AR PBS Sports Football State Final - 4A

It is a beautiful night for the final championship game here in Little Rock at the 40 state championship game between Harding Academy and River Crest 11 one.

I'm R.J. Hawke along with Wes Moore.

And we've got a heck of a matchup tonight Wes here in the A game between Harding Academy who's 14 and own River Crest who's 12 and two.

Two teams that are very much alike.

They've both battled injuries throughout the year and they both meet here in the championship.

Earlier today, we watched Boonville win a state title after losing in the title game last year.

Tonight, Harding Academy will try to do the same thing they lost last year against Malvern and tonight they will try to get the 10th straight.

Our ten state championship in school history.

They've been here five years in a row.

That's pretty incredible for a program to be in the state title game five years in a row.

And if you think about this Harding Academy team, they have not lost again.

The only loss that they've had in the last two years was in the finals last year.

And that's pretty impressive between and really a few.

And we'll get more into this here in a minute.

But Owen Miller, the quarterback for Harding Academy, you and I were talking about this prior to going on.

He has not thrown an interception this year.

He's 45 touchdowns to zero interceptions.

That's almost unheard of.

It is absolutely incredible.

We had to double check with the Harding Academy radio crew to make sure that was correct, that that stat wasn't a misprint.

But River Crest, you look at them, this is their 11th state final.

So these are two teams that are used to being deep into the playoffs.

So it should be a great matchup tonight.

Well, we are just about getting ready, set to go as it's Harding Academy and River Crest.

When we come back, we will look at players to watch and how they got here.

You're watching the Centennial Bank State football Championships on Arkansas.

PBS Sports.

Hi, I'm Lydia Boston, and thank you for tuning in to create TV.

I love being part of a channel that feeds your passion for cooking.

Thanks for joining me in the kitchen today.

I'll drink to that.

That's good.

Remember, it's your cue that may create possible.

Show your support today and donate to your local public television station that's here.

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

You know, you think of the 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.

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

The commitment it takes to be a winner on the field is the same as the commitment.

Centennial shows its customers patience, perseverance, committing it and resilience are key ingredients for success, both on and off the field.

Whether you're cheering on your home team or needing encouragement, starting a new business, let Centennial Bake help you make plans for your future Centennial.

For all of life's moments, remember FDIC, when hands are starting to make their way into war.

Memorial Stadium for this one as we're going to have a good one between Harding Academy and River Crest Harding Academy 1401, the year, River Crest 12 and two.

Well, let's look at how both these teams got here.

And we'll first start with Harding Academy.

And it all started with that big blowout win against Gentry 42 to nothing in that first game.

And then you move down the bracket, you take on a malvern team, you win that game 5834, then went on to Ashdown, 42 to 14, and then Elkins last week, which was a game of the ages 4127 between Elkins and Harding Academy.

And that's how Harding Academy got here.

And really, we talked about just a minute ago, West Owen Miller is the reason why they are here.

That really good quarterback.

He's completed 77% of his passes this season for 3400 yards, 45 touchdowns, zero interceptions and he can run it, too.

He has almost 800 yards rushing and 11 more touchdowns.

So.

and Miller is responsible for 56 touchdowns this season.

Now, let's take a look at those River Crest Colts because they do they, too, have an impressive postseason run so far, too.

Shutouts in the postseason.

And it all started with Meno when they won that game 36 to nothing.

Then they took on Gravett won that game 42 nothing good.

Matchup then came with Arkadelphia 36 to 12 last week against Warren 2414 and that's how they got here to war Memorial Stadium and another good player to watch throughout this game West is Coby Turner.

Their running back rushed for 268 yards and two touchdowns last week deep defeating ward for the year 1600 yards rushing 24 touchdowns.

They're going to want to get Coby Turner going tonight.

How about the defense for River Crest?

You just mention two shutouts.

They held Arkadelphia to 12 points, Warren to 14 points, twice six points in four playoff games.

That's less than seven points a game.

Pretty self defense on the season.

They're only giving up 16 a game.

Harding Academy Academy's giving up 17 so it on it we'll see who wins offense or defense tonight this one both have great offense as well Hey when you have a great team you also have a great third man.

And our great third man is Kyle Duck mom who's down on the sidelines tonight.

Kyle, What's up, buddy?

What's up, guys?

Great to be with you, as always.

For one final game of it's been two fantastic state championship weekends.

Hey, tonight on the back of the Harding Academy helmets, you will see a helmet sticker.

It's a heart with the letter R. Here's the reason the R is for Ruby.

The three week old daughter of the Harding Academy offensive line coach and the younger brother of head coach Neal Evans.

I'll 11 and his wife, Mary Ruby, was born with a congenital heart defect discovered after birth, and she has been at Children's Hospital.

Safe to say the family has been there as well over the last couple of weeks.

And how about this, guys?

On Thursday, after the Harding Academy Wildcats practice here at more and more stadium, the entire team went over to nearby Children's Hospital for a bit of support.

I believe we have the picture and we can show you just how neat that is and I can update you guys a little bit of a good update.

I talked to Kyle Evans this evening before the game.

Ruby underwent surgery yesterday.

Safe to say there is still a long way to go, but certainly fingers crossed on the road to recovery and perhaps all the motivation the Wildcats need tonight.

Guys.

Thank you, Kyle.

And that's a great picture they just showed right there, the team as they went and saw her.

And we wish her nothing but the best as she moves through her recovery.

Let's go out and take a look at tonight's weather for this game.

As you know, we were talking about in the noon game, absolutely perfect conditions and tonight's really no different.

Starting the game in the low 60 is going to get down to lower fifties by the in the kickoff.

But West it's kind of crazy to think we're in December and we've got some really good football conditions like this.

I looked at my weather app and it was 65 degrees during the three day game today.

In fact, we had a player cramp up during the game.

So it is beautiful.

December weather.

I found an interesting river.

Chris won the toss and they said we want the ball.

Yeah.

And so it will be interesting to see what they do with that.

You try to strike first early in this one river crest wearing their all red uniforms with red helmets and white trim party academy coming out with the all white uniforms trimmed in red.

So we have a good when you see the crowd piling, a good crowd on hand for both these two teams.

Harding Academy is the visitor in this one river crest, the home of the home team.

In this one, here come the River Crest Colts as they make their way onto the playing surface to the west.

Let's go ahead and look over the keys of the game When he got his start with Harding Academy first.

Good look at the Wildcats as they get ready to run out onto the field.

You know, we mentioned Coby Turner.

They've got to stop Kobe Turner.

This is a offense that wants to run the ball to be successful.

Harding Academy has to stop.

Coby Turner and I think also they can establish a run game.

We we haven't really talked about it but Isaac Baker, the starting running back for Harding Academy will not play in this game.

He has a broken collarbone.

Baker rushed for almost a thousand yards this year.

He also had almost 800 yards receiving.

So he was a dual threat guy.

They're going to have to establish the running game river Kris loves to blitz, and so they've got to be able to pick up the blitz.

That's the defense for the Colts.

They're going to come after the quarterback.

Got to stop that.

And as I said, you got to slow down, Thomas and can't forget about rain or either.

And that's a wide receiver that catches it and he'll also run with it.

Soft keys for River Crest tonight.

Well, these guys are going to have to control the ball.

The best defense against Harding Academy is to keep that offense over there on the sideline.

So if River Crest can just run the ball, control the clock, keep that offense off the field, that'll be a win.

Got to stop.

Hoover.

That's the best receiver for Harding Academy.

Tyler Hoover, 69, catches 1100 yards receiving 13 touchdowns and he's going to take care of the ball tonight.

River crest there quarterback Javonte Washington done a good job and he's still 12 interceptions they cannot throw interceptions tonight or put the ball on the ground so Griffen Thomas the kicker is going to line things up from the 40 yard line back deep for River Crest.

You're going to have Michael Raynor, Kobi Turner and Tech one son Sanders.

Those will be in the deep man for the River Crest Colts.

We're just about ready to go.

Glad to have you along, wherever you may be across the state of Arkansas for this one.

It's the four day state championship game between Harding Academy and River Crest, as one of these two teams will be crowned a48 champion and win the Knights over.

And we've got kick off and it will be returned from the five yard line.

Tyler Hoover has it.

He'll walk it up.

The left side has running lanes still going, has one man to beat and he steps out of bounds.

Great returns.

He'll take it into Harding Academy territory.

That was actually Michael Raynor who returned that one up the left side.

And so river crest going to have great field position to start this ball game.

I think you saw right there the win.

That's something we haven't talked about.

GRIFFIN Thomas was kicking into the wind.

Thomas has 78 touchbacks this season.

Huge leg and not even Griffin Thomas could get that into the end zone with this big win that's blowing left or right on your TV screen.

So River Crest is going to come out as Coventry Washington has the quarterback 65% passer 1853 yards passing 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

He's going to love to go big ball first play of the game and he'll overthrow as intended target that time as he was trying to hook up with Michael Raynor and not to harp on it, but you just saw the wind again.

That ball sailed in the air, went a good five seven yards pass.

This receiver receiver had a step on the quarterback but got the excitement, you know, the adrenaline flowing and then combine that with the big win, that ball just flew a long way second down and ten Toby Turner, the running back said to the right of Washington looking to throw comes down into the flats He had a wide open man down the middle of the field but that time trying to hook up with Boota Harris is wide receiver and bust Boston coverage.

That river crest had a receiver running all alone right down to see I mean nobody went with Jason Young.

You couldn't be any more wide open and that's a touchdown all you have to he can lob that up make sure you don't overthrown him he could under thrown in about 15 yards and he still would have scored that brings up a third down and ten under way here in the first quarter.

He has given to Washington and go up to the offensive line to change the call and emotion as Williams hand it off.

Turner had a small running lane, but that was it.

Two yard pickup that'll bring up fourth down.

Yeah, I think that was the play there that's setting up fourth down.

I think that tells me right there they are going to go for it on fourth down.

They were trying to make it fourth and manageable.

They picked up two yards.

So that was just they were just trying to chip away a little bit.

So they're kind of a combination tackle.

But Timothy Roberts was there, the first man there, Wyatt Lancaster, on to punt for River Crest surprises me a little bit.

I figured on 1310, when you run it like that, that means you've already told your own.

See, you're the head coach knows I'm going to go for on fourth down Academy didn't put anybody back.

It was a low point.

That'll take a river crest roll inside the 15 and be down at the 14 yard line.

And so that's where Harding Academy will have it first and ten from the 14 yard line for their first drive of the ballgame.

I'm a little shocked, like you or Wes, I thought, you know, running it there on third and ten to set them up for a fourth down play.

But either way, they're going to pin Harding Academy back at the 14 yard line.

Now they can see if they can stop this potent offense.

This is a fun offense to watch.

They put up a lot of points all season long, including the playoffs.

There's the stats on and Miller 77% completion percentage over 3400 yards passing they'll have three wide receivers in the set he'll do a throwback this time has a man all alone at the 30 and he'll be swarmed under at the 36 yard line, making the reception that time for Harding Academy it was wide.

Simmons Yeah, the future Razorback, the Razorback commit just leaked out of the backfield, throws it back and just kind of goes against the grain.

Everything's going back to the right and they forget about why on first down they fumbled.

But Owen Miller's right there to pick it back up.

He's going to work around the right side, got around the block and was able to get positive yardage.

It just kind of fumbled the snap, the exchange with the back and look, that's a great bounce for Harding Academy.

He was trying to pull it out of there and the running back did one.

And that's Trent Hall.

There you go.

It's our first kind of glimpse of trying to replace Isaac Baker.

And you got the running back in there.

We create a little bit of a problem knocking down seven and Miller just going to run with it.

He'll step out of bounds.

Got a yard, maybe two yards out of it.

That'll bring up third down job by the secondary.

Everything was pretty much covered up and the offensive line did a fantastic job of blocking.

He had plenty of time to throw, but then there wasn't that running room.

I thought the Colts did a good job of just surrounding Miller and he had a step out, right?

Not much of run third down and six.

Miller rolls to his left trying to find somebody working with his legs.

Now a run for the first down.

He'll slide down at the 50 over, picked up the first down.

But boy, he did a lot of run and he came to the nearside and had to go back.

And he did get the first down though Miller's rushed for 779 yards this season, so he is a willing runner.

We've seen that the last three plays just taking off and nice hit there at the end right before I guess he took that slot.

You're not supposed to hit the quarterback when he goes into that slide but blue flag.

So first down and ten from the 50 yard line go Miller Wildcat.

No that was actually Wyatt Simmons who took it out of the Wildcat and he took it past the 45 down to the 44 and that time they put Miller out formation as a wide receiver, direct snap to Simmons.

Yeah, Big back just takes off and runs with it.

I've seen a lot of highlights this year go one situation and nil but Wyatt Simmons carried the ball this time they do it at midfield he picks up six backing down and four three receivers going to set to the topside.

That's the trouble We've got whistles and penalty flying the ball.

I want to be in.

I'll start off in.

We heard his microsecond then he turned it off.

Well I think that you know these guys use the the earpieces and the microphones.

I think you hit the wrong button.

I think he was trying to talk to the crew and he talked to everybody in the stadium.

So it brings up a second down to nine with the ball at the 49 yard line.

Three receivers on the top side of your screen, one to the near Jimmy, two to the near side.

Now they're going to flip it over and they're going to move a receiver down to the bottom part of your screen.

Short pass.

They work it back into the hands of city.

Things got a running lane and he'll get knocked out of bounds inside the 30 yard line down to the 28.

Just a nice wide receiver screen blockers out there.

They pick up a couple of key blocks for city and he picks up a first down working quickly goes Hardy academy 858 to play in the quarter and I hand it off and I'm much running room right there as all is going to be taken down and so that will bring up a second down and nine it's pretty much a horse collar tackle but not a horse called but grabbed him up by the neck.

Jab against makes the tackle up high throws running back down second down and nine Owen Miller's alone in the backfield Look the throw going big ball across the middle of the field has a man all alone in the end zone Touchdown That was Kyle Hoover coming over beat man to man coverage beat it easily only chance defensive back that was to try to undercut it knock it down But the throw for Ola miller was on the money over the top of the secondary the defender and just like that Hoover and Miller strike once again Hoover had 13 touchdowns this season.

Make it 14.

What a game just about Griffin Thomas on to kick the extra point 78 of 82 on extra points this year because up and it is good and with 823 to play in the first quarter Harding Academy they lead seven or nothing.

You're watching the Centennial Bank state football championships on Arkansas PBS sports.

We all know the best ways to take care of our teeth, like brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.

But there's another small thing you can do that protects your teeth in a big way.

If you or your child is involved in contact.

Sports wearing a mouth guard is important to protect teeth, mouth guards, cover teeth and gums to prevent and reduce injury to teeth, lips and gums.

There are several varieties of mouth guards, so you can find one that is affordable.

If these it is a mouth guard, should fit properly, be durable and easy to clean and not restrict speech or breathing.

Talk with your dentist about which mouth guard is best for you or your child's needs.

At Delta Dental of Arkansas, we are proud to be the champions of your smile.

For more helpful oral health tips and information, visit WW w dot Delta Dental Air dot com OC Frisby.

Let's remember it's one bark for true and no barks for Falls Arkansas PBS is Arkansas largest classroom for frisbee didn't eat my slippers finds me how come you know I'm sorry Miss House I was going to tell you, but it slipped my mind.

Please don't let it slip your mind and donate to Arkansas PBS Today Book.

The Arkansas Department of Health is proud to support Spotlight and celebrate Arkansas student athletes and Arkansas.

PBS Ford Escape Survey.

Learn more about the hazards of vaping at Project Prevent Dawg.

Here is the kick off and and it will be taken down at the one yard line and brought up by Raynor and he's going to get it out to the eight team He'll be taken down right there is coming up with the stop for Harding Academy that was Josiah Jones Hill and so that will be where River's River crest has at first and ten from the 18 yard line.

Eight plays 86 yards on that last drive for Harding Academy.

Well that was very efficient clicking right down the field and the River Crest Colts going to have to make some adjustments because Harding Academy can throw it.

And if you didn't know it, Owen Miller's a good quarterback, good touch on the ball.

They're going have to focus on shutting that down Washington going to look to throw as it was, he was trying to hook up with Budda Harris and went off his hands.

But good coverage that time and he'll bring up second down on the coverage for Harding Academy.

That was Jack City he did it again.

Yeah big play on offense that time he was beat probably a couple of yards behind but the quarterback under threw it a little bit and that allowed city to get back knocked the ball away so that brings up second down and ten it's going to have four wide receivers in the formation want him back is going to be Coby Turner Hill line up to the left of Washington Washington rolling under pressure and it's intercepted taken that time by Wyatt Simmons and he'll be taken down at the ten yard line.

Simmons is sitting there in that zone coverage quarterback tries to throw back don't throw back across the field wide Simmons trailing if it's not for the big offensive lineman and the quarterback Wyatt Simmons is going to score right there give a little credit to Timothy Roberts he's the one who put the pressure on the quarterback calls the ill advised throw and watch out river Chris Harding Academy Academy's at the ten ready to make this a 14 nothing game Those numbers for Wyatt Simmons who will be headed to the University of Arkansas.

He needs to get a quick breather because he runs the ball a lot down here inside the red zone.

I would be surprised to see ten back in the game.

As soon as he catches his breath so hard, the academy will have it at the ten yard line.

and Miller brings a man of motion as he's going to give it to Hall.

Who's going to make it inside the ten.

And he'll be taken down at the eight yard line by the hall.

He had 24 carries coming into this game.

Yeah, he's just stepping in, coming over from his defensive side to play.

