Biggs’ Game-Winning Field Goal a First

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NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Braden Biggs’ field goal with six seconds left not only gave Heber Springs a 31-29 conference opening victory over Central Arkansas Christian but accomplished a first.

It was the first time in school history that a field goal won a game in the final seconds for the Panthers. His 28-yarder was the 64th made field goal in school history. His field goal ties for the 30th longest in school history. Nick James holds the record for longest field in school history when he connected on a 52-yard with the first-half clock winding down in loss to Highland in 1998.

OTHER NOTABLE FIELD GOALS:

SEPTEMBER 30, 1922: Bill Dashiell kicked a 10-yard field goal in the third quarter for the games only points in a 3-0 victory at Quitman (the goal posts were formerly on the goal-line). It was the first field goal in school history.

SEPTEMBER 21, 1962: Jim Patchell kicked a 25-yard field goal in the first half to give a Heber Springs a 10-7 lead over Augusta. The Red Devils would pull out a 14-10 win. That field goal was the first in Panther Stadium history, and second in school history.

SEPTEMBER 19, 1980: Kevin Attendorn connected on a 33-yard field goal with 2:38 left in the third quarter to give Heber Springs an 11-8 lead over Bald Knob. That would be the final score of the game.

OCTOBER 25, 1996: Mark Cresswell hit a 40-yarder with 31 seconds left give Heber Springs a 15-14 lead over Bald Knob only to see the Bulldogs score the game-winning touchdown with 6 seconds left.

OCTOBER 6, 2017: Julian Cameron kicked a 25-yard field goal with 3:25 left to give Heber Springs a 31-13 lead over Central Arkansas Christian. The Mustangs would score twice in the final minutes providing the field goal as the winning margin.

Historic Night for Buffalo in Heber Springs Victory

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It was the legs of senior quarterback Liam Buffalo and not his arm Friday night at Panther Stadium that was making history.

Buffalo became the first quarterback in recorded school history to rush for more than 200 yards in game in helping lead the Panthers to a 40-28 victory over Lamar.

Buffalo’s 213 yards on the ground was the 24th best performance in school history, but the best ever by a Heber Springs quarterback. Markeyvus Mays rushed for 332 yards against Harding Academy in 2010 to set the standard for all backs, but Buffalo bettered the previous best mark by a quarterback of 180 yards set by Jerry Todd in a 1964 game against Clinton.

The senior quarterback also had the seventh-best performance by a back rushing for 14.2 yards on 15 carries. Mays holds the overall mark rushing yards per attempt (minimum 10 attempts) at 29.5 set against Cave City in 2010. Buffalo did set the rushing average mark by a quarterback bettering the previous mark of 13.4 set by Birch Grisso in a 1983 game against Clinton.

Buffalo finished the night with four rushing touchdowns tying him for 4th all-time in a game with 15 others. Jerry Pilkington set the school record with eight against Ola in 1949. Mays finished with seven against Cave City in 2010 and five against Newport in 2010 for second and third on the list. Buffalo however was the first quarterback in recorded history to rush for four touchdowns. The previous record of three was held by 10 other Panther quarterbacks.

A Leg Off The Old Block

Heber Springs junior Seth Dudeck ties his dad with record-setting punts

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Heber Springs junior Seth Dudeck punts the ball during third-quarter action in Friday loss to the Pottsville. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

It was a cold and windy November night when Heber Springs traveled to Mountain View to close out the 1987 season.

The Panthers were concluding a disappointing 3-7 campaign while the Yellowjackets were looking to wrap up a playoff bid.

It would also be the final game for the winningest coach in school history, Heber Springs High School graduate Dennis DeBusk.

The Panthers battled, and thanks to a stingy defense and field position, Heber Springs and Mountain View ended regulation all tied at 0-0. The Yellowjackets would go on to win in overtime 7-0 and claim a playoff a spot (they would lose to Greenbrier in the playoffs the next week).

One of the keys of the field position battle was the leg of junior Pat Dudeck.

Dudeck, who passed away in 2016, would punt the ball five times against Mountain View, including a school record 73-yard punt and a 65-yarder that ranks in the top 10 of longest punts in school history. He also became the first Panther in recorded school history to have two punts of 60-yards plus in the same game.

Though there have been five 60-yard plus punts since that cold November night in 1987, no one else has managed to have two in the same game like Dudeck.

That is until Friday night.

