How.

It is the final game of championship weekend, the two weekend championship football.

We're going to end things with the three day championship game between Salem and Bismarck.

Hello, everyone.

I'm RJ Hawk, along with Westmore for tonight's contest.

And West side.

Save the best for last.

Right, with the three eight game.

And you've got two really outstanding teams between Bismarck and with Salem.

You know, really looking forward to this matchup.

Bismarck.

Just red hot all season, 13 and zero.

Making history for school.

Got a chance to win their first state championship.

And it's just been a year for the history books for them.

And then Salem off to kind of a rough start and lost a couple of games in non-conference loss to conference game.

They've won nine in a row and they're playing excellent football right now.

Yeah, it'll be a lot of fun.

You know, it's we've.

Had weather all day.

Today here at War Memorial Stadium.

It was raining really hard earlier and, we had a good game in the first half anyways, between, Arkadelphia in that for a, state title game.

And, Elkins just ran out of gas there in the latter part of that.

Ball game.

Arkadelphia defense was the story of the game.

They were all over the quarterback.

They had four interceptions, two interceptions from Braden Wagner.

He was the MVP of the state championship game.

And then it was the big play for the Arkadelphia Badgers.

They had three touchdowns over 50 yards.

And then they finished it off with the big lineman rumbling in for the touchdown.

Arkadelphia wins this 128 to nothing.

Just great defensive game.

Love watching their defense play.

The conditions were tough.

But the defense made all the heads up play.

Saying they really did.

And there they are holding that for a state championship trophy.

They'll be taking it back to Clark County for, another win in the win column.

Well, the fans are starting to make their way in here at War Memorial Stadium.

Got a good crowd for the three.

A state title game between Salem and Bismarck.

And it's coming up next.

We'll break down both these teams as you're watching the Centennial Bank State Football Championships on Arkansas PBS sports.

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And.

Back here at War Memorial Stadium, get set for tonight's three day championship game between Salem and Bismarck.

As captains are about to make their way onto the field.

Let's go ahead.

And take a look at how both these.

Teams got here.

West.

The Salem Greyhounds.

We'll start with them first.

Yeah, Salem just rolled all over west for 46 to 7 in the first round of the playoffs.

Good win against Prescott.

Prescott beat Salem earlier in the season.

Salem gets a little revenge in the second round.

Then they beat Rivercrest 5218.

You see in their defense, their defense stepped up big for Salem in the playoffs, holding some explosive teams to low points.

Mansfield, a conference champion, hold them to 20 points.

They beat them 38 to 20 to get to War Memorial Stadium.

Well, the player to watch out for tonight for the Salem Greyhounds is a running back.

He is a heck of a player.

Caden Brink West Over 1300 yards, 17 touchdowns, 201 carries this year.

If he gets over 1500 yards tonight, I think they win the game.

That's going to be a big part of their offense.

Kade brink has been huge for them.

17 touchdowns on the ground this season.

Take a good look at number five.

You're going to see a lot of him tonight.

Going what are some keys for Salem.

In this game.

Well first of all Salem has got to be able to run the ball.

That's what they do right there.

Ball control.

They like to keep their defense off the field.

Limit the number of possessions Bismarck's going to have offensively.

So just control that clock.

And then when, Bismarck has the ball stop the Keith Lee.

They're going to keep an eye on them.

We're going to talk more about the Keith Lees in just a few minutes.

But that's what kind of what makes Bismarck go.

Ben and Kate Keithley.

Well, let's look at those Bismarck lions who come in 13 and zero on the season.

And West, they had a good bracket to get here as well.

Yeah, they get the first round bye.

Then they take care of Adkins 5514 in the, had no problems with Osceola winning 2817.

You see their defense doing a good job.

Fordyce 49 to 12.

That was a surprise ferry.

Not so much winning but beating down Fordyce by 37 points.

And now they're looking to go 40.

And oh and win a state championship for the first time.

Well normally we only do one player to watch right.

But when you look at this Bismarck team they've got two brothers in Kaden Ben Keighley that are just playmakers for this.

Team in the quarterback.

He's thrown for about 1600 yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions.

He's also ran the ball for almost 600 yards another 16 touchdowns.

And how active is he.

He's also got some catches and he's caught two touchdown passes this year.

Cade has rushed for 1111 yards 20 touchdowns.

He's also caught 32 passes for 474 yards and seven touchdowns.

So when we look at keys to the game for Bismarck, what might that be?

Well, first of all, you want to get those key things going right.

You got to you got to get the ball in their hands.

Those are your playmakers.

But they to stop the veer they know what they're going to get.

We had a coach DJ Keith Lee on the radio earlier this week and he told me straight up they've seen the beer a couple times this year and they feel like they did a good job, but this will be the best version of a beer they've seen all year.

They said, we got to stop the run.

If we don't, they're just going to run it all night long.

Well, Bismarck's making their way onto the playing surface, but before they do, let's head down to the third member of our broadcast team, Sierra Clarkston on the sideline.

Yeah, Bismarck is currently undefeated.

However, their season hasn't been exactly.

Their quarterback, Ben Keithley, went down with a collarbone injury I think week back, a few weeks back.

And this team has really hurt their.

Went down out to win.

With the turf toe injury.

So this team has really learned how to be a lot more well-rounded when necessary.

Back to you.

Guys.

Sierra.

As we're just about set ready to go in this one as it's the three AA state championship game between Salem and Bismarck.

And Salem is going to get the ball first to start things off here at War Memorial Stadium.

Glad to have you along, Westmore.

RJ Hawks here hawk down the sidelines for this contest.

Final football game of the 2024 football season.

Just kind of weird that we're already coming to an end West.

But I know it seems like we were just, do it seven on seven football team camps and having our first games of the season and now we're done.

This is it.

Well, Bismarck, set to kick off.

And kicking off for Bismarck is going to be Bladen Whitley.

They'll put a foot into it and over and kick.

It's going to be taken down the 17 yard line and brought up for Bismarck.

That's Caden Hollis.

Blake Cranford comes in on the stop for Bismarck.

And that's where they're going to have it.

First and ten to start things here in the opening.

Going in the three a state championship game.

Jackson Taylor the quarterback for Salem.

We didn't talk much about him in the pregame.

But he's thrown at 4000 yards 1085 yards to be exact 12 touchdowns.

He also runs the ball.

He's got 677 yards rushing 16 touchdowns.

So they're going to but you know you're going to see different guys running the ball 12 five Caden Hollis runs it a little bit.

Caleb license licensing.

It's going to run the ball a little bit.

But that's what you have in the beer.

They're going to be attacking from all different angles and positions and a lot of eye candy you're going to see in this game.

And coach told us of Bismarck, head coach DJ Keithley said, you got to be disciplined.

They're going to.

Hand it off and work at left side in the hands of break, and break's going to pick up a couple of yards on the play that time tackled by Stevenson Malachi Stevenson.

And that brings up a second down and eight for Salem.

Some of these running attacks you hear three yards in the cloud of dust.

And Coach Keithley said they're fine with that.

Just three here three here.

Three.

Just keep moving the chains.

They're fine with that all night long.

Ball at the 32 yard line just underway here in the first quarter at War Memorial Stadium.

Team huddle he got some kids are going.

What is that?

Why?

Why are they huddling?

What's the point of that?

Here's a pitch to the outside, to the running back.

Once again, that's Caden Brink breaks.

Going to pick up a yard on the play was Johnny Dias Diaz, who was able to come in and make the stop.

And that'll bring up a third down and seven for Salem.

Diaz gets in there first and gets a little penetration.

He breaks off that tackle, but his teammates are swarming to the ball quickly, led by Zane Tolbert, one of their leading tacklers, to bring down the back and force the third and third and long.

They'll have three backs in the backfield this time.

You know looked now he's going to fake it and go throw downfield.

Has a man all alone.

He beat the coverage.

That's Hollis.

He's at the ten.

He gets tripped up down at the six yard line.

Ethan Hughes with the touchdown saving tackle.

Let's see if that turns into some big points for Bismarck.

Hustling on the play and bringing him down.

But yeah got in the behind the secondary.

And I watched Jackson Taylor throw the ball a little bit warmups.

And I was impressed.

I thought he had a really good arm.

And here we seen his first pass.

Little touch on it.

Right on.

The money delivers it.

Hollis takes it inside the ten houses.

That's his 28th reception this year.

He came in with 566 yards and six touchdowns.

So now you've got a first and goal.

They're going to spot him down at the seven yard line.

Full package.

They're going to hand it off.

Right side.

That's brink.

He's going to stretch out.

But he gets to the one maybe really the half yard line.

Be careful with that ball.

Getting that close to the goal line trying to stretch it out get knocked out fumble it.

Last thing they want right now but did not look like there was a lot there but did a good job.

But just kind of maneuvering around.

Stumbled, broke a tackle.

Seems he thought about stretching it out.

Eisenberg and bringing the backfield.

They went straight up the middle with it and it's in for a touchdown.

Quarterback keeper up the middle as Jackson Taylor goes in for his 17th touchdown of the season.

And Salem strikes first.

Big pass play Taylor to Hollis sets him up on the seven.

They go seven yards gets six points as they go seven seven.

But looks like they're going for two I don't see a kicker out there that.

I was looking.

So Keegan Sanderson is their kicker.

He's one for one on Pats this year.

He's perfect.

Here is Taylor.

Going to look to throw.

And he'll be thrown down.

The two point try is no good.

And so with 929 left here in the first quarter Salem leads it six.

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Here we go.

Just.

Tonight, after the three state championship game between Bismarck and Salem, be sure to stay tuned here for Willie Nelson's 90th birthday celebration.

Chris Stapleton, Rosanne Cash, Hal Crow, George Strait, and many more perform along with the man himself, Willie Nelson.

That's tonight at 930.

It's crazy.

Think Willie Nelson is still out performing at 90 years old.

Still get it?

Big nine oh.

So Salem, they struck first and they lead it six to nothing here in the three.

A state championship game as Kate Keithley awaits the kickoff.

And he'll take it at the 26.

He'll bring up the right side.

And he'll be slung down and around the 37.

That time, it was Ethan Birmingham who came in to make the stop and that'll allow for us to check in on the sidelines with Sierra Clark.

With this being Salem's first ever state championship appearance, there were tons of signs around the town of Salem.

One sign that you might have seen feared the short.

Now, what does that mean?

If you notice, Salem's coaches are all wearing shorts because the last time they lost, they were wearing pants.

So it's feared the shorts.

And they're hoping to keep wearing those shorts and get a win for their first ever state title.

Thanks to Sierra Alaska.

I remember wearing shorts on the sideline in a state championship game.

Was Guy by the name of Kevin Kelly.

So here comes Bismarck on their first possession of the ball game.

And they're going to run with it.

With Keighley straight ahead.

Which keeper that would be with.

Is that Ben Keighley?

I thought it was Ben.

I thought it was just a quarterback keeper.

How?

That's a good point.

We're going to have Ben and Cade Keighley in the in the backfield.

And that time Ryan Dailey was there for the stop.

But he was able to pick up six yards on the play.

Bring up second down and four.

Bismarck has four wide receivers in the formation.

Keighley going to look to throw as a man downfield and just over the outstretched arms of his wide receiver.

That time trying to hook up with Preston Hughes.

And that'll bring up third down.

We get to Hughes in the game to Ethan.

Impressed.

Yeah Preston plays a little backup quarterback and wide receiver.

And then he got to Ethan uses a wide receiver.

And they both go over and play cornerback.

Yeah on defense.

So we'll have to be specific.

Or call the first name instead of the last name a lot tonight.

So it's third down and four two backs in the backfield.

Low snap.

They pitch it left side.

Nice hard run that time as they're going to pick up a first down.

And that time it was Cade Keighley who got the ball.

Gatlin Branscombe came in for the stop.

But you said it.

That was a powerful run right there.

You got behind his pads low snap.

But Ben was able to pick it up.

Tosses it to Caden, puts his shoulder down, runs through the tackle of Dylan Gaskins.

Gets the first down.

Ball to 49 yard line.

Look to throw this time.

Works it outside in the hands of Porter.

And Porter is going to get about six yards on the play.

Kamara was right there to make the stop.

The tight coverage there from Connor Muir.

And made the tackle.

Brought him down but still good gain of five yards on first down.

So first time first two first downs for Bismarck.

They picked up five yard.

Line warning against Salem.

And there's a penalty flag on that far side.

They're going with the sideline warning home.

Get back.

Coach didn't do a good enough job.

You know what Jim went through.

Who's the head coach at little Rock Hall.

He's doing a radio broadcast.

I said do you have to get back coach?

He said everybody's got to get back.

Coach.

Second down and four.

Rewind to the near side and we've got more penalty flags.

False start.

Fires now well start off the five-yard penalty.

You know in most situations you'd say there's a lot of nerves for four teams in these two situations.

There probably is because they've never played for a state title.

Never won you know never won one.

And so I would imagine you got a lot of guys that a lot of weight on their shoulders right now.

Uncharted territory for these teams.

And you know, we spoke with Coach Keith Lee right after they had visited Moore Memorial Stadium.

He talked about how all in all, the players were to come into this big stadium and get the opportunity to play.

Here is Ben Keith Lee running with the football.

Picks up the first down and a little bit more as Connor Miller came in to make the stop.

He picks up the first down as he takes it out to the 37 yard line.

It's early in this game, but that Bismarck offensive line is doing a really good job.

It's opening up some holes, getting a good push.

You said he really wasn't touched until about three yards deep.

Then he makes a move and is able to get ten yards in the first down.

Ball at the 37 yard line, as Bismarck will put three wide receivers to the left side.

Keith Lee going to look to throw again, goes right side and can't hook up with his intended target.

That's Joey Porter.

You're on the coverage once again.

Twice.

Mirrors had some tight coverage right there with him.

It was much of a window to fit that ball into.

Us.

And now you get Cade information.

They're going to toss it to Diaz.

Here is Diaz.

He's going to try to make the corner.

Gets there and a little bit more.

He'll be just shy of the 30 yard line.

Picks up another six yards as Johnny Diaz, who came in with 58 carries for 342 yards and two touchdowns on the season, got some speedy backs for this Bismarck team.

I like the quickness he showed right there.

He got outside quickly, turned it up the field.

Nice run.

Also knows he had only 15 catches this year.

But five of them go for touchdowns.

So one out of every three scoring a touchdown.

Third down and four.

Now penalty flags come in.

Well the way they're slapping one of their teammates I think the left guard jumped a little earlier down.

