusty' Wildcats blank Grizzlies

Sputtering offensively for the game's first 22 minutes, senior quarterback David Chapple helped bring North Little Rock back to life.

Chapple ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more as the host Charging Wildcats defeated Fort Smith Northside 34-0 in the Class 7A quarterfinals Friday night.

North Little Rock (11-0) will host Conway in next week's semifinals.

One play after Northside missed a potential game-tying 32-yard field goal, Chapple hit senior wide receiver Aaron Griffin in stride for an 80-yard touchdown that gave the Wildcats a jolt and sent the Grizzlies reeling.

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"It was obviously the play of the game," North Little Rock Coach Jamie Mitchell said. "A lot of our [struggles] in the first half was my fault. We tried to do too much. ... I thought in the second half our passing game was the difference. Chapple did a great job."

While the Charging Wildcats' failed to muster much offense before their first touchdown, North Little Rock's defense shut down Northside (4-8) all night.

The Grizzlies were limited to 68 yards in the first half and 159 yards of total offense for the game. Northside averaged only 3.1 yards on 51 plays. The Grizzlies' longest play from scrimmage was a 32-yard run in the third quarter by junior quarterback Derrick Wise, who finished with a game-high 75 yards rushing on 16 carries.

North Little Rock managed only 144 rushing yards and lost two first-half fumbles, but Chapple's passing helped void most of the Charging Wildcats' offensive flaws. Chapple completed 11 of 15 passes for 224 yards.

"We have a great chemistry with each other," said senior receiver Deontae Montgomery, who hauled in an 8-yard scoring pass in the third quarter. "But (Chapple) has chemistry will all of our receivers."

North Little Rock's first break of the game came when senior defensive end Zavion Moore blocked a punt to set the Wildcats on the Northside 24. Six plays later, North Little Rock settled for Savana Melton's 31-yard field goal with 8:24 left in the first half.

Northside's best chance to score in the first half came after North Little Rock fumbled a punt to give the Grizzlies the ball on the Wildcats' 20. But after three plays netted only five yards, Northside kicker Henry Hernandez was wide left on a 32-yard field goal attempt.

On the next play, Chapple went over the top and hit Griffin at midfield. Griffin outran two defenders down the right sideline with 1:31 left in the half.

"We were in the ball game and we knew we had to take advantage of everything we got," Northside Coach Mike Falleur said "And we didn't do it."

"That play left me speechless," said Montgomery, who caught five passes for 46 yards. "Everybody in the stands and on the sidelines, it made them go crazy, but it left me just standing there in amazement. It gave the whole team a boost for the rest of the game."

North Little Rock scored on all four of its possessions in the second half.

Chapple connected on a 47-yard pass to Andrew Martin to set up the Wildcats' first touchdown of the third quarter. Chapple finished the drive with a 5-yard TD run at the 8:05 mark.

Montgomery returned a punt 36 yards to set the Wildcats on the Northside 34. Three plays later, Montgomery caught his scoring pass at the 5:07 mark.

Chapple scored on a 1-yard run with 8:41 remaining. Melton, who hit all four of her extra-point attempts, capped the scoring with a 35-yard field goal with 1:25 left.

North Little Rock finished with 375 yards of total offense, a 20 to 8 advantage in first downs and a 231- to 30-yard advantage through the air.

North Little Rock was coming off a bye week.

"I feel like we were a little rusty but we have no excuses," Mitchell said. "But hopefully we've got our footing and what a blessing it is to be playing on Thanksgiving week."

Sports on 11/18/2017

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