Pat’s son, Seth, moved right next to his dad in the record book with two 60-yard plus punts in the same game. The junior punted the ball five times and hit a 67- and 62-yarder in a 17-14 setback to Pottsville.

It was the first game of Heber Springs High School graduate Caleb Carmikle’s Panther coaching career.

“Man, he can bomb that thing,” Carmikle said. “Not many high school kids can turn a ball over like he can.

“That’s a weapon and that really does help you when you’re struggling offensively if you get somebody that can flip the field every time. It helps our defense out a ton.”

Besides the Dudeck’s, other Panthers to have punts of 60-plus yards in recorded school history include Dennis Astin, Gideon Tate, Ben Caston and father and son, Danny Martin and Adam Martin.

Pat averaged 42 yards per punt against Mountain View in 1987, but Seth one-upped his dad with 251 yards punting for a school-record 50.2 average (Adam Martin had held the school record with his 50 average on three punts against Greenbrier in 2018).

Seth also tied Jerry Todd (1963), Brock Bertrand (1995) and Edward Rouse (2004) with a school-record four points downed inside the 20.

Dudeck’s final punt of 62 yards rolled into the end zone or he would have broken the record.

Regardless, that punt flipped the field and kept the Panthers in the game.

“That last punt was incredible,” Carmikle said. “I think Seth has the potential to be a really, really, really good one. Obviously, you look at his frame and he’s a good-looking kid. He put a lot of weight on this offseason with strength and conditioning, and he can run.”

While Pat was a quarterback for the Panthers during the 1986 through 1988 campaigns, the younger Dudeck plays wide receiver.

Seth finished the night with two receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Pottsville.

“He’s got great hands,” Carmikle said. “We just got to get our timing down in the passing game. I hate it that we haven’t been able to show it yet with the preseason scrimmage and in the week zero game, but we showed some things this summer at camps that I’m waiting to see on a Friday night that are really going to impress people.”

One of the three wins during the 1987 campaign for the Panthers was thrilling 19-12 homecoming victory over Clinton in which Dudeck threw the game-winning pass to Shane Nelson in overtime.

Seth will look to accomplish the same thing tonight except be on the receiving end as the Panthers travel to Clinton to battle the Yellowjackets.

Junior Panthers battle, fall to Apaches in opener

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Heber Springs quarter Spencer Sugg looks for running room as teammate, Titus Bullington, looks to block a Pottsville defender Thursday night in Pottsville. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

POTTSVILLE – Heber Springs battled back from a slow start but came up short with a 28-18 setback at Pottsville on Thursday.

Pottsville rushed for 369 yards, led by the one-two punch of Tyson Thacker (202 yards) and Penn Helton (161 yards), as they pushed out to a 22-0 advantage with 5:07 left in the third quarter.

But Heber Springs (0-1) responded with a quick two-play drive. On first-and-10 from their own 25, Spencer Sugg connected with Noah Engholm who rumbled 46 yards to the Pottsville 29. On the next play, Sugg found Troy West for a 29-yard score. The 2-point conversion failed as the Panthers trailed 22-6 with 4:17 to play in third quarter.

The onside kick attempt failed but the Panther defense clamped down. After a 21-yard run by Helton put the ball at the Panther 23, Heber Springs stopped Thacker on three straight plays and forcing a failed fourth-down pass attempt with 40 seconds left in the third.

Taking over own their 20, Engholm took the ball from Sugg and raced 62 yards before finally being brought down at the Pottsville 18. Heber Springs went backwards with a penalty and lost yardage play before Lane Bradley dashed for a 30-yard touchdown run with 7:37 left.

After recovering the onside kick, Heber Springs went back work as a pass interference penalty moved the ball to the Apache 29. A pair of penalties set the Panthers back but Sugg would scramble for 21 yards and a first down at the Pottsville 19. Heber Springs reached the Pottsville 12 but were stopped on fourth down with 4:07 left.

The Apaches seemingly put the game away on their next possession, thanks in part to a 66-yard run by Helton. Helton capped off the drive with a 10-yard run with 2:04 remaining making it 28-12.

The Panthers took to the air as Sugg connected with Engholm for three yards, Owen Norton for 22, Engholm again for 17 before finding West for a 17-yard score with 20 seconds left making it 28-18.

Heber Springs needed the 2-point conversion and an onside-kick recovery to have a chance to tie things up, and though Zack King would recover the onside kick, the 2-point pass failed before that ended hopes for a comeback.
Sugg passed for 139 yards and two touchdowns, while Engholm had 152 all-purpose yards, including 86 on the ground.