Running back for the injured, Isaac Baker being asked to do a lot on Miller and do something with his legs and he'll get thrown out of bounds after picking up a couple of yards.

He's going to be slowing down at the seven yard line.

Kylin Sanders came over that time, made the tackle, threw him out of bounds.

MILLER He that time we've seen him be a willing runner.

That time I thought he could have taken off a little sooner, but he was wanting to throw it on that play.

He was hoping his receiver in the end zone would break open, get free.

I just never could shake the defender.

So reluctantly that time he took off and picked up a yard ball at the seven yard line.

Five receivers in the formation that Miller throwing right has a man.

He'll catch the ball and walk in the end zone untouched.

Coming up with it was Jack city boy they set that up perfectly had blockers count them 1 to 3 for blocker he wasn't touched he goes in untouched.

you got to deliver that ball could walk into the end zone making it look easy so on to kick the extra point is going to be Griffin Thomas and the kick is up and good and Hardy academy with 732 to play here in the first quarter they lead it 14 to nothing Boy this office recording Academy has been really really good in this opening press by city I think he's the holder also that snap was low kind of came in on the ground.

He was able to scoop it up, get the hold down.

But he's already made play on defense.

He's got two receptions, one for a touchdown.

So a great start for him and for these Wildcats.

Three plays, ten, ten yards and 31 seconds.

That's pretty impressive.

One of the keys to the game.

Take care of the ball.

River crest is failing at that right now.

Our care is proud to sponsor Arkansas.

PBS Sports.

The art care network of medical clinics and pharmacies helps to keep you in the game playing your best our care so you can live your story.

732 to play left here in the first quarter 14 nothing morning academy and later we'll check in with Carl Decker while I'm here on the sidelines here in a moment.

But really if you're river crest I mean I think you got to panic, but you got to find some rhythm or something with their offense.

you struggle offensively.

You got to get back to the basics.

And to me, the basics for this team is running the ball.

I would make sure Coby Turner touches it at least twice in this possession.

See if you can't get that big back going.

Ball's going to go out of bounds at around the seven yard line.

And so River Crest is going to get pretty decent field position for their third drive of the ballgame.

On the kicking team.

I will be placed at the 35.

First down.

There's a look at the bar at our officials for tonight's game and before this drive, we'll check in with Kyle Duck Obama on the sidelines.

Kyle Go, guys.

How about Wyatt Simmons as advertised, a big linebacker number ten for this hardy camp defense that we've talked about, a lot.

Wes, you alluded to the fact that he is a future Razorback, but such an amazing story.

You go back last year, he's first as a linebacker.

He had no offers outside of his dad, who, by the way, had a pretty good day up in Searcy.

Wyatt had no social media even.

He publishes one video of him playing linebacker.

And I urge you to go scroll through social media from like May 9th through 20th over the summer, and look at all the offers that started pouring in after that one video.

I mean, you talk about bursting onto the scene, 14 Power five offers.

Coach Evans calls him one of the fastest linebackers he's ever seen.

And in this era of denial and shiny things, guys, the one thing he'll remember from all of his college visits, he said, was the food kids.

Kyle here's a running play and.

It's Turner who's able to get very near a first down there.

They are going to give him the first down And just like that West, they're sticking it to the ground right now.

And Turner gets him a first down play while Kyle was talking.

What Simmons made the tackle on first down against the quarterback that the running back bounced it outside and couldn't get there to make that tackle.

But that's what I was talking about.

You want to get Turner going right the first down and ten back to Turner they go long jam in the middle of field but he was still able to pick up a few yards to bring up second down for Griffin on the tackle but there was a whole lot there but he still picked up three yards now two and a half.

They're going to mark it back a little bit, establish that run game right now, settle down the offense and look also settle down your defense.

Give them I know some of these guys go two ways, but this defense needs to regroup for the next time Hardy Academy gets the ball second down and eight and a hand it to Turner.

He's hit immediately and got back to the line of scrimmage but that was it.

And then I'll bring up third down as that was Myers Brody Myers who came in to make the stop.

He came in on a blitz, was in the backfield, met him in the backfield and hung on.

You can see there how strong Turner is.

That was a big hit.

Turner was still able to fight forward, get back to the line of scrimmage third down looking to go big ball, middle of the field.

He's got a man down at the 20 he's taken down inside the ten at the nine yard line coming up with the reception that time it was Rayner Wow, awesome route, Just an awesome little double move.

Turn the defensive back around.

Graner's got 12 touchdowns on the season, receiving nine more on the ground.

You see, we've already seen those two big plays, very speedy, but good route running to to get that wide open of marking down to 14 Turner running the football right side stays on his feet Ball comes out Simmons pulled it out Hardy Academy is going to come up with it they say that it's they got it right before it went out of bounds They're going to have it at the 20 yard line.

It was Alex Jones who came up with it.

Well, Simmons rips it out, reaches in this what they teach you?

You got the running back, stood up got people hold him up.

Just pull it out.

That's exactly what Simmons did.

Look him right here.

Tim gets it out, Ball's loose and Jones falls on it right before the sideline gets it.

He looks up right there with the touch.

By the way, did you notice on the officiating crew that on the graphic that popped up, James Rouse is on this officiating crew, probably one of the fastest guys on the field right now.

But so no, no problems keeping up with these guys.

That's a good start.

I mean, once again, they can't have turnovers.

They just couldn't afford to have turnovers against this team.

And that's two out of their first three drives go Collins first and ten from the 20 yard line.

Oregon Academy is going to go five wide on this first down.

and Miller going to look to throw in find anybody and he just got run out of bounds at the marker Javon Williams again running him out of bounds not much there no gain on the play thought maybe just dump it to the wide receiver on the sideline and pick up two three yards.

But Miller want to run with it and punish somebody that was a good hit on the sideline.

Second down and ten Miller goes out in formation throw a backwards pass Miller's going to look to throw across the middle of field.

It goes off the hands of Jack City.

We've got a flag on the play back over at the 31 yard line on the coverage there may have grabbed him.

So you see two different flags, all kinds of things going on that play well.

They move Miller out in formation and just a quick little pass behind the line of scrimmage behind the quarterback so he can throw it again.

Will jump ball.

Hey Colts defender did a good job getting up and making that one definite catch on the defense ten yard penalty for Dalton first down that's probably one of those it's a good flag to where he's beat so he just grabbed him to make sure he doesn't get loose for a touchdown and just take the ten yard penalty instead of giving up a big play.

So it's a first down and ten from the 30 yard line, three receivers in the set wing back up the left side and a hand it off.

That is Hall and he'll take it out to shy of the 35 yard line.

Now bring up second down on the tackle Got to let us know we're still going to run it from time to time.

You can't just play the pass because right now River crest is just they been rushing four dropping seven into coverage Hardy Academy off it's gone.

It's been doing a great job Here's a pass play works right side and that's in the hands of city and he'll get out of bounds and he's kind of slate pushed him out of bounds that time Marcus Slayton 86 tackles on the year but it was the broken tackle that allowed him to get the first down or close to the first down Look like that play wasn't going for much but breaks the tackle, picks up 89 yards per down and one they give it to Hall and Hall's going to get the first down a little bit more as he'll take it out and around the 43 yard line dance again on the tackle there with Laurent Lancaster picks up the first down moves the chains Harding Academy going quickly here already over the ball ready to go five wide the formation Miller going to work it over the flats to hoover the work around one one receiver screen and then he'll take it out to the 49 yard line.

Coby Turner on the tackle, the running back and playing defense that Tom Hoover got it and was almost tackled by his own man.

He caught it and he got a feel quickly and he almost ran into one of his teammates that was blocking for it to pick up six yards on that play.

Now Miller going to look to go big ball all alone down at the 20 yard line.

He'll easily walk into the on for a touchdown once again that's Jack City here you have a ballgame that's three catches already And we saw him on defense Very impressive Not one of their leading receivers coming into the game but he is putting on a show right now that city only had three touchdowns coming into this game six plays 80 yards that time.

But man, he's having a heck of a ballgame on the kick Griffin Thomas, it's up and it hits off the goalpost and is no good And so with that with 341 to play here in the first quarter, Harding Academy leads it at 20 to nothing.

I want you to shout out to a5a state champion head coach, Brad Bolden, who's watching the broadcast tonight.

He's texting in, watching the broadcast.

So I want to say hello and congratulations to him for winning the five state championship.

He texted you, Hey, doc, you didn't text me.

Well, yes.

He wasn't happy with the broadcast I had last week.

Parkview Game Conway Regional Health System is proud to support Spotlight and celebrate Arkansas student athletes and Arkansas PBS Sports.

Since 1921, Conway Regional Health System has provided complete health care services to the growing communities of North Central Arkansas.

For more information, visit Conway Regional.

Doctor, I know that the only thing Harding Academy only mistake they made tonight the missed extra point.

Well, he fumbled it briefly, but I wouldn't really call it a mistake because they were able to get some positive yardage on it.

But yeah, I mean outside of that.

Yeah.

20 to nothing as Griffin Thomas is going to come on to kick it be a short kick sky kick.

It's going to be in the middle of three people river crest just fall on it down at the 22 and that's where they'll have it first and ten he'll be Turner football.

That was could have been a disaster except one two.

That was six.

Jayden Young Well, that's that's just almost like an onside kick.

He go down there, kick it into a wide open space and they don't fall on it quick enough.

Loose Wildcats were closing quickly to that.

Those first three drives, punt interception fumble and that's the first three drives for river grass.

They've got to find something some type of offense 47 yards so far for a Washington workout.

The pistol said they'll give it to Turner and Turner gets taken down in the 24 yard line.

So Simmons at the bottom of that pile, I don't know if he made the first stop, but he was in on the tackle long with the Griffin just getting it done on both sides of the ball right now all receivers in the set as Washington's going to look to throw and he'll throw it behind his intended target that time as he was trying to hook up with Faxon once again the quarterback just under pressure.

I mean, the academy is getting after the quarterback and he just doesn't have time to throw.

I mean, he's setting up.

They rolled him out that time to try to buy him some time with the Academy defender, was there chasing him down in his face.

That caused the throw.

So now you got a third down and seven four receivers in the set.

Washington going to look to throw on the left side of the catch it No but there's a penalty flag down at the 40 yard line they were trying to hook up with Michael Rayner.

All right.

Just a great idea.

Great play call.

When you're struggling, you've got to go to your playmakers on defense 15 yards first down and we've seen Reynolds there, playmaker, we've seen him now beat coverage.

This is the third time and he was wide open under throws at his receiver so he's coming back to the ball and gets he's actually ten.

He's coming out of the ball game right now saying his shoulders hurting him and so he's going to come over on the sideline and look, get the trainers to look at him.

He saw how he kind of fell diving for that ball awkwardly on that shoulder.

Not good for receivers in the formation as Washington's going to try to throw finds a man as he'll be taken down at the 46 yard line.

That time it was Jayden Young who made the reception.

Alex Jones is gone.

So Alex Jones up for the Stop for Hardy Academy.

That'll bring up a second down and four now for River Crest I to give some love to Keenan Harris He's wearing 55 today I had him in zero 55 but making plays all over the field but I know who 55 was.

We got the corrected roster.

Keenan has been playing great.

Here's Turner on a cue.

Second down run McHugh, 55.

Keenan Harris just crashing in from that end spot.

Well, that's fun.

You know, some of our rosters haven't always been accurate.

And I had a roster with him at 55 and another roster wearing number zero so I scratched out the 55 and put in zero and I couldn't find 55 anyway.

Third down and one.

There are 2 minutes to play in this one.

I don't go with the hard count from Harding Academy jumped so a lot of coaches that they'll pull the player jumps offsides encroachment defense first down so do you pull the entire defensive line for that or continue to pass since all of them jumped So that will put the ball into Harding Academy territory, a zone marker down at the 47 yard line, first down and ten Washington's going to have Turner lined up to his right.

Washington's going to look to throw on right side.

And we've got a penalty flag that Tom tried to hook up with Jaiden Young And you got obvious pass interference that time by Harding Academy.

That's been their most successful plays.

The receivers are able to outrun the Wildcats defensive backs and then the quarterback under throws the receiver for interference and they defend defense 15 yard penalty first down back classic you know deep ball that's under thrown receiver coming back defensive back doesn't know where the ball is and runs into the receiver Easy call that's twice it's happened on this drive time the offender for Harding Academy it was Camden Pryor I think that win to maybe is messing with Javonte Washington remember the first drive he threw one way over receiver's head Now he's stolen everything short handed off to Turner.

This time just trying to make something out of nothing.

He just does not have any running lines right now as he takes to the 30 yard line by Simmons on the tackle.

They've got to establish the running game.

They have to get Turner going.

It just haven't been able to do anything that much at all with Turner right now.

Turner's got seven carries in 11 yards.

But you know I know that and everybody else knows that.

So Academy's defense knows that they're focused on Turner for white in the formation Washington going to look to throw he'll go right side and he over throws his intended target that time trying to hook up with Budda Harris he booted off the ball line.

So I don't think it was that bad of a throw.

He never found it.

And once it hit the ground right near him, I think that's what he put his hands up in the air like, my gosh, I never saw it.

I think you're right.

Well, I think he just couldn't find it in the lights either way.

It's coming up a third down now and nine for River Kraft.

Got to think this is for down territory.

Don't have to get the whole thing here Washington go to throw again right side and he sends it too high trying to find Rayner that time he said hey look you it made a heck of a play for you.

It comes in, gets a hand up at the last second and if he gets a hand on the ball right there in the coverage, what a play.

So that brings up a fourth down now.

Fitzy Rayner Back in there too.

Yeah, we go for one the formation Washington brings a man in motion that young crowd to get him with the hard count.

They learned their lesson.

Now they're going to put Turner out to the right side of the formation to call a timeout play clock was almost out.

while they take a timeout, that will give us a chance to check in with Carl Decker bomb for a sideline report with 58 seconds remaining here in the quarter, a hands on hips here for sure in this river grass sidelines.

I think they realize how big this play is and, you know, just how frustrating they were driving that last time.

And to watch the ball just sit there pretty much on the sidelines.

Head coach Johnny Fleming was yelling at the line, Touch James Prowse, guys, basically saying that his foot was out of bounds.

But I think he was, you know, just sort of arguing to try to keep it in any way he could.

But, you know, you guys have talked a lot about Coby Turner meeting is he is the younger of former Colts quarterback Cam, who we all remember began his college career up in Jonesboro.

Really good really low to the ground.

Neat thing about Kobe, too.

He is cousins with fullback Marcus Slayton who could not wait guys to get out here and hit somebody today.

I was talking with head coach Johnny Funny before the game, he said.

Marcus Slayton is a freshman.

When they Were Here gets hurt the week of the title game.

Just kind of horsing around in the home locker room.

Five stitches misses the game.

Needless to say, he could not wait to play here.

Thank you, Carl.

You know one thing about that last title game back in 2010 for the request, the Carl talked about Cam Turner.

Cam Turner was actually running down the ramp to come onto the field and twisted his ankle As he came onto the field.

He didn't get to finish the game because the ankle was bothering so much.

So it's fourth down Washington got to look to throw.

He's under pressure.

He goes down, goes down.

Coming up, here was the first one through.

That's what caused him to pull the ball down.

And then Timothy Roberts cleans it up, just flies through Roberts from behind.

That's three guys in the backfield.

Never had a chance to get that ball off.

Unfortunately for River Crest.

Right?

It wasn't out there.

I was watching during the time out.

He's on the sideline now sitting on the bench.

He was holding that shoulder again.

He tried to go out there and make a play, but I don't know if he's going to how effective he's going to be if if he can come back out there as a receiver.

I mean, you got to get your hands in the air.

You know, you got to go up and try to get the ball right now.

That shoulder's bothering him a lot.

Only 54 seconds left here in the first quarter.

It's 20 to nothing.

Harding Academy leads it as they're going to go four wide, five wide in the formation.

Now they'll bring hall into the backfield, got a gentle shove from Owen Miller as he hands it off.

I've seen a couple of teams do that in goal line situations with the quarterback or hand it off and you just kind of push forward is back to pick up that needed yard around the goal line.

I don't know if I've ever seen it on first and ten from the 39 yard counter.

Right So Harding Academy going to go five wide.

They'll look back over to their sideline for a play down to 26 seconds left in the first quarter.

Owen Miller's going to throw rolling right Still looking as a man to man but it's intercepted taken down at the 20 yard line.

Coming up with the interception.

It was Jacobean Williams who came up with the pick that ball was under thrown and you can blame that one on the wind if you're over.

Miller He had the receiver breaking loose kind of a scramble drill where he goes deep.

So the other receiver said he was also broke.

It up was going to go deep.

It didn't realize he was running towards one of his teammates, but just a great play from the Colts to get that much needed turnover.

They could not afford to let Harding Academy drive down and make this 27 to nothing or 28 to nothing.

They go for two.

So they got the huge turnover, but now they've got to find a way to get on the board first and ten with four wide in the formation.

They give it to Turner and to find something he'll get about three yards on the play and that should take us to the end of the first quarter.

Look at all the bodies, the white shirts.

They're rallying to the ball.

I think there are five guys there to help bring Turner down.

I think late in the way that time was Brody Myers.

So that's going to do it for the first quarter.

We're Horning Academy and of course they lead it 20 to nothing.

And you're watching the Centennial Bank State football finals on Arkansas.

PBS Sports.

Looks like we have some new help in the marketing department at adding high end to the area.

With everything you can see, I think you do the work on your wine bender.

How about you do it?

Family and customer.

Friends, family.

Our country is a very big DNC.

I learned a lot actually through my broadcast of this championship game is made possible by give your family a once in a lifetime experience at the Little Rock Zoo at Arkansas.