Our officials for this game Nathan Jowers who's the head official.

Randy Morgan is the umpire David Carr was the linesman.

Line judge Justin Bounds back judge Mike Falkenberg.

And the center judge is Greg Knight.

Being on the 36 yard line, I think you get 3 or 4 yards here.

I bet they go for it on fourth down.

So you probably got two touchdowns to get nine yards.

And in motion.

Here's Keith Lee looking to throw.

Has a man at the 15.

He's going to spin.

Try to dive for the end zone.

He's going to be down the one.

And they had to have a replay.

Look at this I thought he landed on top of the defender rolled into the end zone.

Well the officials are talking about that was Preston Hughes who was on the end of that reception.

For get Two Downs to get the first down.

All they need is one.

Here's a good look at the replay.

Keith Lee gets hit as he's throwing it.

There was a really good ball to Hughes.

And now Keith Lee is going to take in the end zone for the touchdown.

Rating to give him time to look at the replay.

They didn't care.

They're like we don't need a replay to give us a touchdown.

We're going to get into the end zone anyway.

For Ben Keith Lee.

That's his 17th rushing touchdown of the season.

Two drives to quarterback drive.

There are two quarterback led touchdowns right there.

How about that.

Both quarterbacks for both Bismarck and Salem each have 17 rushing touchdowns this year.

Now on to kick it to me van Noel.

The extra point is no good as it came up just a bit short.

And so with 625 left here in the first quarter, we've got a tie ball game six six between Bismarck and Salem at bats.

They could be a big difference in the game.

Bismarck having a kicker to get those extra points.

And Salem appears to be going for two.

That kick was woefully short.

We watched him kick in warm ups and he had a nice looking kicks.

It just hit that one.

Pat lucky some of my head shots.

Well, you know coming into this game on Pats Van Noel was 5465.

He's an 80% pat guy.

So.

He'll get it worked out.

I think he's going to have several more opportunities tonight.

But I think I think you're probably right.

There's a little bit of dense fog here at the stadium is from the press box, the light level.

There's there's a lot of I don't know what we'll check in with Sierra here in a little bit.

I don't imagine it's too bad on the field level.

But I mean, when you're looking back up into the lights, looking for a pass.

How about the, two offensive drives we've seen?

You know, we talked so much of the running game with the Keith Lee's with the veer, but the big plays we're passing plays for both team that got him down the field.

And then they ran it in.

But they were both able to hit a big shot down the field though throwing the ball.

You know they we've got a lot of talent on both these offenses.

And there's a reason why Bismarck's 13 to oh this year.

Best season they've ever had as well.

Salem 11 and three.

Here's a kick me a short kick that's going to go out of bounds at the 42 yard line.

41 is where they're going to say it.

One out.

And so now Salem's going to get great field position for their second drive.

It kind of reverse field on us.

It looked like he was going to try to kick it deep and left.

And then he ran around the ball and tried to squib kick it right.

I don't know if it was the kind of intentional or unintentional onside look, but just went out of bounds.

Free kick, out of bounds on Bismarck.

I'll be placed five yards and advance out of bounds spot.

First down.

So Salem's going to get the ball at the 46 yard line.

By the way that last drive went nine plays 56 yards for a scoring drive.

And so we've got a tie one between Salem and Bismarck six six.

Jackson Taylor going to hand it off this time to Skyler Payne.

And Payne has nowhere to go.

Going to lose two yards on the play Mathias Martinez came in to make the stop.

He just whipped through that offensive line was in the backfield about the time he was taking the handoff.

And that's two yard loss by as Martinez has nine tackles for loss this season.

Give him ten now after that play.

He is a big kid.

Just he fills up a hole on the right side.

If you're trying to come that way he just bullies his way through.

So that brings up a second down and 12 with the ball at the 44 yard line.

Going to hand it to bring breaks.

Got a running lane straight up the middle.

Picks up the first down as he'll take it to the 40 yard line.

Ben Keithley was there to make the stop.

Nice replay.

The bean hit a nice shot, but he gets up instead of holding it.

You know he hurt his arm, his shoulder, clavicle.

Earlier in the season.

So you got that one.

Didn't feel good.

Now first down and ten.

To ball at the 40 yard line.

Going to hand it off straight ahead.

That's pain.

Pain is just driving those legs is he'll take it inside the 35 down to the 33 yard line.

That'll bring up second down.

Keith Lee again on the tackle Ben Keith Lee again on the tackle.

They went right up the gut.

First guy threw.

Oh boy.

When you when you think you've got a really good running back Cade Brinkman they just hand it off.

You've got lies and running.

And then Skyler Payne you got three guys right there that really touched the rock.

And here's another run play.

It's going to pick up a couple of yards.

Short of the first down that time Bismarck.

So a little something different.

They brought a linebacker in put him down the line of scrimmage to fill one of the holes he shot through.

First guy through the fullback has to take him.

Then the second guy they had to take, they just didn't have enough blockers for the Bismarck to swarm that time to the play.

Just basically sold out.

Said, look, if you're going to try this, we're going to bring we're bringing it.

So now you've got a third down and two.

Two backs in the backfield pass that goes to bring.

And he'll go straight ahead right side.

And he'll pick up the first down as he takes it down to the 26 yard line.

Josh Watson you see the shorts that we were talking about earlier.

Fear the shorts.

What a turnaround for them.

And they've dealt with some injuries this season off and on throughout the entire season.

The good thing for him is it's not as cold this weekend as what it was last week.

And last week, you know, it was really cold.

It's first down and ten with the ball to 26 straight ahead.

They run.

This time it's lies and ring and lies and rings going to take it down.

Inside the 15 down to the 13 is Preston Hughes who came up to make the stop.

The face mask on top of.

Wow.

Facemask on.

The defense is half the distance.

The goal from the end of the run.

First down.

So that's going to set Salem up just outside the five yard line.

Here's a look at the facemask penalty.

Not much of a tug.

He put his hand on the face mask and grabbed it.

So it's first and goal with the ball at the seven officially.

Here's break.

Left side gets inside the five.

He's going to have that whole pile drive him.

And they're driving down to around the two yard line.

At that play out didn't they.

They kept thinking they were going to blow the whistle.

But he never stopped his forward momentum just kept moving a little bit a little bit a little bit.

So it brings up a second down and goal from the two.

Still running 240 left here in the first quarter.

They're going to go with a really tight formation.

Quarterback keeper straight ahead Jackson Taylor.

It's a touchdown.

How about the power of the offensive line man.

They just pushed right on through Colton's steward the center Jayden Dawson the right guard Blake Smith right tackle.

Just check out this push right there I mean he just gets right in behind him.

And three offensive linemen four offensive linemen in the end zone.

That is his 18th rushing touchdown of the season.

Should call out Keaton Ziegler two.

Yeah the left guard was in the end zone.

Also.

So they're gonna go for two and make it a two score game.

It'll look to throw and it's intercepted.

And so the two point conversion is no good.

And with 231 left here in the first quarter Salem leads 12 to 6.

Let's head down the sidelines and check in with Sierra Clark.

That's right.

This Salem team is so excited to be here.

In fact, the town pretty much shut down.

Salem High School is set to host the Act this morning.

And they canceled that so all their fans could make some time to come to little Rock and watch this game.

So this means a lot for the Greyhounds.

Thank you.

Sierra, I think there's no better excuse to cancel an act than to say, hey, we're going to the state.

Yeah, we're going to little Rock for the state championship game.

We rescheduled that act, right?

Yeah, I mean that that can be done another day.

But either way, Salem leads at 12 to 6 over Bismarck.

So two drives for Salem now west.

And they've scored on both their drives.

Their offense is clicking here in the in the first quarter.

You haven't seen a stop.

Yeah we've seen three drives three touchdowns.

Yeah.

And I was bragging on these defenses swing what they've been doing on the road to the playoffs and slowing down teams.

Salem came in averaging 19 a game Bismarck 17 a game, but have been much more impressive in the in the postseason.

They have an onside type look.

The way that kickers lined up.

Here's the kick.

It'll be a squirrel that's going to bounce down at around the 43 yard line.

So Bismarck's going to get great field position.

It was Joseph Porter who was able to land on the ball.

And they'll have it at the 43 with 229 to play left here in the first quarter.

So first and ten as Bismarck is going to line up for receivers to the near side.

Ben Keithley going to throw it left side in the hands of his brother Keithley, and he'll take it about a yard shy of the first down.

RJ that you can kind of count.

That's a numbers game.

You can see there.

They empty the backfield.

So it's just the quarterback back there.

They had six guys in the box.

Well that tells you we got some numbers to the outside.

Let's throw it out there.

Now if Salem makes an adjustment takes one of their linebackers moves him out.

Then there's five guys in the box.

Then you may see Ben Keighley say, well, I'm going to keep this.

I'm going to run it up the middle.

I got five linemen.

They don't have five in the box this block those five up and I can go.

Keithley goes with a hard count and a man for Salem jumped on that left side.

It was a defensive end that time on the defense have yards.

So first half it's fair.

Sweet.

Who was able to.

Get the penalty called on him.

It's a first down and five.

They did give him the first down after that last reception.

So it's now first and five with the ball at the 42 yard line.

Right side.

They go into the hands of his receiver Brody Allen.

Allen picks up the first down and much more as he takes it down to the 32.

Connor Muro right there to make the stop.

Good throw from Ben Keithley I'm impressed with these quarterbacks.

He step back hit his back foot.

Let it rip.

The receiver had a little cushion.

It was easy play.

Clock rolls and a minute 30 left here in the first quarter.

Keith Lee will take the snap.

Going to roll.

Along with a big ball left side.

And we've got a penalty flag down as the receiver got interfered with trying to hook up with Preston Hughes.

That's your just typical pass interference where the receiver had the DB beat the ball's underthrown just a little bit.

Receiver slows down trying to go up and catch it, and defensive back never sees the ball and just runs into the wide receiver.

By the way was I to say something after this call pass.

Interference on the defense?

The 15 yard penalty.

Yardage results in a first down.

Hopefully at some point we can get a shot of the Bismarck student section.

They have some giant yellow.

Flags that every time a.

Penalty flag is thrown, they throw it in the air.

I mean, it caught me off guard.

I looked down and I was like, what is that?

And they've got two big giant yellow flags that they throw in the air in the in the student section.

For holding it.

Right.

He's got it right there.

Telestrator.

Yeah.

And every time a penalty flag is thrown, they throw it in the air.

So it's first down and ten from the 17 yard line.

Here's a jet sweep goes right side.

Cade Keith.

Now we've got another penalty flag.

Up in the air.

Oh, that is great.

Robert was there to make the stop.

Looks like a little horse collar there.

Couldn't catch up.

Okay, we'll just grab him for anything he could to slow him down.

Cut him by the back of the jersey.

Personal foul.

Worst collar tackle on the defense after just a goal.

Replay.

First down.

Slap the horse.

Tackle.

That'll put it at the nine yard line.

Bismarck is going to bring the offense out and they'll put three wide to the left side.

The officials are trying to get something straightened up over on that far side.

I think they're trying to get the change right.

So it's a first down and three.

Keith Lee under pressure throws it as a man.

Puts it up with Preston Hughes.

They've got enough for a first down as Ryan Dailey came in to make the stop.

And there you have a first down and goal just.

A little behind Preston Hughes kind of had to stop slow down fourth and allowed the defense to catch up.

But that's enough for a first down.

Now it'll be first and goal for Bismarck.

Ball has been spotted down at the five yard line.

He's going to hand it straight ahead to his running back, Johnny Johnny Diaz.

And on the stomp that time, it was Anderson and.

Salem loading up the box, expecting the run up the middle.

And they also did a good job on that RPO of keeping an eye on Ben Keighley, making sure he didn't fake it and take off around the end.

They had somebody waiting on.

The one yard gain.

Takes it to the four.

Now we've got whistles.

Oh that's going to do it for the end of the quarter so well Salem they lead Bismarck 12 to 6 and Bismarck knocking on the doors.

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This is the.

End of the road for football season, but the guys that play on the hardwood, they're just getting warmed up.

Here comes game.

He's going to slam it home.

Send it inside.

Good passing.

And look at the cutter before you know they'll be invading Bank Oak Arena in Hot Springs for the Centennial Bank state basketball final 12 championship games in three days.

Mid-March is.

Going to be a.

Tip off.

Is set for March 13th.

That's going to run all weekend long.

For all the ways to watch this, log on my aarp.org/sports.

We want we want to honor our Arkansas PBS student all star David became from Charleston.

Offensive linemen, defensive linemen.

The senior has a 3.4 GPA.

He plans to attend college and become a teacher and become a teacher or coach.

Congratulations.

David McKay.

And congratulations to him.

As we start the second quarter of play where Salem they lead at 12 to 6.

Bismarck knocking on the door as Ben Keith was going to take it himself.

Run for the end zone.

He gets in for the touchdown.

He paid for it.

That was a vicious meeting of two strong players.

Wow.

Wait till you see the show.

You this replay.

Those bodies were went flying and just enough momentum to get big Keith Lee in.

Spins in.

I like that he just reaches the ball across the goal line to make sure he got enough.

And that was a big lick.

And he'll fill that one tomorrow.

But here's the thing, Wes.

Even more so both these two quarterbacks, it's a race to see who can have the most rushing touchdowns for the ball game, as the extra point is up and it barely squeaks him.

It hit the.

Crossbar.

Yeah.

And so Bismarck takes a one point lead 13 to 12 here in the second quarter.

Both quarterbacks have two rushing touchdowns.

And both on the season now have 18 touchdowns.

Hey let's head down the sidelines and check in with Sierra Clark right.

That yellow one penalty flag that you see the students throwing up.

It was actually created by one of the kid's parents.

It's a bunch of t shirts tied up a bunch together wrapped in a yellow blanket.

And they throw it up whenever they see a penalty that needs to be called.

And they started it earlier in the season.

They seem to be having tons of fun with it.

Yeah, that, West and I, we're we're looking down that way.

And so I think fly in the air when there was a penalty flag.

And so.

I get I.

Like creativity and the student sections have across the state have done a really good job, with, with different props and things of that nature in the stands.

So the Bismarck's.

Doing well to Bismarck coach.

He was talking a little defense, talking with his defensive lineman Bladen Whitley and making some adjustments.

And that's what's what's going to happen right now.

And who can get a stop on defense.

They're talking special teams right now.

And he was actually I guess Whitley also as their kicker.

That's what he was doing.

He was talking to his kicker about what we're going to do here.