Thacker would finish the night with three touchdowns for the Apaches. He scored on a 43-yarder on Pottsville’s first possession to make it 8-0 with 5:53 to play in the first quarter. He would a 62-yard with 1:01 to play before the half to make it 14-0 at the break. His final touchdown came on a 49-yard run with 5:07 to play in the third.

Heber Springs will host Clinton Thursday at 6:30 for their home opener.

TEAM STATS
TIME OF POSSESSION: Heber Springs 15:50, Pottsville 16:10
TOTAL FIRST DOWNS: Heber Springs 10, Pottsville 12
BY RUSH: Heber Springs 5, Pottsville 12
BY PASS: Heber Springs 4, Pottsville 0
BY PENALTY: Heber Springs 1, Pottsville 0
TEAM RUSHING: Heber Springs 24/127/1/5.3, Pottsville 32/369/4/11.5
TEAM PASSING: Heber Springs 8/20-139-2/1, Pottsville 0/1-0-0/0
TOTAL OFFENSE: Heber Springs 44/266/6.1, Pottsville 33/369/11.2
3RD CONVERSION: Heber Springs 3/10, Pottsville 3/4
4TH CONVERSION: Heber Springs 3/5, Pottsville 1/1
TURNOVERS: Heber Springs 2, Pottsville 3
FUMBLES/LOST: Heber Springs 1/1, Pottsville 3/3
PENALTIES: Heber Springs 4/25, Pottsville 4/35
KICK RETURNS: Heber Springs 2/40, Pottsville 1/7
PUNTS: Heber Springs 1/50, Pottsville 0/0
SACKS: Heber Springs 0/0, Pottsville 1/6
TACKLES FOR LOSS/YARDS LOST: Heber Springs 3/4, Pottsville 7/26
INDIVIDUAL STATS
RUSHING: Heber Springs, Noah Engholm 9/86/9.6, Lane Bradley 8/37/1/4.6, Spencer Sugg 6/3, Oliver Berry 1/1. Pottsville, Tyson Thacker 15/202/3/13.5, Penn Helton 14/161/1/11.5.
PASSING: Heber Springs, Spencer Sugg 8/20-139-2/1
RECEIVING: Heber Springs, Noah Engholm 3/66, Troy West 2/46/2, Owen Norton 1/17, Lane Bradley 1/7, Titus Bullington 1/3.
KICKOFF RETURNS: Heber Springs, Lane Bradley 1/39, Oliver Berry 1/1
PUNT RETURNS: Heber Springs, none.
ALL-PURPOSE YARDS: Heber Springs, Noah Engholm 152, Lane Bradley 83

Panther Cubs open 2024 campaign with road win

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Heber Springs’ Caleb Flores looks downfield against Pottsville on Thursday. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

POTTSVILLE – Heber Springs opened it’s seventh-grade campaign on Thursday with an 18-6 victory over Pottsville.

The win marked the first for new seventh-grade coach Easton Siedl.

Heber Springs (1-0) started the scoring with 16:24 left in the first half as Caleb Flores scored on a 31-yard run. The 2-point conversion attempt failed.

Pottsville tied things with 8:28 left in the first half on a 48-yard run. The Apaches 2-point conversion failed.

The Panther Cubs took the lead with seven seconds left in the first half on a 12-yard run by Colton Self, who would also add a second-half interception on defense. The run failed leaving the score at 12-6 at the break.

Heber Springs added a second-half touchdown as Ryan Harrod connected with Hudson Bullington on a 39-yard pass to set the final score.

The Panther Cubs return to action Thursday as they host Clinton at 5:30 p.m. at Panther Stadium. Clinton was the only team to beat the Heber Springs’ seventh-grade team last season.

Carmikle charged with leading Heber Springs football program

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New Heber Springs football coach Caleb Carmikle is all smiles as he introduces his family at a meet-and-greet for the coach Saturday at Panther Gymnasium. Carmikle replaces Van Paschal, who took a job at Cross County following his lone season at Heber Springs. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

The Heber Springs High School football team celebrated “Homecoming” early this year.

Though there was no queen and her court, there was a coronation as Caleb Carmikle was introduced as the 40th head football coach in school history at a meet-and-greet event held at the Panther Den on the campus of Heber Springs High School on Saturday.

Carmikle was hired in early March to replace Van Paschal, who took a job at Cross County in January.