Largest Lantern Festival.

Go wild at the Little Rock, Sing after dark.

Bring your family to a radiant wonderland where imagination smarts discover 40 new lighted, mystical creatures and returning favorites at Glow one a once in a lifetime experience, The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas over 2500 team members across 17 local electric distribution co-ops, powering homes, farms and industry somewhere across Arkansas.

We are the electric cooperatives of Arkansas Power and People.

When you choose Conway Regional, you're choosing a health care partner rooted in your community.

With nine primary care locations in five counties.

We believe in building lasting relationships centered on trust and personalized care.

But our family care for yours Vaping, addiction to nicotine and can prematurely age your lungs to those of a seven year old, don't get lost in the fog.

Learn more about the hazards of vaping at Project Prevent on Board.

Southern Lock is a proud sponsor of Arkansas PBS.

It is our mission to tell your story by adding color with our furniture.

And that's my Southern Life is a different kind of furniture store.

For more information, go to my mother in law's com.

Let's give a little love that you tease out of Mayflower.

He is the Arkansas PBS student, all star offensive lineman, the junior with a 4.0 GPA.

He plans to be a mechanic one day.

There we go on second down, they swing it out to the right side.

That time it was Jayden Young and young.

You get very close to a first down.

Jake Young Make a catch.

That was a backwards pass to.

Yeah, I thought maybe they had something trick play up their sleeve on their own.

Is there going to be a yard shy of the first down?

So bring up third and one brought the receiver in motion with a hard count, trying to get them to jump and hand it to Turner.

It's just been got nowhere to go.

They have lost a yard on the play to bring up fourth down Timothy Roberts there, KENYON Harris again, this defensive line has done really good, really, really dominate the putting pressure on the quarterback.

They're shutting down Turner.

Turner now with nine carries 16 yards, Washington's lost seven.

So as a team now they've got nine yards rushing, though it's fourth down and one and river crest is going to go for you know, they're bringing pressure and a pitcher to Turner right side.

He's going to get the first down barely.

I mean it's only by about a yard but either way got as he went out of bounds at the 30 hemmed in Pryor on the tackle getting him out of bounds but he did a great job of getting off of the block and almost chopped him short of the first down.

But they got it.

They went outside that time.

You know, Hardy Academy, he's just dominating the box right now.

There's no room to run up the middle.

So they're trying to get outside, pick something up.

First down and ten three receivers in the formation.

Turner lined up to the left of Washington.

I'm going to hand it off to Young on the end around just has nowhere to go.

Got a couple of yards on the play and this defense well as you've mentioned it, they swarm to the football.

You just don't have one guy going and going heads up.

You've got two and three guys.

Every time I have Simmons and Brody Myers on that tackle.

But they have one of those defenses.

It appears that they have 13 guys back there because you break one tackle and you think, okay, he's about deuce up that break that time.

There's another one.

He breaks up, there's another one.

They're just hats flying to the ball, swarming defense second down Washington has to field using his legs this time and he'll get past the 35.

Timothy Roberts missed the tackle in the very beginning and kept that motor running and comes all the way back and ends up making the tackle from behind.

So they'll be about two yards shy in the first down to bring up a third down in the game to go.

They went for it once on fourth down, so I figured they'll do it again.

So you got two downs to make two yards.

All is at the 38 yard line and Devonte Washington is working out of the pistol set with Turner behind him.

Give it to Turner.

He'll get the first down and more as he gets past the 45 and he'll be dragged down at the 43.

That's his best run of the night.

And guard line first down with the play.

Pryor makes that tackle for Hardy Academy.

He broke a couple of tackles.

He gets the ball near midfield.

Ball's going to be at the 48 yard line.

It'll be first and ten for River Crest has a ten yard run for Turner.

He's had a lot of those this year, but that's been his best of the game.

Hand it to Turner to the left side it's out of one tackle works in the Hardy Academy territory and he'll be taken down to 47.

But Hewitt finally brings him down.

But he broke two tackles that time.

He broke one near the line of scrimmage and breaks another one from the defensive back, jumps out of that tackle and back to back good runs for Turner.

Maybe they're getting him going now.

Clock rolling at 830 and counting as you've got a second down and four from the 47 yard line the receivers to the near side as Washington's going to try to keep it himself.

He'll cross the 45 get down to the 44.

He'll be about two yards shy of the first down here on third down.

Sam Swindell On that tackle, down to Swindell at the bottom of that pile from his defensive line spot, that's been the thing.

How many times have we called defensive lineman?

You know why Simmons has made a lot of tackle from his linebacker spot but these defensive linemen have made a lot of tackles.

A hand is Turner again he'll have running lanes out pass the 30 inside the 20, inside the ten and knocked out of bounds as he'll be knocked out at the five yard line Jackson knocked him out of bounds City with another big play but you see in Turner they came on a run blitz Simmons blitz that time once he got past the London scrimmage there aren't any linebackers there.

He breaks another tackle and he's down the sideline for another big game.

TURNER Finally get loose.

TURNER wall at the four they're going to give it to Turner again he'll cut it back in touchdown Coby Turner on the touchdown run from four yards out and river crest is on the board That's 44 yards of that dropped by Turner the 40 yard run than the four yard run.

And we also see a different Turner I mean this back is cutting he's joking he's making guys miss he's breaking tackles It's a different looking running back than we saw in the first quarter.

This this was a different look like a totally different guy that's changed jerseys and put on number you know the number two jersey that was a fantastic look running back that drive Josh Johnson on to kick the extra point river crest as kick is away and it is good and with 726 to play here in the first half academy leads the 22 seven.

You're watching the Centennial Bank state football championships on Arkansas PBS sports for every moment, for every memory from that first car to your first home to your first child and all the highs and lows that tomorrow.

My break for everything that matters most to you and your family.

There's someone right around the corner dedicated to helping you protect what you love.

Your local Farm Bureau insurance agent, Farm Bureau Insurance, Real service, real people.

What's the best thing about a passport to freedom?

You know, you can grab it and go someplace inspiring, someplace romantic or someplace unexpected.

when you support your PBS station, you can enjoy PBS Passport, a member benefit that lets you stream great performances masterpiece all your favorites when and where you want them.

my gosh.

Go online to make a qualifying contribution and away you go.

The electric co-op this of Arkansas through their 17 electric distribution co-op this throughout Arkansas is proud to support Spotlight and celebrate Arkansas student athletes and Arkansas PBS Sports.

For more information, visit ATC seeks at last drive 11 plays 81 yards and 4 minutes and 48 seconds for river crest is there on the board It's 22 seven Horning Academy leads a much needed drive by the Colts.

I wonder, out of those 81 yards, I mean, Turner had no he had the last 44.

He headed ten yard run in there and Right.

I bet he had 5060 of those yards.

That was a very good well, got a penalty.

He'd been offsides.

That was a good drive by that offensive line and Turner marching everybody back will kick this.

Yeah I'm waiting on the call.

Yes.

He didn't announce it, so he did.

But he's way back here.

Yeah.

So he's one of the officials here in the middle.

Made the call up to the press box like they did illegal procedure.

But I guess one of the kickoff coverage guys crossed the line of scrimmage before the kicker kicked it.

So they'll move the ball to the 35 yard line, 726 to play left here in the first half is Harding Academy leads at 20 to 7.

Josh Johnson going to kick it off as he'll put a foot into it and it will be taken by city at the 21 to be taken down at the 36 and that's where Harding Academy will have it first and ten to start this drive here in the second half.

By Bonner on that tackle for the special teams kept him from getting too much further down got him down at the 36.

Now the defense needs to step up.

Your offense just got you some points.

It's a good move across defense throughout the year.

They got to find a way to get off the field.

Last time they got off the field with an interception.

Find a way to get your offense back on the field.

Get into this game.

Owen Miller and now the throw left side and he got it.

Got it to Miguel Howard And that's his first catch of the ballgame because he's going to pick up about three yards.

Jaden Young made a heck of a play.

The defensive back river crest is getting block bites off that block, sheds it and then makes the tackle five wide set for Harding Academy.

and Miller going to throw again going down the left side of the field caught down at the 20 yard line.

It's going to be taken in for a touchdown.

Tyler Hoover was able to catch and it went between the defender's hands.

He was able to juggle around, come up with the catch at the touchdown.

I thought River Chris had another interception just undercut it went up in the safety, misread the ball went over his hands right to Hoover in the concentration from over.

That's tough that's very difficult.

Watch it right here The defender comes right in front of him, goes through his hands.

I think he did touch it.

He tapped it just a little bit.

But Hoover, with the concentration, the juggling catch, brings it another great angle.

Yes, it's off his hands.

Hoover somehow finds a way to bring it in.

Bob, look for the score.

Now we're going for two, so.

and Miller, they missed the extra point earlier.

He'll throw the back of the end zone.

It's no good.

And so with 650 left here in the half, it's 26 to 7.

I was looking down Cash span was the one that was on the on the deflection for river crest and you got to think he's like man he hits so close so close that time.

And either way Harden Academy's goes up 26 to 7 with 650 to play here in the first half.

Let's check with Kyle Douglas.

Bomb down the sidelines Go guys.

That was such an amazing catch by Hoover.

You know the thing about him, he's never not known being in this game.

When you think about his career pretty outstanding.

He is an even better baseball player and he's going to go play next year at the college just across the line on the campus there in Searcy.

But I tell you what, guys, when River Crest had scored there, that was about as upset as you'll see a coach watching Neil Evans here on the sidelines, just grumbling, too.

I think nobody in particular.

It's just absolute frustration.

So to see his team respond like that, you can imagine the excitement from him, I was told.

Speaking of Hoover playing baseball for Harding Academy.

These two teams played for the baseball state title this year.

So it's the second time River Crest and Harding Academy, a play for a title the last, what, six months?

Yeah.

Well, they have not been in history, by the way.

Yeah.

The leg of Griffin Thomas.

Now that he has the win, that's that's how you know what golf we talk about is that a two club win.

Is that going to knock it down 20 yards 30 yards.

So Griffin Thomas has been kicking off going into the win and it's been around the five yard line He's kicking it that time he kicked it through the end zone.

So that's about a 20 yard win that will say well I mean and maybe we can get shot of the flags.

I mean these these things are really blowing here at War Memorial Stadium.

And so got a good leg.

If you got a good leg, you're going to kick that thing into bleachers.

Well, in warmups, he was making 50 yard field goals.

Then they put him back at 53 and he made one.

Yeah, that's pretty impressive.

River crest back out on to the playing surface.

They give it to Turner again.

He'll get it past the 20 out to the 21 yard line.

So what kind of adjustments Harding Academy is able to make after Hoover or after the last drop?

Turner had such a productive drive.

I think he ended up with 48 of the 81 yards, now 58 of the 81 yards.

So that was a big drive by.

TURNER But that time they they stopped him only two yards second down and eight as Turner will line up to the right of Washington and a six on the play clock Washington trying to work around the block you'll get it past the 25 out of bounds at the 26 yard line with Brody again, Brody Myers comes all the way out to the sideline to make that tackle.

So a lot of hustle.

And once again, that defensive line, that play was originally designed to go to that right side and it just had it all sealed off and he had to revert back and come back to the other side.

WASHINGTON Now the shotgun will have a wingback set to the right, a run straight up the middle has nowhere to go.

Here he is again.

KENYON Harris just comes in from that defensive line spot, First guy.

The backfield is creating havoc night long.

Washington just doesn't have time.

I mean, he didn't have time to run it.

He doesn't have time to throw it.

This defensive line has done a really, really good job getting the penetration in the backfield.

We've talked about Timothy Roberts, Sam's Swindle.

I mean, they've all been in there making plays.

Washington throws across the middle, trying to hook up with Jacob and Williams Alex Jones almost picked that off.

He was in perfect position, came underneath, got to go.

He got both hands.

It just couldn't pull it in.

But forces the fourth down in a punt from river crest.

Keep in mind, they're punting into that win.

Let's see if they think Harding Academy sending anybody deep.

But that was fourth down.

I mean, realize that was on fourth to the sticks, that third down.

So I guess they just never switched it.

So either way, here's Owen Miller.

Miller gonna look to run and he'll go out of bounds at the 22 yard line right before that drive the stick on that far side flashed third down.

And either way though and it's going to bring up a second down and six now for Horning Academy, Miller had somebody breaking open free in the end zone but decided to tuck and run it and throw it to city said he'll cut it back up field inside the ten inside five and it'll be taken down to one almost almost got into the end zone again.

Williams brings him down just short of the goal line.

But look at this move right here.

You see it takes it back, cuts it up the middle.

Inside the ten, the ball just hits right there at the goal, near the goal line.

and Miller going to hand it off straight ahead.

The hall is in for the touchdown.

the ball.

Trenton Hall in for the touchdown and it's now 32 to 7.

That was power.

Wasn't a whole lot there.

He just put his head down, got low good forward lean and just falls into the end zone.

Three plays 26 yards 24 seconds set failed fourth down conversion course river crested.

Now we've got whistles The previous play Thunder five the review.

Well we'll have to take a look at the replay and see how the booth conduct.

Can radio down to the officials on any scoring play.

And so they must have seen something that they didn't like.

Well, when I was watching our replay of it, you couldn't really tell where Ball was.

And if he got across the goal line, I was a little surprised with the angle we had that they called it a touchdown so quickly.

Sometimes it's just obvious, you know, we're so far away, we don't have an angle.

And there wasn't a whole lot of delay from the side judge coming in with the touchdown.

But I was watching and I was like, well, so as they make their way over to to look at this one and here's the look at the touchdown run and you can't tell if they were looking at that knee.

I think he's in I think the ball's in when his knee hits the ground.

But you can't tell from that angle, You know, these goal line, these touchdowns are hard to review because we don't have a goal line camera.

You know, you see it in college or at the NFL, a camera right down the goal line now that even have these pylon cameras that give you the perfect angle and it's just tough you really get on the field stance touchdown as you said stands you know because they didn't have the video evidence to confirm it.

So they just keep it.

I mean, next year Arkansas PBS can get those pylon cam.

Bobby said he would do, but it was going to take away our paychecks.

well, we'd have to do the game.

We're going to have to just not get the pylon cams.

So it's 32 to 7 as Griffin Thomas is going to come on for the extra point.

How far up the stands will he kick?

This one go about 18 rows up.

It's about halfway up.

It's going to get a nice kick.

And so that'll take the count to 33 to 7 with 501 to play here in the quarter as Harding Academy.

They are in full control of this one here in the four state championship game at Wendy's.

We're focused on what matters.

That's why we've made our Hamburger Square.

When you want to experience the delicious taste of Wendy's hamburgers, squares, the beef, you know, we were watching them.

Like I said before, the game kick field goal is Griffith Thomas three 5253 yards I love maybe you know Harding Academy here at the end of this half the next 5 minutes get the ball you know and have a long field goal attempt.

I think that's about the only chance now with the score you know in the second half if it gets out of hand.

He.

Mr. Smith I would love yeah just to gamble you know about your own 35 yard line lining up for 50 see see what he does.

Here's a kick off that's going to sail to the back of the end zone.

I'm telling you what, We really need to get a shot at these things.

Flags.

I do pride the strongest wind I've seen here at War Memorial in quite some time.

And it is really gusting here at the stadium.

It was going to hurt, right?

I mean, right now you've got a third there.

Now it says the northwest went at 13 miles an hour, but gusts up to 20 miles an hour.

It's going after it out there.

It was similar this afternoon, maybe not quite as brisk, but it's been a windy day.

First and ten for river crest.

And we've got a penalty flag, I believe Harding Academy may have.

You know, we've been talking a lot about Griffin Thomas.

You know replacing Kyle Ferry who was a great kicker encroachment on the defense Party academy's had a run of great kickers and Kyle Ferry I know he was the SCC freshman of the week one week and just did an outstanding job for them last year he had the four game winning field goal against Arkadelphia the semifinals last year just a clutch kicker and Griffin Thomas has replaced him and filled his kicking shoes this season.

Kevin Williams is going to catch him, you know, pick up a couple of yards, go down to Kyle Doug Osborne, real quick, call the conditions on the field.

But we see the flags, what they're doing, but it's not as bad down on the field.

It's it's little misleading.

It is windy down here.

Don't get me to hook up with that flying through the air.

If you get something in the air, it's going to take off because because those flags are no joke.

But I will tell you, it's not as bad as it looks based on the flags and you're standing on the field.

Thank God.

It's just wherever you you are, set football way up in the air on a on a post pattern.

That's when that's when it gets kind of flutters a little bit.

First down and ten after that run by Turner, I hand it to him again straight up the middle, pass the 45 to the 46 area and you look at the 40 yard line, A looks like a napkin, I think came from up here and then floated just flew like a separate airplane.

And now it's all the way down to the 40 yard second down and five under 4 minutes to play here in the four state championship.

First half swing it right side makes a man miss that's young got a running lane and he'll get out of bounds in Harding Academy territory.

They're going to say actually he went out at the 49 yard line in River crest territory pick up a 12 right there and that's the second time they've run that play.

And it's been successful.

Good job by the receiver out there blocking for him and just able to make a guy miss and then turn it up, pick up something first down and ten back to Turner They go and he has nowhere to go.

He will lose about three yards on the play as that'll take it back to the 46 canyon again.

No Brody I can say one of their names because they've been making plays all night.

Brody Myers this time gets into the backfield second down and 13 with the ball at the river crest 46 yard line and they go with a big pass play left side and right through the hands of span how to bring up third down and 13 Well double move there.

But I tell you what Harding Academy's defensive back Myers did a good job of just staying with it.