At last drive six plays 57 yards two minutes and 36 seconds as it's going to be an angled kick that will go out of bounds.

So once again Salem going to have great field position to start their next drive with 1155 to play left here in the second quarter.

Just for the record, when a flag is called on Bismarck, they don't throw the air.

They don't they don't throw that one.

They didn't throw it.

And that's not a good look.

We kick out of bounds on Bismarck five yards to advance at the out-of-bounds spot.

First down.

So so far in the game.

West Salem has 117 total yards of offense.

Bismarck 101 quarterbacks so far Tyler Jackson one of one passing for 59 yards.

Ben Keithley five of seven for 65 yards.

And in the rushing department, Caden Brink leads the way, rushing for Salem seven carries, 36 yards.

Ben Kingsley leads the way for Bismarck, seven for 22 and two.

Touchdown.

First handoff here on this drive.

Got him back to the line of scrimmage to bring up second down and ten as Johnny Diaz was there to make the stop.

The Bismarck made a big defensive play last time on their first down.

But then Salem came right back with some big running plays there, getting some penetration.

But consistently they haven't been able to slow them down.

Running the ball.

Second down and ten.

Ball at the 36 yard line.

It'll be handed off but fumbled.

And that was Ethan Bermingham who dropped it after the handoff.

It's going to be a loss of four yards on the play to bring him second or third down.

I don't know if this was going to be a double handoff or a fake double handoff handoff.

And I think he was just going to fake it and just never got Ahold of the ball real well.

Well, the last time that Salem got behind the chains like this, you know, they came out with a passing play.

And that's when Jackson Taylor was able to hook up with Caden Hollis.

He's going to look to throw here.

Now tuck it.

Run.

He's got wide open spaces.

Crossing the 50 into Bismarck territory as he gets past the 45 out to the 43.

Bismarck was just playing man to man, and that whole side of the field was cleared.

And then once the, left defensive end rushed upfield, there was a big hole and he could see nothing but green turf.

Well, I'll just run it.

Pretty simple right there.

Look at the big gap.

And there is nobody on that side of the field.

So it's a fresh set of downs.

First and ten from the Bismarck 43 yard line.

The time a 26 yard run.

Jackson Taylor.

Going to hand it off this time to bring.

And he'll take it down to the 40 yard line.

Look like Brant was trying to get outside and he just saw a cutback lane hit.

That cutback Lane was able to pick up something.

So it's a three yard gain.

Brings up second down and seven.

It's ball.

The 40 yard line.

So Kyler Payne right there man leading the way.

Blocking was like I'll just follow his lead.

Get in there and get what I can.

We're going to come out with four wide receivers in the formation this time.

Option play puts in the hands of brink.

And he stepped out of bounds.

Stepped out about a yard shy of the first down.

It was a lot going on on that play.

Fake the handoff dive quarterback keeps it goes outside and Pitts will pitch option.

And just barely steps out of bounds right there.

He would have.

Scored.

So it'll bring up a third down and one.

With the ball at the 34 yard line.

And a hand it straight ahead to break.

He'll have enough for a first down.

After picking up two yards, Johnny Diaz comes in to make the stop.

Another good push from that offensive line once again, they're just moving the pile, giving him plenty of room to run to pick up the first down.

That's a good look at the offensive line right there.

Jayden Costner, Keaton Ziegler, Colton Stewart, Jaden Dawson, Blake Smith.

First down and ten with the ball at the 32.

Runs it straight ahead with bring down to the 26 as Kade Keithley comes in and makes the stop.

Bismarck's got to figure out a way.

How how are we going to stop this?

Right now Salem just doing what they want to do.

They're heating up the clock.

They're picking up 4 or 5 yards every play.

Here's a running play straight ahead.

That goes to Skyler Payne who gets the first down inside the 20 is he'll take it down to the 17 like that.

Give Payne a little love.

You know Payne's been blocking really well.

And so you feed him.

He give him give him the chance to tote the rock.

So it's a fresh set of downs.

Well I tell you you were right.

A lot of a lot of illusions where the ball's going to go and they've got guys moving everywhere in the backfield.

That run by.

Payne was a nine yard run officially.

There's a handoff to bring it straight ahead to the five.

He's going to dive for the end zone.

Touchdown Kaden Brant gets in.

That's his 18th touchdown of the season.

We highlighted him before the game.

That's the reason why I saw him break a tackle.

About the seven yard line for the Bismarck Lions.

Had a pretty good shot at him, but he ran right through that tackle.

Kept on going into the end zone.

So now Salem going to go for two.

They've been unsuccessful so far at the two point conversion.

And a hand it off to break.

And he's going to get in for the two point conversion.

That offensive line gave him a good push.

And so with eight minutes remaining left here in the second quarter it's 20 to 13 Salem.

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Sports is so important to this state and the fabric of the state, and I appreciate Arkansas PBS doing all the state title games and that makes it available for not just the fans in Central Arkansas, South Arkansas, but fans around the entire state.

I can only think of the kids in small towns, and this is the biggest moment, maybe in their sports careers, and they have that keepsake of having that game on TV to have with them the rest of their lives.

Well, we've done it every game during the Championships West, and we do football trivia for each classification.

So I'm going to throw out the question now for you.

Bismarck and Salem.

We're making their first ever state championship game appearance entering today.

How many schools have won at least one football title in school history?

In the state of Arkansas?

I'll go.

63.

We will give you the answer later in the broadcast.

It's interesting.

Here's the squib kick that's going to be taken at the 41.

And they'll bring it out to the 45.

That's where Bismarck will have it first and ten with 756.

It was Providence who was able to come up with it.

They'll be able to move forward.

Let's head down to Sierra Clark on the sidelines.

And out in week one, due to a turf toe injury.

However, he is one of the strongest workers on this team.

Strongest athletes rather, he power cleans to 75 and is only 175 pounds.

So he is just dominant in the weight room on the field and it's just the type of player you want in your football team.

Almost a one handed catch right there, as it was Johnny Diaz who tried to come up with a pass, was throwing a little bit high and he tried to go up with the left hand.

That'll bring up second down and ten.

That's what Diaz has five touchdowns and only 15 catches.

If he catches that that that might have been a touchdown.

They leaked him out of the backfield.

And if he beats 24 to the sideline that could have been a touchdown.

Just barely overthrew him like that.

He almost came down with it.

Not a big guy but he had to go up and get it.

Now here's a another pass play by Keith Blaze.

He'll come back right side to his brother Keith Lee.

He'll stretch it out to the 50 yard line as Ryan Dailey came in to make the stop.

He's trying to get every yard he could.

Even when he was going down.

He stretched that ball out to try to pick up an extra foot or two.

You know, at this point, West, the way we've gone, nobody's stopped anybody yet.

Oh, five for five.

It's at the rate we're going.

The first person gets a stop by going to win this game.

Here's the third down and five.

Handoff straight ahead to Diaz and he'll only get a yard.

Brings up fourth down is Ryan Daley once again comes in makes the stop.

Oh this brings up a big fourth down.

First opportunity to get a stop.

This is our first fourth down attempt.

So Bismarck in the lineup.

Three receivers to the left side.

It's fourth down and four.

Now call timeout Salem had that box loaded.

They're going to talk this with over 633 to play here in the second time out of the first half.

You know West one thing that you know it seems to be you've got the Keithley brothers.

But that run that they ran to the to the end zone earlier with Ben Keighley to score.

If you do something along those lines again get some blockers out there to pick up your four yards.

I think that might be your best option.

Well, these teams have been great on third down.

That was our first failed third down conversion in the game.

Yeah, Salem was four for four.

And that was the first time Bismarck did not convert on third down.

So now they're going to try it on fourth down.

Well you want to go ahead and answer the trivia question.

Sure.

So you said how many 63.

So the question Bismarck and Salem making their first ever state championship game appearance entering today.

How many schools have won at least one football title in school history?

The answer 100.

Wow.

100 in the state won at least one state championship.

I guess that takes into account some schools that aren't even schools anymore.

Back in the day, the schools have since gone away.

Yeah, I was thinking the other how many art schools are there?

Like 112 to 204?

Yeah.

Don't get me wrong, because we used to have like during the regular season, like 100 games going.

On, here's Keith Lee going to run with the right side Jim.

Pick up the first down and a little bit more.

He'll take it out to the 40 yard line.

Oh no.

They continue to be perfect.

Well and what Keith Lee did with his feet right there is he dropped back to pass.

Was under pressure.

Was able just to scramble out and pick up the yardage.

And we saw that earlier from Jackson Taylor you know went back to pass.

They were had fallen behind a little bit.

But behind the sticks scramble for a big gain.

First down and ten.

And we've got whistles.

And that's probably.

A good fortunate low snap.

Threw the entire play off.

Can hand it off.

He's going to just tuck it and try to run.

All right now I'll start off in a five yard penalty.

No first down.

And that was probably a good thing for him.

So that'll back him up five yards.

Take it to first down and 15.

So Bismarck will have two receivers on each side of the formation.

He's going to keep it himself as he crosses the 45 and will be taken down at around the 44.

Is Keegan Anderson came in to make the stop.

When Caden Burch came to the Keegan.

Kind of got him from behind.

It was Bismarck helmets.

The back.

We got pancakes.

Yeah.

So pancakes for those offensive linemen.

I like that.

They're creative in Bismarck with the flag from the student section.

When you get the pancake blocks on the helmet, get everybody involved.

Now here's Kingsley going to look to throw.

Has a man left side.

Makes one man miss gets the first down.

He's off to the races and he'll walk into the end zone for the touchdown.

Did he step out of bounds.

And he stepped out of bounds.

It looks so now.

Now that they're they're signaling.

One official came back and looked at the sidelines.

The other one came up single touchdown.

Which one was.

Healthy.

He may not have just mingling around.

You had an official in the end zone raise his hands.

But the side judge he was standing around the 21.

Cade was wide open.

Here's the replay.

It's a difficult catch.

Let's see anything I think you call touchdown replay.

Look at it.

Because replay is going to look at all scores.

Nathan Jowers is our official.

During the play it was an inadvertent whistle.

How would you place spot where the runner was.

The whistle blew your first hand.

What a bad right there.

You got a flag on the Bismarck coaches.

They are, livid.

I don't know what was said, but the, sideline official here in front of them had enough.

He threw his hat flag up in the air.

Coach Keith Lee has reason to be upset.

I didn't think he was even close.

Was he on the replay that we had?

It looks like he's a couple of yards away from out of bounds and inadvertent whistle just cost Bismarck a touchdown.

And that could be huge.

I mean, now that you had the ball at the 2930 yard line and then, you know.

The penalty to add to it.

Unless it's a sideline warning.

Yeah.

Leaders are lip readers.

Turn away.

It's Bismarck.

The first.

Well, they've got the first down out of the deal.

And the ball's can be spotted at the 29 yard line.

So it's first down and ten.

They're gonna give it on the end around.

As Cade Keith is going to take it out of bounds inside the 25 down to the 23 yard line.

Try not to root for teams, but just for all fairness, I'd like to see him get in here.

And I don't want to, you know, have a touchdown taken off the board because of an inadvertent whistle.

And then the drive stalls in the game where nobody is stopping anybody.

That could be you know, you said the first time someone has stopped, that's going to be huge and you had it in motion.

People make mistakes, you know, I mean, it's part of the game is they're going to hand it off straight ahead.

Here's a running lane at the five.

He'll walk in.

Touchdown.

There we go Johnny Diaz.

No worry about that inadvertent whistle.

It all worked out in the end.

Come on.

Blocking there.

He had great hold.

You know going back to that if you're that official you're like you're kind of going.

Okay.

Got it.

Though Van Knoll's going to be on for the extra point.

This has been an adventure.

To tie the ball game.

Best extra point of the evening as it's up and good.

And with 532 to play left here in the second quarter, we've got a tie ball game 20 to 20 between Bismarck and Salem.

We watch him kick practice.

He was doing that one great all the sudden.

His first couple attempts.

Were just barely getting over the bar, if not even making it to the ball.

He just booted that through.

We've got a great replay of that hole from the end zone camera, man.

Those linemen did a great job and one of the I think it's the brother, Keith Lee, comes through and leads the way.

That's a pancake right there.

He's getting the sticker.

So look at this one.

Look at the whole.

Range is wide.

It's 60.

Cole Smallwood.

Give Cole a sticker.

That's what you need to do on your fearless Fearless Friday show is you need to give out pancake stickers for offensive linemen for everybody in the state.

When you guys do highlight.

And let's go right there.

I like doing that.

Highlighting an offensive linemen.

They don't ever get any like.

They never get.

Talk about I mean that was an.

Awesome block.

Okay well here's the kickoff.

And this one is going to go out of bounds as well.

Every kickoff that Bismarck has had is gone.

I understand what they want to do.

They don't want to allow for the the return.

But the short kicks have gone out of bounds every time.

A mark that out at the 33 to move it up to about the 38 after the five yard penalty.

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If anybody wanted to know.

So they're ready to go.

First down and ten with ball at the 38 yard line.

It's 20 to 20.

Jackson Taylor going to keep it himself straight ahead.

They'll pick up six yards on the play.

It was Ben Keighley who came in to make the stop.

Now Salem of course they want to continue getting first downs but they would love to have a five minute drive here and not give Bismarck any time to try to tie this thing back up.

If they do score.

Well, at the rate we're going, I mean, we could get 2 or 3 scores in the last five minutes.

Three for three.

So far, each team has had the ball three times, scored three touchdowns.

So it's second seven for.

Here's a handoff to break.

And he'll have enough for a first down as he takes to the 49.

Cade Keighley in on the stop that time.

On the fake the reverse.

And it there goes up the middle spins off of a tackler.

Falls forward gets the first down.

Responded Chris Barbie keeps pointing Keighley brothers and he said they're doing everything offense, defense.

One of the reasons why they're here now.

First down and ten and two handed to bring it work right side and he'll get nice yardage that time eight yards on the play Lucas Chatman came in to make the stop.

It's good.

Look the blocking that's going on.

Good lead block that time by Jaden Dawson.

Eight yards on first down.

You look at what they're doing.

Salem's doing what they do.

They run the ball.

They run the clock.

Just pick up first down after first down.

Fakes the handoff.

They're going to look to throw this time.

Or is he going to run.

He's going to run.

He'll pick up the first down and go out of bounds at around the 36 yard line.

Cade Keighley comes in to make the stop.

Had two receivers in the route down the field but nobody was open.

Did the smart thing.

Just tucked it.

Kept running stops or keeps the clock going.

