Now.

It is a rainy day.

At War.

Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas.

As we get set for today for a state championship game between Elkins and Arkadelphia.

See all the folks in the ponchos getting ready for this one, as rain could be moving out here later on in the ball game.

We all have to have those umbrellas out as we go through.

And I'm RJ Hawk along with Westmore and West.

This is the second weekend of state championships.

But last weekend, man, we had some dandy ball games.

Unbelievable games to be able to start it off of the eight man on a Thursday night.

And just all those points being scored strong.

Just the strong.

Put up 66 points.

Caden McHenry was your MVP in this game 6614.

The War Memorial Stadium at the mercy rule got game going on.

But it was still a long game but a fun game for strong.

Then we came back with the two way game Friday afternoon a noon game, and we thought we're going to have a lot of points, but it was defense that was stealing the show with Conway.

Christian won an 18 oh.

You know those that kind of white Christian team.

They were super excited to be here.

And you see them right there getting that state championship trophy.

A lot of a lot of cool moments seeing those championship trophies.

Being right, their first ever state championship and then Parkview taking on Farmington in the Friday night game, the five a state title.

There's a Marion Robinson, the Oklahoma Sooners signee.

He gets the pick six and Parkview rolls in this 161 to 21 Saturday at noon for the six day game.

It was Greenwood.

And speaking of 61, they also put up 61 points, knocking off Shiloh Christian 6135.

Kane Archer big game for him.

He was the MVP and then our seven state championship game.

Bryant.

Bentonville.

Bentonville was winning this game and they were the dominant team in the first half.

But then Bryant got going in the second half started running the ball quite.

Sanders and the Bryant Hornets celebrate their sixth state championship in seven years.

You know it.

It was it was an impressive week for the Hornets because they also won the e-sports championship on Monday following that win on Saturday.

So but you know what we've got rain in the forecast for this for a game.

But we've got two games today.

We've got the four A game starting up here in just a moment then the three A game this afternoon.

So I think the rain will be cleared out this evening for that ball game.

And, ought to be a lot of fun for, high school football here at War Memorial Stadium.

Well, we are just moments away from getting this one underway here at War Memorial.

When we come back, we will preview Elkins and Arkadelphia in the four state championship game.

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

Dot.

It is a rainy day at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas.

As we get set for today for a state championship game between Elkins and Arkadelphia.

See all the folks in the ponchos.

Getting ready for this one is, rain could be moving out here later on in the ball games.

We don't have to have those umbrellas out as we go through.

And I'm RJ Hawk, along with Wes Moore and Wes.

This is the second weekend of state championships, but last weekend, man, we had some dandy ball games.

Unbelievable games to be able to start it off of the eight man on a Thursday night.

And just all those points being scored strong.

Just the strong.

Put up 66 points.

Caden McHenry was your MVP in this game 6614.

The War Memorial Stadium at the mercy rule got game going on but it was still a long game but a fun game for strong.

Then we came back with the two a game Friday afternoon a noon game, and we thought we're going to have a lot of points, but it was defense that was stealing the show with Conway Christian when in 1808.

You know those that count white Christian team.

They were super excited to be here.

And you see them right there getting that state championship trophy.

A lot of a lot of cool moments seeing those championship trophies.

Being raised, their first ever state championship and then Parkview taking on Farmington in the Friday night game, the five a state title.

There's a Marion Robinson.

The Oklahoma Sooners signee gets the pick six and Parkview rolls in this 161 to 21 Saturday at noon for the six day game.

It was Greenwood.

And speaking of 61, they also put up 61 points, knocking off Shiloh Christian 6135.

Kane Archer big game for him.

He was the MVP and then our seven eight state championship game.

Bryant.

Bentonville.

Bentonville was winning this game and they were the dominant team in the first half.

But then Bryant got going in the second half, started running the ball court.

Sanders and the Bryant Hornets celebrate their sixth state championship in seven years.

You know.

It was it was an impressive week for the Hornets because they also won the EA Sports Championship on Monday following that win on Saturday.

So but you know what we've got rain in the forecast for this for a game.

But we've got two games today.

We've got the four A game starting up here in just a moment and then the three A game this afternoon.

So I think the rain will be cleared out this evening for that ball game.

And, ought to be a lot of fun.

For.

High school football here at War Memorial Stadium.

Well, we are just moments away from getting this one underway here.

At War Memorial.

When we come back, we will preview Elkins and Arkadelphia in the four state championship game.

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

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Folks are making their way into Memorial Stadium for this for a championship game between Elkins and Arkadelphia.

As we are about 4.5 minutes away from the opening kickoff between these two teams are Jayhawk along with West Moore, Tyler Tyler cast on the sidelines for this one today.

And, the rain.

Starting to let up a little bit west.

It's, you know, they said it's could be about 1:00.

Before it moves out of here.

And so.

Hopefully we'll have it's still going to be wet, but not just.

Torturous rain throughout this one.

It's kind of a fitting start for our last day.

I mean, I'm kind of in a bad mood.

You know, our last two high school football games of the year and we got this gloomy weather.

It just seems kind of fitting.

That's right.

Well, let's, take a look at both these two teams.

We will first start with the Elkins.

Elks, who come in 14 zero on the season.

And, West, this is how they got there.

I mean, they've been pretty dominant.

And you look.

At the first game they played central, they won that game 52 to 6, and they move on and took on a mean.

The team won that game 3516.

It's been all about defense for Elkins throughout the year.

Malvern 4531.

And then last week West in the Mills game.

That was really one of their closer games of the season against the bills.

Coming in special teams came up huge for Elkins in that game.

That's what got them to the to the championship game.

Talking with Coach Schuchard, Arkadelphia said special teams is going to be huge today.

Well, there is your player of the get or of the player spotlight.

Jake Walden.

West 197.

Carries.

This season.

Yeah, this guy is a touchdown machine.

I've got him for 22 rushing touchdowns, two receiving touchdowns.

And he had a scoop and score on defense.

So 25 touchdowns.

He has scored this this year about 14 1500 yards total offense.

He's the guy to watch for Elkins.

And he's going to be a playmaker for the Elks throughout this one.

And let's go over those Arkadelphia Badgers.

Now who are 12 and two on the season.

They went undefeated in conference play.

And their road to War Memorial Stadium first started with Ozark.

They win that game 57 to 12.

Then they take on the the gentry 4614.

Then it was the Dardanelle.

Arkadelphia wins that game 3527.

To make it to War Memorial Stadium and they are they beat Southside as well, 35 to 6.

But this has been a Arkadelphia team West all season long.

They've gotten better since day one of the season.

Well, they start a sophomore at quarterback and that's who we're going to spotlight.

Bryson McCoy.

He has thrown 2800 yards 43 touchdowns eight interceptions.

And in funny story they came out in their warmups without shirts on.

And they're running around doing their pregame stop.

And I was look we looked down and Elkins had their few full uniforms on.

I was like, you know, that's pretty smart.

Arkadelphia is going to go on and put on dry uniforms, come out here and play Elkins got on what clothes?

You know, I man, you.

And I were talking about this.

I remember a few years back when Pulaski Academy, we had a a rain game and they actually brought two different uniforms where they, they weren't wore one uniform in the first half, wore one in the second half.

That way they stayed dry throughout.

But a different look for Arkadelphia where they came out with, it was shirts versus skins in the, in the pre-game warm up in this one, as both teams are about to make their way on the they are, close coming into this one.

Let's go ahead.

Go ahead and go over those keys to the game.

West for both these two teams.

We'll start with Elkins.

And, really, I think you you mentioned just ago you got to get that ground game going.

Yeah.

You gotta take care of the ball too.

Today with the wet field, the footballs are going to be wet.

You're going to see some footballs on the ground, so you got to take care of the ball, possess it.

But Elkins wants to, dominate the line of scrimmage, both offensively, defensively and get that running game going.

As for Arkadelphia, this is a team, as we said, getting better every game.

But the weather conditions, it being wet.

They throw the ball quite a bit, but I think they need to really get some kind of ground game going as well.

Yeah, coach Tucker told me that on the radio.

He said, we're going to have the explosive plays, but what we want to do is get that run game going because the explosive passing plays are going to happen at some point, and then he really emphasize winning the special teams battle, he said.

Both of these teams, like I said, have great special teams and they want to be the one who wins that phase of the game today.

Well, let's go down to the third member of our broadcast team who's standing by on the sidelines, Tyler Kast, joining us for this, for a title game.

What's up Tyler.

Yeah guys.

Now I tell you I just had to turn up the volume to hear you guys in my ear.

Both fan bases despite the rain, despite long distances for Elkins and even Arkadelphia, they've shown out in a big way.

It's loud down here.

They are raring to go.

And good news there is sunlight breaking through these clouds.

It's getting a little lighter.

The rain has almost stopped and honestly, most of the puddles have dried up, so we should be ready to go for some football.

One thing about this Stadium West is that when they put the new turf in a few years ago, they upgraded the drainage system so that whenever you had large amounts of rain, it really soaked through and drained out.

And, you know, about 30 minutes ago, if you looked at midfield, it was just a giant pond of water.

And that's all gone away and and drained out here at the stadium.

In zone midfield.

There were ponds out there and I was like, this gonna be fun.

We're gonna have players sliding through the rain.

It's gone now.

Of course, it's still wet, but it looks a lot better and they only took 30 minutes for it all.

Soak through, drain off.

Well, we are just about sitting ready to go.

Arkadelphia, wearing their all blue uniforms trimmed in white with white helmets.

As for Elkins, they're in their blue pants, white tops trimmed in blue with their blue helmets.

And kicking things off for Elkins is going to be Dawson molasses.

He'll put a foot into it and it's going.

It's going to go over in at the eight yard line.

And it will be brought up for Arkadelphia right there.

Working left side had one man to beat.

And that time.

On the return for.

Arkadelphia was bright or excuse me, it was, I believe that was Braden Warner, that.

Time that James Townsend made the tackle.

There.

And he really probably saved a touchdown.

He had one man to beat.

If he beats Townsend now towns is one of their best players on this Elkins defense also on special teams.

But that Arkadelphia kick return they opened up a nice hole there.

There was a lot of room to run.

They're going to start things off at the 33 yard line.

They're going to go with a tight formation to start this ball game.

Man in motion.

Out to the left side is Purifoy.

Going to hand it off for Arkadelphia.

That's Roberts.

And Roberts will take it for about a yard gain.

Trying to get the junior wide receiver involved in a different way handed off to him.

They will run the ball a little bit this year.

But get O'Brien the ball and get the blood flowing for him a little bit.

Another handoff straight ahead.

Another gain of about two yards that time.

Trying to go with Kyle Reed.

It's Oliver Gerace who came in to make the stop.

And that brings up a third down now for Arkadelphia.

Trying to get that run game going.

To win the formation.

They're going to look to throw.

And we've got whistles and we've got a penalty flag down at the 39 yard line.

The far side official threw that flag.

Throw Ethan five-yard penalty remains third down.

Our officials today.

That was Daniel Faulkner who you just saw on the screen are umpires Michael Hannon, linesman Chad Walker, line judge.

Is David Ward back judge is Brad Rickett and the center judge is Michael Caton.

Here's another pass play and it's going to be enough for a first down as they get across the 45 out to the 47 yard line.

That was a big penalty right there.

And instead of third and seven he got third and two.

And all McCoy did was drop back three step drop found Finley just sat down.

He just picked up five six yards an easy pitch and catch.

Three wide receivers go to the right side of the formation as McCoy going to try to throw it.

He throws it behind his intended target that time trying to hook up with Roberts.

And that'll bring up a second down and ten.

And a sophomore quarterback just missed his guy.

He just threw it behind him.

Luckily that falls to the ground because that could have been a potential interception.

Opening drive for Arkadelphia.

As we start this for a championship game, they're going to line up with four wide in the formation.

McCoy under pressure, got a bad snap and he'll be sacked.

Just came from the end.

Way Walden who we talked about in the pregame playing a little defense got the sack that time.

And one came from that left hand spot.

Just beat the tackle.

Got to the quarterback quickly.

You see the speed right there by Walden.

We're going to see a lot of him on the offense here in a few minutes.

He is their go to guy.

So that brings up a third down and 19.

Now.

Another low snap throws it.

Right side is caught but it's well shy of the first downs.

Will take it out to the 46 yard line.

It'll bring up a fourth down and 11 for Arkadelphia.

Now one thing about Arkadelphia they've been known to go for it a lot this year.

The punter is Bryson McCoy.

It's a fourth down and 11 with the ball at their own 46 yard line.

Later.

Look to go for.

Elkins sending somebody back.

They recognize it but it's blocked.

Arkadelphia is going to jump on it.

Back at the 38 it was Connor Ham who got it in there to block it.

And now the Elkins Elks are going to have great field position to start their first drive.

We mentioned it in pregame.

Special teams is going to be huge in this game.

Elkins did it last week against Mills.

And they do it in the first punt attempt today.

Great field position inside the 40.

So Ben Napier's the quarterback for Elkins on the season a 65% passer thrown for over 2000 yards 28 touchdowns five interceptions.

He'll line up with four wide.

They're going to hand it off to Walden Boy.

Look at those running lanes for Walden is he'll take it out to the 30 yard line.

He just had a big gaping hole on that left side.

Arkadelphia lost outside containment.

He had a pulling guard, and the guard didn't really have anybody to block to the guard.

Manned by a couple of Arkadelphia guys, finally made a block their attempt at the 28.

But no, that was a huge, gaping gap over there on that left side.

Give a big shout out to Sean Franklin, who was the offensive lineman that was his lead blocker at that time.

Here's Walden again straight ahead.

He'll get the first down as they crossed the 25.

And they take it down to the 21 yard line.

Tacking that left side of the Arkadelphia defense back to back plays.

They've gone over their own half of that.

Left in.

It's a first down and ten with the ball at the 21 yard line.

You talked about Jake Walden over 1400 yards receiving this year or rushing this year.

I'm going to go back to him.

Nice cut.

Move is he'll take it out to the 20 yard line.

And that time for Arkadelphia.

It was Braden Wagner who came up to make the stop.

Obviously.

No, you're not going to run over here again.

All right.

We got you two straight runs over here.

That time they did a much better job of sealing off the end.

Allowed the linebacker to come up make the tackle.

Got a little penetration that time from Wagner.

Balls up the 20 yard line is the one yard pickup.

They fake the handoff.

Going to look to throw and overthrows his intended target.

Trying to hook up with his tight end.

That time for the Elks that was owned by Blitz that once has not had a lot of target targets this year.

But you watch film and they've got that in their playbook just to be able to throw to him when they need to.

And now it's a third down and nine.

He's a very good defensive player too.

That time they tried to sneak him out.

The other two receivers were covered well by Arkadelphia, so I thought that was a good decision to check it down.

Just missed the third.

Third down and nine.