I mean, he was not fooled was running right there that Brody said.

BRODY That was 26, not 25 in the coverage.

They're third there, three of seven on third down.

Here's his third down and 13 attempt going big ball right side.

It's caught down at the 23 yard line coming up with the reception it was Buda Harris.

Buda Harris made a great move ball the air adjust to that ball goes up high points it just fantastic job body control right there Buda with six touchdowns this season that was his best play of the game Brings it in keeps control the ball so it's first down and ten at the 21 yard line.

Washington has got four receivers in the formation Young come in comes in motion now Washington going to look to throw has a man that's Harris now it's going to go off his hands and just dropped it by two scored right there he's got his hands on his hips he's made one great catch this time broke free behind it just couldn't bring it in.

If he leads him that time, that's a touchdown.

He gets a stop twist in the air.

Try to bring it in.

So that brings up a second down and ten now from the 21.

Washington's going to keep himself inside the 20.

Take it down to the 17, Brody Myers, again, third down river Crest.

Fans are tired of me talking about Brody Myers and caning Harris.

They've been making plays all night.

So that brings up a third down and five now Washington's going to look to throw and it's almost intercepted.

they widen the field out, go to the wide side of the field, man to man coverage.

Post-round.

You got him.

He's wide open.

He makes a good throw there.

And if he's able to make the safety miss, he scores just an inaccurate throw and the hook up was span that time.

And so now it's fourth down and five from the 17 part of the academy putting their defensive backs on and Ireland man to man coverage got the same look this time called timeout I'm out the window there it's not wind at all Kyle Yeah yeah yeah it is whipping out there for sure.

And with 201 left here in the first half, Harding Academy leads that 33 to 7.

And really, I mean, and look at this defense.

It's played outstanding.

But you, if you get a stop right here West and let's not forget river crest they took the ball first.

So Hardee Academy's going to have the ball coming out of the second half are coming into the second half.

it's it's a must score here.

I mean, they're just trying to keep their head above the water right now.

And it's just it's been a steady just avalanche of Harding Academy offense.

Their defense has been standing up to the challenge.

River Crest is just there at the deep into the pool, just treading water, you know, doing everything they can to keep that head above water.

This will be huge for momentum, though, or just to go in the locker room after a score and widen the formation.

Washington is going to throw it left side in the hands of Turner and it's incomplete.

And Harding Academy.

He's going to get the ball back with a minute 50 to play here in the first half.

Well, this could be a dagger you know, with a minute 56 low throw just if if Harding Academy marches down and scores they got what, 40 to 7 and you come back out first, drive second half score games over, I mean, it's a mercy rule and no one I should say no one.

It's happened.

I think once in history a team has been able to come back after the sportsmanship rule has been invoked.

It's it's just it's just never done in all these years.

So this is I mean, this is a must stop here for river crest.

and Miller throw backwards pass and they're good They've got to man that city and it's intercepted at the 44 yard line.

That's when you do a trick play and it's not in quarterback.

Don't get a guess you know it's just the throws not quite as good cash bang picks off and the ball was just in the air way too long floated it that well look how far over the safety came to make that play That's how long the ball was in the air.

He was so wide open.

Sometimes when they're that wide open, you throw it up just to make sure you don't overthrow him.

You know, You just want to make sure you complete the pass.

And he put way too much air under that pass.

So it was picked off.

Hey, that's what River Crest needed.

Now they need points.

You got to go down Score.

That's their second interception.

And give it to Turner.

He'll get it to the 40 yard line to pick up a three.

Well, they're going to say the 39.

So pick up four yards.

Sam Swindle on the tackle for Harding Academy see River crest picking up the pace now again they've got to hurry it up a little bit.

Washington takes the snap going to look to throw and it's going to go left side the flight to the way that time knocking it away was Camden Pryor for Harding Academy.

They were trying to hook up with Buda Harris.

Harris knocked that one away.

Harris turned defensive back.

He kept that from being intercepted.

Harding Academy that time had the safety come over.

Was about to make that play.

and Miller out there playing some defense now so it's third down and seven throw it the flats it's over to Turner and he'll get out of bounds at the third the 34 yard line about a yard shy of the first down But Simmons on the was that.

Miller that almost was going up to pick it off He was the defensive back playing in coverage okay stops the clock in a minute 24th down got to get this coming you don't get this Marty can get the ball right back with a one minute 15.

I got to make it a convert here.

Okay.

I think Turner gets this down to 9 seconds on the play clock.

Took time out called for the get out there.

Yeah, yeah.

They're going to get it because the play clock was down to one.

So we'll call a timeout with our river craft back in time out of the half minute 20 to play left here in the first half Harding Academy leading 33 to 7 But you're right I mean they don't get this right here holding academy gets gets the ball back with about a minute 15 and back in position once again to score before the half and Harding Academy's got two timeouts remaining river crest only has one leading rusher from River Press, Coby Turner, now over 100 yards.

He's got 106 in the first half.

So I think he's got to get this give him a chance to pick up that first down.

Leading receiver for the Colts is Jake Young three catches 24 yards We haven't seen Rayner back in here He had that one big catch and a couple of pass interference is that he drew but hurt his shoulder or one of those plays and tried to come back in for a play and I've not seen him back in there since.

In fact I don't even see him on the sideline.

Honestly, we're number one, so he should be easy to spot.

Kyle may have something on him.

They know something.

But that's that's tough.

When your best receiver, your leading receiver, you know, leaves the game and you need to throw the ball right now.

Fourth down and one they go with a direct snap to Turner and Turner's going to be right at the marker.

No, the coaches on the sideline is motioning first down.

He had a pretty good angle.

We'll see about the spot and then the measurement can always trust the chains on the other side.

As we learned in the three eight game today, that right about the same booth element of the field, almost the exact same spot, the chain over there on the sideline, like on the three eight game that Boonville needed to get to the third inside the 32 yard line and they didn't get there.

And then they bring the chains out and when they market, he didn't need to get to inside the 32, he just needed to get to about 32 and a half.

Yeah, you know, and it's Fred this weird way to end game.

I'll be honest with you, it was it was a strange thing as stretched out and you look at the index card it I think he got it.

Look at is right there in that.

yeah.

By the nose of the ball they're going to break out the index card from that.

So it's first down for river Crest a minute 15 to play here in the first half.

That was 50 that pulled him backwards.

That was, that was a strong play.

He was being tackled and being blocked time and Taylor Simmons almost prevented him from getting the first down, got him to jump to say offsides on Harding Academy went with the hard count dead ball and defense to put the ball down at the 28 yard line just handed a note.

Tanner's a freshman Tanner Simmons who made that play drug him down as a freshman.

Watch out for the ball.

The ball, the play in on this first down and five from the 28 Washington don't look to throw comes back left side and it's over his intended target that was Jacobean Miller or Williams excuse me just second down over through everybody that time Harding Academy defensive back did a great job of turning around looking for the ball.

Luke Hewitt wanted to pick that off goes up 14 or too high a minute, three left here in the first half.

You know what that first down does?

Allows not only him to try to go score touchdown, but it's got that clock ticking so we're part of the academy gets the ball back there won't be near as much time I'm going to swing it out right side to Turner.

Turner gets it out to the 25 down to the 24 to be about a yard shy of the first down where they throw that pass out there.

They better be accurate because they are throwing it backwards.

I mean, that's you know, if he doesn't catch it, that's a live ball.

I think that's the third time they've thrown that backwards pass, third down and one back to Turner.

They go, he's got to cut it back up Has running Lane inside the ten five touchdown.

Well Turner put a move on the heart of the academy defender Good cutback just made the defender miss once he did watch this right here puts his foot in the ground boom and right up the seam goes in for the score.

I like Turner.

I think he's a good back and he's done a heck of a job tonight as on kick for River crest is going to be Josh Johnson Turner Turner now up to 121 yards on the game two touchdowns.

He has been the bright spot for the river crest Colts seven plays 43 yards and a minute 17 much needed score for river crest but these these teams are chance you know the target here they've gone through a lot this season they battled through adversity for river crest to go on the road beat Arkadelphia that told me a lot yeah you know I was not expecting that.

I thought Arkadelphia would win that game.

Yeah.

The next week they host Warren and I'm thinking, well, I thought they were going to lose that day too.

I've seen what Warren has done this year, and I honestly thought Warren would go up there win.

So that opened my eyes, you know, for back to back weeks to beat two traditional powers like Arkadelphia and Warren not the river crest isn't.

I mean, they've been here too often.

We've told you before the this is their 11th trip to the finals.

This is a good team.

They've just got off to a terrible and they're playing a very good team, too.

And not to mention they've not had their best wide receiver and Michael Raynor there to help make plays.

I mean, he's not been there since the first quarter as the kickoff sales have become the 23 yard line by city.

he's going to get pulled down by the back of his helmet.

Whoa.

Tonight, flag not to not see a flag that there comes look now now all dropping it, right?

yeah.

We saw that.

We saw it.

It was a horse.

I thought he got it by his face, man.

I thought it got it back of the helmet, flicker of it.

His facemask.

well, it big facemask.

Well in the whole stadium went.

yeah.

Look at that head.

Hey.

Watching the game and the 18 yards first down, we're all looking for flags.

I'm a I don't see a flag where the flags because a lot of times when it's something like that, you'll see all of the official you'll be like six of them out there like, okay, we got it.

Yes, we all saw it.

Well, there was one fight with dropped it.

The Hardee Academy is going to have it at the 43 yard line.

How aggressive will they be here as well?

They're putting five wide in the formation.

So I would say that they're probably pretty very high, pretty aggressive.

They've got two timeouts.

There's 28 seconds left in the half.

and Miller's going to look to throw, works to the left side, finds his man and that was able to hook up with his wide receiver that time Tristan at all and Hall Yeah it is second down for pick up six yards get out of bounds They were looking for a lot more and it just wasn't there.

So he just dumped it off, got what he could.

Miller On second down steps in the pocket.

He's under pressure and he's going to be taken down back at the 36 yard line by it.

Lancaster came in that time, got the sack and that's how you can then to drive in the heart of the academy fans are upset they just picked him up and body slam and Miller is not and he's kind of stumbling around Well they picked him up.

Look right here You watch the replay, picks him up.

It's a little wrestling move, throws him down, and then another one comes down and drive him into the ground and accidentally kicks him in the face.

Master.

So a lot going on on that final play.

That's how the half win.

The Hardee Academy coaches are not happy at all.

They were ten yards down the field at the officials and the river crest coach is yelling at the officials about something.

He's telling his guys to go to the locker room, get back out on the field.

I may be a flag throwers.

I think they may put some time back on the clock.

I think Neal Evans was one more time.

There was 4 seconds left when all that was going on.

But our time out party Academy pancake replacement, 15 seconds on the clock.

Okay, So they're going put 15 seconds on the clock.

And and to answer my question, how aggressive this article was going to be, they just got a sack that was like, well, that'll do it.

That'll wrap up the half.

We'll just let the time tick off.

And let's go to the locker room 3314 Now, they still have a time out.

I'm ready.

We're we're going to try to score here and they still have one timeout remaining.

You know, I'd like to see let's get about 25 yards.

15.

Yeah, right around 25 yards.

You might get your wish on the field.

Goal.

Kick that field goal.

Yeah.

That's what I'm thinking now.

Yeah.

See, we got the ball in the 37.

Let's get it to the 35.

It's 15, 13, the 28 yards here you get with the wind at your back, you get the pass play down there and you've got one timeout remaining.

So that's exactly what they're thinking now.

But there's 15 seconds.

We've got one timeout left.

We get two plays here to pick up 25 yards with them.

They may get one now, River Crest is going to call their last time out.

I'm out.

What do you say I can with the wind blows.

I'll tell you what.

There is that wind is blowing so there's leaves coming from the old golf course over here and water coming off the press box that was in places that nobody knew there was water.

I looked up a minute ago and there were like 40 leaves above us.

And there's not a tree around here.

Look where these leaves coming from over the golf course.

So you've got 15 seconds remaining.

Let's go down to Kyle.

Duck up on the sidelines.

Kyle, I'm Take back the wind, guys, cause it's definitely picking up now.

Bam!

Standing next to Bobby Swafford with a great couple of weekends.

This has been.

It has been.

I mean, Curly can't ask for better weather.

Minus the wind we've got going right now.

Hopefully this game will tighten up live in the second half.

It's always a great celebration.

Arkansas high school football.

Bobby is holding on to his hat down here as the third down and 16 O and Miller take it roll left Look the throw he'll go out of bounds Could be a flag Maybe he push him while he was still inbounds.

and Miller went flying through the sideline and that takes it down to 11 seconds left and that's brings up fourth down.

I think he was still inbounds for Griffin.

Thomas is not going to get to kick a field goal, but he's going to get the punt.

That gives is the next best thing we can watch him punt with the wind.

He averages 40.7 on his punts.

Well, they're at the 34.

Let's see where this one lands.

I bet lands inside the 22 on his way.

I couldn't get a hold of it.

I'll take a roll inside the 25 going to keep rolling.

It's going to look good on the stat page.

Let's go look real good on that page.

But either way, that's going to wrap up the first half as Heartening Academy.

They lead 33 to 14 Tyler Ducker bombs down on the sidelines.

He's going to catch up with head coach in the 11th.

Take away go look your eye but against us river crest defense has been really good in the postseason.

You got to love the way your offense have been playing.

Yeah I'm pleased with it.

We've mismanaged the end of that half very, very poorly.

We should be going in with them having one score.

That's that's that's our fault.

As coaches, we did not do a good job of managing that the last 3 minutes of the half.

And congrats to them for capitalizing on it because we played well early, but we have not played well here at the end.

Thanks, coach.

Yeah.

When Neil Evans fired up there, there at the end of the first half as his team leads it, 33 to 14.

Well, stick around.

We've got some great stuff on Arkansas PBS that you'll be entertained by.

We are at the half.

When we come back West and I will break down the second the first half as you're watching the Centennial Bank Super Bowl Championship in Arkansas, PBS, 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.

The War Memorial is more than just a stadium.

It's very much part of the culture of Little Rock 75 years of history lives here.

Jones Walking steps through to the end zone.

So you grew up coming here watching your heroes play football.

But the stadium stands for Strings, Built in 1948 to honor those who gave their lives.

The flags of freedom fly all over Europe, a reminder to always keep going.

The stadium is more than just a memorial.

It's a monument, a monument to the sacrifices of the past.

The stadium stands for strength, sacrifice for the drive to always keep going, always keep pushing for a better Arkansas or better tomorrow because legends are made here.

just the way we end is, you know, it's called The City with a Smile.

Whether it's a Friday Night Football or it's a family in need that's going through a hard time, or is the community going through a tornado, The people that we can rally around each other, we have a serious situation.

A new tornado warning in the city.

A win win here mean you need to be in your tornado safe spot right now.

There's a path.

I grew up here, graduated from here in 2000.

A lot of memories here when high school.

There's a lot of tradition here.

I've been here my entire life.

All my family's went here.

It's been very big.

The school year was going really normally.

I was actually in the middle of, like, classes and stuff, not expecting anything to change.

You know, we were excited because it kind of felt like it was.

The first year, post-COVID, my senior year, I went because football, I was in all season, football.

I was playing soccer too, and we were really excited.

Things were going along all the way up to the March 31st and the last thing in the world in our mind was having a tornado destroyed our school and, our kids yet again, not having a normal year.

That radar is showing you the hook echo that just now went through when that is a debris ball just to the east of when one of my maintenance guys called it.

He said, you got to get down here.

These are the schools going.

You the tragedies happened, you know, in the storms here.

We we can't we had our moment of, you know, just breaking down.

We can't stay in the moment.

What do we do to help our community?

I got a call from one of my buddies and he told me the turf was in his front yard from the football field right out there here, that the tornado hit the field.

And here is no football.

And I'm thinking, okay, what's the next miss?

The next still like, what are we going to do?

We were right out here on that field and there's debris everywhere.

There's tile all this First time we really got to meet with the team there, got bulldozers behind or bulldozing their school.

You know, the kids look on their eyes is like, what kind of nightmare?

If I woke up to it was a it was a surreal feeling, something I'll never forget.

We have to find a way to make sure our kids don't lose anything.

They don't lose prom they don't lose graduation.

Obviously, with the field being nothing but gravel, we went to a church field for spring football practice because we didn't have turf.

We've been out on the grass.

We just kind of the most of what we had and we could have easily sat back and just said, Man, what do we do?

But that's a testament to our leadership.

It is a testament to our teachers, our students to put the extra work it took to get us to that point.

Once the temporary camp has gotten done, it was a easier transition.

It was more of like a normal school feeling.

They did a great job getting our facilities back.

I was in pass and was it was an amazing feeling to, you know, turf farm the difference from turf to grass.

It was it was an amazing feeling.

The hours you live there, the kids and, well, they were teared up.

You know, it was a it was it was a big, big deal for sure, Living in that stance.

The wind community, all of that together.

And right at State University, it was all they really come together.

And when it's an awesome community, we're living here, but we're playing pretty good.

So many fans packed out every game and it's just not that they show up when there's loss, when there's when there's grief, they show up for everything.

That's what they do in white.

The Doors are superintendent then brought him in.

You know, you think that someone that played in the NFL and big star quarterback that he didn't come off like that at all.

You could tell he was getting ready.

He was ready to get to work and he was excited to be the head football coach.

He just comes in and he introduces himself and he immediately flashes this huge smile and cracks a joke.

And it's his laugh.

He always had this laugh.

It was a working relationship, but then it turned into he was literally my best friend.

You knew he was when he got here, but he didn't want that.

He wanted to just be Ryan.