At 331 they've stopped it briefly to reset the chains.

And huddle up and they're in no hurry.

That's that's the game plan.

Yeah.

They'll take a touchdown if they scored on this play, but they just chew up the whole first half.

That's fine with them.

And that time they just went with an inside handoff.

And that was to Skylar Payne.

And he got back to the line of scrimmage.

Zane Talbert was there to make the stop.

One of the few times I bet it's less than five.

Yeah.

Plays it.

Salem hasn't gained 3 or 4 yards.

There's been a couple of negative plays a couple of times.

Tackle for no gain.

Second down and ten.

They go to break and he'll be stopped after a couple yard gain.

That time it was Ben Keighley who came in and made the stop.

He'll get it inside the 35 down to the 34.

Third and eight from Salem I think you can get four here.

Maybe get four.

You you don't have to throw it here.

Yeah.

This offense with this offense they can get eight on a running play.

And and West they're doing exactly what you talked about down to a minute 58 left here in the second quarter.

It's third down and eight on the day four for four on third down.

Here's a handoff to break.

And he got back to the line of scrimmage.

Number Bismarck might call timeout here.

No.

That sideline official next the coaches look back at him like you can call it.

You want it.

Now they're gonna call it.

They thought about it for a second.

That'll be their second timeout.

Timeout is Bismarck.

I'm out of the first half.

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Normally, we show you the UM's building right here, but the, fog can't see it right now.

You know, I told you during the pregame, you could have they could have done it.

You could just draw on UAMs in the building in the fog.

Okay.

It's out there somewhere.

There they, there it is.

They.

So I tell you, the best thing that we could have done was get this telestrator.

I love the fact that we have this thing for state championship games.

Pretty proud of that.

Yeah.

Not bad.

Well, it's fourth down and eight with the ball at the 34 yard line.

Well you gotta think Jackson Taylor is going to be looking to throw right here.

But he scrambled several times tonight too.

So you may have a spy for Bismarck.

You really want to create a pocket to where he can escape.

Bottle him up.

It's the first time they've had a go for it.

On fourth down, three wide.

Come to the near side.

Taylor under pressure, steps up.

He's taken down.

Coming up, it was Lucas Chapman.

We have a first.

For the first time a defense has gotten a stop and the team hasn't scored.

And Lucas Chatman with the big play came into the game with four sacks this season.

And that's the biggest sack Lucas Chapman had just beat.

The left tackle came across on that speed rush and brings him down.

The chop right there as he was able to get the sack.

Now it's first down and ten a minute 23 left here in the quarter.

Well this could be big.

Bismarck goes down.

They also get the ball to start the second half.

They've got a chance.

As we get an offsides penalty they get a chance now to get back to back scores.

That time it's going to be called on the defense will be called on their sweet.

Bismarck has one timeout left.

So first and five from the 45.

Keith Lee throws it right side into the hands of Diaz.

He'll take it to the 49 as lies and ring was right there to make the stop.

Didn't quite get the first down, so they'll hurry here.

They just want to probably pick up that first down.

Quick throw.

Keith Lee, looking to throw.

Comes back to the middle of the field.

Has his man.

That's Keith Lee down to the 39.

Stops the clock at 101 as they move the chains.

Hands down their body.

Hurry up, hurry up.

Getting place.

He's motioning.

The play clock started 55 seconds.

Working quickly, Keith Lee steps up in the pocket, looking to run, and he'll step out of bounds at the 38 yard line.

One yard gain.

But it'll stop the clock with 46 seconds.

Remaining here in the half.

Yeah, give him a chance to get organized.

Talk about what they're going to do.

To Keith Lee over there on the sideline talking with the coaches.

Keith Lee's got 23 touchdowns passing this year.

Just five interceptions a very capable passer.

We've seen that in this game three.

Wide go to the left side Keith Lee going to keep it himself.

Works right.

Gets past the 45.

Goes out of bounds at the 44.

Excuse me not to 40 for the 34.

Designed run that time.

But maybe we can catch him off guard there.

Thinking pass dropping back in coverage and just slip one past the.

So, third down and five.

And now we've got a whistle and a penalty flag.

Violence out.

I'll start off it off your for game.

So now you go back to a third down and ten.

And get a little chunk.

Play something there.

15, 20 yards to get the first down.

First they need the big play.

Teams will be going to look to throw airs it out right side.

Nobody's there.

I think he was looking for Diaz to run down the sidelines.

From Diaz to run a corner route.

Diaz broke it inside.

Diaz was tightly covered.

You know, you just got to pick up the first down.

So it's fourth down and ten with 35 seconds left here in the quarter.

Again, we've got whistles and a timeout.

I'm out the first time.

Out.

Yeah that was smart right there to kind of regroup.

No.

Yeah.

Salem's got to get a stop.

They know what they're up against here.

I mean, you do not.

Want to let Bismarck.

Get into the end zone right here.

And, with being fourth down, make sure everybody's on the same page.

That's a very smart.

Come on.

Well, and.

You know, we we said this earlier that whoever gets the stop is going to have a good shot.

But we could see back to back stops right here.

So far game of adjustments.

Yeah.

Made some small adjustments and defenses getting a little bit more productive.

Plays well so far Bismarck is one for one on fourth down today.

Total yardage so far Salem 203 yards of total offense Bismarck 182.

Pretty big game I mean you look at the stats very similar.

And that's why we got a 20 to 20 score.

Kind of fitting yeah.

Out of all these state championship games this.

Save the best for last.

All right.

So it's fourth down and ten balls at the 39 yard line three wide to the left side.

Keighley looking to throw steps up comes back.

Right side has a man.

No.

He dropped and dropped it.

And I think he would even if he'd have caught it.

He was going to be short of the yards needed.

He needed really about the 29 almost to the 28.

And he would have caught that right around the 30.

That was Kate Keighley is hooking up with.

And Caden Hollis came in to make the hit and loose.

So we have back to back stops now.

So there's 28 seconds left.

If you're Salem do you just run this thing out or do.

That's what they do anyway.

Yeah.

Yeah that's what they do best.

And so but they're, they're capable of breaking one off and moving the ball.

And then Nelson you start thinking about it the 28 seconds.

But no they they would need an explosive play.

So they're going to line up for.

Win the formation single back in the backfield.

Jackson Taylor going to hand it off.

Straight ahead goes his running back as he'll take it all the way down to the 40 yard line.

That time it was Dylan Gaskins.

Salem's trying to hurry.

They're making the substitution.

They may call a timeout.

Clock is ticking.

Playing a lot of time.

I'll get two timeouts left now to use one.

They're now going five wide.

Look, throw comes back the right side to his receiver through wheat.

And that'll bring up second down and stops the clock with three seconds remaining in the quarter.

Yeah they probably wasted 10s.

And they're going to go to halftime with a timeout their pocket after calling one I'm out.

Salem and it's their second time out of the first half.

So three seconds remaining 2020 is our score.

At this .51 they're down to the end zone.

Yeah.

Throw it into the end zone.

Watching the their quarterback earlier during pregame warm ups had a nice arm.

He can get it there Jackson Taylor he was ripping some I was very impressed with some of the throws he made while they were warming up.

And he can he can definitely get it there.

But we ought to have an exciting halftime.

Don't forget to stick around David Basil Christina munoz going to check in.

And they're going to get you caught up on some things happening around the state.

They do always do a good job with those those halftime reads.

You know the you know, the race backs were not always easy backs.

I did.

Actually well at the half David Basil will tell you take you on a bit of a history lesson to let you know how one man's passionate.

Outburst.

Changed the University of Arkansas sports forever.

Plus, Christine, a few minutes will introduce you to the Arkansas PBS student all star team.

Well, Salem's going to call another time out.

Oh, no.

Is Bismarck's going to call a timeout?

Timeout.

And they just wanted to look at the formation, see what they were doing.

They had three players back at the ten yard line.

I think if they had the Keith Lee's back there, the two brothers were back there going to play.

Deep coverage and just try to knock this down and go to the half, go the locker room all tied at 21.

Everybody back at about the three yard line and make sure nothing gets past you.

It's been an entertaining game, you know.

And that's the other thing is a lot of people say oh offense is going to run the beer.

It's going to it will be a, you know, a running, running game and kind of be boring.

But the Salem offense has been pretty, pretty fun to watch.

Yeah, they've had just enough threat in the pass.

Completed the pass.

Big pass.

Now both these teams have been fun to watch.

And the crowds were really good.

It's a good AA crowd.

Salem had the much longer drive but they're here.

Second down and seven.

Taylor going to look to throw.

Throws it downfield.

The brink has one man to beat now.

Has three guys coming.

He dives for the end zone.

Did he get in.

Yes.

Touchdown.

It was Caden Brink who took on three men.

And he dove into the end zone.

Stretch out for the touchdown.

Miss tackle is going to haunt Bismarck.

Had a chance to tackle him about the ten yard line.

Breaks that tackle.

Let's see if he gets in the end zone.

It's all about where that ball is I don't know if he's stretched out.

Just the ball crossed the pylon.

Is it inside the pylon?

I think he stretched it out after he was already out of bounds.

Review.

So now they're going to review this.

This is going to be very crucial.

Here's a good look.

Where's the ball.

But if there's video.

And it's going to be clear you know.

You have to have some clear video evidence.

Here's a good look.

We've got a different angle right there.

Where's the pylon.

Couldn't see the pylon.

The players crashed into it.

You know NFL college.

You got those pylon cameras.

You got a camera at the goal line.

Unfortunately we don't have that.

And if you don't have that angle that shows you that he was not inside that pylon.

You can't change this call.

Well you know we got you a telestrator this year.

So maybe next year we can get you some pylon cams.

I want to keep seeing some angles.

That's what this is.

Huge call I mean so crucial.

You can see where the pylon is.

You can roll this angle right here I'm looking at that is a great angle pylon still up.

But here's what they're looking for.

This is what the officials are looking at in the replay booth.

So it looks like they've got four angles that they're looking at on this.

He's not out.

He didn't step out of bounds there.

But where is that ball.

You just I can't tell you for sure.

It's inside the pylon or outside the pylon.

Here's a little split version of it.

This may be your best chance.

We need that left camera angle to pan over so we can see better where he is.

Wow.

I don't think he can overturn it.

He may have gotten it across right there.

It's just you don't have anything down the goal line to be able to to see definitively where he's had the call on the field was a touchdown.

On the field.

Stands.

Touchdown.

They're going to call it touchdown.

Great job by Caden Brink to take on three Bismarck players to get in the end zone.

Huge play and think about this was it's huge for them because as we talked about coming out of halftime you know you you you're going to have a lead going into halftime.

Now it's a big that's a big move for Salem.

But they're going to go for two now.

Taylor they're going to go with the reverse and bring it back.

The left side.

He's going to dive for the pylon.

A lot of action at that final four.

And they're going to call it good.

The two point conversion is good.

As we go to the halftime locker room.

Are they going to call replay.

No no need to.

That's good.

Good call.

So the officials are still on the field though.

So that's the only reason I'm asking.

And let's go down to Sierra Clark.

Coach Watts and Caden Brink was able to dodge three Bismarck defenders and score a touchdown.

How important was that momentum going into the second half?

You don't get better momentum than that going into halftime.

That's what he's done for us all year.

It's just a big time play by a big time player.

And how do you stop this rushing attack?

They're also a strong rushing team like you guys.

We got to get the calls on the field.

You know, for 14 weeks, they've been able to hear me because I'm loud tonight.

They can't hear me.

So it's an adjustment of having to play in a place like this in an environment like this.

I'm pretty confident our guys are going to figure it out the second half.

And coach, you've been absolutely electric on the sidelines.

Where's that emotion coming off?

I just want to see these kids win the dang game man I just want I want them to get this championship right here in these boys to get it more than anything.

Thank you.

Good luck.

Thank you Sierra.

As that was head coach Josh Watson for the Salem Greyhounds.

As they go to the halftime locker room they lead it 28 to 20.

We'll stick around.

We've got a great halftime show for you as we're going to end it back to the studio.

David Bazzel Christina munoz standing by as the Salem Greyhounds.

They lead it 28 to 20 over Bismarck.

As you're watching the Centennial Bank State Football Championships on Arkansas PBS sports.

Broadcast of this championship game is made possible by the electric cooperatives of Arkansas.

Over 2500 team members across 17 local electric distribution co-ops powering homes, farms, and industries somewhere across Arkansas.

We are the electric cooperatives of Arkansas power and people.

Hey, everybody, David Bazzle here.

It's halftime at War memorial.

That means we are back here at Arkansas PBS Studios to share with you a little bit of what we've been working on.

In a few minutes, Cristina munoz will introduce you to some All-Stars both on the field and in the classroom.

We're going to check in on a hot spot in Arkansas football, and we're going to learn a little bit about some Arkansas sports history.

But first, starting from scratch can be a struggle, but teamwork makes the dream work.

Solid springs begin this year with their first practice ever for their Special Olympics Unified Cheer team.

It took that collaboration all the way to the state finals.

Take a look.

Back at school year requires you to how to raise your voice and be as loud as you want.

The first year is always in the support of their networks, but you got to get everybody's feet wet.

Okay, let's go to our jets for a minute.

Okay.

Good job.

I always want to be under the stars.

So I really want to get some unified teams going in our in our community.

Because cheer has always been kind of a big thing in Siloam Springs.

Well, unified team is special Olympic partners and peer partners, and they work together to build a routine and compete.

Oh.

Hey.

Hey, guys.

Fan base for a cheer for the shoulder thing.

Yeah, it's like I'm base and, like, someone.

I'm on my rooftop ladder and someone's on my roof.

It's pretty cool, though.

So there's dancers tumbling.

There's the cheering aspect, there's the stunting.

I feel like our cheerleaders sometimes work the hardest because there are so many components to it, and they all have to be synchronized, and they all have to work together and create a flawless routine.

Do you like practices?

I do like how challenging making me.

You know, it could be the lifting or the tumbling.

What do you think most come and from the first practice to state every one of them, just take ownership of it.

And it was like how sports bringing people together.

That's exactly what each year has done in Nashville.

We over get oh yeah.

Oh my dreams.

Come on, come on spring.

You know, the kids were so nervous because they had never competed before like that.

I mean, I knew that they were good and I knew that they had a good routine, but I just didn't know what the scoring would be like.

But there wasn't anything that we were expecting.

Getting out in front of everyone and doing our routine, what we practiced, we didn't really know what to expect going in, and they were often.

We won the state competition in Benton, Arkansas and took home the gold.