The 2011 graduate of Heber Springs High School was head coach at Rison last season and told the 100 plus gathered for the event, including several former teammates, that becoming the head coach of the Panthers was the only job he would leave Rison for.

“Honestly up until the time I accepted the job was on the fence about it,” Carmikle said afterward. “It was my first year at Rison and I didn’t want to leave with that job being unfinished.

“But it’s home, and so when it came down to it, it just felt like God was leading us to come home and serve this community.”

In 103 seasons of Heber Springs High School football, Carmikle becomes the seventh former Panther charged with leading the program, but the first since Dale Cresswell, who was head coach for three seasons starting in 2003.

Carmikle joins Cresswell, Dennis DeBusk (the winningest coach in school history), Cecil Alexander, Bob Fisher, Henry Clay Kelley and Neill Reed as Heber Springs High School graduates to serve as head coach.

“You know, this is my fourth head coaching job now, and each of the other three were a special opportunity to be a head coach,” Carmikle said, “but to be able to do it where I grew up and coach guys that were just like me and sat in the same chair that I did, it means that much more, so it’s a special feeling.”

Carmikle played for the Panthers during the 2008 through 2010 seasons and was named to the all-decade team for the 2010s, but did he ever think about wanting to come back and be coach here while he was still playing?

“Yeah, I knew, once I decided I wanted to be a coach, I knew at some point in my career I would want to come home,” he said. “I wasn’t sure when. I knew everything had to align perfectly, and it has, and so I think this is a great time to come home.”

The 2015 graduate of Arkansas Tech played under former Panther coach Steve Janski.

“The nuts and bolts of the program will be similar to the way it was when I was in school, but I told the interview committee and everybody else in the audience (today), I’m not Steve Janski,” Carmikle said. “Obviously there is things that he did that I’ve molded my program around and put my own twist to it.

“But I learned early on in my career that you can’t try to be a Steve Janski or (former Panther head coach and new athletic director) Darren Gowen or (former Panther assistant coach) Scott Davenport, I can be Caleb Carmikle, but there’s pieces from all the places that I’ve been that have blended into the style.”

Prior to coaching Rison in 2023. Carmikle was the head coach at Magnet Cove, where he compiled a 39-30 record in six seasons winning three conference titles. Before that, Carmikle spent two seasons at the head coach at Glenbrook, a private school in Minden, Louisiana. His first team in 2015 went 1-9 but his second went 5-5 earning him parish coach of the year honors by the Minden Press-Herald. His overall record as a head coach is 48-52.

Carmikle will inherit a coaching staff that includes assistants Hunter Davis, Micah Dew, Curtis Shannon, Easton Seidl, and Kevin Youngblood. He said he likes the makeup of the coaching staff, calling it “balanced with a mix of older experienced guys and some young, fiery guys.”

In taking the job at Heber Springs, it will allow Carmikle an opportunity to work with someone he was wanted to work since his days at Magnet Cove, Panther defensive coordinator Kevin Youngblood, who’s defensive pitched the most shutouts in season in 2023 since 2009 with three — Carmikle was a junior on that 2009 team.

“I first met him when we coached against each other when I was at Magnet Cove and he was Quitman,” he said. “They had the best defense in the conference that year and that was maybe one of the best teams I had at Magnet Cove, we won 11 games that year, and he shut us down.”

Carmikle said he tried to hire Youngblood at Rison to be his defensive coordinator, but the timing wasn’t right.

“When all this started happening, I thought, well, if I can’t get him to come work with me somewhere else, I’ll just go where he’s at,” he said. “So that made it even more special to get a chance to work with him.”

Carmikle, who will also work at the middle school, officially starts at Heber Springs on Monday.

Brown, Panthers lights out on Senior Night against Riverview

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Heber Springs’ Aiden Isom picks up some yards late in the Panther’s 41-0 victory over Riverview Friday at Panther Stadium. Isom was one of several ninth graders to see action against the Raiders. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

By PHILIP SEATON
MarkedTime.com Publisher

Parker Brown was electric on a night when the Heber Springs Panthers needed some, literally.

Brown staked the Panthers to an early 14-0 lead against Riverview Friday night on the strength of two punts returned for a touchdown and would finish the night scoring five touchdowns and 322 all-purpose yards in a 41-0 victory over the Raiders.

Heber Springs (6-3, 5-1 in the 2-4A conference) was celebrating “senior night” with the players donning black jerseys for the first time in several years and added black pants for an all-black look.