What he brought was Big Heart for kids.

A huge personality, Just a simple, humble man is what I saw.

He want to get back to kids and get back to the sport that he loved.

But my dad always said being was the first football that he met when he came to the house he rented was right across the street from Ben's house.

He knew that Ben was going to be special.

He said, Man, I love that kid.

Please join me in a moment of silence.

As we remember Benjamin Briggs here, they said, Benjamin Loman is his mother.

I woke up that morning with some text messages and calls, and a couple of those calls were from Coach Mallett.

When Ben passed away.

That's when I really found out how close they were because of how bad it wrecked him.

It changed him.

I really, really did not care form a lot.

I was like my son.

Basically.

It's just it's tough when you lose a kid like that and know that he was going to go off and do great things and that when that would hit me hard.

It's just sad.

Seeing Coach Mallett react.

The way he did, even on the field and hug them out on the field and start crying and tell us all that he loved us.

We all use each other to kind of piggyback on try to look to each other for comfort.

Everybody Was there for each other.

Now being the name that he was, you know, fake media or whatever, post stuff when we text a group chat, you Yeah, it was this real that was like, there's no way.

So I called him.

I was like, There's no way it's true.

Let me call it.

He pick up.

I was like, Wow, this is real.

I was in shock.

I just talked to him about an hour and a half before I just melted to the ground.

The feelings and the emotions were so raw.

You can't hardly describe it unless you're in that moment.

To be honest, it didn't seem that it could possibly be real.

Our district had lost students.

We had lost a coach that our kids adored.

It was more than what we could handle as a district, as a whole community.

I think they came together to help us football players out.

They had counselors from every school, even elementary schools there, knowing that they were there for us, helped out a lot.

It's just the outpouring of affection and and love that they show in this community for years.

It was awesome.

It was about what you expect from while they were there, just that outpouring of love that was felt in not just our community, but surrounding communities in the state, just the love that was shown to us.

It's healing.

And we as a community can get through this.

We've gone all these things and every day we are moving forward.

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.

I grew up in from Arkansas.

We had a one room schoolhouse from first through the eighth grade.

That was as far as we went.

You know, I'm a little kid, but I would be helping a bigger kid read.

The night of graduation, there was someone there from Philander Smith College offering a scholarship.

I remember my sisters and brothers working very hard, picking cotton to get enough money to buy my bus ticket.

And it was $3.43.

And I said to myself, If I ever get away and do okay, I'm going to make sure that every one of my sisters and brothers that want to go to college get a chance to go.

And I did did.

I'm Cat Robinson and I preach the gospel of Arkansas food.

No, really.

No, it is not.

For more than a decade, I've been traveling the state.

Good morning.

Searching out our culinary roots and every great little restaurant and food story I can find.

I hope you make room for God.

Download the PBS video app or watch online.

Blimey.

Quite something, isn't it?

Watch entire seasons of your favorite shows from Masterpiece.

One thing is clear.

Time is not on our side.

With Passport on the PBS video app Binge, your favorite and the latest shows from our huge collection of dramas and looking forward to all sorts of things.

Exciting or catch up on episodes you miss what you waiting for?

Downton is catching up with the times we live in.

These and other masterpiece shows are available with Passport on the PBS video app.

Download it today.

Broadcast of this championship game is made possible by Southern Locke, the proud sponsor of Arkansas PBS.

It is our mission to tell your story by adding color with our furniture.

And that's why Southern Locke is a different kind of furniture store.

For more information, go to my mother in law's dot com.

Give your family a once in a lifetime experience at the Little Rock Zoo.

At Arkansas's largest lantern festival.

Go wild at the rock.

Soon after dark, bring your family to a lady at Wonderland where imagination sparks discover new lighted mystical creatures and returning favorites at Glow one.

A once in a lifetime experience.

The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas over 2500 team members across 17 local electric distribution co-ops, powering homes, farms and industry somewhere across.

We are the electric cooperatives of Arkansas Power and People.

When you choose Conway Regional, you're choosing a health care partner rooted in your community.

With nine primary care locations in five counties.

We believe in building lasting relationships, dinner on trust and personalized care.

Let our family care for yours.

They are addicted to nicotine and can prematurely age your lungs.

To those of a seven year old, don't Get lost in the fog.

Learn more about the hazards of vaping at Project Prevent Fraud.

So welcome back to War Memorial Stadium.

Halftime of the 40 state championship game between Harding Academy and River Crest Harding Academy with a 3314 lead at the half.

Let's look at the halftime statistics.

Harding Academy not running the ball very much.

They haven't had to because they've thrown it for 230 yards 257 to 234 total yards doesn't look bad.

Turnovers have been the key to many river crest turnovers and they've turned the ball over on downs a couple of times.

But Hardee Academy only 6 minutes in 45 seconds of time possession.

That's because they've had some quick scoring drives.

O and Miller the story so far in this game, he has completed every pass he's thrown except for one went to the other team.

That's his first touchdown pass of the Tyler Hoover 27 yard score of with seven to nothing in the first quarter Quickly in this game they got the ball right back this time it's Jack city seven yard pass low and Miller 14 to nothing and then Harding added to it later in the first quarter with the longer pass to wide open city 50 yards it's no good it was 20 did nothing.

River Crest finally got on the scoreboard in the second quarter.

Their best player today has been Coby Turner, the running back.

That's the first interception you see right there that and Miller is thrown all year he made up for it later Tyler Hoover with a juggling catch from 61 yards that made it 26 to 7.

Coby Turner added a second touchdown run 2424 yard run this time that made it 3314 And that is your score right now.

Individual statistics for these two teams.

You've got O and Miller 11 of 12 one interception for passes for 230 yards.

Let's go down to the field, check in with Kyle Carson.

You know, we're going to stay after it.

We're going to get some stops defensively, you know, and hopefully get a couple scores and be right back in the ballgame.

But you can only play one play at a time.

Good luck, coach.

Thank you.

Hey, West, one quick note.

Michael Rayner We will not see him in the second half out with a shoulder injury.

Yeah.

When he took off the pads and put on a jacket or a coat, that's when I figured that's the last we're going to see of Rayner.

That's a big blow for them.

He has been their receiving threat.

JT Young Leaps River Crest, three catches 24 yards.

Rayner had that one catch for 39 yards, but believe he drew two pass interference penalties.

Buda Harris with the catch for 33 yards Gabbert Washington seven of 21 with one interception two yards Coby Turner 121 yards and two touchdowns for the Colts.

And if it weren't for Owen Miller in this passing attack you think well Coby Turner he could be your MVP for river Crest they win this game because he's on pace for a game like we saw in the three eight state championship game.

He's on pace for close to 250 yards rushing.

River Crest will be on defense to start the second half as Harding Academy.

They will get the ball first and we saw that Neal Evans was not a happy camper at the end of the first half.

And real quick, as we get ready for the second half, keys for both teams west.

Somehow River Crest has got to slow down and maybe it's putting some pressure on Owen Miller because what they did in the first half did not work at all.

He was 11 of 12 and really the interception was a under thrown ball that we thought, you know, when it was thrown it was going to be a touchdown.

And he just under threw it a little bit.

They hadn't had a whole lot of pressure on Miller.

The offensive line for Harding Academy has been fantastic.

They've given him time to throw and we've seen Miller Design rollouts on a lot of plays too.

But you know, coming in and River Crest as head coach Starting Point where we just heard from, he said we're going to come after him.

We're going to be blitzing.

That's what we do.

We blitz every single play.

We come after him.

You don't know where that blitz is coming from.

I didn't see a whole lot of blitzing in the first half.

He did that towards the end of the half, you know, they got after Allen Miller a couple of times.

But throughout the whole first half, No, not at all.

You got to get after Owen Miller And then on offense from a river cross that's a get turned the ball look your best wide receivers out you saw some glimpses out of Turner after the first quarter he hit a huge second quarter.

This kid can run like like I said last week against Ward he had 268 yards.

Well, he's close to that pace today.

You got to you got to ride him.

You got to ride him in the second half.

JAVONTE Washington's had a tough first half, seven of 21, and that's without his best receivers.

So but it all starts right here.

This drive is huge.

You know, if you're river press, you get a stop, get the ball back, get a score.

We got a ballgame.

But if Warren, Mark or Warren, if Harding Academy marches down and scores here, it makes it 4214.

It's going to be tough for river crest to overcome that city and Pryor back to receive this kick as it's going to sail down through the back of the end zone.

And that will be first and ten.

Our first attempt of the 24 Harding Academy has now River Crest hands that win to their bag and Harding Academy will be going into the win towards the north end zone here at War Memorial Stadium.

But to have you back along for the second half as Harding Academy leads a 33 to 14, our last 24 minutes of high school football.

So crazy to think that this football season will be over with after this game.

But yeah, it's to enjoy it, folks, because football's over with after this is here's Owen Miller He's going to throw it to city up the right side and he'll get out of bounds after picking up the first down just shy of the 35 yard line at the 33.

It's nice.

Simple play for your first completion of the half.

Able to warm up your quarterback, get him back into the flow of game, just roll him out, hit city, swing it out to the flats and they work it out over to the running back Trenton Hall and no ball.

He'll lose actually two yards on the play and that brings up second down so Kyler Hoover excuse me not not hall on the reception so it's now five wide on this second down Miller under pressure in a run he'll slide down he'll lose more yardage That was a designed quarterback keeper to go right up the middle but river crest defense was right there in the middle.

So he tried to improvise.

But the Colts did a good job just stringing out.

Keelan Sanders finally gets the tackle.

That's a good job of the defense.

So now that you got your big play on defense, you needed second 14, you got him behind the sticks.

Miller takes the shotgun snap, going to look to throw under pressure again, finds his man and get past the 40 yard line that city.

He'll get out to the 44 yard line down into river crest territory and we've seen that play once before where they just dump it off to city and let him do some work.

Yeah.

Harding Academy got away with a push in the back from one of the receivers.

Then one city catches it man he's impressive showed a little burst of speed You know just go north southwest with it Going to give it the hall he'll get past the 40 down to the 39 You know Jack city He was he was injured for a few games throughout the year.

And so when we were talking about his numbers, he hit 315 yards and three touchdowns coming into this game.

It's because he was he spent a lot of time injured during the season.

As I give it the hall again, he'll be about a yard shy of the first down Wyatt Lancaster on.

The tackle city must be healthy now.

Yeah yeah he's a he's a player Very impressive as you said, three touchdowns coming into the game he's got to tonight kind of a legacy at Harding Academy because his grandfather's got a building named after him on campus, and then his brother won a football and baseball state title at Harding Academy.

So it's now third down and one with the ball at the 34 yard line for wide and the formation back to hall they go he gets the first down as he'll take it out to the 32 Good job there of sidestepping the defensive linemen who broke free and could have made the tackle in the backfield.

But that one little move right there gets past him, avoids the tackle in the backfield, gets the first down.

I drew a first down and ten as it tried to go with the hard count.

Now Miller's going to look back to the sidelines.

We'll take the snap go one big ball right side trying to find city and it was deflected away on the coverage that time for river crest that was Faxon what looked like he had him for just a second and facts and I think the ball hit off the back of his helmet go lucky there with the under thrown ball so that brings up a second down and ten from the 32 yard line.

That's what hustle will do not giving up on the play turns runs as hard as he can and good thing happened to it.

Now are splits out hall wide to the right is now he's going to try to go with another big pass play and it's incomplete that time trying to find Kyler Hoover for the reception that'll bring up a third down in ten years or of killing is completion percentage back to back incomplete passes he was 11 to 12 at the half and one incompletion and now he's got three or four.

Has it been updated.

got him offsides with a hard count that time and that'll get a free five yards for Harding Academy.

Yeah.

You don't want to do that third and ten encroachment.

But if anything this opens up the playbook so you've got a third down and five ball in the 27 yard line.

and Miller going to run with it has wide open spaces and he's going to easily walk into the end zone for a touchdown from 27 yards out and Harding Academy's back on the scoreboard.

That's what the penalty does.

Third ten.

I bet they don't call that quarterback draw third five.

It opens up the playbook.

All of a sudden you can call the quarterback draw and just I mean, he ran it perfectly.

He made one guy miss took a bad angle on him and he with the other 30 yards just on his own, no one even near him.

They spread you out.

Hardy just does a great job of spreading you out.

Nobody in the middle of the field off and Thomas on for the extra point put it up and it is good.

And with 923 left here in the third quarter, Harding Academy leads it 40 to 14.

You're watching the centennial State Football Championships on Arkansas PBS Sports broadcast of this championship game is made possible by give your family a once in a lifetime experience at the little Zoo at Arkansas Largest Lantern Festival.

Go wild at the Little Rock Singing after dark when your family to a lady at Wonderland where imagination smarts discover 14 new lighted mystical creatures and returning favorites at Glow one a once in a lifetime experience, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas over 2500 team members across 17 local electric distribution co-ops, powering homes, farms and industry somewhere across Arkansas.

We are the electric cooperatives of Arkansas Power and People.

When you choose Conway Regional, you're choosing a health care partner rooted in your community.

With nine primary care locations in five counties.

We believe in building lasting relationships centered on trust and personalized care.

But our family care for yours Vaping, addiction to nicotine and can prematurely age your lungs to those of a seven year old, don't Get lost in the fog.

Learn more about the hazards of vaping at Project Prevent Concord Southern Lock, the proud sponsor of Arkansas PBS.

It is our mission to tell your story by adding color with our furniture.

And that's why Southern Lock is a different kind of furniture store.

For more information, go to my mother in law's dot com Southern loft.

As a proud supporter of Arkansas PBS Sports Center, Arkansas Student athletes located at 3155 North College Avenue, Suite one two, and Fayetteville Southern Loft, a different kind of furniture store.

For more information, visit my Southern loft dot com.

That last drive for Harding Academy Academy went ten plays 80 yards as they extend their lead to 4214.

I have to have somebody hold the ball because the wind keeps knocking off the tee for Griffin Thomas are you going shift over the guy holding?

It was over on the left side so they take someone from the right side, put him on the left side.

So Thomas will put a foot into it as it'll be a high kick and he'll be knocked out of bounds at around the 38 yard.

Boy, that ball was up there and it just kind of fluttered around and went out of bounds.

Now the wind is blowing hard from left to right, but it's also kind of a little bit of an blowing towards the far sideline.

I think that's what happened.

The ball got up in the air and it blew it even further and out of bounds for action on the kicking team.

First down, it was just trying to high pooch kick it because they've seen he can he can't kick a kick back touch back into this wind.

I think even his strong leg can get it back there.

So maybe just try to pop it up in the air.

Vontae Washington Back out on the field for River Crest as he'll have Coby Turner lined up directly behind him and he'll hand it to Turner, bounces it out.

Left side has running lanes.

Nobody's going to catch him.

He's at the 3020 1510 bond touchdown while Turner just went in, sucked everybody in so nobody out to his left, bounce it outside to the left and he was just gone.

That was just a great a lot on his own, just bringing everybody inside and patient.

You know, you got to be patient to do that because if you just take it straight, they'll come get you.

But look him right there.

But he's met the line, bounces it out.

Sam Swindell there, so nowhere to go.

I'll go outside it.

There's plenty of places to go out there.

On the kick is Josh Johnson, the take is up and it is good with 914 left here in the third quarter, Harding Academy leads it 40 to 21.

Turner, now 24, carries 178 yards and three touchdowns.

All three river Crest touchdowns from Coby Turner He's a heck of a back now he's responsible for all the touchdowns for river crest tonight he's been and you know we've seen a lot of really good running backs this year in the state finals He's got 178 of their to 91 so he's been their offense pretty much yeah they may have kind of second guess not getting him going a little sooner.

Yeah that was one of the things 178 of the 189 rushing.

Yeah he was really this has been in the second third quarter that he's gotten his yards gets into the first quarter but we have those notes somewhere he didn't have much at the end of the first quarter he is just blown up the last two quarters.

He'll be taken at the ten yard line up the left side running lane past the 30, and he'll be spun at the 33 yard line to end.

And Pryor almost broke that one All Keelan Sanders finally tackles him before he can get out into the open and take it all the way to the house.

So let's bring up a first and ten for the 33 yard line.

Yeah.

At the end of the first quarter, Turner had 16 yards, 16 yards on nine carries.

So they were trying.

They just couldn't anything going offensively and emotion that's Hoover showing it to him right side now pass the 40 and he's going to be taken down by Turner too.

Yeah I know you just read what 78 yards whatever however far that was what if you just go back out there.

I don't think he was on the kickoff return was, you know, give him a little bit of a break on kickoff coverage.

That's like gravity thing in water real quick.

And I'm going to hand it to Hall, pick up the first down as he takes it out to the 44 yard line.

Get off the clock momentarily, wind it back, put the ball down at 45 and the wind started making it roll away.

Shotgun, snap to Miller.

Now he swings left side try to find city and just overthrowing it.

Yeah he was upset with himself Miller was when he threw that one into the ground.

And that's just one of those little simple passes he's rolling out, but he's rolling to his left for right here.

The quarterback.

That's tougher to throw.

Tougher.

Throw the square those shoulders and make him make that throw to a four receivers in the formation.

This time, I think Trent Hall has played well in reserve duty for Harding Academy.

He's not been asked to do a lot.

Ten, ten carries or ten carries 31 yards.

And here's Owen Miller trying to make something out of nothing has run for a couple of yards and that'll bring up a third down now for Harding Academy Kylin Sanders again running him out of bounds place the ball down the 46 yard line and he's going to stop here.

They won't have a chance any kind of opportunity to make a comeback need to get off the field third and eight did your job well first and second down hill are going to look to throw and he'll step up.

