Joe T. Robinson Coach Todd Eskola believed his team got better after playing Class 7A Springdale, even in a 48-28 loss.
That season-opening defeat Aug. 23 in Northwest Arkansas was the last setback for the Senators (4-1), who have won four consecutive games and are 2-0 in the 7-4A Conference.
"We've got a veteran ballclub," Eskola said. "It's nice to have a more mature group. But we're literally trying to get better every week. We feel like we have on both sides of the ball.
"There's no panic. It's a 48-minute football game. Let's go to the next play. That's nice to have a group of kids who understand that."
Robinson won 42-14 at Arkadelphia on Friday thanks to a 29-point second half. Senior running back Mekel Kentle rushed for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns on 16 carries, and classmate Tyler Jones had 114 yards and a score on 19 carries.
"We played a really good second half," Eskola said.
Next up for Robinson is a trip to Howard County to face Nashville.
The Scrappers (5-0, 2-0) rolled to a 58-14 victory Friday at Fountain Lake. They're led by a trio of running backs -- sophomore Keyshawn Stewart (425 yards, 8 touchdowns), and juniors Jakobe Jefferson (385 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Carmillias Morrison (332 yards, 3 touchdowns).
"They're a really good offense that makes you defend the whole field," Eskola said of the Scrappers. "We feel like both teams are very similar. We're good up front and they're good up front."
The 7-4A has four teams with 2-0 conference records -- Robinson, Nashville, Bauxite and Benton Harmony Grove. Not only are Robinson and Nashville playing each other Friday, but Bauxite also is at Benton Harmony Grove, so there will be two 3-0 teams after Friday's games.
Playing a perennial state contender such as Nashville has the Senators' attention.
"You don't have to get them up," Eskola said. "They realize what's at stake."
LR CHRISTIAN
Warriors slowed down
When teams play four-time defending Class 5A state champion Pulaski Academy, it's not just about trying to stop the Bruins' high-powered offense and special teams, where they onside kick on the majority of their kickoff attempts.
Little Rock Christian Coach Eric Cohu said it's a mental game as well against Pulaski Academy.
The Warriors entered Friday's game at Pulaski Academy at 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the 5A-Central Conference, but they were undone in the third quarter by two turnovers in a 56-14 loss in which the Warriors trailed 21-14 at halftime.
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"There's little room for margin of error," Cohu said. "So you have to do everything right and perfectly. Obviously, without our starting quarterback, there's hiccups there, offensively. We're normally able to put up more than 14 points. But that's part of growing, life and football."
Little Rock Christian (4-1, 1-1) was without senior quarterback Justice Hill, who is out for at least a couple of weeks because of a hamstring injury. The Warriors turned to sophomore Colin Cooper, who finished 17-of-23 passing for 89 yards, 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions.
"That's a tough spot for Colin to come into," Cohu said. "I thought Colin did a great job, considering the situation. There were some things we could have done, start to finish. But that's all hindsight."
The Warriors host Little Rock Fair on Friday as they attempt to rebound from their loss at Pulaski Academy.
"We have to get focused," Cohu said. "We have to get ready to play. We have to regroup our guys. We have to get ready for more conference games."
HOPE
Losing streak over
For the first time since 2015, Hope won a football game.
Hope earned a 26-20 victory Friday over Hot Springs to snap the state's longest losing streak at 25 games. The Bobcats' last victory in 2015 was against Blytheville in the Class 5A first round when McTelvin Agim was a senior defensive lineman. Agim is now at the University of Arkansas.
Senior quarterback Hunter Heliums threw three touchdown passes, all to wide receiver Nikorean Muldrow. The senior caught passes of 94, 32 and 25 yards. Senior wide receiver Jaloni Davis also returned a punt 41 yards for a score.
Hope (1-4, 1-1 5A-South) is at Little Rock McClellan on Friday.
EXTRA POINTS
Marvell was scheduled to host Carlisle on Friday in a 6-2A Conference game, but it has been moved to Carlisle and will be played today. Both teams are looking for their first victory of the season. Carlisle is 0-4-1, while Marvell is 0-5. ... Cabot Coach Mike Malham is attempting to win his 300th game for the fourth week in a row. The Panthers host Conway on Friday. Cabot (2-3, 0-2 7A-Central) started 2-0 but has lost three consecutive (at Benton, Little Rock Catholic, at Fort Smith Southside). Malham is second all-time in victories behind Barton's Frank McClellan (367 victories). ... Pine Bluff junior quarterback Shauwan Howell threw five touchdown passes in the Zebras' 35-9 victory over Mountain Home. Howell came on for junior Tyler Foots, who injured his knee in Pine Bluff's 14-3 victory at Sylvan Hills on Sept. 22. The Zebras (2-2-1, 2-0 6A-East Conference) are at Jonesboro on Friday.
Sports on 10/04/2018