They had the skills, but they also had the drive to be successful and they all work together as a team.

And it was like our first year until like we proved to people that you can do something in a short amount of time.

This team, this high school team, had the overall highest score out of the entire competition.

And I think that's what shocked us all the most.

And watching them win together was incredible.

And now now it's like, okay, we got to win again.

Like we can't stop now.

Now we got to defend it.

One, two three, four and here we go.

It's hard to win if you don't practice and chances of winning are low.

That's why we practice.

Otherwise you will be at the competition underprepared.

What I feel like makes the practice the most important is that to where the relationships are built.

And that's where the trust is built.

It's always important to hang out with the players that are working with Erica like Haley.

She's always been my friend.

I always do that with my friends and I just love her.

I love you, too.

The relationships that we made.

Outweigh any metal that they'll ever win.

I mean, don't get me wrong, those gold medals are precious.

But I think just the idea of inclusion in the team brought all these kids together from different backgrounds, from different grades.

They are so welcoming.

They are so loving and it's just incredible to watch how they have been impacted by this experience, and to see those friendships and to see that joy on their face.

That's what makes.

It worth it.

Salon Springs will be hosting their own Special Olympics cheer competition on February 27th, 2025.

We wish all the teams the best of luck.

Now let's turn to the student athlete with the emphasis on the student part.

Christina, what do you got for us?

Thanks, David.

We reached out to schools all over the state looking for athletes who not only excel on the field, but in the classroom, too.

Here is the Arkansas PBS student All stars, class of 2024.

We're going to start with our eight man honoree, Hunter Mae.

Hunter is a senior linebacker and tight end for the Midland High School Mustangs.

He has a 3.7 grade point average.

Following high school, he plans to go into the Army.

Out of today.

Let's meet Jaron Thomas.

Jaron is the senior quarterback for the Conway Christian High School Eagles.

He maintains a 3.2 grade point average, and following high school, he plans to attend college.

Moving on to three A, here is David McNamee with the Charleston Tigers.

This senior offensive and defensive lineman boasts a 3.4 GPA.

After high school, he wants to attend college and teach and coach our four.

A all star this year is Creed Vega.

Creed is a junior quarterback, running back and linebacker for the Dardanelle Sand Lizards.

He has a 4.0 grade point average.

Following high school, Creed plans to play college football and coach football as well.

Coming around A5A, we have Maddox Hampton of the Nettleton High School Raiders.

Maddox is a senior quarterback and has a 3.85 grade point average.

After high school, he plans to attend college at U.A.

Rich mountain to play baseball.

The six A representative this season is Magnus Golden, this senior defensive end and fullback for the Russellville High School Cyclones, maintains a 3.8 grade point average.

Magnus plans to go to college and play football while earning a degree in engineering.

And finally, we wrap up with our seven a all star threat.

Tidwell threat is the senior linebacker for the Fayetteville High School Bulldogs.

He has a 3.8 grade point average.

After high school, he plans to attend college and major in business.

Congratulations to all of this year's honorees.

Way to go.

You know, we may see some of these faces again in April here on Arkansas PBS for Quiz Bowl.

Now, if you haven't seen Quiz Bowl, you'll want to make a note to watch.

This year, some of the smartest high school students in the state meet up right here in this studio and square off not only for bragging rights, but for some pretty big checks too.

And it is all live right here on Arkansas PBS.

Now let's throw it back to bass for a look at another hot spot for Arkansas football.

Thanks, Christina.

You know, they say big things come in small packages.

And in the town of Searcy.

There is one school proving that to be even more true.

The Harding Bisons, a small school breaking NCAA records and making national headlines with their very unique brand of bison ball.

You know, there are some things that I think you know should be told.

We've got a special group, and, But it's hard to win, you know?

The path certainly seems easier once you've been there.

I can tell you that.

You know, we got a fantastic coaching staff here.

You know, when everybody in America talks about culture and brotherhood and family.

It's something that we refine on a daily basis.

I think the success came from the guys buying into the culture, and that insight reflected into the way we played, because at the end of the day, it's about the guys out there in uniform.

I know that's the biggest game I've played in my life.

I've never played in OT for something that important.

You know, we're playing for more than just us.

The plan for the Searcy community they're all pulling for as they're rooting for us.

And we just we want to make them proud.

That.

Wishbone was invented by, it was Emory Law at Texas A&M.

And taking those wishbone backs and putting them up there and slots is what the difference is between wishbone and flexible, where emotional and can put them in routes and stuff.

The flexible is 11 guys, committed to executing their specific detail every single play.

If one guy is off, then the play won't work.

And so it is.

It's really a reflection of how everybody has to do their job every single play.

And, you know, there's a lot of things about this offense that make it a home run success for us.

But probably the biggest thing.

You know, it is a perfect fit for who we want to be in our culture.

We will coach up made the decision.

You know, he's sought out, the best.

And Coach Weeden is as widely recognized is as one of the best, if not the best, option mind in the country.

Coach Hawk reached out to me in 2010, and he said, hey, we want to bring you in.

And, install offense.

And we think it would fit our kids.

And, you know, he was right.

A couple of months later, he reached out and said, after watching your practice and being around your young man and a little taste in that culture, I'd love to come coach with you guys.

Wow.

It's amazing.

The Godfather.

You know what?

Can't be with us.

But at the time, we we didn't we didn't have a spot available.

We didn't have a salary available.

And coach waiting said it's okay, you know, I'll come work for free.

He definitely is a big deal.

But, you wouldn't know it just talking to him.

One thing I really appreciate about Coach Weeden is just the way he holds us accountable.

If you have something you need to get better, he tell you straight up.

And he won't sugarcoat it, but you won't do it in a way that's demeaning either.

And that makes you want to play harder for him because he expects a lot of you.

But it's a good thing.

It's about much more than just being a football player here.

You know, we always talk about unity.

We only talk about stuff that unites us.

We don't talk about stuff that divides us.

We don't.

We don't want it in the locker room.

We don't want it out here on the practice field.

You know, when you have guys that I buy into that I mean, especial we have received is a is a product of young men loving one another, being selfless and working, not crazy to our regard.

You know, no kids are more deserving than our kids.

You know, I'm I'm very excited for this program, mainly because, you know, people know who we are and.

Good things are definitely brewing in Searcy.

Now let's take a look at a bit of Arkansas sports history.

In the early 1900s.

The University of Arkansas athletic program was still finding its identity.

That all changed when a young coach named Yugo Best Dec arrived on campus, bringing with him a fierce, competitive spirit that would transform Arkansas sports forever.

Check out this story of how one man's passionate outburst gave birth to the legendary Arkansas Razorbacks.

The University of Arkansas hasn't always been the Razorbacks.

You go best dec his association with what would change our mascot.

That one significant moment will always be part of the history of the university.

You go to.

He immigrated from Bohemia.

He and his parents moved to Pennsylvania and then later to Chicago, where he literally fell in love with American sports.

Had been mentored by his coach, Amos Alonzo Stagg, at the University of Chicago.

Looking for something to do in American sports really fill that void in his life.

Hugo Best Dec was selected really as the first paid coach, full time coach here at the University of Arkansas, and.

He arrived in 1908.

So he became the coach, which means he coached whatever they were playing.

You know, they were the Cardinals and the Cardinals, not the birds, but the color.

In those days, it was football in the fall.

And baseball in the spring.

He was equally prepared to coach.

Both had successful careers in both sports.

It's very likely that his baseball players were more fundamentally sound.

But as football players, because, you know, baseball was kind of the town sport in those days.

He did produce great baseball teams.

There was a lot of success heralded on the football field.

Obviously for his teams are light, quick and furious.

They were swarming.

It was a very disciplined team and their style of play was, very successful.

With an undefeated season in 1909 and really helped define a style of football that wasn't seen, predominantly around the country at that time.

I think his wins and losses and his accomplishments as a coach are all secondary to the fact that he was in the right place at the right time to form a new image for the state.

That in 1909, when the University of Arkansas traveled to Memphis via train to play the mythical championship of the South, and coach Best Dec led Arkansas to a shutout victory.

And they returned to the train station and the train depot on Dickson Street.

So when they arrived, everyone knew what the score was and oh, Hugo stepped down off the.

Train and spoke to the crowd.

He proclaimed that his team played like a wild band of razorbacks.

Everybody's so much better than me and a Cardinal.

And then in 1910, the University of Arkansas student body officially voted to change the name from Cardinals to Razorbacks.

It's not true that Busiek invented the name.

They'd been called the Razorbacks prior to.

That, but it certainly was an embrace.

And so the name was more derogatory.

Arkansans were looked upon by their opponents as a bunch of rural, hillbilly, noncompetitive guys.

But I think what people quickly realized in this state is the Razorback represented the attributes of Arkansans, is fierce, is tireless, is very passionate.

I think they really identify with the attributes of a razorback of the hogs and having to work harder and having that success.

So I think when you look at an animal and you look at a mascot that represents the spirit of Arkansas, I think the Razorback is a perfect fit.

He was the first person to give that name.

Significance.

I think that's a very important part of his legacy, setting us up for this competitive nature that goes far beyond what we might expect.

And not just in athletics that stems across the academic institution campus community.

Hugo Best, Dick's perhaps biggest contribution to the University of Arkansas was the adoption of the Razorbacks and a whole sense of pride for this state and for this university.

You know, Christina, from that memorable day in 1909, the Razorback has stood as a symbol of Arkansas pride and determination.

Absolutely.

You know, that is one of the things I love about sports on Arkansas PBS.

We get our dose of sports, of course, but we learn along the way.

That is a great history lesson, right?

And the Arkansas PBS student All-Stars.

That is one less you want to be on.

Well, that's it for us on the halftime show.

Now, let's get you back to War Memorial Stadium for the second half, right here on your home for the high school football state finals.

Arkansas PBS.

Broadcast of this championship game is made possible by the electric cooperatives of Arkansas.

Over 2500 team members across 17 local electric distribution co-ops powering homes, farms, and industries somewhere across Arkansas.

We are the electric cooperatives of Arkansas.

Power and people.

Well, we are wrapping up halftime as Salem right now.

They lead 28 to 20 over Bismarck Westmore.

I'm RJ Hoxie, our clerk, down on the sidelines for this one, and it's been an exciting first half.

Let's take a look at those stats from the first half.

As West and about as even as you could make it.

Between these two teams.

Yeah.

Salem jumped ahead on the scoreboard.

And they also jumped ahead on the total yards because of that last possession.

They had a big 20 yard run from Dylan Gaskins, and two plays later, Caden Brink goes 37 yards from Jackson Taylor to get the score.

You look at the quarterbacks Jackson Taylor three for three for 100 yards and one touchdown.

Ben Keithley ten of 15 106 yards.

And he's also rushed for a couple of touchdowns on the ground touching the quarterbacks played well in the first half.

Now Bismarck starting to make their way back out onto the playing service.

Let's check in and take a look at those first half highlights.

There was a lot there in the first half.

West a back and forth we went.

Nobody could stop either offense.

The offense just kept going one at a time making plays.

This sets up a Jackson Taylor one yard run.

Big play on the first drive for Salem.

There's that touchdown run six to nothing.

Bismarck comes right back.

They get a big pass play.

Keith Lee goes down the field.

And that sets up a one yard touchdown run from Ben Keithley.

And it's 6 to 6 after the extra point was no good.

Salem second possession.

They get in Jackson Taylor two yard run 12 six.

Later on Salem does it again.

Caden brink with a 17 yard run.

And then Diaz Jonny Diaz 23 yards up the middle.

That ties it up at 20.

And then right before the end of the half, looked like Salem was going nowhere.

The Bismarck defense got a big stop, but a huge play as Caden Brink goes 37 yards and scores to make it 2820.

Well, let's go down the sidelines where Sierra Clark has got DJ Keithley.

Team has given up 160 yards on the ground.

What's the key to stopping the Salem defense or run this rushing attack?

Well, the biggest thing is our D-line got a quick running up field.

We're not getting our hands on on our linemen.

They're getting to our linebackers, you know?

So, we got to play a solid football like we've talked about all week.

We got to get hands on those d linemen, and now our linebackers start playing free.

But the biggest thing is we just can't.

We can't let the moment be too big for us.

We got to come out here and just take care of what we've been coached to do up to this point.

And this has been a back and forth game.

What did you say in the locker room to your team about being resilient and still be able to be in this game?

Well, we've just talked about all the hard work we've put on to this point.

You know, doing what you're supposed to do.

You know, just the grit that we've had played up to this point.

Now we're playing another team who's got that same kind of grit.

So we've got to come out here and we got to one.

We've been a second half team up to this point, and it's going to have to happen again today.

Thank you.

Good luck.

Thank you Sierra.

And that was DJ Keith Lee the head football coach for Bismarck.

You know West you and I were talking about it just made to go.

That last drive for Salem only took 28 seconds to get down the field.

Score had two big plays.

They had the big run on first down from Dylan Gaskins.

Picked up 20 yards.

And then no sudden they let him think, hey, we could do something here.

You know, we just got a 20 yard chunk and put them in position.

They threw a little four yard pass stop the clock a couple times.

Defense stopped the clock.

Final play of the game.

Our final play of the half turned out to be a huge play to give Salem the lead at the half.

Well, you know, we said it multiple times that the team that get stopped is going to have a good path to get to a win on this one.

But I mean, we're still going in the same rhythm as what we we started the ball game with.

Because now Bismarck after the Salem score, they're going to get the football back and try to go down and tie this ballgame.

Yeah.

Each defense has one stop.

And so they're tied in stops.

And Bismarck is the next one to get the ball.

So they get a chance.

Go down score touchdown get two point conversion and kick the extra point and narrow this eight point deficit.

But it this could be a game.

Who has it last.

Who has the ball last.

Well it's the final half of high school football in the state of Arkansas.

Glad to have you along, wherever you may be across the state of Arkansas, as we've got a good one.

And we will see how the conclusion of this ballgame wraps up, as Salem is going to tee things up from the 40 yard line, and Kate Keithley is going to stand back and await the kick.

See if we don't get another onside kick.

Sanders is going to put a foot into it.

It'll be a short kick that went over his head.

Go all the way back to the nine.

Keith was going the wrong way, got pulled into the end zone and his forward progress is going to take him out to the one yard line.

We've had several good bounces.

That was a terrible bounce.

That one hit ricocheted hard off the turf, went over his head.

So just had to, you know, just gotta make the best out of a bad situation.

So now Bismarck's got to go 99 yards to try to tie the ball game.