He's under pressure and he's going to be taken down at the 40 yard line when Sean Allen's got penalty flags part of your candidate, fans are cheering.

It must be a personal foul.

Well, they slammed down Owen Miller pretty hard once again.

But I got a personal foul.

Yeah five just drove in.

Once he was down the ground, five fell on him and then just just kept pressing on him, pushing him down.

Foul ground on the defense, 15 yard penalty, first down, you know the fans are getting all over Wyatt Lancaster for that and that's just too aggressive after the play's over.

But I'll tell you that Dwight Lancaster Lancaster's out there with the broken hand.

He played with the club on his hand last week.

This week they were able to just put it in embrace Tom just a little too much after the play.

So they're going to put the ball down at the 43 yard line first and ten for Horning Academy penalty haul in motion.

They swing it right side to city and he'll get out of bounds after a couple of yard pickup.

You know, not to harp on it you did your job got third long you sack the quarterback, you get him down and then you get the personal foul penalty and give him a first down.

That's just a killer.

When you're trailing by 19, you got to get the ball back.

Make this a two possession game second down and nine with the ball at the 41 yard line Three wide receivers at the top of your screen going to give it the hall nice running lane out to the 30 yard line picks up the first down give him 13 that's his best run of the game He had a nice running lane that time.

Look at this whole great blocking there.

That was Harding Academy 17.

The offensive linemen just did a fantastic job of opening up that hole.

Joshua Lou Allen, man, Fantastic.

BLOCK Try it again.

They're going to give it to him again.

He's got another good running lane as he'll take it down to the 21.

Picked up nine back to back good runs once again, another big hole.

They found a little something right there up the middle, second down to second down and to see 72 down there blocking downfield again this offensive line Eli freshman stacked receivers just outside the numbers on both sides of the formation Harding Academy catching up a little bit on those rushing yards had been trailing but you're pounding away now look know it's also using the clock you're up by 19 with the ball no need to get in a hurry.

And they've established the running game a lot more this third quarter than they did in the first half.

A little bit of a first down here as the ball is going to be at the 18 yard line.

They looked over for a play and coach just kind of turned around to waste some more time.

Miller takes the snap, a roll back left side under pressure and the escape gets past the 20 and goes out of bounds around the 15.

Several things.

Trenton Hall.

First of all, from his running back, picked up the blitz great blitz pick up and that allows Miller to get outside then he's so patient too.

Just as a runner, we talk about him as a passer, but just to come inside look like he was going to take it up.

The hash mark just hesitated, sucks everybody in, then use the speed to get outside and pick up five.

They're going to mark him down to 14.

So it's second down and five on the near hash Miller going to look to throw across the middle of the field.

It's deflected and almost intercepted tight on the air that once again we've talked about him all night the Kobi Turner came across I think Turner got a hand on that.

Yep Turner did save the touchdown.

Yeah.

When he threw it I was like that's an easy touchdown.

But Turner dropping back sees the ball reaches back, gets a hand on it, knocks it down so that brings up a third down and five with the ball at the 14 yard line.

I have receivers in the formation too at the bottom of your screen academy two of two inside the red zone today Miller looking he's going to have to hold on to it go out of bounds in the field and that'll bring up fourth down play it can Tom Griffin Thomas coming in you're kicking into that wind and it looks like they're going to bring him out in fourth down.

He's going to kick it from about the 25 yard 24 yard line, right hash mark.

So he'll have to draw it in or kick it a little bit to his left.

Plenty of leg for this, even into the wind.

Griff and Thomas put a foot into it and it is good with 619 to play in the third quarter.

Harden Academy goes up 43 to 21.

Well, that is a weapon to have right there.

And no doubt, I mean, how many high schools out there would love to have a kicker like that?

Yeah.

I mean, and Harden Academy, it's like kicker you going on over there because as you mentioned earlier, they just keep producing.

I'll tell you what he a good job keeping that low.

The win did not affect that at all.

That was just a low line drive right down the middle.

I mean, I know kickers like right hash mark better than most of the better than the left They got it kind of faded in there can be a little different there's your wind 30 miles per hour.

I laugh at that That's gusting though at 22.

Well, it's been a steady gust.

At some point you got change gust.

What the wind is because it's been blowing like that all night.

Yeah, it's and I don't think they're going to hold on to it this time.

Hold on the ball.

It's starting to move a little bit.

You better get out there and kick that thing for the Wildcat.

They have a Charlie Brown here run up and the ball falls off.

Thomas will put a foot into it as it'll hit down at the 16 yard line and it'll be returned.

Turner just slipped.

Turf got him.

He got a fantastic block at the 20 yard line.

He saw it.

He was going to cut it up right behind that block and, try to hit the middle and just slip.

What's a block right there?

Bam!

Good block Really took out to try to cut it up and turf monster got.

Yeah.

I'd be curious to see what would have happened if he didn't get tripped up there.

He had a hole so it's first and ten from the yard line.

Washington is going to be in the shotgun.

Now we've got whistles and penalty flags and I don't want to be head ball, but I'll start off in.

And that was a terrible penalty because Hardy Academy only had ten players on the field.

The receiver at the bottom of the screen was not covered at all at all.

And as soon as the whistle blew, he started jumping up and down because he was unguarded.

There was no body for Hardy Academy.

And once they got the penalty, they ran the defensive back out on the field.

But he was standing out there all alone.

Buda Harris had a chance to do something big there.

They throw it left side into the hands of their receiver.

Harris and Harris is going to take it, pass the 25 to the 26 yard line.

Know isn't any little things like that you know just the false start penalty just costly and we saw them in the last year I remember it extended Hardy Academy's drive and they end up scoring or kicking a field goal So let's second down in three after the 12 yard pickup, give it to Turner.

Turner trying to make something out to the 29 yard line.

That should be a first down.

Wyatt Simmons They're making the tackle the result of the play in the first down drive will move the chains and Marcus Slayton is in it running back it.

Turner has a helmet issue.

That's why he's out of the game.

Throw a deep pass down the middle of the field.

It's off the fingertips of Jalen Young under pressure once again.

I thought they were going to get a holding call.

Hardy Academy lineman.

Let's see who on the replay who that was broke free man What a nice just a little dunk move from Sam Swindell He was in the backfield and he was so fast I don't think they could hold him and he was on top.

The quarterback rushed the throw a little bit just off the mark.

He has a little bit more time and is able to step into that, make a good throw.

It could have been a touchdown second down and ten they fake it to Turner now roll upside to young and young has nowhere to go.

He's going to lose a yard on the play back to the 29 yard that's getting off your blocks.

You got to shed that block make the play Tanner Simmons the freshman makes the tackle.

Simmons Wonder a me relation, right to Wyatt and Coach Simmons just been told he is.

Thank you, Carl.

Carl Decker bombed down on the field, third down and 11 from the 29 yard line Washington goal to throw across the middle of the field.

It's caught down at the 48 yard line coming up with it.

That Time was Jaden Young.

Look at White Simmons number ten.

He's playing linebacker, middle linebacker gets all the way down the field.

It almost knocks that away.

That's getting deep for linebacker but they even better catch and play from the Colts wide receiver make that catch first and ten they swing it in the flats get it to Turner Hunter gets around one blocker and they want to see him go out of bounds at around the 46 yard line.

They've seen that play enough.

They almost made the play right when he caught it.

He just sidesteps.

That defender makes him miss the tackle well it's second down and eight now Washington looking to throw again and he'll take it down the right side incomplete trying to find Budda Harris that time on the coverage for Hardy academy that was Camden Pryor.

Well they thought they could catch him right there.

They've thrown that play so many times to Turner Defense Rush is in wide receiver, other wide receiver slips.

It goes deep.

Hardy Academy's defensive back was running step for step towards third down and eight from the 46 yard line running back in now for river crest is going to be Marcus Slayton and the throw it right side just sailed it over Budda Harris is head and that brings up a fourth down It's a the effects of a quarterback that's been running for his life who've been taking hits that time.

They roll him out and he just air made play.

Turner's coming back in.

Slayton will go out big fourth down play here for River Crest Party Academy fans on their feet.

You can hear them making some noise.

They know this is big.

Here's a fourth down opportunity that they're going to throw across the middle of the field.

They've got it inside the 40 or 35 yard line taking down at the 33 Turner.

Again, man, he's making plays now as a receiver down the field at credit the river crest offensive line he had all day to throw That's one of the few times he could just stand in the pocket, look down the field and find a receiver coming open that time.

And he delivered a stride under pressure.

This time, though, and he's going to work it back.

There's a penalty flag down as he'll work it back towards the 35 balls on the turf and river crest is going to come up with it at the 31 yard line.

Yeah that's obvious hole that time.

Hardy Academy, you heard me talking about no pressure on the quarterback play before So that time they were mad and came after him and got all over him.

There were two or three Wildcats back in the backfield.

A holding call will push it back and that'll be a spot foul.

So holding offense.

So that's going to back the ball up to the corner on the 43 yard line.

Sam Swindell was one in the backfield but blew up that play.

I think we've called out every single one of the front three and their linebackers they they've been the story to me, you know Turner's ripped off some big runs but this defense has played well enough first and 20 they give it to Turner he gets inside the 40 and we take him down to 30 Brody Myers and Katie, Nurse Anderson and Harding Academy going with the three defensive linemen.

Look now dropping their linebackers into coverage brings up a second down and 16 from the 39.

That's what River Crest needs to do.

You know, if they're just going to have three down linemen and drop their linebackers as deep as they are, take advantage of that, get a hat on the hat, some room to run, give it to Turner.

He can he can break.

At that point.

He picked up six there.

So you know from first and 20 now it's 39.

You got an opportunity here to down you know four down territory.

So got two downs here pick up those nine yards, walk rolling it to 40 and counting.

It's 4321 Harding Academy, all that the Harding Academy, 33 yard line as the play as Washington is going to go left side gets it past the 30 down to the 29 that time Marcus Slayton was in the game and he went one he didn't go on the same side.

The handoff was supposed to go.

That was Turner.

It Turner went to the opposite side.

He went behind the quarterback and quarterback just had take off and run with it.

14 But he was able to pick up, you know, three, four yards and he made something out of nothing.

You've got a fourth down and six from the 29 Vontae Washington all along in the backfield look to throw back right side has his man young inside the 50 and he's going to get down to the ten yard line.

See what Young took that off his shoe tops made the catch it made a couple of moves he picked up the down with the catch the 20 but he wasn't satisfied with that.

Picked up ten more yards.

Breaking two tackles was a great catch.

And now we've got a timeout on the field to what some of those river crest players were.

This has been a long established draft and they they were been over on that fourth down play.

I was watching a couple of their offensive linemen.

They looked gassed.

They they needed this timeout more than anybody.

Well, let's check in with Carl Dug a bomb down the sidelines.

Carl.

Now, guys, I tell you, get this team credit.

There's certainly no quit even with time.

Not necessarily on their side with this really long drive.

But that big last play there, that fourth down play yet Harding Academy players turning facing the crowd, trying to pump up the crowd.

And among those in the crowd today is Harding University coach for the challenge and I ran do feel that he had an okay grin on his face guys can you think of a better day as a dad to lead your college team to the division to national championship in dominant fashion?

And then watch what appears to be your two sons win a state championship?

It's cool.

It's been a good day for the Smith family.

Like, take a look at that catch one more time.

That's what the officials are doing right now.

There's a review of this last completion.

We said he went down to make that catch at the shoot tops.

Maybe he didn't.

He wanted to look at it the least.

Saw something up here to make make them think that, hey, we need to stop the game for just a second and take a look at it.

Maybe Harding Academy took the time out to challenge Whoop after wind it back.

Or maybe the end zone angle.

We may have a better look.

Would go, it's just off the screen.

I tell you who who had the best angle was number two and on defense.

Can't really tell right there either.

But The way he kept going and fighting on the play made me think that, you know, if it's an incompletion, he's probably signaling right away and I do know that the replay crew, they use the stadium cameras for a lot of the replay.

One more for you.

there it is.

Great job, guys.

They found the one great job by the Arkansas PBS crew.

And I mean, we're not the replay officials by any stretch of the imagination.

But do we get a vote?

If we got a vote, I would say that that's going to be an incomplete pass.

Joining us at the Little Rock Zoo for our third annual Glow Wild, and our theme once in a lifetime, November 16th through January 7th, from 5 to 9 each night this year with three themed areas and over 40 new lanterns.

For more information for public and zoo member tickets, visit Little Rock on.

The ruling on the field stands.

It is a catch.

They didn't get the angle.

We did.

Go to the website.

Little Rock Zoo.

Dcoms.

Extra dash.

Fun.

Slash go wild.

Glow.

Wild La Rock.

Zuko.

Yeah.

They.

They clearly didn't see that.

The crew from the Arkansas PBS team.

yeah.

You know, I love that We've got cameras all over the stadium.

We've got the stadium for the Jumbotron cameras.

Then you've got our Arkansas PBS crew to figure out.

Way to get those cameras in the replay.

Either way.

First down and ten from the ten yard line.

Turner gets it and.

He's just bottled up in the backfield from KENYON.

Harris was there and he was helping up Brody Myers.

They teamed up once again for another tackle.

that was a tackle for loss, but they've had a ton of them tonight.

Yeah, they they lost more yards.

Yeah.

Second down and goal from the 14.

Washington's looking still looking good in the end zone and it's incomplete.

There's a penalty flag down the end zone trying to hook up that time with Budda Harris Once again pressure all night long starts to impact a quarterback.

I mean, he had a pocket that time.

The offensive line did a really good job of just creating that pocket, sealing off the Harding defense and the defensive linemen.

But because he's been pressured night long, he took off running and he took off to the right and then that's that.

I mean, there was nobody to block for him out there and here comes all the pressure and Fifita stayed in the pocket.

He may had a better chance of completing the pass, but I think the whole defense had to get to the goal.

Repeat flagging down say all that once he scrambled in the scramble drill starts.

Yeah, that's when Budda breaks out towards the sideline and he beat the defender in the defender grabs.

So take it forward.

Pitch it to Turner.

He has nowhere to go.

He throws it forward for a touchdown.

Second, we got to watch this.

I thought it was that designer.

He just do that on his.

I think that was what they drew up in the sand right before that game came about.

Because when he first took it, I didn't think he wanted to throw it forward.

But that's that was an incredible play.

Hey, I would love to talk to the coaches at some point in passing because when he catches it right there and it doesn't look like he's going to throw, all the sudden he pulls up, throws it.

So if it was if it was a designed play, he sold it fantastically.

Josh Johnson is going to be on for the extra point, pick his away and it is good.

And with 48 seconds to play here in the third quarter it's 43 to 28.

Going back to that play, I mean, well, one way to know if it was designed or not were the lineman for lineman blocking the way downfield.

If so, then they thought it was a running play.

Yeah.

If the linemen were staying back then they think it is a designed run.

Yeah.

Can really tell right there.

If there were any linemen down the field.

15 plays.

What a drive.

15 plays, 81 yards.

Took five and a half minutes.

That's the only negative.

When you're down that much, you got it.

You need to score a little quicker.

It's a two possession game now.

2843, 50.

You got to think this forever.

Chris They ever drive.

They've had as resulted in points in the second half.

That's very good point.

Got to get a stop.

I get a stop.

Yeah.

There's a kick by Johnson.

Well he is a max effort kicker.

He I mean everything he's got his whole body behind that kick.

And you know what?

Kickers will just kind of jog up to the ball, get more momentum and kick it.

This dude takes off in a Sprint Rares back and kicks it as hard as he can.

You know, this sounds weird, but when I was playing, I always want to be the kick off kicker.

There's something cool about being the kickoff kicker because you don't have to go down and hit him buddy.

You just get to kick it off and just hope that nobody gets past the front line.

All eyes are on you, All eyes are on you.

But all you got to do is kick it between the white lines.

Here's Owen Miller going to find city out.

Pass the throw.

He'll run out of bounds at the 33 yard line.

He came here and it made a living on that play.

Tonight.

You have to have a line in the first down.

Stop the clock at 43 seconds over Miller now 17 of 22 for 293 yards handed off ahead.

And you get to the 35 yard line in why is Lancaster 30 seconds on the clock and they don't have one another play but I mean academy they said there's time on the clock.

We're going to try to get one more in there.

Are they?

maybe not Check with me.

I don't think it will run a play under 9 seconds.

Now.

They're going to they're going to let this thing in the third quarter.

They head to the sidelines.

Harding Academy leads it 4328 heading into the fourth quarter.

You're watching the Centennial Bank State football Championships at Arkansas.

PBS Sports.

Looks like we have some new help in the marketing department at the high end to the error with everybody.

AT&T, I think you do the work out here.

Fine.

Badgers, how about you do it?

Family and customer.

Friends.

Family.

Most times it's a big DNC.

I learned lot actually.

Everybody.

New documents are being digitized every day and every day the DNA databases get bigger.

Sometimes the most moving revelations come from the paper trail.

Sometimes some of the most shocking revelations come from DNA.

I think I found out a little bit too much.

That's what makes it special.

The magical way we combine genealogical research with genetic research.

And we're the first program in the world to do that.

Without your support, there would be no finding your roots.

And without your support, there would be no PBS.

I think it's important for Arkansas PBS to have sports because it provides sports on a greater platform to the entire community.

And it also people in various other communities an opportunity to see other schools and other athletes and have a greater appreciation for not just their own community, but the sports that are available across the state of Arkansas.

There are so many lessons that sports provides, and it's one of the reasons why it's so important to finish a generation of athletes coming up and start the fourth quarter of this championship game.