They go for wide.

Adelphia showing blitz right up the middle.

Napier is going to put Walden on his right side.

Man in motion is Townsend.

And he'll lose the handle on it.

And it's going to be a big loss that time as coming up for Arkadelphia.

That was that outside rusher who was able to come in and get the sack.

And it's a big loss here.

And you bring up a fourth down and long.

Just took his eyes off of it.

It was a little low around his knees but just took his eyes off up now it was low below his knee and to the left.

Little bit bad snap.

And, McClure got in there quickly and they recovered it.

That's the number one thing you don't want to.

Could have been disastrous.

At least it just falls on it.

Live to play another down and sets up a fourth and long kind of no man's territory.

Although we saw their field goal kicker kick one from about 46 yards and pregame.

In the driving rain, by the way.

Now here's a fourth down and 20.

Napier going to look to throw right side.

It's almost intercepted.

That was a touchdown.

He just dropped a touchdown right in the hands.

Oh he's going to think about that for a long time.

Kentavious Morris.

Boy Morris was looking at the end zone.

He he he thought he just had had an easy pick six right there.

And either way Arkadelphia holds both teams now have gone for it on fourth down.

And they have not converted.

And Arkadelphia gets the football back.

I'm sure he's just looking up.

And he saw Walton.

He's just like I gotta catch just make a move on Walton and I'm gone for a touchdown and forgot to catch it.

But you know they get the hold.

They get the stop there off the field.

Defense does their job after the block punt.

So Arkadelphia will have it on that far hash mark.

They're gonna run with it here on first down.

That was Kyle Reed who took the handoff.

Got a nice run as he took it past the 35 out to the 36 yard line.

Yeah big hole that time.

Just followed one of his linemen picked up five yards.

Best running play for Arkadelphia.

Back to Reed.

They go straight ahead.

And it was Williams in on the tackle that time to bring up a third down.

Senior Williams just came crashing in off of that outside.

Made the play from behind.

Now you've got a third down and five with the ball at the 36 yard line.

And a hand it off again.

Reed on to find something.

Got about a yard on the play.

It's going to bring up a fourth down and it's Sriracha.

Who came in to make the stop the footing.

There may have been you know you notice I kind of tiptoed up there instead of making that hard cut.

I think they're trying to feel their way on this wet turf right now, because that play had the potential to pick up the first down if he cuts it off of that blocker.

But it would have been a hard cut and you could see his feet sliding out from underneath him.

But they're gonna get the first down anyway.

Another mistake from Elkins giving him five yards.

That was Connor Ham who jumped off you.

They had a fourth down and three.

You get the five yards for a first down defense.

Remember earlier on the first drive they had a three and seven.

They jumped off side made it third and two they were able to convert.

So to offside.

Penalties helped Arkadelphia pick up their first down.

So the ball be moved up to the 43 yard line three wide.

Go to the right side.

Looking to throw going big ball.

Has a man down at the 26.

And he's going to walk the dog into the end zone.

It's a touchdown for Arkadelphia.

Jay Purifoy getting his 13th touchdown on the.

Season Elkins brought a little heat Arkadelphia picked it up gave the quarterback time to throw and hit him in stride.

First points of the ballgame go to Arkadelphia.

Look at Tyler cast.

Go over to the Arkadelphia sideline.

The quarterback Bryson McCoy came limping off the field back at the the 37 yard line.

Make sure he's okay to move forward as the extra point is up.

And it is good.

And Arkadelphia strikes first.

They lead it seven to nothing with 554 to play here in the quarter.

And now watching the Centennial Bank State Football Championships on Arkansas PBS sports.

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See that Wendy's.

Chili?

Before we started the ball game, it was good.

It's really good.

Real good.

I got a couple of spicy bites.

My nose was running a little bit for a while, but I'm all good now thanks to Wendy's.

And let's take a look at that sack or not the sack.

But the head.

After the touchdown throw.

And that's on the fries to McCoy.

So he got his ankles got got taken down a little bit.

So we'll have Tyler check on him.

How about that throw though.

Pressure coming.

He stepped into it delivered it right on the money.

And Purifoy is their big play wide receiver.

He made the first big play.

He's going to put a foot into it for Arkadelphia.

It's going to hit down at the 23 and go out of bounds at the 20.

And so Elkins they're going to have great field position to start the their second drive of the ballgame.

You can hear the Arkadelphia coaches yell on them get down there.

Get down there.

That they were trying to cover that pooch.

Kick it out to play.

He's got a chance.

First down the.

Hill.

He's got a great shot to get that ball well.

So Elkins is going to have their second shot with 554 to play here in the quarter.

You saw a lot of Jack play Walden there on that first drive for them.

And they'll go three wide to the left side.

Napier going to look to throw.

Goes down field has a man that's James Townsend who's going to cross the 50 yard line into Arkadelphia territory at the 48.

Quinn Tavian Morrison is going to be there for the stop.

Townsend doing a little bit of everything.

We saw him make a special teams tackle that saved a touchdown.

He's over there on defense now on offense.

Towns with 64 catches 594 yards coming into this game eight touchdowns.

And that was a good throw from Napier.

He stepped into it with pressure on his face.

Here's Townsend on.

It on the end.

Around trying to make the corner.

Got about three maybe four.

Yards until Braden Wagner came in to make the stop.

You saw the team speed of Arkadelphia right there.

They just kept stretching it out stretching it out there.

Just nowhere really to go.

And Wagner makes a good tackle for a short gain.

So it's a pickup of two yards on the play.

It's second down and eight.

They're going to go back with Walden.

This time.

He'll make the edge but he'll only get out to the 45 yard line for pickup of two yards.

And Malachi Hamilton came up to make the stop.

Elkins obviously likes running over that left side.

That left tackle, the left guard.

They had guys pulling well.

But Arkadelphia, they did a really good job of shedding one of those blockers.

I think that was McClure got off the block.

Here's a third down and seven Napier goes right side.

Intended target was Landon Martin.

He overthrows him.

Now they've got another fourth down LJ Faulkner who came in for the coverage.

So now you've got a fourth down and seven.

I think you go for it right.

I mean you think well it looks like they're going to be on the punting unit.

They went for it earlier.

Yeah.

They were about the 30 yard line when they went for it.

And it was fourth and 20.

Yeah.

I thought maybe they tried the field goal after watching their kicker make it 4546 yarder in practice, but they, went for it on fourth down.

Braden Wagner's back deep as Stephen Taylor.

He'll get a high snap.

Puts a foot into it.

He'll taken control inside the 20 and inside the 15.

Still rolling all the way down to the ten.

Got away with one.

They're bad.

Snap.

It was very high.

Arkadelphia didn't have a lot of pressure coming after the punter they made.

They may come after the punter from now on.

After watching that bad snap, if they would have been coming, they had a chance to tackle the punter before he even kicked it.

But he gets it off.

And then a very fortunate roll.

And you can hear our mikes down on the field, all the coaches yelling Peter, Peter, Peter, let the players know, get away from the ball.

Get away.

Just run to the sideline.

Hey, let's go.

Down to Tyler Cass as Arkadelphia comes back on the field Tyler.

Yeah guys not just Arkadelphia but Bryson going back out there to lead the offense.

Just some soreness in his legs and walking up and down the sideline keeping it.

You know nice and limber.

He did get some tape on his left ring finger.

He cut it on a helmet.

Other than that he's good to go.

He seems to be the pastor I think he.

Tyler Carnahan there to make the stop for Elkins after about a three yard pickup to bring up second.

Down.

Good open field tackle from cam.

Get the receiver out there one on one.

If he's able to make a move, he's able to pick up the first down.

But quickly he was on a run.

Robertson made the tackle.

Quick throw right there as they were trying to hook up with Ben Davis and Morris.

It's incomplete but James Martin was in on coverage and now you've got a third down and six balls may have been deflected at the line of scrimmage.

And so we've got a third down and six with the ball at the 13 yard line.

McCoy going to look to throw in and out of the hands of his intended target.

That's where you see the wet ball come into play right there.

And I've even heard some of the coaches talking about new footballs that they play with in the state championship games.

And you combine a new kind of slick football with the wet turf, and it makes it tougher to catch.

Went right through his hands.

A little high would have been a tough catch, but probably one of those he feels like he should have caught.

That was Braden Wagner, who was going to be the intended target.

Now here's a punt for Arkadelphia.

It'll be taken at the 45.

Bringing it up for the Elks is Townsend, and he'll work it back inside the 40 yard line to the 39.

But they're going to have great field position as Maddox Finley came in to make the stop.

The Elks have had great field position almost on every drive that they've had in this game.

But they trail right now to Arkadelphia seven to nothing.

Will field position battle going right now.

That's why they chose to punt.

Try to pin him deep get a three and out.

Get the ball back right about where they were.

New set of downs.

Notice that time Arkadelphia.

They punted it really quick first off.

And I think that's what caused him to miss the ball a little bit.

He was trying to quick quick kick.

So it's a first down and ten.

They're going to give it off to Walton straight ahead after making to the outside ball on the turf.

And Arkadelphia did they come up.

They got it there running to the side.

That was it.

They blew it did Arkadelphia is going to get the football at the 34 yard line.

It's number 13 for Arkadelphia with the ball Amari Ford must have recovered it.

There's a player down for Arkadelphia.

Down at the 33.

He was on the bottom of that pile when the ball came out.

They are going to say it's Arkadelphia football.

Let's I can't.

Quite see the number on it.

I thought I saw it eight 780.

I don't want to speculate scare anybody yet.

Looks like it, Is.

Xavion Williams the defensive lineman?

They rolled him over.

So that's good to see.

You know going back to the turnover, that's one thing that you don't see a lot of West Walton turning over the football.

He he's only had one fumble all season long and has a costly one right here in the state championship game.

Oh helmet on the ball.

What a just a full.

On.

Tackle that time from Kentavious Morris.

And that knocks it loose.

Arkadelphia recovers and I'm.

Wondering why they feel they blow the play.

Well because the ball is not.

Under any.

Under anybody when it was recovered I think that's why Arkadelphia ran down field.

I could not see the recovery.

I was so focused on the big hit that caused the fumble.

But either way, Arkadelphia has the football at the 34 yard line.

And maybe look, I don't know what they would look at them because they blew the play dead.

They're changing that footballs.

They blew the play dead so Arkadelphia could change up, get a dry football out there.

So it's first and ten from the 34 yard line.

Back come the Badgers as McCoy McCoy's in at the shotgun position and I hand it off to Reed.

He'll work right side.

He'll pick up about three.

And then Brooks Williams is there to make the stop.

Trying to establish that running game, I've been able to do it a little bit more consistently now.

Oh wide come to the near side.

McCoy under pressure.

He falls down.

Ball's out there.

Oh they're going to say that.

Is it going to be a turnover.

Yes I think so.

Oh they threw the bag like it was a fumble.

It was very awkward how he fell.

And lost the ball.

It was almost.

I hate to say it because he's my buddy but it's almost quit.

Starter is Brooke.

Williams was in there to make the stop.

This is the look right here.

Just tripped over his own feet RJ right there kind of lost it.

That's a fumble.

And when he's going down he put the ball down to catch himself and lost the ball.

Now there are reviews on the state championship game that can be either challenged on the field, or it can be sent down from the booth.

But Elkins once again going to get great field position as the ball is going to be down at the 20 yard line.

It's two fumbles in three play now.

Traded fumbles and Elkins gets the benefit of the additional probably about ten yards.

So they take over at the 20.

Play Walden and the running back.

Are going to look for throw.

They come left side and it's intercepted a double move.

Corner was beaten a little bit but the ball was behind him.

Behind the wide receiver.

The quarterback Ryan Roberts makes the pick.

And that is three turnovers.

And four plays.

Roberts got inside position made the interception.

And so now Arkadelphia gets the ball back.

At the 20 yard line.

The receiver was open.

It was a double move a little fake and go.

But you see the throw was just behind him.

And the quarterback does a great job of getting his head around looking for the ball.

That's why they coach you do that.

Turn your head around, look for the ball.

No Ryan came in with one interception on the year.

He just doubled it.

And he makes one of the biggest names in the biggest game of the year.

So it's a first and ten from the 20 yard line McCoy.

Looking to throw has his man at the 30 that time.

Hooking up with Purifoy.

And Dominic Morgan made the stop for the Elks.

He just went down the field about 1112 yards turned around, found a hole set down and he delivered a strike that.

Was easy toss to throw.

From the 33 and will look to throw again.

Come back.

Right side.

He dropped it that time.

Braden Wagner was the intended target.

Morgan was on coverage and it was just a simple comeback route.

It was comes back, makes the catch.

You have another first down the Arkadelphia.

He's got a little something going in the passing game.

They he had receivers open on the left side too.

Nice intended receiver was open also they may start throwing this ball around a little bit more.

Within the formation.

As Finley was the man in motion that trying to hook up that time with their intended target, Morris.

And so now that's going to bring up a third down and ten.

He threw a fastball there.

And he could have just thrown a little changeup and then zipped through the receiver's hands.

Went a little high on it.

That's the challenge.

Yeah.

You're getting guys open.

You know the footing is it's tough out there right now.

So it's harder on the defense because they're trying to react to what the offense is doing.

The receivers know where they're going, so they're able to keep their footing.

Three receivers in the bottom side of the formation.

Moody's in it.

Running back as McCoy is going to look to throw.

It's deflected at the line of scrimmage.

Who put his hand up.

There was Brooks Williams.

And that's going to bring up a fourth down and ten.

What felt like they had a little something going there.

They just started clicking.

But the drops and won the throw high.

And all the sudden your third long tipped pass you're going to punt.

I'll tell you one thing we didn't talk a lot about with these two teams is their defense.

Elkins came in the ball game only giving up 10.7 points per game.

Arkadelphia was giving up 15 a game.

Direct snap to the running back.

He didn't know he was getting it.

And he'll be taken down at the 30 yard line.

Georgia he's the one that made the snap was I don't think he thought he was getting the ball.

It's very awkward.

Here's the snap.

Yeah I don't know.

What do I do with.

It I don't know if that was a fit, but they're not blocking like it's a fake and he's supposed to run with it.

They were blocking the punt.

So I think it's just a bad snap that went to him.

And he caught it was like oh what.

Do you want to do with it.

So Elkins has the football.

It's first and ten from the 30.

Going to go back to wall and he'll work.

Left side.

He slips down after the pursuit was there taken down at the 24 yard line.

That's exactly what I'm talking about right there.

That wet turf.

He tried to make a hard cut, get inside his his blocker and find the end zone.

And as soon as he made that cut, his feet went out from underneath him.

West.

As much as we've played on this on the field, you think it'd be dried out by now.

Here's another handoff to Walden.

Straight ahead.

He'll pick up a couple on the play to bring up a third down.

It was Hamilton there to make the stop.

