HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Resurgent Bauxite in the mix

Bauxite Coach Daryl Patton is used to having teams contend deep into the regular season.

However, this is the first time in his three seasons with Bauxite that Patton has the Miners, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Class 4A No. 6 team, in contention for a 7-4A Conference championship.

Bauxite (7-0, 4-0 7-4A)

DATE;OPPONENT;RESULT

Aug. 25;Conway Christian^;W, 49-12

Aug. 31;Des Arc;W, 45-44

Sept. 7;at Glen Rose;W, 28-16

Sept. 21;at Malvern*;W, 34-3

Sept. 28;Ashdown*;W, 59-21

Oct. 5;at Benton HG*;W, 35-18

Oct. 12;Fountain Lake*;W, 40-14

Oct. 19;Joe T. Robinson*;

Oct. 26;at Arkadelphia*;

Nov. 2;Nashville*;

*7-4A game

^At North Little Rock

"I made the comment to several people [during the offseason] that we would be competitive," said Patton, who led Fayetteville to four Class 7A state championships (2007, 2011, 2012, 2016). "If we had some breaks, we could be 7-0 against Robinson on Oct. 19."

Patton's prediction came true.

The Miners (7-0, 3-0 7-4A) host Joe T. Robinson (6-1, 3-0) on Friday at The Pit in Bauxite.

"The kids are excited," Patton said. "It's a very mature bunch of kids. They've been around for three years. They know what to expect of me. They focus on the task at hand."

Patton inherited a 1-9 team when he was hired in 2016. The Miners went 0-10 in Patton's first season, but finished 4-6 in 2017 after he switched from the Spread offense to the Dead-T.

"That first year, we weren't very strong," Patton said. "They bought into the weight program. We got stronger. They bought into the conditioning program.

"We weren't football-smart, IQ wise. They got smart, IQ wise.

"We've come a long way on and off the field."

Bauxite's resurgence has been led by quarterback Seth McDowell and running back Dawson Dabbs, both seniors.

McDowell, who has rushed for 705 yards and passed for 257, leads Bauxite with 17 touchdowns, including 14 rushing and 3 passing.

Dabbs has rushed for 790 yards and 8 touchdowns on 98 carries.

"They're great kids," Patton said. "As good of players as they are, they're even better young men. They have a chance to play at the next level.

"They're great leaders. They do it the right way."

Robinson, the defending 7-4A champion and a semifinalist in the 2017 Class 4A playoffs, enters Friday's game at No. 2 in the Democrat-Gazette's Class 4A Super Six.

Senior quarterback Greyson Tackett leads the Senators' offense, passing for 798 yards with 9 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Classmates Tyler Jones (nine touchdowns) and Mekel Kentle (six touchdowns) have been Robinson's top running backs in conference play.

"They're very talented," Patton said. "They're very well coached. Todd [Eskola] does a good job with his staff.

"We respect them a great deal, but we don't fear them. We're going to show up and play hard and see where the chips may fall."

[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Click here for more scores, recaps and photos]

RIVERCREST

Winning continues

Moving up a class wasn't a problem for Rivercrest.

The Colts, who won the Class 3A state championship last season, jumped from Class 3A to Class 4A for the 2018-2020 classification cycle.

With three weeks left in the regular season, Rivercrest (7-0, 4-0 3-4A Conference) is one of three undefeated teams left in Class 4A along with Bauxite and Warren as it prepares to travel to Jonesboro Westside on Friday.

First-year Coach Johnny Fleming, a longtime assistant under former coach Kelly Chandler, said the program's tradition has helped move the process along with having 18 seniors.

"Our kids expect to win," Fleming said. "It doesn't matter who we're playing. We played two 5A schools [Paragould and Wynne] and Osceola. It gets you ready for the conference you're in."

Two key members of the Colts' state title team from a year ago return this season.

Quarterback Demilon Brown has accounted for 950 yards and 14 touchdowns, including 580 rushing and 12 scores.

Also, senior running back Kentavious Robinson is among the state's leading running backs. Robinson is currently rushing for 1,154 yards and 13 touchdowns on 114 carries.

"We've got two really good backs," Fleming said. "Those two guys get us going."

Friday's matchup between the Colts and Warriors (6-1, 4-0) is between two 4-0 teams in the 3-4A Conference.

"It's a huge ballgame," Fleming said. "They average about 50 points a game. They have that power set that's hard to break down. Our front five and our two linebackers are going to have to play well for us to have a chance.

"We have to take care of the ball. Defensively, we have to come up with some stops.

EXTRA POINTS

Since a one-point victory, 29-28, over Tulsa Booker T. Washington on Aug. 25 in Bentonville, North Little Rock (7-0, 4-0 7A-Central) has won its past six games by at least 10 points. Since 7A-Central Conference play began Sept. 21, the Charging Wildcats have won their four league games by a margin of at least 21 points. North Little Rock defeated Little Rock Catholic 49-17 on Oct. 11 and travels to Fort Smith Northside on Friday. ... Sheridan earned its first 6A-West Conference victory with a 48-8 rout of Little Rock Hall on Friday at home. Peyton Edwards had two touchdowns for the Yellowjackets, including a 10-yard reception from Stephon Thomas and a 25-yard run. Alden Lucas and Montana Korte each had 2-yard touchdown runs, Trace Watkins scored from 18 yards out and Thomas had a 3-yard run. The Yellowjackets outgained the Warriors 293-62 and led 48-0 at halftime. ... Harding Academy will play Class 2A Hampton in a nonconference game Nov. 2 in Searcy. The Wildcats were originally scheduled to play Rose Bud in their 2-3A Conference finale, but the Ramblers cancelled their season before league play began Sept. 21. ... Salem senior running back Jordan Turner is among the state's top rushers this season. Turner, who had 307 yards and 6 touchdowns on 15 carries in a 48-8 victory at Marked Tree on Friday, has rushed for 1,624 yards and 21 touchdowns on 104 carries this season. The Greyhounds (6-0, 3-0 3-2A Conference) are at McCrory on Friday.

photo

Special to the Democrat-Gazette/JIMMY JONES

Bauxite Coach Daryl Patton and the 7-0 Miners host 6-1 Joe T. Robinson on Friday night at The Pit.

Sports on 10/18/2018

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