4328 Martin Academy leading it.

Here's how we got here that's Kyle Hoover 27 yard touchdown reception seven to nothing will later Jack city 50 yards made it 20 to nothing Carlton was rolling in the first quarter.

It wasn't until the second quarter when river crest finally got on the scoreboard That's the first interception of the year for Owen Miller That's absolutely incredible stat Toby Turner four yard touchdown run makes it 20 to 7.

Hoover and Miller get back together again.

20 to 7 after that 61 yard touchdown haul scored the Kobi Turner with a 24 yard touchdown run made it 3314 at the half.

Turner had another big play 57 yards that made it 40 to 21 and Turner just threw for a touchdown that made it 4328 as we start the fourth quarter.

So back to action here to start the fourth quarter 4328 as Owen Miller, he's got a second down and eight the 35 yard line Kobi Turner now though he's got 188 yards rushing, three touchdowns running and he's thrown a touchdown pass.

So that's an MVP type game.

If if they were to win the game now he's had call all star he's had a really really good game and well he had 268 last week against Warren and 188.

So you do the math that's over 450 yards rushing in the last two weeks.

So it's second down and 12 after the penalty on Miller what to throw into the hands of his intended target trying find Tyler Hoover that would've been a touchdown had the wind behind him that time came out looking to go deep.

Didn't put as much air underneath that one more of a line drive maybe worried about that wind causing it to sail a little bit.

So he kept it underneath the wind, put it on a rope just outside the reach of Tyler Hoover.

Hoover is having a big game, too, by the way.

Five catches, 102 yards, two touchdowns, city nine catches, 160 yards and two touchdowns.

Third down.

They give it to city.

look the right side fumbled it because his blocker made him fumble.

He ran into his own locker.

The ball came out.

a running academy keeps possession of it.

Let's keep it sitting here.

It's his offensive lineman downfield blocking and he lineman was like trying to help him and when he did he hit the ball, knocked the ball out.

So it's appalling situation for Harding Academy as Griffin Thomas on but he's going to punt thankfully that offensive lineman recovered the fumble he calls it he you get a stat for that on offense when you make your own fumble that's you get a conversation with the coach over on the sideline.

He definitely gets a stat for a fumble recovery.

I don't think you get one for causing the fumble ref and Thomas has it blocked down at the 29 yard line.

It's recovered by river special teams coming up special for river crest and Kylan Sanders back there putting the pressure on the punter.

Looks like Carrion Morris recovers it.

Now they're in business.

we talked about it they they needed to get a stop and they've done that was a collision there at the punter between 22 and 32.

That was Morris that blocked it.

Yeah.

Two back there.

If Morris blocks it jars it loose Jarred some teeth loose may flicker.

Yeah.

Flea flicker and it's is it caught.

No it's incomplete but we've got a penalty down at the 15 yard line.

A lot of things happening on that play back to back plays.

I don't know why Alex Jones did a good job of reading the pass, undercuts the receiver, almost picked it up and we got to see what the flag is at the 15 holding defense Then your penalty first down what?

Well I mean here's the thing.

The Christmas is not here yet.

And group across getting some gifts.

It's a two possession game.

I mean he scored a touchdown here.

It's 15 to wait go for two later you can chase points now but going to score a touchdown here.

It gets very interesting all at the 18 yard line.

Washington has Turner in the backfield a hand it to him walks it across the 15, takes it down to the 13 yard line Turner did a great job of following his big offensive lineman that was pulling creating the hole just stuck it up in there and got as much he could on first down.

Well it got five yards on first down.

Back in the pistol set to give it back to Turner who cut it back left side it's around one man penalty flag down at the nine yard line facemask.

If he didn't get the first down, I think that was a facemask.

That will get them the first down.

He's River Crest fans are on their feet now.

They've got some life you know you can see it you can see it from first man on the defense Rudolph on the first down.

That'll put the ball down the four yard line.

It's a good shot at it.

They're not overly aggressive, but it was enough.

He grabbed hold of it, yanked on it, just a hair first and goal to give it to Terry.

A reverse of back inside the touchdown run.

Coming up with it was Marcus Slayton on the reverse.

He takes it in River Crest.

Well, Hardy was there to make the tackle slick big back hard to bring down that guy He made a defender.

nice little move right here Watch this spin move breaks the tackle, rumbles into the end zone That was Wyatt Simmons.

It's a good tackler he wasn't able to bring down.

White reads it right there from his middle linebacker spot goes can't bring him down that is a big back throw Josh Johnson got to have this on for the extra point how to have a kick is up and it is good it's a one score game with 1018 to play here in the ballgame 4335.

Let's head down to cold knuckleball on the sidelines.

Go, boy.

That was not an easy extra point there, guys.

This wind is no here in the field right now.

It's really picked up in the second half.

So that is not easy.

And speaking of the weather, you talk about a change in just total demeanor on the sidelines, Total right now.

I'm telling you, it's not long ago, you watch these river crest sidelines players try to keep their hands warm.

Nothing feels colder with a win.

You're down by that margin and you're just trying to stay warm.

But total belief, total change right now.

Those river crest sidelines.

Thanks, Kyle.

Three plays, 28 yards, 38 seconds for, river crest as it's now 43 to 35.

River crest is now outscored Harding Academy 21 to 10 in the second half.

Let's give river crest defense a little credit because Harding Academy was piling up the points in the first half.

They scored 33 first half points and touchdowns in the first half.

This had one touchdown, one field goal.

I mean, and think about this and the field goal came after the bad penalty on the unnecessary roughness.

Here's a close kick down to 21 city takes it and he'll bring it up Nobody flag down and he'll be taking down the 42.

I thought that was a facemask.

The setting that get his facemask yanked and looked like it.

Yes.

I don't know if that's what this flag is for or if there was something else, but here's a look at it.

You get the call from the official first pass before the first man on the kick in team.

15 yards added to the air on first down the second time this game, he's gotten a big facemask against him.

So this will give Harding Academy great field position down at the 45 yard line.

Well they're almost in field goal range but.

They don't want a field goal.

They'll take it up paint to make it another two possession game, but they need a touchdown.

This river crest fanbase, they're excited.

They're believing this River Crest sideline is excited.

They want to stop here.

Well, it's first and ten from the 45 and emotion is Patel Miller getting knocked out of bounds.

There's a penalty marker down at the 28 Let let me defensive holding one of the wide receivers breaking free and get pulled on that city.

Yeah he's pointing I want to do I don't if he was the one that was held but that's back there in the defensive backfield we're holding this normally called defense first down Well that's going to move Harden Academy deeper in the river Crest territory cannot wait to play in this one because the ball is going to be 35.

It's 25 yards a penalty count since the kickoff.

I mean they should without the penalties, they would be at their own 40.

Instead they're 235.

Really, They haven't done anything.

Yeah.

First and ten all receivers five receivers in the formation you're going to find city in the flats at the over throws him bring up second and ten Jack Benny the receiver too anxious with that throw 20 normally completes just let city a little too much walk past this guy settle down a little bit.

I think this is where they miss their running back the most.

In a situation like this, it's easy to hand it off to Isaac Baker and let him, you know, take over a stacked receivers on either side of the formation.

Miller's going to look to throw.

Miller gets flushed out of the pocket, has man down at the 25 trip home and it's Hall came out of the backfield and he's going to go inside the 20 down to the 18 It's Miller Miller making a play out of nothing.

Miller rolls to his left.

He was looking deeper, didn't have anything there, just scrambling around.

And Trent Hall broke free.

So it's a first and ten from the 18 yard line and I'm wide in the formation.

Miller throws it right on the find Tyler Hoover incomplete.

Thought he was going into the end zone.

He had man to man coverage running a little corner tell who was trying to hook up with and so that'll bring up a second down to that city.

Tyler Hoover down here at the bottom of the screen.

That's his two guys and he's look to towards post kind of a quiet for Andy McGough here.

He's at the top of the screen going Miller as all day flushes left looking to throw penalty marker down he's going to throw it right side and overthrows his intended target try to hook up with Jack City.

Yeah you got probably a holding call here just when your quarterback is scrambling around like that going left coming back right offensive linemen get out of here they yeah just you start you get out of position is offensive linemen you know your defensive linemen start to run You're like where's he going?

my quarterback's over there.

Then he comes back and this little to shove in the back.

How much time did Owen Miller have?

I mean, he he sat in the middle of the pocket, rolled left, stayed there for a minute, then came back and threw it.

He's got to get one of his receivers to to run with him to break open that time as receivers all set down and their spot and they recover but none of them were moving with him or moving to get open You got to continue to to get open.

These receivers have done a great job of doing that all night, but that time they did, they all just kind of sat there in their spot.

They had nowhere to go second down and 20 with the ball at the 28 yard line, receivers are going to move tighter to the line to the offensive line.

Now Miller will run with it and he will be taken down.

He's going to gain about a yard on the play.

Wyatt Lancaster has called his name out several times tonight.

That time he made a big play chasing down the quarterback.

That's a third down now Ball still on the 28 yard line It was a no gain throwing three wide to the bottom of your screen.

See the numbers right there.

Six of nine on, third down so far in this one, third down and 20 and whistles and penalty flags.

One thing that's costly that ball all star offense moving it back five let's going to put it at the 33 that's going to make it around the 50 yard field goal attempts if they don't pick up anything here on third down ideally look you're thinking third 25 almost impossible to pick up 25 yards down here.

Maybe you can get a holding call or, you know, a pass interference, but you're thinking, let's get ten here.

Look, let's get ten.

We got a great kicker.

Give him a chance.

Miller, it's the Miguel you.

Well, Goliad has a running lane inside the 15, and he's going to go out of bounds.

It depends on where they mark him out of.

Bounds will say he went out of bounds.

Mark him out at the end.

We'll see the official flag there.

We got a penalty flag.

It's about the 17 yard line.

Maybe an offensive lineman, black blocking in the back.

They margin mount it at the nine, maybe a yard short.

We've got to figure out this penalty, though, Miguel, has usually been a pretty good weapon for this holding Academy team.

He's been very, very quiet tonight.

The officials are talking this one over is it's going to be about a yard and a half short, the first down marker.

It's a good look at the play.

Keep an on 55 watts 55 to look like a pretty clean block right there.

What happens after he gets off the screen?

Here comes the call.

It looks like Hardy Academy's going back.

I think they called him for continuing the blocking out of bounds up here.

No holding back third down.

That's going to back him up, even even farther down.

That happened way down the field.

That's the one good thing for them.

They picked up a good chunk of the yards well, it still puts the ball back at the 28 yard.

probably.

So it's a pick up eight for that after getting it to the ten, but the holding pushes it back.

1320 Miller got a receiver looked in right side has a man but he dropped it at time it was Kyler Hoover who dropped it and it's fourth down Hoover just looked up field too quick.

He was going turning up with it You see the head move the field goal units on.

They're going to kick it from the 36 yard line, a 46 yard field goal from that left hash a little tougher there.

His long this year is a 48 yarder and he's got a huge win behind him.

The distance should not be a problem and we've got a penalty flag help that one was not going to be any good That one he didn't get a good kick on that one.

I wonder, do we have offsides, handball, encroachment, keep in.

Remember that that could be costly for AJ.

Yeah, because he kicked it and it was a line drive and it was low and just didn't get a hold of that one.

Now it gets five yards closer, so it's 41 yards instead of 46.

You got to hold it for the 31 on this will put a front door is blocked, it's blocked and river crest they make another stop and still alive still.

Got a chance we got a ballgame 817 to play in this 143 to 35 Hardee Academy you're watching the Centennial Bank state football on Arkansas.

PBS Sports.

The commitment it takes to be a winner on the field is the same as the commitment.

Centennial shows its customers patience, perseverance, commitment and, resilience are key ingredients for success both on and off the field.

Whether you're cheering on your home team or needing encouragement, starting a new business, let Centennial Bake help you make plans for your future centennial for all of life's moments.

Remember, FDIC for every moment, for every memory, from that first car to your first home to your first child and all highs and lows that tomorrow might break for everything that matters most to you and your family.

There's someone around the corner dedicated helping you protect what you love.

Your local Farm Bureau Insurance agent.

Farm Bureau Insurance.

Real service, real people here and here is the Kylan Sanders coming through in blocks and ready to.

How about that?

To Kylan Sanders off the edge and low kick.

You know, we talked about it.

A little razzle dazzle.

First down for river crest.

They got room to run.

Yeah.

They're out past the 50 yard line knocked out of bounds and river crest is in business is Jayden Young takes it in the heart of the academy territory to set a complete turnaround for this river crest team.

I mean West this was a team that was down 20 to nothing to start this game.

Well, at halftime, we heard from Coach Evans and, you know, Coach Evans wasn't very happy with the way the end of the second half hour into the second quarter.

And it was 3314 to 19 point lead.

But he was upset and now you know why I hand it straight up the middle and that was Turner.

And Turner is going to get a nice run.

But you know, I go back to what Coach Fleming said to Kyle, the half.

He said, boy, you play too hard.

He said, We didn't play very good in the first half and you got to turn around the second half.

And that's exactly what they've done with that.

Cory Turner goes over 200 yards for the game and Turner's not done second down and four ways to set him back off the left side.

They're going to give it to Turner.

Turner out.

Pass the 30 stays on his feet Powers pass the 25 gets down to the 22.

Mr. Turner is running like a man on a mission first down so loose speed there power Turner with 233 updated after those last two carries, Marcus Slayton goes a motion right handed to Turner.

He's hit the backfield, he pitches it backwards and they get sacked back at the beginning to say forward progress was at the 32.

I had to go with the flow.

It would've been better.

Turner would've just held onto it.

Alex Jones comes up in the backfield and makes the tackle once again.

I don't know if this was design or sandlot, just you do something with it.

But Alex Jones took care of it and blew the play off.

So it's second down and 20 we're going to look to throw left side and it's almost intercepted.

No one Miller comes in from playing quarterback goes out, plays defensive back, turns around looking for the ball.

Great job of getting his head turned around, Finding the ball in the air goes up.

Great coverage.

Brown almost picks it off.

The wide receiver did a great job of turning defender.

He breaks up that play by hitting Miller while he's trying to catch it.

So it's third down and 20 Washington's going to be in the shotgun.

He'll have Turner on his left side.

Wing backs it off the left.

Washington's going to look to throw.

He's under pressure.

He goes down at the 39 yard line and Simmons of Coach Simmons didn't have a big smile on his face before.

He's got a huge one on his face now and just blitzing it untouched.

If he doesn't get in, there are four more Wildcats ready now.

What do you do?

Fourth and 37, is that right.

Yeah, got to get to the 12 balls on the 39/4 and 27.

They're going for Washington's in the shotgun.

Four receivers in the formation.

Throw it out in the flats.

It's an over the Williams he cuts it back up the middle of the field and he'll be taken down at the 32 and that's where Hardy Academy will take over.

But to be honest, that would surprise me a little bit.

With Fourth in the Mile, I thought maybe they would put it to try to pin Harden Academy deep.

And the defense has done such an outstanding job, this half holding Harding Academy to ten points and then to try the wide receiver screen that was that was going to be very difficult to pick up enough yards to get the first down and now Harding Academy is going to have it back with 554 to play ball at the 32 yard line.

That offensive line come out there, they just sprinted to their position.

They know this is huge.

On Miller alone the backfield and a roll up looking to throw and he overthrows his target That's Hoover.

Miller pounded the ground after he let that go overthrowing an open receiver.

He was upset with himself.

There.

So it's second down and ten Hawk stopped at 550 to play wide in the formation.

MILLER Looking as a man, McGough stays on his feet to the 49 yard line and River Grizz territory.

Gallagher at that time ran a really good route.

He is wide open on that post.

Coming across the middle catches in stride.

I told you Miller was upset with his throw.

That one was right on.

The money hits him in between the eight on the run so he can keep going forward.

Picks up the first down new set of downs clock tick and that's what that's one of the things.

Not only does Harding Academy want to get another score here, they want to chew up the clock.

So it's first and ten right hand.

All this is Hall working the left side and he'll be taken down just shy of the 40 yard line more so in the tackle here, a more effective start haul up over 60 yards rushing on the night second down to eight There is a eight yard run and it's second down and two RB academy just trying to slow things down a little bit, milking it now, hand it off again.

Hall He slips down to get the first down, I believe they crossed the 40 yard line.

I'm not making any predictions on first downs after the three game.

Wait until they move the chains.

Yeah, we're looking at it and they're grabbing the chains on.

It's right there at the marker.

Well, luckily, they don't have to bring the chains all the way across the field.

Stretch it out.

Yeah, that's enough for a first down.

Ooh, that was close.

That's what they had to bring it out.

That's how close it was.

I think you start kind of thinking about that four minute offense using the clock.

Just a steady dose of Hall.

Make it see Wyatt Simmons in there at some point if Hall needs a breather.

So first down and ten I noticed River Crest brought in an extra defensive lineman while they were measuring they're expecting a lot of running.

You notice when they got to the line, those linebackers are creeping up handed off again Hall and he'll be down at the 36 yard line Good push from the offensive line and it a whole lot there but they got a three yard push Hall is able to fall forward he'll take three yards now just three here three here three here Keep moving the sticks running that clock.

There's still 20 seconds.

They'll probably get there.

Check with me, see if they can't draw him offsides.

Yep.

Didn't work.

Now they'll get the play call 10 seconds on the play clock ticking down and six handed to Hall again.

He's running hard as he gets past the 35 down to the 3432 yard pickup.