A few times open.

He's decided to run.

Right.

And he had some blockers out there.

And he just on his own cut it back to the left and right up the middle.

And Arkadelphia was waiting for him.

Probably should have followed his blockers that time.

So it's a third down and two.

With the ball at the 22 yard line.

And now we've got penalty flags down.

Elkins has had two cuts.

The penalties on defense that hurt him with first downs.

This may hurt them on offense.

No offense lined up over the football.

Third down lined up off Scot Silva.

I may have been the receiver.

I couldn't tell who it was.

Probably a receiver out wide.

Just lined up offsides.

So that backs them up five yards.

So now you go from a third down and two to a third down and seven with the ball at the 27 yard line.

Probably two down territory here.

And Napier the quarterback going to look to throw comes across the middle of the field.

His intended target was Haywood.

And now you've got fourth down.

And seven Badgers brought the pressure.

They came right up the middle blitz to right up the middle.

Davion Hall was one of them.

He's got nine quarterback hurries and seven tackles and blitz right up the middle.

Napier just tried to get rid of the ball.

Didn't really have anybody there.

So this year for Elkins on fourth down they've been completing 53% of their fourth down conversion.

That was Malachi Hamilton had my sheet turned over Clark ability that was blitzing up the middle.

Fourth down and seven Napier is going to look to throw Napier under pressure.

Going right side.

He's got a man right side.

But it's deflected away at the last minute.

Coming up to make it for Arkadelphia is Amari Ford the defensive back who just threw a right hand up knocked it down and it's a turnover on downs.

And Arkadelphia is going to get the football back.

Just a long throw for Napier.

And he put a lot of air under it.

That ball is in the air for a long time.

The receiver that time Brad Walker was wide open.

I mean there was nobody within ten yards of him.

But because there was so much air underneath the ball that gave Amari Ford plenty of time to get over there and I thought he may pick it off.

He just went up, knocked it down.

Probably the smart move since it was fourth down.

So Arkadelphia is going to go five wide in the formation is Roberts will go in motion from left right.

And the receiver fell down.

The defensive back was not looking at the ball and hit him in the head.

That was Davion Hall who's the defensive back.

It hit him right square in the helmet.

But once again this reminds me of the Thursday night NFL game with the 40 Niners.

Don't the 40 Niners in the Ram.

Yes that rain and it was just a defensive battle.

That's all we've seen.

We've seen players slipping.

It's hard to catch.

So defensive battle right now.

Here's a handoff to Reed.

Straight ahead is he'll take it down pass or out to the 35 yard line.

You know you don't think you know every year whenever you're a senior and they make you like a highlight reel of your time in high school.

That might end up being on his highlight reel whenever he walks across the stage.

Maybe the last.

One.

Yeah.

The very.

Last highlight.

Certainly it'll be there if they end up winning it for sure.

Lose, maybe no.

Third down and three.

Here's a pitch to Roberts.

He'll pick up about a yard on the play.

With these conditions.

Easy choice is just to run the ball run the ball, run the ball.

But these defenses are both so good at stopping the run.

It is hard to get first downs consistently.

And that's what Arkadelphia trot mixing in a little throwing.

And we've seen Elkins trying to throw it a little bit.

But I'm impressed.

The speed of the.

Defense for both these two teams.

So it's a fourth down and two for win.

The formation.

Reed is the running back.

They're going to hand it to him straight ahead.

He'll have the first down out to the 40 yard line.

Cam comes up to make the stop for Elkins play.

Well that was a big first down.

Arkadelphia needed that.

They have somehow managed to keep Elkins off the scoreboard in this first quarter.

With all the mistakes that they've made that the turnovers, the blocked punt, the whatever that was on the last punt.

Yeah miscommunication.

Their defense is stepped up gotten a couple turnovers.

Got a couple of stops inside the 30 yard line.

And first quarter is going to end with Elkins staying on this end of the field on offense but not getting any points.

We have not moved off of this field the entire game and we end one quarter of play where Arkadelphia, they lead it seven to nothing in the four state championship game.

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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 color.

Before you know it, they'll be invading Bank Ozk 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, and it's going to run all weekend long.

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

The Arkansas PBS student all star is Creede Vega out of Dardanelle.

The junior quarterback.

4.0 GPA.

Heck of a player, too.

He can run it and he can throw it.

He must be a football.

Could be like his dad.

Just like his dad.

Like his dad.

Become a football coach, you know?

And not only can he do offensive things, he's really good on the defensive side as well.

Yeah, I know the Touchdown Club honored him one week.

Fearless Friday honored him one week as our player of the week.

This is super young man.

Here's Arkadelphia to start the second quarter of play.

They're going to air it out and kind of just be a little too much.

As Jay Purifoy was the intended target that time.

They had him that they had a pure play again.

And I think McCoy's eyes lit up a little bit and he chunked that one.

Purifoy he's fast but not that fast.

You know was.

The.

Last time Arkadelphia won a state championship was in 2018.

They went back to back and 17 and 18 and all the players on the field.

Right now we're fifth and sixth graders says here's a play that goes left side to Moody.

And Morgan was there to make the stop.

But talking to some of these players and coaches, they were all fifth and sixth graders.

They remember because they were in the stands.

Yes.

No.

That's a great motivational.

Right?

Right.

Yeah.

You're here watching Monday.

I'm going to be here today.

And it just helps.

That's the tradition of Arkadelphia football right there.

And you know what's crazy.

You and I were calling the 1718 state championship games when those guys were fifth and sixth graders.

So it's third down and eight.

They're going to set up a screen.

But it was deflected away.

That time for Elkins it was Walton who deflected it.

And that'll bring up a fourth down.

Now for Arkadelphia.

Akins has been able to get their hands up several times today and get a tip passed.

And they haven't been able to get to McCoy like they want to.

But they're doing a good job of deflecting the passes.

It's like Arkadelphia may punt this one.

And they will.

All is going to hit down at the 34 and go out of bounds inside the 30.

At around the 29.

And so Elkins will have the football with 1115 left here in the second quarter.

Arkadelphia leading seven to nothing.

Like how he kicked it away that time.

He didn't want any kind of a return possible.

And, Townsend has already shown that he could he can run with the ball.

He just kicked it away from him.

Went out of bounds.

Try to play a little field position, see if that defense can't get a stop and give them the ball back.

So it's a first down and ten with the ball to 29 yard line for receivers in the formation.

Napier going to hand it off to Waldon.

Straight ahead.

He goes crosses the 35 and is taken down to the 33.

Probably the best.

One of the best runs he's had so far this year.

The first two plays of the game were very successful in that time.

He started left and got it right back up the middle, had a big hole and picked up nine yards.

Here on second down, they're going to go back to Walden.

Comes right side the pursuit there.

But he's able to get the first down after picking up three yards on the play.

Looked like they had him stopped that time.

And he was going to be short of the first down.

He just kind of put his shoulder down.

Started leaning backing up a little bit, picked up the first down.

Ball at the 42 yard line.

Napier going to look to throw.

Comes right side has his man.

That's Martin Martin ran a great route and that was a good throw.

It was one of those timing play and the timing was right on.

Takes his drop goes back hits that back foot.

Just let it rip.

Kelton Wilson was there on the coverage and made the stop three wide come to the near side.

Back to Walton they go Walden crosses the 40.

They've got a little bit of momentum right now as he takes it down to the 38 yard line.

And we can hear those Elkins fans starting to get a little excited.

They picked up a couple of first downs, got a little momentum going.

That offense is feeling a little better about itself.

Second down and two.

Napier going to look to throw.

It's going to have to throw it away.

Is great coverage that time by Arkadelphia.

There were three receivers four receivers out and they were surrounded.

There was nowhere to go with the ball.

Napier stayed in the pocket for as long as possible.

That clock started ticking in his brain.

He's like, I gotta get out of here, get rid of it.

You know, the top two targets for Elkins this year have been Landon Martin and James Townsend, and Arkadelphia has done a good job of covering them up.

And they do a good job here.

Defending the run is Jacoby Walden.

He goes down for a big loss when Tavion Morris comes up to make the stop.

It's fourth down for Elkins.

Morris leads the team in tackles.

The junior came into the game with 104 tackles, seven sacks.

They like to bring it on on the blitz.

We've seen it one time already.

That time they did it again.

They brought two right up the middle.

Elkins stopped one but not both.

Makes the play in the backfield.

Fourth and Long.

Elkins going to go for it on fourth down and eight.

They've got three receivers to the bomb side of your screen Napier is going to look to throw under pressure.

He was hit when he threw it.

And it's in and out of the hands of his intended target Landon Martin on that right side.

That was a good throw.

Hit Martin in the hands.

He was going down to the ground trying to catch that ball.

Just couldn't come up with it.

Kelton Wilson once again on the coverage had tight coverage on the receiver.

And so now it's a turnover on downs.

And Arkadelphia is going to have the football back at the 44 yard line.

Badgers defense stepped up.

Looked like Elkins had a little something going.

We've seen Elkins punt from that.

You know around the 40 play little field position.

But they felt like offensively they were clicking.

Here's a pass play that comes left side.

They crossed the 50 yard line.

And for Arkadelphia that time.

I believe they lost Finley.

Yeah that was Finley who was able to make that.

That catch.

We'll check in with Tyler here in just a moment.

As we go right side.

And that time Finley was the intended target and got knocked away.

Coming up was Jim Slaughter.

The slaughter came through to knock it down.

The Arkadelphia fans were looking for a flag.

They thought he got there a little too quick.

Kind of came through the receiver as he was trying to make that catch.

I think it's a good call.

It's good play I.

Thought was great coverage for.

So it's set for third down and three now going to hand it to Reed straight ahead.

And he's not he's actually probably going to lose a yard as coming up to make the stop was Harosha.

Wilkins got a little penetration that time into the backfield.

Make Arkadelphia think about this.

It's fourth and three at midfield.

They're being aggressive.

Arkadelphia looks like they're going to go for it.

And now a penalty flag comes out.

And once again Elkins jumps offsides on a fourth down.

And short for Arkadelphia.

Our mikes are good but I can't hear the quarterback.

Oh I've heard he does have a great call.

While we while we assess the penalty.

Let's check in with Tyler Cass on the sidelines.

Tyler.

Yeah guys I don't know how well your cameras can pick it up.

The rain stopped around kickoff, but it's picked up just the slightest in the last 15 minutes or so.

I'd say nothing more than spitting, but it's enough that everything has stayed slim.

We saw it with all those turnovers, and now it's just been an assembly line on both sidelines, trying to get drive footballs in as quick as possible.

Thank you.

Tyler McCoy is going to step up for about a one yard gain now.

We'll check in with Tyler here a little bit.

But I am curious, Tyler, if you can hear the snap count like Wes was talking about from Arkadelphia, because, he's done it a couple times now.

Wes.

Three.

And those are big.

Yeah.

I mean, it's fourth and three, and you get a stop there at midfield instead of just handle the first down.

Second down and nine.

McCoy looking to throw comes back at left side.

Just slings it out of bounds almost in the first row of that east side.

But he's going to take off and run with it that time.

But he stopped on that right side and turned back around to said, I'm getting rid of this.

You know, Wes, we this is now the second week of championships, and this is the third sophomore quarterback that we've seen in and the state finals.

And just the poise I mean he looks like he's you know a junior senior out there playing playing quarterback for this Arkadelphia team.

That was in the quarterback battle over the summer with Maddox Finley won the competition Finley won the receiver spot.

Try that screen again.

They just can't get that screen set up.

That was Jack Walden who came in and blew that play up.

And now you've got another fourth down.

Elkins has done a great job on the screen.

One time they batted it down.

That time they had it well defended.

There was nowhere to throw the ball.

And punt at this time fourth and nine play field position try to penalty.

Take away their defense has been playing though he might take a shot.

But they are going to line up McCoy a little bit deeper and he'll stick a foot into it.

It'll hit down to 21, taking Arkadelphia inside the 15 and it will be killed down at the 13 and that's where Elkins will have it first and ten with 732.

I want to go back down to Tyler Cash real quick.

And Tyler, we were talking about that that snap count for Arkadelphia.

Are you hearing I mean, can you hear his his cadence down at the line of scrimmage?

It's not just how loud it is.

It's the change from first down, second down to third down.

And fourth down.

You can definitely notice he's a lot louder.

And of course the Elkins go probably little hyped up to be playing in their first state title game.

I think that's kind of combined for all the jumps.

Thank you Tyler.

So it's first down and ten from the 13 yard line.

Ben Napier will come out throwing is he'll have a man.

That's Haywood and Haywood I mean knocked down at the 18 yard line.

It was Reece Campbell.

It's a good play on first down.

Pick you up eight five yards or so.

A field back to Walden.

He'll get to the 20 yard line.

Spin forward out to the 22 to 4 yard.

Pickup Malachi Hamilton made a pretty big lick on him.

But I'll tell you what.

Walden just kind of bounced off of it.

Spun off of it, fell forward, picked up some yards.

Looked like it was going to be no gain when Hamilton hit him right there.

Keeps his legs moving.

Positive yards.

So now you've got a third down and one with the ball at the 22 yard line.

And they go back to Walden.

And he just lowers his shoulder to get the first down.

As he'll take it down to the 24 yard line.

Braden Wagner comes up to make the stop.

Good hard run there.

That's why he's got 22 rushing touchdowns.

You get down there to the goal line now.

He lowers his pads, gets his weight over his toes and he is a load.

You know they quit putting heights and weights on rosters.

But here he is a brick wall good-Looking running back for this Elkins team.

So it's first down and ten.

Napier is going to look for throw.

Comes back.

Right side.

Just overthrows Landon Martin.

That time.

Bombs.

Also a personal protector for the quarterback.

He stands back there and helps pick up the blitz for Napier.

And that time he rolled right with him was out there just in case somebody came up came up.

Take this quarterback.

It's a good protector to have.

He he delivers blows.

He is quarterback to heck of a running back for the Elkins.

Here's Napier going to throw back.

Right side has Walker.

And now we've got a penalty flag.

Now as he crosses the 30 yard line.

When Tavian Morris came in to make the stop.

But I believe we're going to see a little facemask.

That facemask action.

He made the tackle with the facemask.

You see the wet conditions there.

He's he just tried to stop and just kept fine by me.

He reaches out, grab whatever he can, make the tackle.

He's at the face 15.

Yards, healthy.

He's also a first down.

So that moves Elkins out to the 46 yard line.

That was the first penalty of the game for Arkadelphia.

Yeah.

Is there.

Here's a handoff to Walden straight ahead.

He'll pick up about three yards on the play as he gets close to the 50 yard line.

Coming in to make the stop Xavion Williams.

Zach Watson, the head football coach for Elkins, got a heck of a job with the Elks this year trying to keep that undefeated season going.

It's a second down and seven.

They go to Walden.