After the first play from scrimmage, the field conditions almost mirrored the Panthers uniform look. A five-yard run by Xander Lindley opened the game but due to problems with an electrical box under the home bleachers, the game was paused, and the home bleachers were emptied as a precaution and one bank of lights on the home sideline on the north end went out.

A short pause resulted but play resumed after both teams agreed to play with only three out of the four banks of lights creating a surreal experience with the home fans spread across the track and the north endzone.

On the first play, Lindley connected with Weston Warden for a 37-yard completion, but a turnover on the next snap gave the ball to Riverview at the Raider 22.
But the Panther defense forced a three-and-out, Ryder Conway lofted a punt that Brown fielded at the Panther 46. The senior sprinted almost untouched weaving through defenders not stopping until he high-fived injured teammate Liam Buffalo who was in the back of the end zone. Buffalo had knee surgery last Friday and was at the game in support of his teammates.

Senior Gideon Tate connected on the PAT to make it 7-0 with 8:19 left in the opening quarter.

With the game clock being kept on the field by the officials after the game clock was turned off when the press box was emptied, Riverview put together an almost three-minute drive before Eli Buffalo threw Trevion Greer for a seven-yard loss forcing another Conway punt from the Panther 45.

Brown took the punt at the 19 and sprinted for another score with 4:58 to play in the first quarter. Tate’s kick made it 14-0.

With the two punt returns for a score, Brown tied the single game record that he had set earlier this season against Bald Knob. His four punt returns for a score set the school record for most in a season and also set the career mark as well.

The score would remain that way as neither team threatened until late in the first half.

After Jacob McMullin recovered a Raider fumble at the Riverview 21, Lindley would connect with Brown in the end zone with 31 seconds left in the first half. Tate’s PAT made it 21-0.

At halftime, the lights were restored, and fans were able to return to the bleachers.

On the Panthers first possession of the half, Brown would add his third score of the night this time taking a pitch out from Lindley and racing 49 yards for the touchdown with 8:58 remaining in the third quarter.

Josiah Riggs interception gave Heber Springs possession of the ball on its own 15. Riggs saw significant playing time with starter Elijah Jones out of the games. The freshman finished with five total tackles including one for a loss.

Riggs was one of several ninth graders to see playing time.

“It gives us some depth,” Heber Springs coach Van Paschal said. “When Elijah went down with a concussion, that’s why Josiah was getting to play there. It’s big for a ninth grader to get in there and get some reps.”

On second down, Brown ran 55 yards to put the ball the Raider 30. On third-and-11 from the 31, Warden would take a pitch from Lindley and sprinted for another score with 1:49 to play in the third quarter. Tate’s PAT kick was blocked leaving the score 34-0.

Heber Springs was penalized 13 times for 105 yards on the night, and four of those helped the Raiders move to the ball to the Panther 19 on their next drive.

Senior Zachary Parker would make sure that Riverview wouldn’t reach the endzone stepping in front of the Conway pass at the 4 returning the ball back to the 50.
“I talk about senior leadership all of the time,” Paschal said. “They do what we ask them to do all of the time. They believe in what we are preaching.

“Even when we struggled against Batesville Southside, ‘coach we are bought in.’ Then Harding, ‘we are bought in’, so they get it, and they are doing a great job.”

After a holding penalty knocked the Heber Springs back six yards, Brown would cap off the score sprinting 56 yards for the score. Tate’s PAT made it 41-0 with 10:29 left in the contest.

It was the second time in his career that Brown has scored five touchdowns. As a sophomore Brown had five touchdowns against Central Arkansas Christian in 2021. It was the third most touchdowns in game in school history. Jerry Pilkington has the record with eight touchdowns against Ola in 1949 while Markeyvus Mays had 7 touchdowns against Cave City in 2010. Brown, Mays and Pilkington are the only players in school history to have five or more touchdowns, and all three have done it twice.

The Heber Springs defense recorded its third shutout of the season, its most shutouts since 2009.

Brodie Basford and Warden each finished with 11 tackles to pace the Panthers.

Heber Springs finished the regular season as the No. 2 seed out of the 2-4A conference. The Panthers will face Lincoln, the No. 4 seed out of the 1-4A, Friday night at Panther Stadium. It will be the first meeting between the two schools.

“New round for these guys I know, but you have to buy in and tune in right now or every game is your last from here on out,” Paschal said. “That’s why everything has to be done correctly. You have to do the little things right.”