And now we've got whistles and a timeout charge to Salem.

I mean he wanted to come out and talk about this a bit of safety in the second half I was pretty you know from here making I, I thought he was fine.

He was out of the end zone.

You nailed it.

He got pulled into the end zone.

I was wondering so it went down to the nine.

So he had to go get it.

There's a. I think the only thing that one of the coaches may say is that he got pulled in, but then he got away, but he really never did.

Salem is challenging the spot at the end of the run I'm out.

Yeah.

So they're going to challenge this play.

And I mean it's probably worth a challenge if you're Salem because you know when it happens the scoring plays centrally and but I think the fact that they still had his shirt and they never let him go.

That's why I got brought out to the one yard line.

So we will.

I'm afraid we're going to have the same issue because we don't have a down the line angle at this to see exactly where he is, and he's running backwards here.

He's hit.

He's pulled backwards from a different angle.

Looked like he was outside the end zone.

From that angle, it looked like he was in the end zone.

This will probably be our best, best look.

Ruling at the end of the kick at the one yard line.

It's been upheld.

First down Bismarck I think they got it right.

He was right around the one yard line when he was hit and knocked backwards and pulled into the end zone.

So it's a first down and ten from the one yard line.

Just underway here in the third quarter of play.

99 yards is what Bismarck needs to get in the end zone.

Stadium needs a yard and a half to get two points.

Kind of like a half glass bullet type of guy, right?

When they're well, they didn't get their safety there, but that's what they're thinking right now.

The integration we'll get that too.

So here's a batted ball into the end zone.

And is the safety going to come.

Or did the ball hit the turf.

Now they're going to say they got out out to the one.

Wow.

That was close.

That was even closer I thought from up here it was a safety.

That ball was behind him is dangerous.

I mean that could have been a touchdown.

Could you know it's down if it's Salem that picks that bad ball off I don't think any of their players saw the ball.

They didn't know where it was.

Couldn't find it.

There's a lot going on inside.

There's a lot going on was end zone.

Replay man what a great play.

Get cut block gets up gets a hand up.

Here's a run play by Keith Lee is he'll give him some breathing room all the way down to the nine yard line.

That time it was Ryan Daley who came up to make the stop.

Had eight yards on that play.

Keeper ran with a little fire that time.

Hit about the five yard line.

Kept his legs moving.

Picked up another four yards.

So third down and two from the nine.

But first things first.

They got it.

They got to get a first down here.

They need to find a way to get two yards.

Keighley going to hand it off to his brother Keith Lee.

And he's going to be right at the sticks.

That was a hard run two he's coming off the field.

Looks like he's Dinger on his shoulder.

And he got enough for a first down.

So it's a fresh set at the 11.

And they marked that at the 11.

They started on the one.

Look at that.

Lowers his head.

Picks up the first down.

Close to.

Two receivers to both sides of the formation as Keith Lee gonna hand it off straight ahead for about a yard gain.

It was Caden Castner that time on the stop.

After the one yard gain.

Diaz is grabbing his facemask like you guys missed that.

Did you not see that?

So second down and nine from the 12.

Then Keith Lee as a running back set to his right now going to look to throw boy.

Dangerous pass right there that time.

Trying to hook up with his wide receiver.

That is Lincoln Jones.

So now you've got a third down and nine.

Coming back in.

So that's a good sign for Bismarck.

This two plays.

So third down and nine.

Clock stopped at 937.

Keith Lee going to roll the pocket now.

Coming back.

Right side.

Did he catch it.

What a catch he.

Did that time hooking up with his wide receiver.

That was Brody Allen.

And it's enough for a first down.

That is a tough catch right there.

West.

That was a big time play.

Trying a little out had the quarterback draped all over it goes down low.

Gets the catch.

That was a good throw right over the linebacker to throw it wrong.

His receiver could catch it well defended.

It's a good offensive play.

First and ten Keith Lee going to keep it himself.

Gets past one man.

Picks up the first down and goes out of bounds at the 40 yard line.

It ran that play several times but Keith Lee always hands it off.

That's the first time he pulled it.

He saw the defensive end crashing down.

Keeps it himself, gets outside.

There's a big chunk play good plays back to back for Bismarck.

I mean they've already picked up 39 yards on this drive.

Since at the 40 yard line three wide.

Go to the left side, two to the near side Keith he's going to look to throw.

Goes with a short pass to Keith Lee.

He's got one man to beat.

Gets around him.

He's going to run and he'll make it to the end zone.

But hold everything is there's a flag down at the 41 yard line.

That's a block in the back that's coming back.

And it happened right in front of the official.

He just dropped his flag and one came in from the sideline.

During the run, like a block back on the offense.

A ten yard penalty is assessed on the foul.

Replay.

First down.

That is the second play that's been called second touchdown.

That's been called back for Bismarck tonight.

Yeah.

The first was the inadvertent whistle.

This one they got right.

It was the obvious black block in the back right there.

Well we're not showing that replay.

Sorry I'm looking for the replay monitor we have for us up here.

So it's going to be a first down and one from the 49.

There's the block right there right in the middle of your screen.

Throw it right side in and out of the hands of Joey Porter.

So now you've got a second down and one from the 49.

Bismarck's going to send two receivers to each side of the formation.

And just throw it short puts it in the hands of Hughes.

And Hughes will take it to the 50.

That's Preston Hughes.

He'll have enough for a first down as they get it into Salem territory.

To the 49 on the tackle that time.

We've got three.

Needed one got two moves.

The chains.

So fresh set of downs.

Tight game like this.

Just some little things you know it's a block in the back.

Calls for a touchdown.

That's a missed tackle at the 15 yard line.

And that's the difference in the ballgame.

Here's Keith Lee going to look to throw.

And that one came out of his hand a little weird trying to hook up with Ethan Hughes.

He had him wide open on that left side.

But it just came out of his hand when he threw it wrong.

Yeah, he almost looked like it was tipped, but none of the officials were giving that motion like the ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage.

I think you're right.

Just came out wrong.

So second down and ten.

In motion is Preston Hughes.

They fake the handoff to him.

And Keith Lee kept it himself.

And they get about two yards on the play Keegan Sanderson right there to make the stop it.

Just about to say Keegan Sanderson played that so well.

He played them both.

He was going with the the the receiver coming in motion.

And they handed it off and he stopped and he was fast enough to chase down Keith Lee.

So that brings up a third down and eight with the ball at the 47 yard line in Salem territory.

On the day Bismarck.

They are four of six on third down.

Here's Keith Lee running with it straight ahead.

He's going to be short of the first down as he takes it inside the 45 down to the 43.

Lesson rain was there to make the stop.

And now you've got a fourth down and four.

Yeah that play call tells me they had already made up in their mind they were going to go for it on fourth down.

They had two plays to try to pick up eight nine yards.

Got half of it there.

I just need to get the other half.

On fourth down today.

They're one of two.

For wide the formation Keith Lee going to keep it.

And he's going to be slung down in the backfield.

Coming up with the sack.

It was going.

Just an awesome play.

Athletic play comes in off the edge unblocked.

He jumped on the quarterback before he could throw it.

So it's a turnover on downs.

And Salem is going to have the ball at the 48 yard line.

There's your stop.

But you look back to the getting the ball at the one yard line.

They've started several possessions around the 40.

You know they picked up 50 yards.

Well if they hadn't started it around midfield they'd have been inside the red zone.

That's right.

Just the bad bounce.

Here's a handoff straight ahead.

And this time in the hands of brink and Brain just kept those legs moving out to the 45 yard line in Bismarck territory.

With that Salem offensive line.

Does a great job of getting in behind the running back and pushing the pile.

It's about the third or fourth time we've seen that tonight.

When they finish their block, they come help out.

They're running back.

So it brings up a second down and three with the ball at the 45.

Blake Smith pushing the pile.

He also had Skyler Payne coming in giving a good push.

Here's another handoff.

And right there Bismarck was able to knock that one down.

Skyler Payne on the run as Bladen.

Wheatley Whitley was able to come in and make the stops.

Now you've got a third down and two.

Quick hitter right there.

But Bismarck was ready for it.

Stood him up stopped him short game.

They gotta do it two more times.

Yeah that's four down territory.

If you're if you're saying that they really don't punt a whole lot anyways.

Have we seen a punt now?

Here it.

Is.

As it's going to go.

Right.

At the marker.

That's bring.

And bring is going to get enough for a first down.

Got a yard pass out to the 41.

Bring made a great move.

He made a guy miss I thought they had gotten through the offensive line was going to stop him for a loss.

He makes a fantastic move.

Makes a guy miss right there.

Jumps to the outside, jumps back, jump cut and then the push once again push up some.

Get that first down.

So it's first down and ten from the 41 yard line.

Jackson Taylor the quarterback has three backs in the backfield and going to hand it to brink and breaks.

Got nowhere to go.

Going to lose about three yards on the play leading the charge that time it was Lucas Chapman.

Chapman did a good spot from his end spot.

Got some penetration.

Throws him for a two yard loss.

And backs the ball up to the 44 yard line.

This quarter is flying by I mean just four minutes 45 seconds to go in the quarter.

Each team.

This is just one one possession for Bismarck and Salem in the middle of their first possession.

On second down, they're going to hand it straight ahead.

That time it went to Birmingham and he got about a yard maybe two on the play.

That'll bring up a third down now for Salem.

They Stevenson was in on the tackle.

We heard from coach.

He's wanting to free up his linebackers so they can make a tackle.

And that's exactly what happened there.

Defensive line did a good job of holding up the offensive line, keeping them off the linebackers so they can make the tackle.

A two yard gain.

So now you've got a third down and 11.

Taylor is going to look to throw.

Has a wide open man left side.

And he'll be stopped well shy of the first down.

And for Salem that time making the reception it was Birmingham.

On the tackle was Cade Keithley.

That stuck him out.

He was wide open but Lee was there quickly.

Close, quickly made the tackle slung into the ground, prevents him from picking up the first down.

We got fourth and five.

Six yard pickup as the ball spot Both these two teams have stopped the offense one time.

Well, actually it took two for Salem, one for one for Bismarck.

They can even end up right here.

You know, fake the handoff Taylor rolls to his right.

Goes to the right side.

Has a man that's Hollis.

And Hollis is going to get taken out of bounds after picking up the first down.

They outnumbered him out there.

There was one defensive back and two players.

And when the quarterback rolled player tried to jump the short route in case he threw it at the sticks to make the tackle and stop the first down.

But he threw it over his head to the other receiver, who was wide open.

Preston Hughes was there to make the stop.

Now it's a first and ten from the 13 yard line.

Tate Jackson Taylor doesn't throw it a lot, but when he does so far five for five for 129 yards and a touchdown.

Can't get any better in that.

Here's the toss.

It goes right side and he makes a man miss.

And that was lesson ring who was able to take it in the end zone for the touchdown.

Big back to back plays for Salem.

They convert on fourth down.

And then they throw it out to their running back Neil Sweet boy he is.

We're going to look at that shot I bet he's 565755.

Yeah he's a.

You can't tell how big those linemen are.

But I'll tell you what.

Little dude just made a big play.

He is quick and shifty and.

He came into the game 109 carries for 845 yards this year.

And he's not he's really not run the ball a whole lot in this game.

Here's a two point drive.

They're going to work it right side to Hollis and try to make the edge.

He's going to dive for the pylon.

He's in for the two point conversion.

Third pile that's been run over in this game.

Is end zone.

There's something about it for Salem.

And so with 302 left here in the third quarter Salem extends their lead to 36 to 20.

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That last drive.

Eight plays, 52 yards and four minutes and seven seconds.

Let's head down the sidelines and check in with Sierra Clark.

Yeah.

Salem quarterback Jackson Taylor was the backup last year.

And coach Josh Watson told me that it was tough for him to sit on the bench and not play.

So he really worked hard in the offseason and it's really paying off now.

And if you see him bursting out on some runs, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

His sister, Chloe Taylor, was a multiple time state champion at Salem, and last week Taylor had 147 total rushing yards, including two long runs of 60 and 39 yards.

So he can definitely get it done on the ground and through the air.

Thank you Sierra as the onside kick is recovered by Bismarck.

And so they'll have the ball at the 50 yard line of the 49.

Excuse me.

They're backing it up.

And so it's going to be at the 49 yard line to start this drive for Bismarck.

Drastically better field position than the last time when they started at their own one.

Now they only have 51 yards to go.

It's pretty much close to a must score.

You're down by 16 points.

You got to get a touchdown and hope you can finally get a stop to get another stop on defense.

Go down to score.

We know how Salem runs the ball and uses the clock.

There aren't a whole lot of possessions left in this game for Bismarck and being down two possessions, they got to get a score here.

Johnny Diaz takes it on one yard run, brings up a second down and nine.

Gaskins was there for the stop.

There are three Salem players there for that stop.

They were all over it.

So three wide come to the near side.

Now we've got whistles and penalty flags.

Our offense of yard field.

Looks like a.

So after the false start it's a five yard penalty to bring up second down and 14 for Bismarck.

Seven penalties 42 yards for Bismarck.

Keith Lee going to look to throw.

He's going to pull it down and look to run.

Gets around one defender and they will get some good yardage as he takes it in the Salem territory down to the 47.

And made something out of nothing.

There.

Felt the pressure escape.

Was able to get outside.

Gets it down to about the 47 yard line.

Need six once again their third and two down four down territory.

They got two down to get these six yards.

So third down and six as there's four receivers in the formation.

The fake the end around Keith Lee keeps it himself.

Dives and gets inside the 40 for a first down.

Down to the 39.

Here's close.

That was close to busting it right up the middle.

I have a feeling he scored on that same play several times this year.

The offensive line did a great job.

It was just a shoestring tackle when the defensive lineman leaps in there, just gets it up and good play right there.

That was, Gatlin.

Bronson.

So it's a first down and ten.

Low snap Keith was going to do something with it.

He has nowhere to go and they're going to drop him for a loss as Ryan Dailey came in to make the stop.

It's about 11 yard loss.

That is a just painful penalty on first down for Bismarck.

He did a great job of not getting a blindside block there.

He just kind of steps in there and makes a little contact.

Back in the day, somebody what he just got lit up.

But these players have learned sometimes because of the penalty flag that you can't do it.

And they're doing a much better job of that.

So the ball's at the 50 yard line.

Second down and 21 Keith Lee to run with it himself.

Pilot walks the sidelines gets a nice lane inside the 20.

Stayed in bounds all the way down to the 16 yard line.

Just thinking they need a big play.

Somehow they going to come up with the big play.