Right side stays on his feet, crosses the 50 as he takes it down to the 47.

Once again he saw the power and the running of Walden.

He got hit, broke a tackle, got another three yards.

Those just start to add up.

After a while.

Braden Wagner comes in to make the stop.

Now you've got a third down and two.

Going to hand it off as Walden makes a spin move.

Nice move to the outside.

Picks up big yardage, gets the first down and much more.

That was all.

Walden.

Arkadelphia played a little line game there.

They had some stunts going on.

Broke free.

They had him in the backfield, but wall breaks a tackle, bounces it outside.

Picks up the first down.

Nowhere to go.

They just rolled off of it.

Got to the outside.

Kelton Wilson comes in to make the stop working.

Quickly.

They go back to Walden.

He's bottled up behind the line of scrimmage.

There's a host of badgers who came in to make the stop on that one.

But leading the way, it was Wimberly.

And so now you've got a second down and long for Elkins.

Makepeace and Wimberly gets in the backfield like, you know what that spin move work last time.

Not this time I got you.

Elkins is going to go five wide in the formation.

This time.

It's a second down and 14 with the ball at the 38 yard line.

And Napier is going to keep it himself.

And he'll get back inside the 35 to the 34 to bring up a third down and ten for design.

Quarterback drew all that time motion the running back out with the linebackers.

Goes with him at the middle.

Is wide open.

Just keeps it.

Gets what he can makes it you know at least third and manageable.

Picks up some of those lost yards on the tackle in the back row.

I would venture to say West that for Elkins they've gone for it all over the field.

This is four down territory for the Elks.

A lot depends on this play.

You know if you get a sack here and it's third longer, I think that's part.

But if you pick up half the yards get some positive yards we're going to go for it.

So we've got a timeout on the field.

And it's charged to Elkins.

But you know they may decide to punt because you think about it with three minutes 40s to go in the half.

You know you you may want to use some of the clock punt penalty and try to keep keep him out of the end zone.

So the seven.

Time.

Get your live action photos from the game at my pbs.org/photos.

Grab free downloads at Prints Made.

These are great championship keepsakes.

Go check it out.

My r pbs.org/photos.

Well, we've got three minutes and 42 seconds left.

Elkins called that timeout, so let's talk this one over on a third down and ten.

Between both defenses have been impressive so far in this one.

Of the game.

As Elkins will break the huddle and they'll have the ball at the 34 yard line.

Walden is the running back.

And they'll go with a direct snap straight to him and it's over his head.

Balls on the turf.

Arkadelphia is going to come up with it.

May have to look at it, see if he was down and have possession of the ball.

It seemed like a bang bang play, but Walden lined up his quarterback direct snap to him and it was just a bad snap.

Here's a look at the replay.

It goes over his head.

He down and have it?

I don't think so.

I think he was falling down.

I don't think that knee was down from that angle.

Take another look at it, check his name and he goes down.

Is he down?

I don't think he was losing the ball.

I think this is Arkadelphia ball.

That was Skyler McClure who came up with it.

We'll take a break.

337 to play here in the second quarter.

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

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You know, I think sports are really big to a lot of people.

And because it is an important part of our fabric and our community.

And one good thing about what I've seen is it's high quality production.

You know, you think of a small communities all over Arkansas.

It's a big deal that they can turn on the TV or DVR or whatever and know they're going to get a quality product.

And so I think it just expands the, the focus of what PBS is doing.

You know, Arkansas PBS is doing a great job, and I think it's part of education.

I was it down to Tyler.

Cast down the sidelines.

He's got an update from the Arkadelphia Cyclones.

And these guys you mentioned about a possession ago that no one on this Arkadelphia team has played at War Memorial.

They were all in middle school last time.

The senior class, though.

They remember two years ago a semifinal where they had a three touchdown lead on Harding Academy and ended up losing on a last second field goal.

It's that loss they say has driven them here to a state title game today.

Thank you Tyler.

It's first down and ten for Arkadelphia from the 46 yard line.

After the turnover.

I remember that game against Harding Academy.

We had a reported there.

And he he sent me the halftime score and I was like oh wow.

Well good for Arkadelphia.

They're going to the state finals.

And then here comes Harding again.

A different.

Second.

Yes.

What a great comeback for Harding Academy and a learning lesson for Arkadelphia.

Here's a run play for Arkadelphia to start their drive is that was Blake Moody.

Jim Slaughter comes in to make the stop.

To what?

I thought they had something going there.

And slaughter came out of nowhere and makes the tackle.

That was a, great open field tackle.

Looked like they had it sealed off.

Comes in low, makes the tackle for no gain or wide.

They go back to Moody straight ahead.

He's trying to push to the pile and he'll pick up a couple on the play to bring up a third down.

Now for Arkadelphia.

Moody broke his thumb earlier in the season and missed a lot of playing time.

Actually started playing a little defense because he had a big cast on his hand.

Couldn't run with the ball, but obviously the cast is off and now he gets to play.

The running back gives Kyle Reed a little break from time to time.

So you've got a third down and eight clock running at 245.

McCoy going to look to throw middle of the field.

He kind of threw him in between two receivers.

And so that'll bring up a fourth down.

Miscommunication there.

He threw it.

Thought the receiver was doing something else.

He just had this befuddled look on his face like, what's going on?

What happened?

The thing you got to punt this, RJ, it's fourth and eight midfield.

You go, you got to punt it and play little defense.

This last 2.5 minutes.

And that's exactly what Arkadelphia looks like they're doing there.

They line McCoy up.

He's also their punter.

And he kicks it right in the back of the offensive lineman.

Ball still on the turf.

He was touched by Elkins.

And now Arkadelphia is going to get it back.

Now they're going to say they said it.

Touchdown Arkadelphia player I thought was there for a moment.

It touched the backside of a O as it was rolling around the backside of an Elkins player.

We'll take a look.

Yeah.

Did that Elkins player on the ground touched it.

That's why he jumped on it real quick saying that Elkins touched it.

So that's where it was touched by the Elkins player.

But once it hits you're the offensive player in the back.

I think it's a free.

You know it's almost like when you go down and you touch it and just leave it there.

Than Elkins can pick it up, do whatever with it.

Nothing can happen.

Because technically the play would be stopped right there for when it hits your own teammate.

It makes complete sense.

So now you've got Elkins with the football.

231 to play left in the second as it is Walden who's going to get the handoff.

And he'll take it ahead for two yards.

He got off to the helmet.

Come on Keith.

Why?

All right.

Maybe it's just a piece of equipment.

That was a hard hit.

Malachi Hamilton coming up.

That was just his head going backwards.

This was hard hits being made so far in this one.

It's a Ford.

Tackle.

Here's Walden again.

Straight ahead.

Crosses the 35.

Will take it to the 34 yard line.

Man kudos to this Arkadelphia defense.

And you know I talked to Coach Tucker earlier in the week.

And I said you know these offense everybody loves offense and scoring.

But to me it's defense.

He's like you're exactly right West.

These are two good defenses.

And we've seen that today.

The conditions are tough.

But this Arkadelphia defense time and time again so far has been able to come up with the big stop.

Third down and five going to hand it off to Walden.

He's going to be bottled up well behind the line of scrimmage.

Coming up to make the stop for Arkadelphia was.

But Jobe is moody.

I mean, look at Moody.

He just he he flew over it and offensive lineman to get to him to make the tackle for a loss.

So much penetration.

The entire Arkadelphia defense just caused him to have to bounce back.

Not taking the time out here to let.

No because just run I think both teams are just like, let's get to the heart.

Let's just get to the locker room.

We'll discuss things, try to figure things out offensively.

But Arkadelphia has done the job once again on defense.

They've been put in so many difficult situations in this first half, and they have stepped up every single time.

And they're going to call a timeout with 45 seconds left here in the quarter.

That's their second charge.

And Zach Watson have.

This a tough call here I know they want to go for this.

They at fourth and 14 they want to try to get a first down and and get some points before the end of the half.

But if you don't get it and let's say the play takes eight seconds, Arkadelphia will get the ball around the, you know around the 40 yard line goes to midfield.

Heck there's a sack, you know, around midfield, with 35 37 seconds.

And we've seen they can throw the ball and they've hit Purifoy for the big touchdown play.

They've got some explosive plays.

I'd hate to give the ball back to Arkadelphia here.

I think the smart thing the easy thing to do is just punt penalty deep.

And if you do that if he's got the ball around their tent, they may just take a knee and go to the half.

Yeah.

No I agree by the way.

You know, Zach Watson, the head football coach for Elkins, was the quarterback in Hector.

And they actually played in the finals and lost a Shiloh Christian, which is weird.

Really weird to think Shiloh and Hector would be ever playing in a in a finals together.

But, Zach Watson, no stranger to a state championship game.

So here it is.

Fourth down and 14 and they're going to punt it.

Braden Wagner back deep.

It is a high punt fair caught at the 15.

He'll no carrying back to the 14.

And that's where Arkadelphia will have it with 37 seconds to play here in the second quarter.

Elkins only has one timeout.

So if Arkadelphia just wants to go to the half the 37 seconds, they can just take a knee or just hand it off.

I don't know with the wet weather conditions.

Wet football.

We've seen so many balls on the turf.

Fumbles.

You know if you're not going to be aggressive and try to, you know, throw something here, I won't even take a chance on just running it up the middle like so many teams do.

I think I just let's go to the half with seven to nothing.

We got the lead.

By the way.

Want to say hello to my buddy Tommy Gillum, the Lake Hamilton football coach.

He's watching here on Arkansas PBS for his knee surgeries getting better.

Here's a handoff as he'll make it down to the 16 yard line.

Brings up a second down and out.

But the aggression that we thought we were going to see is not gonna take place unless they, you know, you kind of allow him to sleep with, with a run and then come over the top.

I think Arkadelphia is very happy to be leading this game seven.

And I want to say very happy.

They're very happy with their defense.

They want to score some points.

But this isn't the position to do it.

And both teams are going to head to the locker room.

Well that's going to do it for the first half of play Arkadelphia.

They lead it seven to nothing over Elkins Tyler gas.

It'll hook up with three.

Shocker.

The head football coach for Arkadelphia as his team is going to head to the halftime locker room.

Up seven to nothing at West.

You know I believe that Tyler's got coach.

Now we'll get to our comments in a moment.

Take it away Tyler.

You guys we're.

Looking over a head coach.

Trey.

Shocker.

Coach was a frustrating back and forth half a football there I mean how much is the weather playing a factor?

Honestly I think it's not at this point.

The weather stopped them in the right.

It's not raining anymore.

I don't think the weather is anything.

I think it's pretty normal football right now.

What do you guys have to kind of clean up in the locker room here?

There's a lot to clean up.

I mean, throwing our punt unit right now is embarrassing.

Its worst.

Some of the worst I've seen in a long time, but, we haven't had to do it a whole lot this year, so, but that's the first thing we got to clean up.

What will cure that is if we move the football and got first downs and have to do it.

But, our defense playing film right now, I mean, we we kept zero on the board for Elkins for the first half.

Our defense playing.

Well, they've got us, in control right now.

All right coach, what do you got?

What's the message as you go into the locker room?

Got to have a big second half.

We got to win the second half.

Defense got to continue, to make plays.

Got to keep stopping the run.

And then offense got to find a way to step up, make a play.

We got to have somebody step up and keep putting points on the board.

All right I'll let you get in there.

Thanks, coach.

Thank you.

Tyler, that was head coach Trey Hooker for Arkadelphia.

His team leads at seven to nothing.

Well, we've got an exciting halftime.

West is, got some great packages put on by Arkansas PBS.

Yeah, we got some good stories coming your way at the half.

David Bass was going to introduce us to a football team at the university level at Searcy.

I think that would be Hardy.

There.

They did some great things this season one another just back to back.

Wonderful year at Harding.

And Christina munoz.

We'll introduce you to the Arkansas PBS student all star team.

There's a lot more you'll definitely want to stick around.

Well, we are at the half.

It's seven to nothing.

Arkadelphia leads Elkins in the four state championship game.

You're watching the Centennial Bank 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.

This.

Share with you a little bit of what we've been working on.

In a few minutes, Christina 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.

Siloam 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.

Your first year is always a supportive year.

You know, it's great.

You got to get everybody's feet wet.

Okay, let's go to our.

Just for a minute.

Okay.

Got it.

Yeah.

I was one of 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 their team and compete.

Oh.

Okay.

Hey.

Want a fan base for a cheer for the shoulder thing?

Yeah, it's like I'm base and, like, someone if I'm on my rooftop ladder and someone's on my roof.

It's pretty cool, though.

So there's dance, there's 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 put out a flawless routine.

Do you like to practice this?

You like how challenging.

Make me.

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

What do you think?

Both, Tom.

Both.

And from the first practice to state every single one of them, just take ownership of it.

And it was like how sports bringing people together.

That's exactly what cheer has done.

And actually we for.

Yeah.

000 my dreams.

Come on, come on.

Run!

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 and 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.

And so, 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 chance of winning or 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's where the relationships are built, and that's.

Where the trust is going to.

It's always important to hang out with the players that are working with and like Haley, she's always one of my friends.

I hang out 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.

Salazar 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's the Arkansas PBS Student All Stars class of 2024.

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

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 two.

Let's meet Jaron Thomas.

Jaron is a 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 AA.

Here is David McKinney 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 to five A, 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 that 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 played in my life.

I've never played in for something that important.

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

We're playing for the Searcy community they're all pulling for as they're rooting for us.

And we just we want to make them proud.

When.

Wishbone was invented by, it was Emory Boulevard 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.

Were 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.

And we will coach up made that 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 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, and tasting that culture, I'd love to come coach with you guys.

Wow.

It's amazing.

The Godfather other you know what to can 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 yes.

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 he 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, especially the success that that, we have received as a, as a product of young men loving one another, being selfless and working like crazy to our guy.

No, no, kids are more deserving than our kids.

You know, 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.

Hugo 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.

Dick.

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 thought, what's better than being 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 Dick invented the name.

They'd been called the Razorbacks prior to that, but it certainly wasn't embraced.

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.

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This month on Arkansas PBS.

Computational origami is quite useful for the mathematical problems we are trying to solve.

After the fire below the ashes and rubble, the real discovery totally unexpected.

Two mysterious coffins are discovered a rivalry between two men determined to reach new heights.

Four days lighthouse and Gustave Eiffel tower.

Only on Arkansas PBS.

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

Over two 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.

Of the region.

Back here at War Memorial Stadium, seven to nothing.

Arkadelphia.

They lead Elkins in the four state championship game.

Was head down the sidelines real quick and check in with Tyler Cass, who has the head football coach for Elkins.

Zach Watson.

Yeah, that's right guys.

Coach lot of action.

Not a lot of scoring in that first half.

What do you guys need to clean up.

Yeah we just gotta turn the football over.