GAME 9
RIVERVIEW AT HEBER SPRINGS
SENIOR HIGH
NOVEMBER 3, 2023 
TEAM STATS
TIME OF POSSESSION: N/A
TOTAL FIRST DOWNS: Heber Springs 10, Riverview 9
BY RUSH: Heber Springs 9, Riverview 6
BY PASS: Heber Springs 1, Riverview 1
BY PENALTY: Heber Springs 0, Riverview 2
TEAM RUSHING: Heber Springs 36/281/3/7.8, Riverview 30/91/0/3.3
TEAM PASSING: Heber Springs 2/4-52-1/0, Riverview 9/22-43-0/4
TOTAL OFFENSE: Heber Springs 40/333/8.3, Riverview 52/134/2.6
3RD CONVERSION: Heber Springs 4/8, Riverview 1/9
4TH CONVERSION: Heber Springs 1/1, Riverview 1/1
RED-ZONE: Heber Springs 1/1, Riverview 0/0
TURNOVERS: Heber Springs 2, Riverview 6
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: Heber Springs 20, Riverview 0
FUMBLES/LOST: Heber Springs 4/2, Riverview 2/2
PENALTIES: Heber Springs 13/105, Riverview 2/10
KICKOFF RETURNS: Heber Springs 0, Riverview 4/13
PUNT RETURNS: Heber Springs 2/135/2, Riverview 2/11
PUNTS: Heber Springs 3/109/36.3, Riverview 4/114/28.5
PUNTS INSIDE 20: Heber Springs 0, Riverview 1
SACKS: Heber Springs 0, Harding 1/6
TACKLES FOR LOSS: Heber Springs 7/28, Riverview 5/17
INDIVIDUAL STATS
RUSHING: Heber Springs, Bryce Seigrist 17/62/3.7, Xander Lindley 8/(-1), Parker Brown 4/163/2, Aiden Isom 3/18, Lachlan Tubbs 2/10, Weston Warden 1/31/1, Team 1/(-2). Riverview, Trevion Greer 15/52/3.5, Nik Franklin 8/22, Ryder Conway 5/(-2), Josiah Cypert 1/16, Robert Mohr 1/3.
PASSING: Heber Springs, Xander Lindley 2/4-52-1/0. Riverview, Ryder Conway 8/20-37-0/3, Dredyn Hulsey 1/2-6-0/1.
RECEIVING: Heber Springs, Weston Warden 1/38, Parker Brown 1/14/1. Riverview, K.K. Williams 4/6, Nik Franklin 3/16, Trevion Greer 2/21.
KICKOFF RETURNS: Riverview, Trevion Greer 3/10, Chandler Beard 1/3
PUNT RETURNS: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 2/135/2. Riverview 2/11.
INTERCEPTION RETURN: Zachary Parker 1/46, Parker Brown 1/6
FUMBLE RETURN: Parker Brown 1/4
ALL-PURPOSE YARDS: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 322
PUNTING: Heber Springs, Gideon Tate 3/109/36.3. Riverview, Ryder Conway 4/114/1/28.5
SCORING
PAT KICKS: Gideon Tate 5/6 (Blocked)
FIELD GOALS: Paul Krause (missed 43)
POINTS: Parker Brown 30, Weston Warden 6, Gideon Tate 5
DEFENSIVE STATS
SACKS: None
INDIVIDUAL SACK TOTAL: None
FUMBLE RECOVERIES: Jacob McMullin, Parker Brown
FORCED FUMBLES: None
INTERCEPTIONS: Parker Brown, Josiah Riggs, Zachary Parker, Weston Warden
PBU: Carter Julian, Eli Buffalo, Corbin Jones
QB HURRIES: Brodie Basford, Carter Julian, Jordan Tidwell

TACKLES (U/A/TFL - TOTAL)
Weston Warden    4 7 0 11
Eli Buffalo      1 4 1 5
Nate Eaton       0 2 0 2
Parker Brown     1 1 0 2
Brodie Basford   4 7 2 11
Zachary Parker   1 6 0 7
Jordan Tidwell   0 1 0 1
Jacob McMullin   1 4 0 5
Josiah Riggs     2 3 1 5
Logan Rutledge   2 3 0 5
Corbin Jones     2 2 2 4
Dyce Young       0 1 0 1
Emmett Dwyer     1 0 0 1
Carter Julian    0 3 0 3
Bryce Seigrist   0 1 0 1
Luke Elliott     0 1 0 1
Greg Williams    0 1 0 1
Logan Lozeau     0 1 0 1
Dustin Stone     1 0 1 1

Panthers fall in Searcy, garner No. 2 seed

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Heber Springs sophomore Emmett Dwyer runs for a 13-yard gain in the second half Friday night in Searcy. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

By LARRY “SCOOP” McCARTY

SEARCY – It’s not back to the drawing board, but a time to refresh before starting the postseason run for the Heber Springs Panthers.