And it was the senior quarterback that delivered the huge play.

He gets back that 11 yard loss and some picks up the first down.

Great job right there of not holding from the wide receiver.

Did not step out of bounds.

You said tightrope down the sidelines.

Takes it all the way to the 2116.

Down to 26 seconds left in the quarter.

For wide.

Keith Lee going to look to throw pump fakes.

Has a man at the nine that time hooking up with his wide receiver.

Keith Lee also is the running back.

And that should do it for the third quarter of play.

So as we end the third, Salem leads it 36 to 20 over Bismarck.

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Well, we enter the fourth quarter of play where Salem leads 36 to 20, and we've had some highlights.

Well, so far.

We've got eight touchdowns in this game so far.

We've had some short touchdown runs.

We've had some explosive plays from both teams.

Salem and Bismarck, going back and forth, back and forth each possession.

Each team scored there in the first half for a long time, and it was hard to get a defensive stop.

It was 13 to 13, then 20 to 13 and 20 to 20, and Salem with the big touchdown run from Caleb Lyson, 3620.

Right now with Bismarck driving, needing a touchdown here.

Okay, we start the fourth quarter where they've got the ball at the nine yard line.

Keith Lee will take it straight ahead and he'll get about a yard maybe two on the plane Wes.

He's over 100 yards rushing so far here.

In the game.

He had 104 up to that moment.

So give him 105.

He's had a couple of tackles for loss.

He's lost 16 yards.

So he's actually gained about 121 yards.

But he's lost 16.

It's been a good night for Ben Keithley.

He's 15 to 23 throwing it for 144 yards.

And I haven't had any interceptions in this game I haven't had any fumbles lost.

Here's the third down play.

They throw it right side was wide receiver Preston Hughes.

And he's in for the touchdown.

Hughes just kept fighting.

Would not go down.

Stretches the ball across the goal line.

Backpedaled it towards the end zone.

Falls across.

They're going to go for two.

So the two point conversion.

They may.

Think they broke but they break a huddle.

With too many men.

Illegal substitution.

And Bismarck five-yard penalty retry penalties piling.

Up for Bismarck.

As they're counting though right now.

Let's see.

One.

Two three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

Nine.

Ten.

What?

They still get their hands up.

What was it?

Illegal participation.

Well, we got.

Two.

445.

6789 1011.

And it looks like mass substitution.

Now for coming off for going in.

There's the replay.

Now the two point conversions underway Keighley is going to throw the right side.

They get it for the two point conversion time is Joey Porter.

Maybe a little bit harder.

On themselves but backing it up after the penalty.

And so that takes the score now to 36 to 28 Salem now one score lead.

Now for Bismarck.

Get a stop.

Get a start.

Give it give the offense a chance to tie this thing up.

And if you're Salem, you know what to do.

You just drive the the field.

Do what you do.

Run the ball.

Get first down after first down.

Take some time off this clock.

Well, I believe you can go down.

Take about a five, six, seven minute drive, go back up two possessions and then there's like four minutes left in the game.

And Bismarck has to score twice for Bismarck.

I mean.

They've got Salem down to fourth down a couple times in this game.

They've just got to find a way to close it out on defense.

And you know when when you get so used to the run and then you've got a guy like Jackson Taylor that can throw it five for five on the day for 129.

And that last fourth down conversion was huge.

Here's the kickoff.

It's a good kickoff that will go down to the seven yard line.

Bringing it up for sale in that time is Caden Hollis.

And he'll take it out to the 26 yard line Ethan Hughes that time came in to make the stop.

You made the point a little bit ago, West.

You know when you get down these lower classifications, you get guys playing both ways.

Kickoff defense, offense and magic.

They sleep pretty good whenever they go home after ball game.

Yeah.

After Cade Keithley made that catch at the end of the third quarter, he looked over the bench and tapped out.

He tapped his helmet.

He was going to come out of the game what was into the quarter.

So he didn't have to come out.

But you know the key a lot of these guys.

So playing both ways.

And Salem will wear you out on offense when you're on defense.

Here's a handoff that works left side.

And there's a penalty flag down over at the 27 yard line.

That was Pleasant Ring.

Who was running with the football that time.

And we'll check out the penalty.

I guess you probably got a hold on the wide receiver out there.

Personal foul.

Illegal block below the waist.

And the offense feels he's half the distance for the goal.

Replay first.

Big penalty.

Yeah.

There you go.

Bismarck.

You got a chance.

Now that's a big 15 yard penalty.

He's going to push him all the way back inside their own 15 yard line.

Here's a look at the replay.

That chop block.

And he fell down.

He just fell down.

He was trying to get outside to block.

And I think his own linemen may have you know thrown him off balance.

But he just he lost his balance and went down low.

And it caused the defensive player to fall to the ground.

So it's now a first down and 23.

It's the fifth penalty for Salem for 47 yards.

Here's a running play straight up the middle.

And that is Taylor Hill.

Got a good chunk that time as he takes it out to the 22 on the stop.

It was Whitley.

Hit both these teams.

They get a little bit behind the chains.

They get a little problems.

What do they do.

They turn to their quarterbacks.

Quarterbacks have been able to bail them out.

I want some numbers on listen read.

Look, I'm looking at him in the huddle, standing next to 22 and 32.

You can't even see him right there on this angle.

He's covered up.

There he is.

He's like Mighty Mouse.

The dude can play.

Yeah, he can.

Second down and 14.

Here's Taylor again running the football.

And he'll be taken down at the 40 yard line.

Or the 35 yard line.

Just power I mean two offensive linemen pulling.

He falls them in the hole.

Both the linemen pick up good blocks, cuts off the blocks, puts his head down and runs.

They're going to officially mark him down at the 34.

So it's going to bring up a third down and two.

And he's picked up 23 yards in his last two carries.

And he's first and 23.

Yeah he's got two officially 21 yards on the on this drive.

Third down and two are going to run it again straight ahead.

He's got the first down.

Hey it's working right.

Call anything else.

He takes it out to the 38 yard line.

It's a fresh set of downs for Salem.

Don't have to worry about fumbling in exchange.

Also changing hands snap to the quarterback running behind that big offensive line.

Yeah, Taylor's having a good night.

129 yards passing and now 59 yards rushing.

Looking huddling up using the play clock.

First down and ten.

Taylor's going to keep it himself again.

And he'll take it out to the 40 yard line.

It's a pickup of two yards to bring up second down.

Just different formation.

Different look.

Pretty much the same play.

But once again, to your point, why risk him handed it off throwing it when you got a quarterback like Jackson Taylor that can handle it.

Too.

Had a really good running back Kaiden Brink.

Let him rest a little bit.

Second down and eight Taylor is going to keep it and he'll be hit.

He'll lose a yard on the play.

Well the answer to my question lies and ring.

What's your guess.

I'll tell you this.

I'm saying every bit of like five seven.

We're way off.

He's 5353.

Man.

I like this kid.

He's out there leading the way.

He won the block.

Somebody.

Well, he's got a heart, doesn't he?

I mean, he just leading the way.

And now you've got a third down and nine.

Here's the inside handoff.

There's a double handoff.

And they went from a not handing it off to anybody to handing it off twice.

It was break running the football.

And he got good yards.

But it's not enough for a first down as he comes.

It's fourth down and two Salem one of two on fourth down today.

Ball's going to be at the 46 yard line.

He keep it with Taylor right here.

You know to keep it on the ground.

Here's Taylor going to run it.

He's going to get enough for a first down.

He's Mark right at I thought it was actually a bad mark.

I thought he got it easily.

But they're coming in right at it.

Yep.

They gave him the first down.

So it's a fresh set of downs for Salem.

Yeah I agree with you.

I think he he had about a yard pass the sticks.

But either way it's a first down for Salem.

Three backs in the backfield Jackson Taylor going to keep it himself.

And the drive right there as he got hit at the line of scrimmage.

But kept driving inside the 50 yard line down to the 48.

They had him stop I was just about I was thinking well you did your job on first down.

You won first down.

Here's a good look at the replay.

The game stopped right there, line of scrimmage, maybe even losing a yard.

But he keeps fighting and then gets a little help.

That's all him.

Second down and six.

Toss goes right side to and ring.

And he'll be knocked down inside the 45.

Down to the 43.

He'll be about a yard shy of the first down.

And.

Hands on hips guys.

Bending over.

It's tired Bismarck team right now.

Why wouldn't you be?

I mean, it is for four quarters.

You're playing both ways.

This defense now has been on the field a lot.

Third down and one.

Going back with lies and rain.

He'll cut it inside.

Big yardage.

As he gets past one man.

He'll be taken down inside the 15.

The smallest guy on the field making the biggest plays.

They saved him for the end breaks.

Done all the work throughout the first three quarters.

They bring in licensing to run it here in the fourth.

And you think about it, I just said how tired Bismarck is.

You give it to a fresh guy.

That's quick, fast dudes.

Hard to chase down.

They're going to mark him down at the 14 yard line.

And he gets lost out there.

He does.

Well you know when I said earlier he's he's coming into this game.

He had 109 carries for 845.

Here's a toss sweep to him.

He'll get to the edge to the ten five and it'll be knocked out of bounds.

Will be knocked out of $4 increments.

Yeah.

They're going to say the four.

He's got 11 touchdowns on the season nine rushing, two receiving.

It about four yards away from making it very difficult for Bismarck.

Bismarck does not have an answer to to stop this offense.

Nope.

271.

Yards up to 271 yards rushing.

Here's brink as he'll cut it inside and takes it down to the two yard line.

And they're probably fine with that.

It keeps that runs off another 40s there.

No hurry.

Why would you be now?

I mean, you got a chance to go up 16 like four minutes left in the game.

Play clock's at 25.

On a snap.

It was about 402 left here in the quarter.

So second down and goal from the two.

They give it back to break and he's going to be stopped.

They're still pushing.

They're gonna stop him at the one that was like one of those old rugby.

Rugby scrums where everybody's in there shoulder to shoulder.

Nobody's moving.

Yeah.

They finally just had to pull it there.

There was no movement.

There was nothing.

I mean, Bismarck did a great job.

They got in behind it and started pushing.

And it was a stalemate.

That's when you got to blow that whistle.

But that allows another 40s to come off the clock.

Eight minute drives going on right now for Salem.

It's perfect.

That's exactly what the coaching staff wanted.

They want to score, but they want to chew up most of the quarter.

Third down Jackson Jackson, Taylor.

Is he going to get in.

No.

They're going to say he's down at the one at the half yard line.

Really.

And all that does West is brings up fourth down.

But it just continues to eat the clock.

Here we've got two minutes now but we're under three minutes I should say they're a foot away.

Now I will say though if if you stop them here though.

Yeah I mean huge.

It will be huge for Bismarck.

And they've started one possession on the one yard line already.

They weren't able to score, but.

Down to four seconds.

And Salem is going to call a timeout.

Talk this one over.

It's a four down and about a half a yard for Salem.

That's a tired looking defense.

Well you essentially get one stop.

In motion but then.

Go back on.

Offense and play offense and drive 99 yards.

Try to tie this up not only score touchdown but get a two point conversions.

Also it can be done.

So really we shouldn't say it's entire defense its entire team.

It's hard.

To yeah.

Man these guys have given it all.

It's been a good football game though.

I mean between both them I mean both these two teams are are are excellent.

What they do and but when you go on an eight minute drive for Salem, I mean, that's where anybody.

Gets the makings of a state championship team.

Is it?

Yeah.

So here we go.

As we say, you can get your live action photos from the game at my are pbs.org slash photos, grab free downloads, have prints made.

These are great championship keepsakes.

Check it out.

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Well, this could be a Kodak moment if they get in here because.

It's fourth down.

And one from the half yard line Jackson Taylor gonna toss it.

Right side walks in the end zone.

Touchdown.

And that.

Was bring.

Loaded up in the middle and just tossed it out.

Nobody home.

Did you know what I think.

Got the ball was up a little bit.

But I think he had the edge and ring.

Did he get the break.

No.

He was there.

Well Salem is on the brink of a state title, their first win in school history.

15 plays, 74 yards over eight minutes.

4228 to go for two.

And now it looks like Salem.

They get the timeout.

They're going to give him the timeout play that went down.

Well I got the timeout.

So you know and there are some folks that I would imagine if you're a Bismarck fan you will say why didn't you let them score.

You know on third down to save some of that clock.

But you still you'd still be down two scores at that point.

I well they, they almost got that fourth down.

You know if you get that fourth down stop.

And that's why you don't let off school.

That's right.

We haven't had any turnovers.

But crazy things happen in football.

I would say this.

And this has been the cleanest state championship game that we've had all weekend.

I mean there's no no fumbles, no interceptions.

I mean it's been a really fundamentally sound game between these two.

Outside of the penalties.

The offenses have been clicking having and Bismarck's going to need their offense to play.

They get the ball back.

They need to go down, score quickly, get an onside kick.

That's their only chance.

Now I want to say, thank you to Troy Mitchell and his team.

22 years.

Been doing stats for the state championships.

And those guys Randy Baker, Tyler Freeman, Ernie Higgs, Blake McAfee, and then Troy Mitchell himself doing all the stats for all the state championship games.

They keep all the info flowing for us.

Here's a two point conversion as the roll right.

Try to throw it in the end zone.

It's incomplete.

But we've got a penalty flag down.

Holding.

They're going to wave off second highest.

No good.

That is the first incomplete pass of Jackson Taylor's thrown.

Today to Taylor.

Throw it was it was Taylor I thought.

He told out I thought he handed it all.

He did.

He did hand it off.

Yeah there it is.

And so.

Well it's 4228.

We'll take a timeout 229 to play in this one.

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After the game.

We will check in with Sierra here just after this kickoff, as right now, Salem, they lead at 4228 over Bismarck.

I want to kick this one deep.

They've tried a couple onside kicks and haven't recovered it.

And it's giving Bismarck some really good field position.

Here's the onside kick.

Takes a high hop.

And Bismarck is going to recover it at the 49 yard line.

Let's head down the sideline.

Check in with Sierra Clark.

Before the game.

Salem head coach Josh Watson told me that this team is jealous and jealous of who, you might ask?

The Salem girls basketball team, who has made several state championship appearances in the last four years.

And Coach Watson told me, yeah, our guys are jealous of our girls basketball team because of the success that they've had.

So they're in spired by this basketball team at Salem and it's there.

They've been working really hard to get to the state championship, and here they are on the brink of winning their first ever title.

And here's the reverse.

And it's going to Keith Lee.