We had three turnovers right there.

We got it down inside our 40 a couple of times.

And we got convert on third down.

Was that slickness.

Is it nerves.

What I think it's combination.

Everything I think is good defense is playing as well.

Really good football I wanted Tyler defense to what have they done.

You know they've got off the field on third down.

We're we got to stay on the field on third down.

And they're getting off on third down.

Anything offensively besides just hang on to the ball hang on the ball and then keep drives going.

We got stay stay on on par for the course and yeah I mean we're getting behind the sticks on third down.

We got a a third and two had some penalties.

We're not just converting that third down.

But I appreciate it coach.

Thank you Tyler.

That was head coach Zach Watson for Elkins as his team trailed seven to nothing here at halftime.

Well West we didn't have a lot of highlights in the first half a lot of defensive highlights.

But we did have.

One touchdown there in the.

First half.

It went and rainy day and it caused some mistakes.

The defense was were awesome too.

You see Elkins all over the quarterback.

Bad snap there.

The senators have been complaining about the wet footballs.

We've seen several bad snaps today.

There's your big play.

Elkins can't stop this one.

That's Jay Purifoy, 57 yards.

And, Arkadelphia took a seven to nothing lead.

Look like Elkins had a shot right there.

The throw was a little behind the receiver, a little low.

And Arkadelphia gets the interception one of three first half turnovers for this Arkadelphia defense.

Well there's our halftime stats seven to nothing is our score.

You see passing yards.

They were a little bit low.

We knew they would be coming into this one Arkadelphia leads that.

But really the impressive thing for what Elkins has done they've held Arkadelphia negative three total yards rushing two total yards so far in the game 95 to 88.

But there you see the big number three fumbles for Elkins one for Arkadelphia so far there in the first half.

Let's talk about these defenses.

They've combined for nine tackles for loss Elkins has five tackles for loss Arkadelphia has four tackles for loss.

And Elkins the sack the quarterback twice for -26 yards.

Now one of those was on that bad snap that went over his head.

And and led to that.

That's one of the reasons why they have those negative rushing yards on that 17 yard loss on the sack of the quarterback.

But it has been a a defensive battle, partly because of the rain, but partly because these are two good defenses that we highlighted in the pregame show.

Well, Elkins will get the ball to start here in the second half as they trail seven to nothing in the four state championship game.

You see there.

The Elks right there is they come out.

And I would imagine West as we talked about in the first half, the drainage here, what Memorial Stadium.

You've played on it for a half now, or at least you played on one half of the field for a half.

It's still going to be slick, but it's drying up.

You know, the longer we go into this game.

And the is blowing.

So that's going to help dry it out a little bit better.

And they'll get used to the foot.

You know they've they've had a half to play on it.

Now the main thing is just catch the ball, hold on to the ball for these offenses.

Try to get some plays.

Back deep to receive the kick for the Elkins Elks will be Connor Hamm, as well as James Townsend as Dawson.

Miles will put a foot into it and over in kick that will be taken down at the 23 yard line.

Bringing it up for the Elks will be Davion Hall, and Hall takes it past the 30 out to the 31 where it was Whitaker who made the stop for Arkadelphia.

It started on the 31 pick.

Elkins made.

Just focused a little bit on the run game.

They they had one good drive where it seemed like everything was starting to click, and it was running the ball, which equate Walden their big running back, and found a little success.

And they got away with it from it and started throwing it a little bit.

And next thing you know, they were having to punt or.

Win the formation.

Looking to throw.

And they find Walden in the passing game.

He's going to make a big play as he gets into Arkadelphia territory all the way down to the 48 yard line.

Biggest play of the game for Elkins right there.

And what a throw from Ben Napier.

This one was covered.

Had a linebacker coming over the top trying to tip it away.

And he gets it just over his outstretched hands.

Catches it outside the 40.

Now here's another pass play this time in the hands of Townsend.

Had some nice blocks.

That time is he'll pick up about five yards on the play.

Takes it inside the 45 down to the 42 yard line until Jayden McKenzie made the stop.

Picking up the pace a little bit.

I thought they come out.

Tried to establish a run and they've gone past pass and they're moving the ball.

For wide receivers in the formation.

Now here's a running play to Walden.

He'll work.

Left side gets a nice run as he'll drag Arkadelphia defenders out of bounds and it was Jacoby Campbell who made the stop out of bounds.

But not until another first down for Elkins.

Great stiff arm from Walden and the defender coming up.

Try to make the tackle.

Just put the stiff arm on him.

Broke that tackle.

Picked up the first down.

Gets the ball inside the 30.

Ball at the 28.

And a hand it off again to Walden.

And right there the Badgers.

That was that defensive penetration.

We saw time and time again from Arkadelphia in the first half.

I just told you that four tackles for loss in the first half.

There's tackle number five for a.

Loss when Tobias Morris came in to make the stop.

It's a loss of four yards on the play to bring up second down and 14.

High snap as Napier has to go get it now.

He'll throw it left side.

There's nobody in the area as he throws it out of bounds.

And that'll bring up a third down for.

Elkins just throughout the entire play.

The high snap goes up.

Luckily for Elkins he gets control of the ball.

Then he's under pressure and just throw it away.

Let's get the third down.

So now you've got three receivers to the right side one to the left.

You've got a third down and 14 with the ball at the 32 yard line Napier under pressure.

And he's going to be sacked for a big loss all the way back at the 45 yard line.

And pressure coming up the middle trying to escape to the outside.

Well they had a blitzer coming to the outside.

The scrambled and ran right to him and the two Badgers combined for the sack, their first sack of the day, but another tackle for loss, and they were in that third 14.

If they could pick up some yards, I think they go for it on fourth down.

Well now after the sack it is fourth in the mile, so you just got to punt it away.

So good drive comes to an end.

Faulk there for Elkins.

Arkadelphia defense does it again.

That was Campbell and McClure who came in for the sack.

And here's the punt.

That'll be it'll hit down to 21.

Go out of bounds.

Looks like there was a penalty flag down there on the sidelines.

He's counting.

He's maybe had too many people on the field.

He came to the sideline I saw him.

He was using his finger.

He's pointing to the players, counting players, trying to figure out they're going to talk about it and see if they had 12 out there.

For our officials today, Daniel Faulkner, Michael Hannon, jet, Chad Walker, David Ward, Brad Rickett and Michael Caton.

We have a wide shot in that punt.

We can count how many out there.

He waved it off him.

He must have miscounted.

Let's see.

There's one, 23456789 1011.

The punt returner.

I should have used the telestrator.

There's one, two, three, four.

We forget we have the tow.

That's new.

Yeah.

So new, PBS got us this year.

Here's a handoff straight ahead and it got back to the line of scrimmage.

That was Reed on the stop.

Brooks Williams.

The linebacker 52 tackles on the season.

He filled that gap and made him head to head good tackle stopped him in his tracks three wide.

Go to the right side.

Bryson McCoy the quarterback.

You don't want to throw.

Goes across the middle.

Has his man and that time hooking up with Finley James Townsend right there to make the stop.

And it's going to be very near a first down.

Good catch from Finley using his hands right there to bring the ball in.

Have to really focus with the, wet conditions today.

They are going to get the first down.

They are going to call it the first.

And so now they're going to go back with a run on the left side and just nothing going for the Arkadelphia running game.

Brooks Williams again man he just busted through.

They had a couple pulling linemen.

And he comes through the back side hits that gap and makes the tackle from behind.

That was Malachi Hamilton who got the run that time.

So now you've got a second down and ten with the ball to the 29 yard line.

And in motion is Roberts McCoy looking to throw left side.

And it's he he had in his hands.

And he dropped it.

Lot of stuff going on on that play I thought was going to be picked off.

But the defensive back mistimed his jump.

It went over his hands and the receiver had it.

And then right when he was about to catch it, go down with and he gets leveled.

Ball comes.

Down.

Porter who was able to knock that one away.

The intended target that time was Purifoy.

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

It was just a jump ball.

And Purifoy almost came down with it.

Looked like he was going to catch it.

And then he gets hit.

Ball comes out.

Instead of slaughter.

It's actually Connor Hamm who came up and knocked that one out.

So now five wide in the formation for Arkadelphia.

McCoy looking to throw and throws it out of bounds.

And was trying to hook up with Maddox Finley that time.

And that'll bring up fourth down and.

Ten senior Williams did a good job of dropping back into coverage.

He wanted to get it to his receiver right there on the sideline.

But senior Williams got back so deep he didn't have anywhere to throw it.

So he just had to throw it out of bounds.

If he throws that on target, Williams probably picks it off.

What are they doing here to the drop kick.

They're going to kick off.

It's going to be a set up like a field goal to kick it out of bounds near the 30.

I can't say that I've ever seen that.

I've never seen that.

So they took a free kick instead of a punt and kicked it out of bounds.

And Elkins is going to take over at around the 30 yard line.

Well, Trey Tucker said he was going to work on his punt formation, at halftime.

And I guess that's what they came up with.

We got to talk to our Arkadelphia guys down there.

Boot couple boots.

Have they done this?

Have they done this this year?

That is, something I've never seen.

I've seen a lot of high school football, and I had never seen that.

I've never, ever seen it either.

That's, No way you learn something new every day.

So it's a first and ten from the 31 for Elkins as Napier is going to look to throw.

Trying to extend the play just has to throw it out of bounds.

Great coverage down the field.

Once again he had a receiver very very deep.

And there was no where he could throw the.

There you go.

That's once again we we told you I was like what are they doing here.

They're lining up for like a field goal.

I knew there's no way he's kicking a what.

It was like a 90 yard field goal.

They were just taking the free kick.

He would have gotten a scholarship on the spot.

Had he had, he might.

So it's second down and ten.

For white in the formation is Napier is going to look to throw middle of the field incomplete as he tried to hook up with Isaiah Haywood.

Elkins coaches want to pass interference on the play I thought the defender came in here early but they were both playing the ball.

Went through the through the receiver to knock it down.

Here's a look at the replay.

You can be the judge of this one.

Let's go down to Tyler Cass.

He's got an update on that.

That well we call it formation field goal thing.

Yeah I didn't get the official name from Arkadelphia.

I just talked with kicker Seth Long before he said he's never heard of that.

They've never done it before this year.

But they told him in the locker room that's what they were going to do in.

A punt situation.

Tyler and there is a big sack.

As Reese.

Campbell lead the charge to get the sack, and that'll bring up fourth down for Elkins.

So Arkadelphia guys just Texas star Jason.

It's a scrimmage kick.

It's just like a punt.

But they haven't seen it all year.

That was the first time they've tried it.

But the punt wasn't obviously not working.

So they go to plan B or maybe plan B.

Well you know, this is why you and I don't coach football.

Because all of my coaching friends across the state as punters, it'll be a good punt this time.

It'll take Wagner back to the 40 and he'll be taken down right there.

But all I've got like seven coaches that have all texted me and said that is illegal formations.

The kicking formation and it can be done.

And I mean clearly can because it was this way, but I just never seen that before.

So either way, Arkadelphia is going to have the football pack here with 719 left here in the third quarter.

And they'll have it at the 38 yard line.

So my question to all the coaches out there watching more people do that, because that was clearly very effective now.

And if you have it a decent kicker he's going to kick it better than your partner.

I mean, great point.

What's the negative for that?

I don't know.

Here's a handoff after the end round.

And that time it's it is Purifoy trying to get the extra yardage.

But because of the extracurricular at the end of the play there's a penalty flag.

Davion Hall was in on that as well as Jeff Slaughter.

It was the slinging him down to the ground.

They kept pushing pushing back whistles, blowing whistles, blowing whistles, blowing whistles blowing.

And then they just shove him in.

He falls down, probably a little acting there from first, but they paid off.

Hey roughness.

Defense 15 yard penalty from the end of the run in the.

First play.

There have been some costly mistakes by Elkins in this game.

Think about the times that they've jumped offsides to give off a first down to Arkadelphia.

Now you get a first down off of a personal foul and the ball is going to be the 46 and Elkins territory.

And that's good.

Look at it.

Here's a pass play going right side.

He's got his man but overthrew him trying to hook up with Jay Purifoy.

Bring up second down and ten.

McCoy just been over and just so frustrated with himself.

He had him.

He had protection.

The Arkadelphia offensive line.

The back did a great job of protecting him.

He had time to throw.

Was a slow.

Developing route and he just missed the throw.

So it's second down and ten.

Ball's going to be at the 46.

Tight formation for the Badgers and in motion is Roberts.

And now we've got a penalty flag.

Our defense punted Elkins a lot of confusion right now.

What?

Elkins coaches are upset.

They have their hands out why?

They're wanting an explanation.

Well, there's a penalty flag on the sideline over there.

And then there's one in the middle of the field.

Yeah.

There are three flags on the field.

Here's what's called turning signal.

Defense five-yard penalty.

Second down.

So what you had there's the defense probably hollering hut doing, you know, doing something to try to throw off Arkadelphia center.

They were doing something there to create a false start.

I'm sure the Arkadelphia coaches have talked to the officials about it and said, hey, in the first half they're doing this.

Watch for this.

So you've got a second down and five now from the 41 McCoy going to look to throw.

Throws it short trying to hook up with Purifoy.

Just didn't look it in.

You wanted to take off and run for it and get his second touchdown of the game.

You know McCoy's thrown.

He's he's been a 69% passer this year.

But he's been a little flustered so far in this one.

It's just not been able to get any time.

What type of timing or rhythm.

Yeah you're right.

It's just hard to try to get into a rhythm in this game.

First half he was nine of 22.

And in motion is Roberts McCoy's going to look to throw again.

Comes back right side and it's incomplete.

Tried to hook up with Braden Wagner that time.

It's going to bring up fourth down Connor Ham on the coverage.

Hit another receiver right there.

And that receiver was getting held.

You can see his jersey being pulled back.

He looked around looking for a flag.

No flag.

You see right there on the screen that was Purifoy.

Purifoy was wanting the flag because he was getting held in the DB came over the intended receivers back there showing this here in the you can hear all the fans.

Arkadelphia is what the call help is like.

Hey that's just happened to us.

It was no call.

Well Arkadelphia looks like they're going to go for it on fourth down McCoy throws it out right side.

Not even close to his intended target.

Trying to hook.

Up with Hamilton.

Oh.

You can see McCoy drying his hands off right there.

He's rubbing his hands, trying to get dry.

That ball just came out weird.

He had to bring it back.

Going out in the flat looked like he had.

He just missed the throw.

So now Elkins will get it back.

But before we do, we'll take a break as Arkadelphia leads at seven to nothing.

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Thanks to visiting.

You in this health, I'm able to do things physically that I never thought I'd be able to do again.

Well, we do this every game, Wes.

It's a little trivia time, and I always like to see if I can stump you.

So I ask the question.

I've already been stumped.

Once.

Once?