Harding Academy converted two fumble recoveries into touchdowns and drove 49 yards during the first quarter and claimed at least a share of the 2-4A Conference championship and a top seed for the playoffs by defeating the Panthers 41-14 at First Security Stadium on Friday.

The loss ended a 5-game win streak for Heber Springs.

The Panthers (5-3 overall, 4-1 in 2-4A Conference) will be the conference’s No. 2 seed and host either Lincoln or Gentry in the first round on Nov. 10.

The Wildcats (9-0 overall, 5-0 in 2-4A Conference), who won the 2020 and 2021 Class 3A state championships and lost to Malvern in the 2022 Class 4A title game, will host the No. 5 seed from 1-4A.

One game remains in the regular season. The Panthers will host Riverview at 7 p.m. Friday, while the Wildcats will play at Cave City.

“Good teams make you do things that you don’t want to do,” Heber Springs first-year head coach Van Paschal said. “We knew they were a good team, but it’s hard to tell for sure until you play them. They have everything going in the right direction.”

Paschal continued and said Harding Academy players and coaches were very complimentary of how the Panthers played.

“They were very complimentary of our players after the game about how they are playing and accomplished this season,” he said. “I expect play well against Riverview. These players have we will respond and answered the bell every time after losses this season.”

Heber Springs held the Wildcats to 84 yards rushing, but Wildcat quarterback Owen Miller completed 16 of 19 passes for 235 and two touchdowns. Miller also rushed for 90 yards and two more scores.

Isaac Baker became Miller’s favorite receiver with Jack Citty, one of the team’s leading receivers, was unable to play because of injury. Baker caught seven passes for 154 yards and one touchdown.

Harding Academy held a 373-125 yards advantage in total offense.

Parker Brown rushed five times for 81 yards for the Panthers. Weston Warden returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown during the first half. The Panthers were 0-of-4 passing.

“We had spurts of good plays,” said Paschal, referring to Brown’s runs of 15 and 58 runs and Warden’s kickoff return during the first half. “We would have a great play here and then a bad play. This game was a measuring stick for us. We just got to move forward and keep improving.”

Harding Academy took the lead after recovering a fumble at the Heber Springs 35-yard line early in the first quarter.

Two penalties moved the Wildcats backwards before Miller scrambled for 12 yards on second down and University of Arkansas commit Wyatt Simmons, who lined up in the Wildcat formation, gained seven yards for a first down.

Simmons finished the drive by running 11 yards to the Panther 1 and scored on the next play with 7:13 left in the first quarter. Griffin Thomas kicked the extra point for the 7-0 lead.

Later in the quarter, Kyler Hoover’s 21-yard punt return put Harding in scoring position at the Heber Springs 45-yard line. Miller received the snap, ran right and scored on a 45-yard run with 2:30 to go in the quarter. Thomas booted the extra point, increasing the lead to 14-0.

Harding Academy cashed in again on a fumble recovery and drove 75 yards for its next score. Simmons scored from the 1-yard line with 22 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Thomas kicked the extra point for a 21-0 lead going into the second quarter.

Issac Baker caught a short pass from Miller and ran 68 yards, giving Harding Academy a first down at the Heber Springs 18. Two plays later, Miller connected on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Endy McGalliard. The Wildcats failed on a two-point conversion try and led 27-0 with 8:52 left in the first half.

After the ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, the Panthers decided to accept the penalty, and it paid dividends. The ball hit on the 20 and bounced backwards 10 yards where Warden retrieved and scored on a 90-yard kickoff return.

Gideon Tate’s kick for the extra point was blocked as the Panthers trailed, 27-6.

Hoover nearly duplicated Warden’s return on the ensuing kickoff, returning it 59 yards to the Heber Springs 24. Three plays later, Miller passed to Hoover for a 22-yard touchdown with 7:25 left. Thomas’ successful kick increased Harding Academy’s lead to 34-6.

The Wildcats drove 67 yards for its final score of the first half as Miller scored on a 14-yard run with 1:18 left in the first half. Thomas kicked the extra point for a 41-6 halftime lead.