Yeah Lancaster in on the tackle with Bridget Stern down and hall now with Harding Academy they're going to bring in Wyatt Simmons kind of a jumbo package maybe run that wildcat formation 15 on the play clock they're just now breaking the huddle for three to play and the 9 seconds on the play clock Simmons quarterback hand it off on the end around and they pick up the first down is that was Kyler Hoover good for Hoover Hoover had the costly drop to possession before he got up showed everybody first down and had to be a good field so fresh set it down.

Home clock rolls under two and a half.

How do you tell me?

Keep Simmons in there.

Who's the quarterback for?

Mills back in there now.

He's going to split out the direct, snap it to Simmons and he'll run it forward.

There's a penalty marker down to 26.

L.A. flag came in from the side of markers late that was right in front of the river crest.

Coaches got to think that might be holding holding up in that one hurts Harding Academy you have a positive gain on first down you're doing exactly you know the 4 minutes offense calls for you just running the ball picking up positive yards.

Keep the clock running.

There's your hold right there on the edge.

That happened right there in front of everybody.

It's pretty easy to call up here.

First down.

So that'll put the ball down at the 33 yard line at a time out.

Come out.

Otherwise, there you go.

Robert Kraft stopping that clock, 204 to go.

They had all three of their timeouts.

Use one here.

The clock look, You got it.

Now behind the chains.

This is it.

You got a sell out here first and 20.

Use your timeouts.

Party academy gets that first down, then the game's over.

That's what it boils down to.

20 yards here with.

That penalty now 24 penalties in this game 14 against starting academy ten called against River Crest 14 penalties for 121 yards wide open and a lot of stoppage in play.

Hey been a long game.

Yeah it's been a real long game before we get back to action, I want to say congratulations to some of our crew members.

Nate and Kasey Johnson.

They got married and had a had a great wedding.

There's a there's a lot of our crew right there.

But they got married and say congratulations to Nate and Kasey Johnson.

So it's a first down in 16 three wide at the top of the screen.

They're going to give it go hall.

He got hit hard at the 31 yard line and River Crest is going to call a timeout with a minute 59 to play.

You know, we kick this off around 640.

We're at a three hour game.

That is a long high school game.

In fact, it's the longest championship game this year.

Now, at 3 hours and 8 minutes, I was wondering if it was just me or if it was the game and but look, here's the deal.

You just read off the reason why we've got the longest high school game and a lot of penalties in this.

Well, we also have 78 combined points.

There have been a lot of touchdowns.

That's a good point.

Yeah.

Plus a field goal.

Yeah.

Been a lot of stoppages in play.

Yeah.

So, I mean but and I can't say this about for me because I'm possession out there you've got to commend this river crest because they started off in the hole 20 to nothing and they have battled their way back and kept fighting and the defense really showed up in the second half.

And they are, you know, win, lose or draw.

I mean, this is it.

You've got to commend what they've done here in the second half of this game.

Yeah, down 19 at the half they've cut it to an eight point game holding hardly any time to be ten second half points taken down 15 and Miller under pressure look to run out pass the 30 and he'll slide down at the 21.

What a smart play I mean.

Miller knows not to run out of bounds.

Don't stop the clock Make them use their timeout very You know any other play in the game he runs out of bounds there but he got as much as he could takes the slide stays inbounds keeps the clock ticking Remember Chris has to another timeout.

Yeah when they went to throw I was like this must be an easy throw because you do not want to risk an incomplete pass.

This was a safe play call, wasn't there?

So Miller just tucks it runs with it and then gets down.

That was a win.

That was a big win for the Harding Academy offense did exactly what they needed to picked up probably about what what how far was the run there?

Miller 11 yard run so you know and that's the last in long second 16 now you got 35. and that was the last time out for River Crest as well.

Yeah.

Now you just you got to find a way to get five yards.

Yeah.

What would be to me, it's going to be interesting if I expect them to run here, if it's fourth and two going for it.

Or do you kick field goal build on wins a game.

Game's over.

Yeah.

If it's fourth something, you get the first down.

Game's over.

I had Simmons in at quarterback.

He's going to run with it and there's a host of Colts back there and he actually lost a yard on the play.

You know who blew it up?

Why weren't Governor Turner The running back has done it all forever, Chris.

He has left it out on the field.

But Turner comes blitzing, it blows up.

The play causes Wyatt Simmons to stop.

Change is running late And then his teammates were there to wrap him up, make the tackle.

Now here's here's what you were saying.

They're going to call a timeout.

They're going to let the play clock roll down the 13 right now.

But now your decision, you were talking about you go for take the points, but they're going to call a timeout.

And I would imagine you'd see a field goal, you know, come out, get those points.

That's a lot of trust in your kicker.

but he's been awesome this year.

This season Griffin Thomas is eight of ten on field goals coming into this game.

Of course he had one block He's made one tonight So now he's nine of 12 on the season.

That's a pretty good ratio.

It is on that right hash.

That's where he made his field goal in the first earlier from that right.

The one that was blocked was a longer field goal from the left pass and it was a more of a line drive river Chris blocked two kicks tonight will be the punt and the the field goal yeah so I mean that part changed the game did I mean did it block punt changed the game that was a huge special teams play they got the kicker out they're warming up They're bringing they bring Griffin Thomas in Griffin Thomas came in the game 80% eight of ten from field goal range alls on the right hash he's going to kick it from the 30 yard line well a bit about about a 40 yard kick biggest kick in the seniors life at his back kick is on the way and it is no good hooked it and poked it left the river.

Chris has life you've got a minute one remaining in this one 4335 Harding Academy and River crest is going to get the ball back.

No timeouts.

Fourth and five.

I think it's the right call.

I mean, I agree because he's been so good this year.

If Wyatt Simmons picks up two, three, four yards, then I think you have something to think about.

And I think you go for it on fourth down.

But at fourth and five you're spread the defense out balls at the 20 yard line.

WASHINGTON Now, look, the throw has a man.

He'll get out of bounds.

That's on the right side of the field hooking up with young that time.

And he's going to step out of bounds at the 29 that was a good throw gets out of bounds great way to start the drive second down and one with the ball at the 29 yard line Owen Miller And they're on defense It move Simmons down to defensive end spot to get after the quarterback Washington will look to throw again they come back left side almost intercepted it was city who came up to almost pick that one off the intended target was to the Kevin Williams receiver said he could not only end of the game but he would have had to pick six In a way it's third down the yard, just not just a step behind.

He just reached him with that right hand.

If he's a step faster, he gets both hands on it.

He takes it to the house, lets third down and one now got to get the first down, but can't afford to run it here with Turner.

I don't think it would stop the clock.

You'd have to get up over the ball quickly.

Put Turner in motion Washington going to run with it and get yards and he'll go out of bounds at the 39 yard line.

Well he looked over at Turner Turner had a blocker and would have picked up the first down but he looked over on that right side.

There was nothing there.

Nobody.

That was a smart play by Washington.

Just take it, run with it, pick up the first down, get out of bounds, stops the clock at 46 seconds and ten from the 39 Washington looking to throw balls, right Throws it out of bounds trying to find young Panthers incomplete.

Takes it down to 38 seconds remaining.

See this is a tired team teams poor they have given it everything they've got.

We've talked about how long the these guys have been on the field.

They played a lot of snaps.

Many of them are going both ways at time.

Washington's receivers just they looked tired.

They weren't open.

They weren't working to get open.

He's got to get a spark.

He's got to find somebody and get a big play for him.

Second down and ten they got.

Yeah, they had to call that the slot receiver jump One receiver went motion when he did the slot receiver on the other side saw that jump, kind of flinched a little bit.

That's another penalty and that's what River Crest can't afford right now.

That's their 11th penalty.

That'll push them over 100 and penalty yards.

Happy I said it earlier.

It is now a combined 25 penalties for what 223 yards that'll put the ball at the 34 yard line.

Now to get a chunk play, it's going to be tough carding academy dropping eight Washington backwards pass that's over at the Turner He's got a running lane pass the 4045 he pitched it back and it went out of bounds.

That was a heads up play.

I mean, he saw the guy out there.

Everybody's coming on Turner and he pitched it out to the receiver that's running with it.

But that was the chunk play that they needed.

TURNER Officials are getting together right now to see if it was a four best holding academy.

Coaches are saying it was a four pass.

They just dropped the flag.

It was very close to the naked eye.

The head official just dropped his flag.

No illegal for pass.

Then he was close to the first.

It was second and 15.

He was going to be down around the 47.

So he was going to be a yard or two short of the first down marker when pitched it, it was the call man, man off the down, third down.

Here's the play Hitch.

Yeah, he pitched it forward.

And so that was a good call.

It was close.

Yeah, it was very close.

Well, we really don't know and hope so.

Now it's a third down and six set of third one.

Move it back five yards.

Still a good play.

What they needed 28 seconds remaining.

Washington Well look the throne as a man that's young and he's going to be well short of the first down.

Clock's ticking and he's going to be taken down at the 47th down to 14 seconds, fourth down.

You can't spike it.

Washington takes it under pressure.

He's running away from defenders.

Run it out of bounds.

He's going to throw it down field and he doesn't get out of bounds.

That's going to do it.

Harding Academy, Windsor ten State Championship in school history history.

Boy, look at the I tell you what, though, look take nothing away from river crest.

They they battled back in this one and they gave themselves a shot at the end of the game.

They left everything out the field and both teams did.

I watched a couple of the Harding Academy players.

They just went down to a knee after the final play.

They are exhausted.

They're wiped out.

Both teams, both teams gave it everything they had.

When we come back, we will have the trophy presentation as well as the MVP.

This one, as you're watching the Centennial Bank State football Championships in Arkansas, PBS Sports.

Hi, I'm Eric Gorgeous from across this legacy.

Yeah, let's make it happen, man.

All right, let's get to it.

Yeah, let's rock and roll.

I like flames.

I cannot stress enough how hot it is.

That's beautiful.

Show your love for three.

And it's commercial free programing.

By becoming a member of your local public television station, simply call the number below or visit creative icon to make a donation.

It's viewers like you that make it possible.

Thank you.

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

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

We are the electric cooperatives of Arkansas Power and people.

When you choose Conway Regional, you're choosing a health care partner rooted in your community with nine primary care locations in five counties.

We believe in building lasting relationships centered on trust, personalized care.

But our family care for yours.

Vaping, addiction to nicotine and can prematurely age your lungs to those of a seven year old.

Don't get lost in the fog.

Learn more about the hazards of vaping at Project Prevent Air Fraud.

Give your family a once in a lifetime experience at the Little Rock Zoo at Arkansas's largest Lantern festival.

Go wild at the Little Rock.

Soon after dark, then your family to a lady at Wonderland where imagine sparks discover 40 new lighted mystical creatures and returning favorites at Glow one, a once in a lifetime experience.

Southern Lock is a proud sponsor of Arkansas PBS.

It is our mission to tell your story by adding color with our furniture.

And that's why Southern Moth is a different kind of furniture store.

For more information, go to my Southern Mom scheme.

Do you have any idea what the book is?

Awesome in here.

Host of Arkansas Treasures, where we the Wacky, Weird and wild collectibles and antiques from around our state and find out what they're worth, though, that adds up to a remaining watch on Arkansas kids PBS app or on the Arkansas PBS website said I was not going to say wow, but I did anyway.

A real life mystery and movies springs.

Who is Sammy the Slop?

My science teacher is a robot.

You've got to be kidding me.

Troublemakers from another planet.

From another planet.

We're on the case.

Thank you, Mystery League, for solving this mystery.

During the past year, we've been traversing the natural state with our cinematic drone from lakes and rivers, waterfalls, scenic byways, mountains swamps, overlooks, and towering rock formations.

This unique documentation of all four seasons from all four corners of the state with an aerial cinematic perspective will give you, the viewer, an Arkansas adventure like never before.

Exploring Arkansas from above.

Download the PBS video app or watch online.

I think it's important for Arkansas PBS to have sports because it provides sports on a greater platform to the entire community, and it also gives people in various communities an opportunity to see other schools and other athletes and have a greater appreciation for not just their own community, but the sports that are available across the state of Arkansas.

There's so many lessons that sports provides, and it's one of the reasons why it's so important to finish a generation of athletes coming up.

Arkansas PBS is a place where everyone can see themselves, where everyone can find themselves, where everyone can be a part of something bigger than themselves.

For students, it's always more fun than costars in the learning.

I mean, just to have expression, to see different forms of entertainment, it always just makes it more fun.

Poetry is something that exists beyond the page and also on the stage and so I was so happy that they followed.

Young poets saw the value in it and wanted to document why everybody tried to remain calm and inside there was no enough power.

Arkansas PBS is a seed that grows into a tree that branches out into fruit that can feed the world.

Think Well, we had a wild one here the for a state championship as Hardy academy they claimed the state championship trophy and there are your final stats for this one boy look at that 46 total yards to 482 passing 362 drove for rushing.

I mean, it was very lopsided in that one good boy 23 first downs for holding academy 25 for river crest just a it was what let's not forget I keep saying that river crest started 20 to nothing in the hole.

They were down at halftime by 19 and they battled back and a lot of people thought this one was over.

you know, we even speculated, look, if Hardy Academy finishes off this last drop of the first half with the touchdown, they get the ball to start the second half, they score another touchdown.

We've got the mercy rule.

We were already talking about the mercy rule in the first half.

It looked like this thing was getting out of hand and just give River Crest credit and Coby Turner, I'm so impressed with him.

This is Tyler Hoover, 27 yard touchdown does get us started one of the ten touchdowns later on Jack City seven yards makes it 14 to nothing Harding Academy added another one when city goes 50 yards and it was 22 nothing wide open and just walks into the end zone River crest finally gets on the board after the interception That by the way is the first interception on Miller and only interception and Miller through all year.

Finally, Coby Turner gets River Crest on the board.

It was 20 to 7.

Harding Academy scored again on Tyler Hoover a catch ball was tip he he tipped it a couple of times finally brings it in and then Coby Turner with the other run he was outstanding tonight that one was 24 this one for 57 that made it 40 to 21.

They were still down points, but River crest kept pounding away, pounding away, get back on the scoreboard.

But in the end, Harding Academy holds on wins by eight.

Let's go down to Kyle Doug Obama who's got the winning.

It goes to check your blood pressure.

Can you breathe and take it in a little bit?

Well, here's what's funny.

So I've got no filter at the moment because I've been sick all week and I got a steroid shot today.

So my blood pressure probably is through the roof right now because I realized that I'm pretty amped.

But yeah, it's what a what a night.

What an unbelievable football game.

What a wide up to two in high school football in state of Arkansas in an instant classic that that game had every had everything it's special teams plays offensive defensive plays There's a big just really awesome.

Yeah it was a three and a half hour marathon odyssey of a football game two to try to overcome.

Yeah yeah you know we we knew we wanted to throw the ball coming in and I think they probably threw it a little more than certainly we expected.

And then I think maybe even for them, just looking at what they've done throughout the year, I felt like they probably threw it a little bit more, which, you know, obviously stretch that game out and feel better.

But I think this year I feel a lot better.

Yeah.

Thanks, coach.

Yeah, you bet.

Thank Karl.

As he was with Neal Evans, the winning head coach for this one.

And, well, you know, you just think about this, this game and and everything that the highs the lows.

But at the end of the day, it was it was a heck of a ballgame.

Kyle is now down with the MVP of this one.

one moment he caught breath after that not yeah definitely not yeah it's it's hard to grasp.

It's hard to grasp.

How do you describe that kind of when you guys have that kind of lead watching them mount that comeback drive the field there.

Yeah, it's just like, that's just football, you know?

Yeah.

You got to be prepared for anything.

You know, sometimes things aren't going to go your way and you got to keep it.

Good poise, Good.

Keep keep that level ahead and just keep playing no matter what happens for you.

The connection with Jack City.

Pretty special.

Yeah.

It's man Jack City being out there.

Special.

I'll let people know.

But he broke his scapula in, like, week six and he was supposed to be out for the year.

But yeah, praise God.

A miracle happened and he was able to return this playoffs.

And he's the reason we won the state championship.

And about quite the day for the community of Searcy as well.

And yeah, I think we all see this as a great day right now.

But when we look back on this, we're going to see how surreal and incredible this was.

This man, praise God, this is unbelievable.

And obviously, it's easy to praise God when you're on top, but I might as well still do it.

So it was a great day for Harding and Searcy, Arkansas.

And also, congratulations.

Appreciate it.

Thank you, Kyle.

And I mean, that's well, I was just getting ready to say you got the Harding bison that are headed to a national championship.

You got Harding winning a state title.

If you're a Searcy resident right now, you're loving life.

Great day for the campus at Harding.

and Miller, 21 to 31 for touchdowns.

He also ran for a touchdown.

Big game for him.

We mentioned Jack City ten catches, 169 yards, two touchdowns.

Kyler Hoover five catches, 102 yards, two touchdowns.

And I got to talk about Coby Turner for River Crest.

This guy Russell, 232 yards and three touchdowns last week.

He was over 200 yards against Warren to 68.

So we had 232 today.

So that's 500 yards that he rushed for in the last two weeks and then he threw for a touchdown tonight.

Don't forget about that play, Coby Turner, man.

And he was on defense just like we saw Owen Miller at the end of the game.

He was playing defensive back and it was just a great effort from these two teams in the heck of a way to finish off the 2023 high school football season.

And if you think about it, a week ago, wow, was when we started these championships and we crowned seven champions from eight man to Class seven.

And it was a lot of fun watching all this high school football.

Well, it wraps up the high school football season.

Next time we will come to you will be from Hot Springs when we bring you the high school basketball state championships.

And it has been a fun 2023 campaign.

Your final win this one 4335 for Kyle Doug Albom once more I mahjong.

You've been watching the Centennial Bank State football championship on Arkansas PBS.