Once today?

Yes, we both have.

Who holds the all time state record for most rushing yards in a game?

This is the class four question.

But who holds the all time state record for most rushing yards in a game?

We'll get the answer for you here later in the broadcast.

So let's think on.

But Elkins has it first and ten from the 41 yard line.

640 left here in the third quarter.

The offense for Elkins back out there is Ben Napier brings the guys out.

Clay Walden is the running back.

Handed to Walden.

He's going to try to stretch it out.

Left side.

And he'll be upended after about a yard gain.

Great pursuit.

Arkadelphia stringing it out and allows their safety to come over.

Make that tackle.

Takes his legs out from underneath.

Just a one yard gain.

Malachi Hamilton there to make the stop.

Excuse me.

No it's a Ryan Roberts.

And so now that brings up a second down and nine.

Good tackle.

Here's Napier looking to throw.

And it's incomplete.

Good coverage.

That time for Arkadelphia was Amari Ford who came in to knock it away to bring up a third down and nine.

Could tell if he got a hand on it or not.

Looked like Townsend was there and I think it was just enough to distract him.

And it just went right through his hands.

Badgers defense flying around and a team speed has been impressive.

They both have Elkins and Arkadelphia that the defensive speed that they've had and the closing speed has been really, really good.

Third down and nine.

Napier is going to look to throw.

Comes back.

Left side.

It's intercepted.

Townsend put a double move on the DB.

But what they didn't know was they had Wagner dropping back and double covering him.

And he just sat on it.

Wagner did a great job coming underneath and got kind of underneath over coverage.

And it was a good route by towns little jerk route.

He goes inside like he's going to and then just stops goes back outside.

And they what with the double coverage Arkadelphia had.

It was like they knew that one was coming.

Is that the fourth or fifth.

Turnover now for that's for two interceptions two fumble.

So it's now first down and ten for Arkadelphia.

McCoy going to hand it off.

Straight ahead goes Hamilton.

And he'll pick up about three yards on the play.

Bring up a second down and seven.

Jaquan Walton there to make the stop for Elkins.

Ball's going to be spotted at the 49 yard line in Elkins territory.

Badgers using a third running back in this game.

You got a lot of playing time when Moody had that broken thumb.

Here he is.

Hamilton again.

Works right side is he'll get it out to the 47.

And Sir Williams was there to take him down.

So it's a one yard gain.

And it brings up third down and six.

Just tough running both sides.

Not many big rushing plays today.

He's going to make a late substitution.

Put an extra receiver.

Take Hamilton out.

So four wide receivers are going to be at the bottom of your screen.

McCoy throws left side has his man.

That's Purifoy.

He's going to get the first down and much more as he'll take it down to the 31 yard line for Elkins.

Just play coverage that time.

Just rush forward to Belton going quick.

Here's McCoy throws it left side.

And what a great play that time by cancer Williams as he was able to get through a defender and deflect that pass.

Williams fought through.

Got a hand on it.

Just great effort.

So it's second down and ten.

McCoy going to hand it off to Roberts.

He'll work right side and gets back to the line of scrimmage.

There's just nothing there.

He had a couple blockers out there but they couldn't get a push.

And I'm sure part of that's the footing.

You know you got these pulling linemen.

They just can't get their feet on underneath them to make a good powerful block.

And everything's just bottled up by Elkins.

So it's a third down and ten.

McCoy works it back.

Left side puts in the hands of Purifoy.

And he's going to get a couple of yards on the play.

As senior Williams came up to make the stop and that will be at the 27 yard line.

So now you've got a fourth down and six for Arkadelphia from the 27.

Taking their time.

They're just now looking over at the coach who just sent in the play.

He's looking at the play clock the game clock.

He may I think he's going to call a timeout.

Yeah.

He just went over there to the sideline official just standing there talking to him.

He's going to let this run down to one second and call a timeout.

They call this timeout.

Some of the coaches have been texting me about the timeout.

The kick.

Yeah that Arkadelphia did earlier Phil Vega with Darnell.

We honored his son a little earlier.

Creed Baker.

He said that the same lizards punted like that for about five years straight.

He says it's a great way to punt, especially if you're wanting to keep it away from the returner.

The high school rule treats that way of kicking just like a punt, Brett Harris said.

Because I asked, well, what's the negative?

Because I liked it?

I was like, that could be a smart thing, especially if you've got a good kicker that he's going to kick it a lot further than the, the punter.

And he says the coverage is the negative because normally you have a bunch of offensive linemen in there, guys that aren't normally used to going down and covering a kick there.

They're just there to block for an extra point or a field goal.

Right.

And so that's one of the negatives to that.

If you got somebody that can return that kick back there.

Yeah.

Here's a replay of it right here.

And it just kind of threw both of us by by just like that's.

Going oh seven yard field goal tip.

I tell you, we've got some great coaches in the state.

And between the guys you mentioned, Tommy Guillory and Buck James, those guys have been texting in because, I guarantee you and I were in anybody watching at home, they're like, what's.

Going on right now?

I've never seen that before, but obviously a lot of teams use it.

Here's a fourth down.

Arkadelphia is going to go for it.

And they worked at left side.

Tried to get in the hands of Finley.

And they're going to stop him after Brooks Williams comes up and makes the stop and deflects the ball away.

That ball was tipped before it got there.

That's why they're saying there wasn't the pass interference because the devil got there early.

But you see the linebacker right there tipped it and looked like Townsend got in.

Little early.

And hit the receiver.

That's what you heard from the Arkadelphia fans.

They were want pass interference.

But the ball was tipped by the linebacker.

So Elkins didn't get the football back.

First and ten from the 27 yard line.

On defense in this one so far.

Here's Napier gets around one defender and a throw down field.

And it's intercepted.

That time coming up with the interception again.

Was Braden Wagner.

The Badgers defense does it again.

Braden Wagner does it again I mean Wagner has been all over the field.

To what Napier took a lick.

He had to get rid of it.

Tried to force it in there.

So the ball's going to be at the 46 yard line in Arkadelphia territory with three minutes.

And 10s left here in the third quarter.

And defense for Elkins has been on the field a lot so far here in the second half.

So Bryson McCoy going to hand it off and his running back falls down.

That was Kyle Reed.

And he'll be about a three yard loss.

Just got tripped up there.

Is that the turf monster tripping over their own feet.

So it's second down and 12.

Passed out in the flats.

And here's a big play by Roberts.

He'll go down the left side.

One man to beat.

He'll walk in the end zone for a touchdown.

That was Ryan Roberts, who took it down the sideline to extend the Arkadelphia lead.

We'll watch the replay I think it was Purifoy who scored the first touchdown.

He delivers a great block.

And then it's just man oh man.

You beat one man.

You're gone.

He beats the man.

Takes it to the house.

He needed one block.

And he got that block right there.

Frees him up.

Beats that defender gone.

Cocksucker told us they knew they had the explosive plays.

He just wanted to get the running game going.

Couldn't get the running game going depend on the explosive plays.

They get their second explosive play of the game.

So Arkadelphia gets the extra point.

The rain starts to pour here at War Memorial in Arkadelphia.

Leads it 14 to nothing.

I just got a text, Wes.

You know, we've talked so much about Wagner and Braden Wagner for Arkadelphia and the defense.

Well, his dad is the D-line coach for the Henderson State.

Ready.

He's he's committed to go to Henderson State one.

Thank Scott Maxfield for sending that that one in.

But no wonder he's such a good defensive player.

His dad coaches defense at the collegiate level.

Well, he's also the wide receiver.

He's had 38 catches for 648 yards, ten touchdowns this season.

So that's what you can see on defense.

He can catch the ball.

He's not a defensive back that's over there because he can't catch it on offense.

And they put him on defense.

He's just a two way threat.

But we've seen his hands on defense today.

Let's head down the sidelines.

Check in with Tyler Cass.

Hey guys I don't know if you can say yet that that touchdown opened the floodgates on the scoring.

It did from the clouds, though.

It's now raining harder than it has all game long.

Pretty much from about 10s after that touchdown to now.

So we'll see if that puts a little damper on the explosive plays going forward.

Falcons just tries to ground it back.

Thank you Tyler.

Arkadelphia fans did not care.

One lick about that rain.

And for Elkins on their side it just made a miserable day for us.

Here's Walton on.

He's going to receive this kick.

He'll take it past the 30 to the 32.

And that's where Elkins will have it on the stop.

That time it was Amari Ford.

So West now you're down by two scores for Elkins Arkadelphia shut down the running game so far.

They've got to figure out some some intermediate passing or something to get back in this ballgame.

Yeah they hit on a couple pass plays to open the second half.

They gave them a little confidence but they got to protect the quarterback.

Here's Napier going to run with it.

This time.

He'll slide down at the 40 yard line.

Yeah that's been the biggest issue for Elkins.

He's Napier has been under all kinds of pressure.

And even on the last interception he took a big lick as he was getting rid of the ball.

And to hand it to Waldon straight ahead.

He's got the first down.

He'll fall for down to the 45.

They get a couple of first downs.

Move those chains.

Try to get a little something going.

Offense offensively get a little confidence going.

There's Hamilton on the stop now here's Napier going to look to throw again.

Comes right side in and out of the hands of Walden.

Got to look it in.

Got to really focus on making the catch on a day like today with it raining again sometimes.

Just take it for granted.

Trying to do too much.

So you've got a second down and ten.

For win the formation.

Napier comes back, left side in and out of the hands of his intended target, Isaiah Haywood.

Just a hair behind him.

Probably should have caught it still, but.

Hamilton came up to help knock that one away.

And so now you've got a third down and ten from the 45.

Can I hit him on the back shoulder that time?

That was a tight window.

Adelphia had him surrounded.

Third down and ten.

The ball slipped out of the hands of Napier.

It was almost intercepted.

They almost caught it in the air.

They're talking.

I don't know if they ever made a call on.

They're gonna say fourth down.

I thought it was still in his hand when his arm was moving forward.

Here's a good look at it.

Oh, that was that looked like an empty hand.

Almost caught it anyway.

And it wouldn't have mattered so.

Oh, I think I think it's a fumble.

Yeah.

They'll pop.

I think they'll look at this.

Right.

Well, Elkins did get back on top of it.

Oh yeah.

Yeah.

But the officials looks like they are going to get a whistle on this one.

Maybe reviewed.

Previous plays under.

Yeah.

So the boost signal down and they want to take another look at it.

But could change the spot.

Of the ball.

For fourth down.

Right now it's at the 40 who may look at this to see where if they do say it's a fumble, where do they recover this.

So you see right there.

And recovered it.

Right at the 40.

Elkins clearly jumped on it, but I think they got the spot right on this one.

Going back to the weather and how slick conditions have been, you see it right there.

But I mean, just going to go throw it in.

Just couldn't keep it in his hand.

Maybe they're looking at to see if it was possibly an incomplete pass because the ball was originally at the 45.

And so if they ruled incomplete it would bring they would move it five yards forward to be fourth and ten at the 45, because they marked it as a fumble.

I thought they ruled incomplete on the field, but no, they ruled fumble recovered by Elkins and spotted it at the 40.

I think they got it right on the field.

Oh, Arkadelphia almost came up with another interception.

And it was a defensive lineman that time that he was trying for it.

They're taking a long look at this one because I think you're right.

Where is it.

They may be looking at that at whether it was an incomplete or if it was a fumble.

I think, you know, my my here's the official replay feed that this is what the officials in the booth are looking at.

Caden Whittaker, almost as of right there.

He's falling down on the ground, losing his balance, trying to catch it.

That's a tough play for a defensive lineman.

By the way.

If you if you by the way this is DV sports.

This they do all the college stuff.

You if you look in the upper upper I guess the right hand side you can actually see how long the stoppage time for this review is.

So they know how long that they're, they're sitting here reviewing these plays.

And I think we've got an official call.

Ruling on the field of a fumble recovered by the offenses.

Confirm, please place 145 on the game clock.

I will start on my ready.

And so there we go.

They they're going to put it up a minute 25 on the clock.

It's going to be a fourth down and 15 for Elkins from the 40 yard line.

We've seen Elkins have some snap issues with the punt game.

Braden Wagner is going to be back deep at the 30 yard line between issues.

Brian pressure the game clock again.

The game clock fix right now.

They put it at 145 not 125.

You get a nice punt away.

Weidner is going to let it go and.

He'll be down at around the 22 yard line.

And that's where Arkadelphia will have it first and ten with a minute 30 left here in the third quarter.

It's a big drive for both teams.

Elkins needs a stop.

Their defense has got to do it once again.

They can't afford to go down three possessions with the minute 30 to go in this third quarter.

They need to get a stop, get the ball back in.

Their offense is hand and Arkadelphia knows like right here you get a good drive.

Another big play.

You go up 21 to nothing.

You feeling a lot better on that sideline.

So far and wide in the formation.

McCoy going to hand it off this to Hamilton.

And he may have gotten back to the line of scrimmage.

May have got a yard actually.

So now they're going to play second down and nine.

It was Martin who came in to make the stop.

Right now for Arkadelphia they're going to take as much time off the clock as possible.

As we're nearing a minute left here in the third.

Quarter there no hurry.

To check or even so, I look up at the scoreboard to see the play clock, and they kind of looking at each other right now.

I don't think he signaled.

There he goes.

He just signaled it in.

Down to eight on the play clock.

Hand it off again.

Now past the 30 yard line.

And that was Hamilton Connor Hamm there to make the two stop.

And that's very near a first down.

Just how good is that Elkins defense been today.

That's been one of their best runs.

And when they pick up about six seven they move the chains.

So he got eight.

So it's a first down and ten as they're going to spot the ball down at the 33.

They're going to run one more play.

They got 11 seconds left.

They're going to run this ball and go to the fourth quarter.

Going to hand it to Hamilton.

Right side.

Got about a yard on it.

That'll bring up second down.

And we will resume the drive after the quarter.

Change.

So as we end the third quarter of play Arkadelphia they lead it 14 to nothing over Elkins.

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Well, we start the fourth quarter playing.

These are the highlights from the first half.

West were seeing a lot of turnovers a lot of fourth down non conversions.

And I've seen two touchdowns from Arkadelphia here in the first half.

Jay Purifoy 57 yard catch from Bryce McCoy.

That came in the first quarter.

And then we didn't have any scoring in the second quarter.

And defense has been the story.

Arkadelphia with all the turnovers two interceptions two fumbles tackles for loss sacking the quarterback.

Badgers D the real deal today.

Here's another interception for Arkadelphia.

And finally here in the late in the third quarter Arkadelphia strikes again following the interception the second interception for Bryson Wagner.

And there it is one good block one good move.

And oh Ryan Roberts 56 yards to the house Arkadelphia leads it 14 to nothing to start the fourth quarter.

Hey by the way I asked that trivia question back in the third quarter.