He's got one man to beat.

He got pulled down from behind after a big game that time.

As he takes it down inside the 25 to the 23, it was Caden Hollis who was able to drag him down.

That's what he said.

They're going to score quickly.

They need chunk plays and they got a big chunk play on first down with the reverse.

So it's first down and ten from the 23.

It's you see the lineman down there blocking all the way downfield.

That was Caleb.

Ball's on the turf Keith was going to try to do something with it.

He'll throw it left side and thinking play left side of the receiver.

That is.

And that was Joey Porter.

He tried to hook up with.

Looking at the blocking that was going on for Keith Lee.

So that's a big person blocking way down the field.

He gets up 62.

But man he just ran all the way down there.

It stop.

Good boy.

Stops the clock in a minute 58 second down and ten from the 23.

Keith Lee and a row.

Looking for a man.

And it's incomplete.

Nice coverage that time by Salem is.

It was Caden Hollis who knocked it away.

Yeah.

Homeless.

Use that free left hand reach in front.

Knock it down.

He did a good job keeping his right hand off the receiver.

Of course, a Bismarck fans were wanting to pass interference.

So now you've got a third down and ten.

Keith Lee will look to throw, throws it across the crosser and his intended target.

Joey Porter couldn't come up with it.

Now it's fourth down and ten.

With having just little outside the receiver, that was a fastball.

Made a good play on it.

Just couldn't quite bring it in.

So now it's fourth down and ten for one in the formation.

Keith Lee look throws it across the middle of the field and it's intercepted.

We do have a penalty flag down at the 11 yard line.

Time trying to hook up with Brody Allen.

Salem's not celebrating yet.

Bismarck staying out there for.

The pass was Brown holding on the defense.

A ten yard penalty in the previous spot.

Yardage results in the first down.

That is a big penalty because it was a fourth down situations.

And now that'll stick the ball inside the 15 and down at the 13 yard line.

And he gives you a first down.

Still alive still got a chance and found a way to get this ball in the end zone.

Down 14.

Keith will take the snap.

Looks to throw right side and overthrows his intended target.

Trying to hook it with Joey Porter.

He needed one more second to before he threw.

That pressure was coming, got rid of it.

I don't want to take a sack there though.

Don't have to use a timeout.

There's more.

Does have all three of their timeouts.

Second down and ten to get to the three yard line to pick up the first down and the running play straight up the middle dives for the end zone.

Touchdown.

That is Ben Keithley.

We saw it play.

Earlier and they've had success with it.

I said I bet he scored on the several of those plays a touchdown because it was so close.

A little shoestring tackle.

That time gets the block lowers the shoulder dives in, gets the score.

Now big two point conversion.

Keith Lee going to run with it.

He has nowhere to go.

Got up ended.

And so the two point conversions no good.

With a minute 31 left here in the quarter.

It's 4234.

Still got a chance.

Got to get the onside kick.

Do have all three of your timeouts in case the onside kick is not recovered.

Salem would probably need to get a first down to run out the clock.

You said you wanted a quick drive.

If you're Bismarck, six plays, 51 yards and 58 seconds.

I thought they might kick the extra point, but they've had some struggles with the extra points.

Missed a couple tonight, but we've seen a couple of good ones and so what did you say.

He's made 80% of his extra.

Point 80%.

Yeah.

So and he's missed two tonight.

Look you get two here.

If you got two that's a six point game.

And score touchdowns tied up and kick the extra point to win the game.

So see what they're thinking.

So between these two teams got it.

You got one that throws it quite a bit.

You got one that predominantly runs it.

You've got 743 yards of total offense between these two offenses.

And two good offenses.

We've seen them put up big numbers all season long.

So the onside kick is coming.

We'll take a big hop.

But we've got Whistle early flag back.

The head official.

Prior to the kick illegal formation on the kicking game.

Five yard penalty.

Make it.

So it's going to be a free kick.

And they're going to kick it from the 35.

Now.

So coaches talk with the officials given an explanation why that's illegal and still hasn't been told.

Coach is on the sideline with his hands outstretched, trying to talk to whoever will talk to him.

Going on explanation.

So we're going to tee it back up with the 35.

Jersey illegal formation.

I think maybe number three is coming in motion.

And then they had too many guys on one side of the field.

Here's the onside kick.

And it did not go the needed yardage.

And so here's another penalty flag.

Oh.

Legal touch on the kicking game I'll replaced the spot.

First down Haley.

Now you got all three of your timeouts.

Here.

Use those to keep the sailors from getting the first down Salem to first down.

Away from one of the.

Yeah.

So the ball's going to be spotted down at the 39 yard line.

Oh.

Bismarck has gotten 3 or 4 now all game long.

They've got to do it right here.

Here's Brant on the handoff.

And he'll get big yards that time.

Six yards on the carry.

And Bismarck will call a timeout.

I'm out as far back.

See how he's pulling linemen.

But there's one good great push on that left side 1622.

Caden Costner and.

Caden Costner Cole steaming, getting a good push from the tight end position.

It's pretty simple.

He's telling them, guys, you're four yards away from winning a state championship.

Yeah, I mean, and if you're Bismarck, you got to find some way to to get a stop at the line of scrimmage or behind it.

If you get them into a really short yardage situation.

They have been almost perfect on that tonight.

And they got to attack the ball, you know, cause a turnover create something ball on our head on the ball, punch it out.

You got to find a way to get that ball back to your offense.

It's second down and four with the ball at the 33.

Taylor is going to run it.

And he got it to the line of scrimmage as Chapman.

He was able to pull him from behind.

And it brings up third down.

There you go RJ.

That was what you just said they had to do.

No gain on the play.

They win that down.

So it stops the clock with a minute 18 left.

Well I would imagine if you're if you're Salem you do something similar again with Jackson Taylor.

They've been very successful the last two drives with him running the ball.

They stopped at that time.

But they've got options.

That's the good thing about this team.

Get Caden bring they can hand the ball off to.

And don't forget our guidelines and ring hollow because you know they're bunching everything up the middle.

They may want to attack the outside.

I'm looking down at the Salem huddle.

Lies and rings on the outside.

Everybody he can't see in.

Hey, look at him right there.

He he's he's just having to listen because he can't see him into the huddle.

I do like listen ring though.

He heck of a football player.

At 18 it's third down and four.

They're going to hand it off.

Right side.

Got the first down.

That's brink.

He's still running on his feet inside the ten.

Break and gets it done for Salem.

Yes.

Handed to the running back.

This rushed for over 1400 yards this season.

Came into the game with 1366.

That'll get him over 100 yards rushing for the game.

And the climb.

Bismarck's not even going to stop the clock.

They're going to let it roll.

And.

Nothing they can do they can only call a timeout once.

And they just just prolonging it.

Yeah.

Snap it.

Take a knee.

They only snap it one more time.

This is it.

Jackson Taylor the quarterback in the victory formation.

It'll stick a knee down.

Down to 25 seconds left.

For Bismarck.

They're just gassed.

Yeah.

So been over.

They know it's over.

He'll take a knee, and that's going to do it.

For the first time in school history, the Salem Greyhounds.

They are your state champions of class three.

A your final score in this one.

Salem 42, Bismarck 34.

When we come back, we will have the trophy presentation.

We'll have the MVP of this one.

But the Greyhounds are state champions in the state of Arkansas.

You're watching the Centennial Bank state football championships in Arkansas.

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I love it!

We're on the precipice of a great discovery.

I love it!

Whoa, whoa, Nelly!

Let's set this palace on fire.

Welcome to the NewsHour.

What does it mean politically?

Oh, fasten your seatbelt.

I love it.

I love it.

Delighted to hear it.

You make a good team.

Willie Nelson is one of country music's greatest legends.

And all for his 90th birthday.

I'm crazy.

A star studded lineup performed his greatest songs.

No less a baby girl to me up a stunning once in a lifetime performance.

I can't wait to get on the road again.

Willie Nelson's 90th birthday celebration.

Tonight at 930.

They are your class three state champions, the Salem Greyhounds, as they hoist the trophy.

Final Trophy given away.

Two weekends of state championships.

And they get the picture taken right now.

And, you know, once again, just a great football game between Salem and with Bismarck.

Let's go ahead and take a look at the stats for this ball game, as it was as tight as it could be.

Passing yards really for 2020.

Some odd yard difference in the passing game.

But it's a rushing game for Salem.

That did it for him.

Yeah look at that 303 yards rushing time of possession.

Almost 30 minutes of this game.

They hope and I think they just wore down Bismarck.

And you know three a football a lot of these guys going both ways.

That's a lot of time be playing defense tackling the guy and and going back on offense.

Salem did what they they do.

You know they were running that veer they were running the ball just enough of a passing threat.

I thought the quarterback Jackson Taylor was outstanding.

I think he finished the game five for five and he did five for five on the night.

One touchdown.

That's pretty good night for a quarterback.

No incompletions, but Bismarck just comes up a little short.

Let's go ahead and take a look at those highlights from this one.

There was a lot of them.

Yeah.

The one highlight that's going to stick out for a lot of people for Bismarck is going to be the last play of the first half.

It looks like they're going to get them stopped.

But, the Greyhounds just get a, a short pass, turn it up field, break a tackle, and, they take the lead in the locker room after this first half, the highlight you're seeing, it's just going back and forth.

Each team responding with big play after big play.

We were tied at 2020 the 2820.

And that's the big play right there at the end of the half.

Stretching across the goal line.

They take the lead.

The locker room 2820.

They score the first touchdown in the second half to get a two possession lead.

Bismarck came back and scored a touchdown to get a one possession lead.

And it just could never get over the hump.

And so the play of the game is the last play of the first half.

In my opinion, that that play was huge.

Yep.

And there it is.

The ice bath with head coach Josh Watson and Sierra Clark is standing by down the field with the winning head coach, Josh Watson.

Coach Watson, before they handed you the trophy I noticed that your eyes just started watering.

Where does that emotion come from?

It's just it's hard to even come up.

Word.

So proud of these boys.

For the hard work they put in dealing with us coaches.

Just being on them nonstop.

You know, just just the grit these kids have and how they get after it and and how they've stuck with it just to see them succeed and get to this point.

It's just unbelievable.

Couldn't be more proud for our coaches, for our school, for our community, and most importantly, these kids that have just battled their butt off every single day.

You know, a lot of people every week, people are picking against us, you know, because we're we're 11 and three.

We all Stack and Prescott and Newport, but we also those teams early in the year when we scheduled those tough games and had a bam, bam, bam.

And it made us tough, tough enough to get through this gantlet we just run.

And I don't think I mean, I don't I don't know if anybody's ever run that tough of a gantlet in three AA football to win a state championship.

And so that that speaks volumes of this, this, these kids over here, the coaches, our administration, it just speaks volumes to, to how they've worked.

And I've got to ask, because before the game, you guys said that we're wearing shorts because the last time we wore pants, we lost.

Well, you're wearing the shorts.

Does that mean exterior guys are going to wear shorts for every game?

I'll probably throw my black pants away and never wear them again.

But we we're going to keep wearing shorts, and, I look forward to fixing my hair, tonight when I get home, getting rid of this, grandpa haircut and, you know, just just getting back to normal.

But, man, what a time.

What a what a what a moment for these kids and our coaches.

Thank you so much.

Go celebrate with your team.

And congratulations.

Thank you.

Sierra.

That was head coach Josh Watson.

He, get rid of the grandpa haircut.

That's what we were.

What?

That's what he had.

Well, we noticed a couple of Mohawks.

We had some painted hair.

They had fun with their hairdos, and they had fun with their coach's hairdo, that's for sure.

Celebrate their victory with the official championship gear.

It's now available.

Visit Arkansas high School sports.com to find the apparel memorabilia commemorating this unforgettable season that is Arkansas High.

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Congratulations to Salem.

Get your championship gear.

Well before we go.

We do this every year.

I know we've got basketball coming up.

We'll have baseball finals.

But man, the crew here at Arkansas PBS, got it done once again over two weeks.

We got camera guys that are all over the stadium.

We've got producers.

We got a whole truck full of folks downstairs.

And, once again, this couldn't happen without all the folks behind the scenes that were, turning knobs and running cameras in a driving rainstorm earlier today.

And so, we want to say thank you to all those folks that, helped, put these on throughout the last two weekends.

And so, hey, you know what?

West we we wrap up one sport and we get ready to to get ready for the, the basketball championships.

And now let's go down to our MVP who is standing by with our MVP Jackson Taylor on the field Jackson.

Last year you weren't the starter.

And it was hard for you not to be playing all the time.

Now you're the starter.

And not only that, but you led your team to a state championship.

Was it worth the wait?

It was definitely worth the wait.

This is an amazing feeling.

It was definitely worth it because I learned a lot last year.

Just from sitting and watching is just it was worth it.

God's plan.

And what does it mean for this community for your school to make history when Salem's first ever state championship in football?

It's just a great moment that people will never forget.

We'll never forget.

We'll remember it for the rest of our lives, because it's the first time anybody in Salem history has ever done it.

It's just an amazing accomplishment and we're just super excited and grateful for the opportunity to do that.

We got to play.

And you went five for five for 129 passing yards and a touchdown.

What does that say about the relationship you have with your, your teammates as well?

We spend a lot of time like working in the offseason and summer and just we've spent a lot of time and it was it like, that's just we've worked a lot having his show tonight.

Thank you Jackson and congratulations.

Thank you Sierra.

That's our MVP Jackson Taylor for this ball game.

And Salem wins it by a final score of 40.

234.

Hey, you don't want to go anywhere.

Willie Nelson's 90th birthday celebration is coming up next.

Chris Stapleton, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, George Strait, Miranda Lambert many others joined Willie Nelson for a night of fun and great music that's coming up next right after the game.

Well, I kind of got ahead of my skis a little bit, but, yeah.

So we've got basketball coming up west here.

And just a few months and, if you had a bunch of fun watching the, the football championships will starting March 13th, we're going to do it for.

Basketball today, December 14th.

So we're just three, four months away.

We'll be in Hot Springs doing these basketball games, watching celebration after celebration.

It's always a fun three days.

Nothing like here.

And we are the champions 12 times, through Benkovic arena.

So, hey, we have a good time.

Want to say thanks to everybody?

Sierra Clark down the field.

Tyler, Cass and everybody that's helped do this for Westmore.

I'm RJ Hawk.

Your final in this one of the three AA championship game.

It's 4230 for the Greyhounds over the Lions.

Do you've been watching the Centennial Bank state football Championships on Arkansas PBS sports.