Who holds the all time state record for most rushing yards in a game?

The answer that was John Bunch.

He had 608 yards of rushing in a game.

It was Elkins versus Winslow.

October 25th, 1974.

So here's Arkadelphia going to look to throw a.

Wide open man.

He's going to go up the left side.

It's another touchdown for the Arkadelphia Badgers.

They're blowing this one open.

Maddox Finley on the touchdown.

They ran that little bubble screen.

But it was a bubble screen fake.

And go.

Instead of blocking he just kept going down the field.

Caught Elkins off guard Elkins is trying to stop the bubble screen.

Slip him out.

Touchdown.

Third explosive play of the game for Arkadelphia.

On the kick is Seth Molinari.

Kick is up and it is good.

And with 1151 to play left here the game Arkadelphia.

They lead it 21 to nothing over Elkins in the ball game.

This is what we had a seven nothing halftime game.

And then Arkadelphia is just a little bit out of a time from his lead to 21 to nothing.

Maddox Finley 33 catches 367 yards on the season.

He is the backup quarterback.

He was in the competition for starting quarterback over the summer.

He won the starting wide receiver spot, makes the play in the state championship game, his seventh touchdown of the season.

And what a big win that was.

You know they go into the third quarter.

They had that extended break.

They talk about it.

They know what they want to do.

Coming out of the timeout.

They ran that fake bubble screen.

Perfect.

Just sucked Elkins up.

You saw three defenders up there.

He just ran slip past all of them.

Walked into the end zone.

After the kickoff.

We'll check in with Tyler Cass down the sidelines.

We've got 1151 to play left here in this one.

Molinari he's going to be on to kick for Arkadelphia.

And back deep.

You've got Jack Wall and James Townsend.

Kick off is going to be taken by Walden at the 23.

To get it up past the 35 and out to the 36 yard line.

Let's head down to Tyler Castle on the sidelines.

Tyler, you guys look at 2024.

You know that every time you come off the field, you watch it at home.

Last time around, though, of the Arkadelphia defense, they gathered around the screen.

Coach had nothing for him.

He just said offense did their part.

Just keep doing what you're doing.

Is the Badgers ready to trust their guys the rest of the way?

Thank you Tyler.

It's first down and ten with the ball at the 36 yard line.

Four wide receivers in the formation.

Boy going across the middle of the field.

He took a hit as he threw it.

And it's going to bring up a second down and ten.

Well now with the score being 21 to nothing, Arkadelphia defense knows Elkins is going to be throwing it a little bit more.

And they're just going to start teeing off winding up and getting after the quarterback.

They've had a hard time protecting Purifoy for much of the day, and now it's just going to be even more difficult because of the threat of the run.

Is it going to be as great.

So it's second down and ten.

Your boy pursuing Napier kind of look the throw comes right side in and out of the hands of his intended target.

That was Landon Martin, who had double coverage on the outside.

And that'll bring up third down and ten.

Martin one of their big play receivers.

He leads the team in touchdown receptions just off his hands.

So third down and ten with 1137 to play here in the fourth I'll say hello to my buddy Chad Perrier who's up in North Arkansas watching this on Arkansas PBS sports today.

Napier steps up and he's going to be taken down.

That time.

Arkadelphia only rushed three.

Rush three dropped eight in the coverage.

He's called a cover sack.

But you know what?

They were still able to get home pretty quickly with just three guys.

And it was Skyler McClure who came in to make the sack.

Takes the ball back to the 30 yard line.

It's a six yard loss and the punting unit is going to come on for Elkins.

I was looking at when I was doing my pregame chart.

McClure 11 sacks this season.

Campbell seven sacks.

Wimberley five sacks.

Williams six and a half sacks.

That's just their defensive line, those guys, they don't have to blitz.

Well, now they have some to blitz today.

And their linebackers all came into the game with, multiple sacks.

Campbell, Reese Campbell six sacks.

Kentavious Morris had seven sacks.

They get after the quarterback.

That's part of the thing they do at Arkadelphia.

And they have certainly made life miserable for Ben Napier today.

So it was fair caught at the 39 yard line.

Arkadelphia is going to have it as they lead it 21 to nothing.

You know McCoy has gotten a little bit more comfortable throwing the football there towards the end of the third quarter.

He's thrown two touchdown passes today.

The three now.

Are three now.

Yeah.

And I hand it off.

That is Hamilton know crossed the 40 out to the 41.

To work the clock.

Now.

On the tackle is Barasa.

He's gonna bring up a second down and eight.

He called his name several times today.

He's done a very good job right there in the middle of the defense.

Lining up over the ball.

20 on the play clock.

And Arkadelphia is just kind of standing around waiting for this one to tick down to second down and eight with the ball to 41.

And a hand it off to Hamilton using some nifty moves to try to get the first down.

He'll be very close.

But he make something out of nothing there, did he?

Yeah, yeah.

That's their third running back.

He's, had some playing time this season.

Moody was out with the broken thumb.

He kind of moved up to second team and he was patient.

Just waited for his offensive lineman.

Kind of nudged him out of the way.

Cut back and he's picked up eight.

About a half yard shy of the first down.

RJ with all these Arkadelphia fans are about to drive back down to our south on I-30 on west.

I guess they're Georgia.

Fourth out, a third down conversion.

They'll move the chains.

You got Bismarck fans on their way up here?

I was just in a video.

It was really cool.

It is, the fire department.

Police department?

They're giving an escort to the team busses as they leave Bismarck and get on the interstate.

And you're going to have a lot of people, coming back and forth on I-30 between Arkadelphia and Bismarck.

You know, and that's the three day game coming up here at 630 tonight.

But neither one of those teams have won a state championship before.

And it's it's a big thing down in both those communities.

And the video you showed, it looked like a community parade that was happening.

I bet I could send this video to the truck.

Yeah, we can put that on maybe here in the next, five minutes as Arkadelphia is trying to run out this clock.

Here's McCoy going to just throw it out of bounds.

Were you surprised.

A little bit.

Threw it there.

A little bit.

They were just about to start working this clock and handing it off.

Play after play after play and working the clock.

Oh yeah.

That kind of surprised me a little bit.

But.

So it's now second down and ten with the clock stopped at eight minutes and 46 seconds.

Now to throw it again into the flats into Purifoy.

And he's going to lose yardage on the play as Jeff Slaughter came in to make the stop.

Arkadelphia fans one horse caller.

He thought he grabbed him by the back of the jersey, had his hand his hand in there.

No call.

The good thing is they completed the pass.

They lost some yards with the clock.

It's still ticking for Arkadelphia.

I still am a little shocked that they're throwing the football on.

That was a pretty.

Safe.

Throw.

It was.

You should you should complete that one a high percentage of the time.

And if he breaks the tackle, move the chains, pick up another first down.

Well, he probably bet they're going to they're going to throw it right here on third down and 13 McCoy comes back.

Left side is intercepted.

It's intercepted.

Brought up.

Left side by Elkins.

Coming up with it for the Elks it was Dominic Morgan.

There is a penalty flag down at the 38 yard line.

Just an ill advised throw.

He threw it all the way across the field.

That ball was in the air a long time.

And actually the receiver wasn't that open.

And they what DB made a great play on it.

And luckily for Arkadelphia, the receiver kept after the play and got the tackle because there was nobody there to tackle the return.

First foul illegal blindside block earning team.

It'll be first down okay.

So the penalties against Elkins as they'll back it up all the way into their own territory.

They're going to put it down at the 47 right there.

You see the player down after the blindside block.

Looked like a possibly Elkins number 88 is a who I think I saw Bob Blitz with the penalty.

So here's Napier.

He's going to look to throw as a man at the 45 yard line that time.

Coming up.

Whether it was Landon Martin.

That was good job by Napier getting the ball getting it out of his hands quickly.

He had his mind made up.

Saw his receiver open it let it go.

Working to Walden and he'll be slung down behind the line of scrimmage.

It'll be about a three yard loss as Wimberley came in to lead the charge, the Badgers.

In the case of Wimberley.

Yeah, 62 tackles this season from his defensive line spot.

Got some penetration.

So third down and five Napier throws it.

That's Haywood.

He can't hold on to it.

Great coverage.

On Adelphia Ryan Roberts man he was right there and made it difficult to bring that ball in.

Now you've got a fourth down and five.

Clock stopped at 703.

Arkadelphia going looks like with three defensive linemen.

Napier on fourth down trying to extend the play.

Throws it and it's intercepted.

It's intercepted.

That time intercepted.

The football for Arkadelphia was Jacoby Campbell.

How about Campbell hustling from his defensive line spot.

How did he get where he was media time.

Extending the play out.

And he is actually the one that almost intercepted the ball.

When it fell out.

Of Napier's hands earlier.

To Jacoby.

He just rolls down, rolls down, goes to the coverage, sticks his hand up.

Look what I found.

It stuck.

We will have the rest of the fourth quarter when we come back.

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Hey, let's head down to Tyler on the sidelines real quick.

Tyler.

Hey, guys, want to introduce you to someone who's gotten plenty of play tonight.

The Alex Adelphia turnover chain.

We see plenty of these in this day and age.

They add something else.

You got the lock on there.

The message.

Pretty straightforward play locked out tonight as they look to a potential shutout in a state championship game.

Thank you Tyler as Arkadelphia with the football.

And Hamilton's going to run with it.

And he'll get back to the line of scrimmage.

May have actually lost a yard on the play.

Did back to the 46.

I just can't get over Jacoby Campbell.

That play he made from his defensive line spot.

He just was following the play following the play.

And then he got a little depth.

Witten to coverage and also sticks his hand out there.

And I think he's a little surprised he got the interception because he threw his hands out there.

And he goes oh look what I got.

And went out of bounds.

Fourth interception of the day for this Arkadelphia defense.

And they've recovered a fumble two.

Right two of two.

Of them.

So that's six turnovers wow.

Can't win a game.

It's hard to win any game with six turnovers.

Yeah.

Here is McCoy going to hand it off to Hamilton.

He'll work at left side gets a pass.

One big running lanes this time inside the 35 as he'll take it down to the 34 yard line.

Making the stop was Bob Blitz.

And it's a first down for the Arkadelphia Badgers.

Hamilton's been their best runner today.

He had the previous long run of ten earlier this half.

And that's now their best run of the day.

Hamilton hasn't lost any yards for Arkadelphia and he just finds a way.

Plows forward the bigger back.

So it's a first down and ten with the ball at the 34 yard line.

Down to 10s on the play clock.

McCoy's going to hand it off again to Hamilton.

He'll get past one defender and there's a host of Elkins Elks that came in to make the stop getting back to the line of scrimmage.

Davion Hall was the first one through for Elkins, and he disrupted the play and was able to slow down the big back play.

He ripped off his the little pouch there to keep his hands warm.

Yeah, he pulled it out.

He looked at like, think this is the football.

And he's like, what is this?

You know, what's crazy about this is I was just got a text from Chris Babb, who does a lot of sports information from for Arkadelphia, and he said that this is the first game all season that Hamilton's got even significant carries.

Most time.

It's 1 or 2 carries a game.

He's had a big day so far.

Second down and 11.

Low snap.

They're going to give it to him.

Bounces off one man.

It's going to be spiraled down after a couple of yard loss.

It was senior Williams who came in to make the stop.

The books Williams once again we've caught his name a lot right there at that middle linebacker spot.

He leads the team in tackles with 52 coming into the game.

And he filled the hole once again.

Came in and delivered a big blow.

Big knock and slowed down the running back once.

Apparently and starting running back Kyle Reed injured his his hand earlier in the game, but it's been injured for a couple of weeks.

So, that's part of the reason why we've seen Hamilton so much here in the, the second half of this ballgame.

Yeah, we haven't seen Moody at all.

Moody was their backup running back, and he's the one who broke his thumb earlier in the year and had the cast on with the defense play defense.

But he is back now and has played some running back.

But I don't see Moody with the carry today.

Yeah, he I think he lined up back there a couple times but they never handed it to him.

So it's one of those where you find a hot back.

Someone is productive.

And you know what?

He's he's a bigger back.

He's handled the wet turf a little bit better.

Ride that hot back.

Yeah.

That's he's been a bruiser too I mean he he he gets hit and just keeps churning.

So it's now third down and 13 with the ball at the 37 yard line.

A handoff to Hamilton again straight ahead.

He'll get about a yard on the play and bring up fourth down.

Walden came in to make the stop.

I'm out there second so I it's going to call their second timeout with four minutes and 31 seconds left.

So another low snap there.

Snapping has been an issue.

Holding on to the ball has been an issue.

We've had fumbles the interception.

Just a tough day.

I mean you just see the players all their jerseys are wet.

Coaches are wet.

Rain.

It looks like it's stopped for now.

So the question the West is how you got a fourth down and 12.

Do you line up in the field goal set to to punt this down.

Does it get it inside the the ten yard line.

Or do you just go for.

I think you go for it.

I mean, it's fourth down.

You know, you don't get the first down, you don't turn it over.

Stop.

You know, turn it over on downs.

Clock's going to stop anyway.

So I'm chucker.

I'm talking about throwing it, trying to pick up the first down.

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Well ball in there is going to line up to kick.

They do have a returner back right around the goal line.

And now we've got whistles.

And Coach Tucker didn't like something he called timeout.

He threw his hands up in the air.

You see the special teams coach out there also talking with the guys.

Maybe something with the formation.

He didn't like.

I don't see.

So you line him up and now look you and I were watching it.

I mean it's this a little bit long.

But he was kicking it for 45 and warm-ups and it was missing.

But he's got a good leg when when the ball is put on a team like that.

Not saying he's going to make it.

I'm just saying that he you you you put him down to around the ten yard line.

I don't know what they're doing.

I don't know if he's trying to kick it through the goalpost or if he's.

I'm telling the kid, hey, try to kick it out of bounds at the five.

Yeah.

Don't even let this returner get his hands on it.

Try to return.

We do not want to have to tackle him.

So Molinari is going to go back out there.

His shoulder.

Yeah.

This is this will be 53 yards.

It's not trying to make this.

Braden Wagner is the holder.

So they've got.

Got a man standing.

That's Townsend down at the three.

And here's the kick.

It's angled and it's going to go out of bounds at around the 67 yard line.

There you.

Go.

Mission accomplished.

That's how you fix it, right.

I mean you fix your punting situation.

Yeah.

You don't want them to have a chance to return it and just kick it out of bounds.

Well, they're going to say it went out of bounds a lot sooner.

And if they're going to mark it out of bounds.

12 yard line.

But either way it's going to be first and ten with 426 to play here in the game.

And Arkadelphia leading 21 to nothing.

Tough spot for Elkins to drive 88 yards against this Arkadelphia defense.

And you know you said it early.

Badgers want a shutout.

They've gone this far holding them off the scoreboard.

They've got a lot of pride on that defense.

They're not thinking about just winning this game.

They want they want to shut them out.

So here's Napier gonna look to throw and come back and find his receiver James Townsend.

And Townsend is going to be able to pick up four yards on the play.

Well not only that West, but now Elkins has led in scoring in class four for the last two years.

I mean, this is the team that they have done a good job putting points up on the board.

And they've been the top scoring team in for a and the fact that you could shut them out in the state championship game, you know, that means something to Arkadelphia.

With their defense swarming again just running throws like.

Napier going to throw down field.

And it's going to go out of bounds trying to hook up with Brad Walker.

That time Walker was actually open.

But because he was running for his life couldn't really set his feet and just kind of slung it out there, threw it out of bounds.

If he gets that anywhere, kind of close.

The quarterback was beat.

He was running trying to catch up and he just ran into the receiver.

And he's gotten a pass interference call.

And now you've got a third down and six.

Elkins is going to have 4 or 5 receivers in the formation.

Of Napier looking across the middle has a man that's Townsend.

He's got the first down.

He's going to go out of bounds at around the 25 yard line.

Arkadelphia just rushed three.

They drop eight in the coverage Townsend did a good job of just maneuvering finding a spot for his quarterback to give him the ball.

Just came all the way across.

Caught it.

Gets up field picks up the first down.

Will win the formation.

This time Napier is going to look to throw.

He's under pressure and he's going to be taken down.

Back at the nine yard line where he went down they're going to give us forward progress at the 11.

And that time we have Skyler McClure who came in applied the pressure in the sack.

I'm not sure how many sacks that is for McClure today, but he's got a couple right.

And he's been back there a lot.

He led the team in sacks coming into this game with 11.

And you've got a second down and 25.

Napier under pressure again.

He's going to be taken down again.

This time he'll be taken down back at the three yard line.

Four yard line.

They just moved up one.

So that was the job as Mooney who came in to make the sack.

And they will take it to a third down and 31.

They're just teeing off now.

See our guy Campbell.

Jacoby Campbell got it.

Got in there.

He may have picked up a half a sack to.

Here's a snap.

He'll take it in the end zone.

Throws right side.

The only receiver that was close was Isaiah Haywood.

And that'll bring up fourth down.

But they try to roll the pocket that time.

They roll him out left.

Try to give him some room to throw.

But still Arkadelphia breaks through and gets to the quarterback.

And it was McClure again McClure almost got him in the end zone.

He had just get rid of it.

So now Elkins is going to it's a fourth down and 31.

Napier just went down.

He was just squatting down.

He's just got worn out taking so many hits.

He just squatted down.

Try to catch his breath for a second.

And go for it on fourth down and set up an inside tunnel screen.

It's in the hands of Townsend and he'll slip down just shy of the 15 yard line.

And it was Braden Wagner who came up to make sure he didn't go any further.

And it'll be a turnover on downs.

And Arkadelphia will have the ball at the 14.

I know the name of MVP for the game.

Defense is the MVP for Arkadelphia right?

Yes a Braden Wagner.

Yeah I mean if you have to intervene between him and either Skyler McClure.

They have done a great job of keeping this Elkins team off the scoreboard.

All the turnovers, the sacks, the tackles for loss.

This is just been a great performance from the defense.

Look Bryce McCoy is going to have three touchdown passes in this game.

But the defense was outstanding.

Here's a running play into the end zone.

Touchdown for Arkadelphia.

That's their big.

Man.

They lined up.

I couldn't quite see his.

Number on the 56.

Looks like 56.

That's Wimberley that's what I thought.

And he was able to take it to end into the end zone for a touchdown Arkadelphia extends their lead to 27.

Nothing.

Not Kason Wimberley.

First man through him.

It was shifty.

Kind of went in sideways kind of get trying to get small to get through the hole.

Then he squares up his shoulders gets behind his pads.

You know Jones kind.

Of does a little hop over somebody.

Look at him.

He you know, he's excited about scoring a touchdown in the state championship game as his team leads it 28 to nothing.

Let's head down the sidelines and check in with Tyler Castle.

Yeah guys you have no idea how much the sideline just exploded when I guess the Wimberley score is down.

How did you solve so much?

What happens on the defensive end of the ball?

Get him a store there at the end of his senior year.

Man.

So much for this team.

Thank you.

Tyler 230 left here in the fourth quarter as Arkadelphia.

They lead it 28 to nothing.

Look at that young man.

Boy he is he is excited to be able to get in this state championship with a touchdown.

Student section happy about.

Where he ended up.

I know it.

I can't tell if it's smeared from the rain or if it came like that.

Kudos to them.

It's not actually the warmest day now.

Don't forget Arkadelphia came out with no shirts on to start the starts pre-game.

Molinari is going to kick this one off.

A short kick.

It's going to hit down at the 31.

And for Elkins coming up with it was Davion Hall.

And don't have the football at the 30 yard line.

Very fortunate bounce for Elkins.

The ball bounces crazy.

Arkadelphia is all around it to recover.

Well now if you're Napier in this offense it's just all about moving the football.

They have just they have not been able to move the football all day today.

Almost waved the white flag and just hand it off a couple of times for my big back.

But to wall and get a couple carries.

Here's Napier going to look to throw.

And they give it in the hands of Walton on a screen.

And he'll be taken down after getting a couple of yards on the play.

It was Malachi Hamilton who came in to make the stop.

We talked about the speed of this Arkadelphia defense earlier in the game.

And that was a great example.

A little screen had blockers out there.

Looked like they had a little something.

And then Malachi Hamilton just chases it down.

Makes the tackle great.

Open field tackle just the speed right there.

What we're talking about.

So it's second down and eight for clock running.

And we've got a penalty flag.

I think Elkins moved.

That right off.

Five-Yard penalty still second down.

My mind after talking with the coaches this week I thought we're going to have a defensive battle a little lower scoring game but I just I didn't see 28 nothing.

You know I thought it would be you know each team around 17 or so.

And.

Just a defensive battle.

And it was Arkadelphia defensive outshone the Elkins defense.

Here's Napier trying to throw it to Townsend.

And it's incomplete now.

And really it just it almost seems like Arkadelphia when they scored there in the third quarter it almost broke the will of Elkins.

Because that when they score off that that long run down the sidelines, something changed with both the defense for Arkadelphia and the offensive of Elkins.

And Arkadelphia has got a great team.

The biggest issue for them, they had two non-conference losses that I think some of the voters in the state and some of the fans in the state said, well, they got two losses.

Arkadelphia well, it was two bigger schools, a good Lake.

Hamilton team early in the season in non-conference play, and they lost the camp to Fairview, also a bigger school that that was a playoff team.

They had a really good team.

And so I think some people look at that and say, well, they got two losses.

And then you look at Elkins and they're undefeated at 14 at home.

But I think some of the injuries that Elkins suffered throughout the year finally caught up to them against a very good team.

Was MVP just announced?

Oh, yeah.

Whoo hoo!

Nailed it.

Braden Wagner now Braden Wagner is.

Here's Napier is going to run it to the near side.

And he'll go out of bounds at the 32 yard line.

Wagner had six tackles two interceptions and the pass broken up.

I'm gonna say what it feels like.

He did a lot more than that.

I don't remember West.

And you know, I've been doing these games for a while.

I don't remember the MVP being defensive when the last time a defensive player got the MVP in a state.

Championship, he does play offense.

Too.

Yeah, the award is what he did.

Defensive.

Yeah I was trying to pull up his his stats.

For.

Offense.

Number of catches.

I've seen.

With 80 maybe he didn't have.

And I don't think he had much on offense.

It was a lot of a lot of defense that he had today.

So Arkadelphia with the football.

And they're going to go in the victory formation.

And he'll take a knee.

And that'll just wind the clock.

Well they said the official scorekeeper said he didn't have a catch.

So we're down to a minute left in this one.

Arkadelphia is going to move their record on the season to 13 and two.

They stayed undefeated.

And for a conference play Elkins is going to fall to 14 and one.

And they will go to seven and one in for a conference play.

And there's a knee.

Down to 35 seconds.

The last state championship for Arkadelphia came in 2018.

They went back to back in 17 and 18.

We talked about it earlier for a lot of these starters.

They were in middle school.

They were fifth and sixth graders.

Whenever they when Arkadelphia last won a state championship.

But in 2024, the Badgers are headed home with a state title.

Trey sugar and his team have got a state championship coming back to Clark County.

So your final score in this one Arkadelphia.

They win it 28 to nothing.

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Well, there it is.

The Arkadelphia Badgers hoist the 2024 state championship trophy as they win the class for a state championship.

Graduations the Badgers, they move to 13 and to on the season.

Well, well, this was, as we've talked about, a defensive performance between the both these two teams, a team that we didn't expect to begin this season, to get to this point.

But they got better and better as the year went on.

Also get the final stats for this one as, really 246 passing yards on a wet day for Arkadelphia.

And 296 total yards of offense.

What I circled for Elkins was 73 plays for 124 yards.

Now that's a dominant defense for Arkadelphia.

They had 11 tackles for a loss five sacks, four interceptions two fumbles recovered.

So six turnovers on this Arkadelphia for this Arkadelphia defense five sacks 11 tackles for loss.

That's outstanding.

And Arkadelphia had one penalty all day long.

So they play pretty clean.

You remember that one penalty was on that facemask in the second quarter.

Like that's their first penalty.

Well that turned out to be their only penalty of the game.

And then when you look at all when it said done Bryson McCoy the quarterback for Arkadelphia 15 to 37 one interception.

But three touchdowns 246 yards like you said.

But three explosive plays Jake Purifoy 57 yard touchdown catch, a Ryan Roberts 56 yard touchdown catch.

And Maddox Finley, 65 yard touchdown catch.

So they're three touchdowns early on.

Besides the very last touchdown from Marquis Sam Wimberley, the 14 yard run for the big defensive lineman, that was kind of the nail in the coffin.

But it was the big plays for Arkadelphia on offense, and that's what Coach Schuchard told me.

He said, look, we know we to get the big explosive plays on offense, but we want to be able to run the ball.

They couldn't run it that much today, but they can depend on that defense and you just saw it time after time.

That's the first explosive play from Jake Purifoy.

57 yard score.

Made it seven to nothing in the first quarter.

And really that's all they needed because the defense did their job the rest of the way.

There's your MVP right there right.

He comes up with another big play.

Bryant.

Braden Wagner had two interceptions.

There's the second interception for Wagner.

And he's been named the MVP of the state championship game.

That's the second big play from Ryan Roberts 56 yards.

And then they hit Maddox Finley on the little fake bubble screen.

And Finley goes 65 yards.

And then the final touchdown that keeps them.

Wimberley the big defensive lineman 14 yard touchdown run is the sideline erupted.

They were so happy to see him get into the end zone.

But Arkadelphia pitches a shutout in the state championship game against an Elkins team that was averaging 48 points per game, and they shut them out.

Let's head down with the winning head football coach Tyler Cass has three shocker.

Yeah coach look at this Elkins team.

One of the most prolific offenses the last couple of years.

What can you say about your defense a shutout in the state title game.

Man, it's just huge, you know?

You know, I said at the beginning of the year and, in a in a preseason interview, I thought we had the best defense in for a and, man, they showed up and showed out tonight.

Just our defense carried us all game long.

Our offense struggled at times, but our defense was consistent.

We had consistent pressure on the quarterback, and our DBS came to play, and, we had a lot of turnovers.

I think we had four or 5 or 6 turnovers on the night.

Just huge, huge defensive performance, by our guys.

Our coach did a great job getting, our defense prepared.

And we were ready to play nasty morning weather wise.

Look at Arkadelphia still out bringing a title back to them.

What does that mean, man?

It's huge.

Just the community, for our school district, for our program continues to bring another title back.

Hang on, hang another banner.

Just so proud of our guys.

So, so proud of our staff, so proud of our players.

It's all the support that we've got.

This is what you get when you got the support.

Like, we've got Arkadelphia with the community, the admin, and the school.

It's just it's just a special time to be a badger.

And we're we're happy that we could, bring home the state championship trophy today.

Been through some heart.

You get to send them off state champs.

What's that mean to you, man?

I'm just so proud of them.

And so happy for, how far they've come, you know, you know, our senior class, very strong group of seniors for us.

Very good young man.

You know, the only thing I can hope is that they use this as a way to continue being successful in life.

You know, don't let this be the the most successful thing that they ever do.

And I'm I'm sure that that will not be the case.

Our guys are our smart guys, very well-rounded young men.

And, man, just so proud of how far they've come, though.

All right, let's celebrate now.

Congrats, coach.

Thank you.

Tyler, is this team wins it by a final score of 28 to nothing.

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

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

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Well, let's go back down to the field.

Tyler Cass has got tonight's MVP Brayden.

Wagner at right.

It's a grab a state title to close things out I mean just how special is this group.

It's just so special.

Know I'm not from here.

I just moved here two years ago.

And these guys, they brought me in, they made me feel welcomed.

And every day just come to practice and work hard.

Really hard for this.

And I'm so blessed that it played off a zero on the board for the defense in a state championship game.

How big was that for you guys?

Oh, that's really big.

We were able to, you know, just disrupt their offense and turn the ball over.

How many turnovers have six.

Maybe.

I mean it's crazy.

And it wasn't just one person.

We had a ton of guys making plays seeing the whole town out here.

You guys get that trophy I mean just getting to close things out as state champs.

What does that mean to this whole group?

It's just so special.

You know we've came up short, left them short of the Pat their sophomore year and freshman year.

And they're all right.

They fit the music and let you go and celebrate with you guys.

Congrats man.

Thank you Tyler is that is the MVP.

Brayden Wagner for tonight's or the today's state championship game in class for a well West.

You know what?

We're not done.

But it's kind of a sad thing because we've only got one high school football game left in the state, and that's coming up tonight at 630, in fact.

Well, you you mentioned it a minute ago.

It's going to be Bismarck and Salem.

But the line of people here it is.

That's the line out of Bismarck.

You got firefighters, you got policemen.

They're all given the police escort down to War Memorial Stadium right now.

Our buddy Bob Clawson, sent me that video.

He was on the side of the road, pulled over.

There's a team busses, Bismarck on the way to War Memorial Stadium, and the whole town of Bismarck showed out.

He said it was just lined full of cars honking their horns.

Just wishing the team good luck as they head up to War Memorial Stadium.

That is a that is a really cool scene.

And you know what?

You will be able to watch everything right here on Arkansas PBS coming up tonight at 630.

It'll be the last game of the state championship here at the stadium will be class three.

And well, your final in this one.

Arkadelphia.

They hoist the trophy.

They're taking it back to Arkadelphia with a 28 to nothing win over Elkins for Tyler Cass Westmore I'm RJ Jayhawk until tonight for class three.

You've been watching the Centennial Bank state football championships on Arkansas PBS sports.