Backup quarterback Zack Parker put the Panthers on the board in the fourth quarter by scoring on a 2-yard keeper with 7:48 to play. Parker also ran for a 2-point conversion.

Paschal said the team will turn its attention to Riverview.

“We responded positively after the two earlier losses (Clinton and Southside Batesville),” he said. “I expect them to be ready for Riverview, which has a good team. We will fix the things that we didn’t do well. It’s important to win against Riverview and build momentum going into the playoffs.”

HEBER SPRINGS AT HARDING ACADEMY
October 27, 2023 
TEAM STATS
TIME OF POSSESSION: Heber Springs 23:42, Harding 24:18
TOTAL FIRST DOWNS: Heber Springs 7, Harding 18
BY RUSH: Heber Springs 7, Harding 6
BY PASS: Heber Springs 0, Harding 11
BY PENALTY: Heber Springs 0, Harding 1
TEAM RUSHING: Heber Springs 35/125/1/3.6, Harding 23/84/4/3.7
TEAM PASSING: Heber Springs 0/4-0-0/0, Harding 21/27-289-2/0
TOTAL OFFENSE: Heber Springs 39/125/3.2, Harding 50/373/7.5
3RD CONVERSION: Heber Springs 2/7, Harding 3/5
4TH CONVERSION: Heber Springs 0/1, Harding 0/1
RED-ZONE: Heber Springs 1/1, Harding 4/4
TURNOVERS: Heber Springs 3, Harding 1
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: Heber Springs 8, Harding 14
FUMBLES/LOST: Heber Springs 4/3, Harding 2/1
PENALTIES: Heber Springs 3/15, Harding 5/30
KICKOFF RETURNS: Heber Springs 1/90/1, Harding 1/59
PUNT RETURNS: Heber Springs 0/0, Harding 1/22
PUNTS: Heber Springs 4/176/44.0, Harding 1/34
PUNTS INSIDE 20: Heber Springs 1, Harding 0
SACKS: Heber Springs 0, Harding 1/7
TACKLES FOR LOSS: Heber Springs 8/32, Harding 12/54
INDIVIDUAL STATS
RUSHING: Heber Springs, Bryce Seigrist 5/4, Weston Warden 3/1, Parker Brown 5/81, Xander Lindley 10/(-20), Logan Rutledge 3/9, Dyce Young 3/8, Nate Eaton 3/33, Emmett Dwyer 1/13, Zachary Parker 2/(-4)/1. Harding Academy, Wyatt Simmons 5/28/2, Owen Miller 4/90/2, Isaac Baker 6/16, Christian Bubbus 2/0, Sam Beehn 2/0, Team 4/(-50).
PASSING: Heber Springs, Xander Lindley 0/4-0-0/0. Harding Academy, Owen Miller 16/19-235-2/0, Cam Pryor 5/8-54-0/0.
RECEIVING: Harding Academy, Isaac Baker 7/154/1/22.0, Kyler Hoover 5/40/1, Endy McGalliard 4/41/1, Cole Sivia 1/30, Joseph Myles 1/9, Christian Bubbus 1/8, Trenton Hall 1/8, Samuel Swindle 1/(-1)
KICKOFF RETURNS: Heber Springs, Weston Warden 1/90/1. Harding Academy, Kyler Hoover 1/59.
PUNT RETURNS: Harding Academy, Kyler Hoover 1/22
ALL-PURPOSE YARDS: Heber Springs, Weston Warden 91. Harding Academy, Isaac Baker 170, Kyler Hoover 121.
TOTAL OFFENSE: Harding Academy, Owen Miller 325
PUNTING: Heber Springs, Gideon Tate 4/176/44.0/1 (Long 51). Harding Academy, Griffin Thomas 1/34.
SCORING
PAT KICKS: Gideon Tate 0/1 (Blocked)
FIELD GOALS: None
POINTS: Weston Warden 6, Zachary Parker 8
DEFENSIVE STATS
SACKS: None
INDIVIDUAL SACK TOTAL: None
FUMBLE RECOVERIES: Logan Lozeau
FORCED FUMBLES: None
INTERCEPTIONS: None
PBU: Emmett Dwyer 
QB HURRIES: Jordan Tidwell, Nate Eaton

TACKLES (U/A/TFL - TOTAL)
Brodie Basford   2 4 0 6
Weston Warden    6 1 1 7
Logan Rutledge   4 0 0 4
Elijah Jones     0 2 1 2
Nate Eaton       0 1 1 1
Jordan Tidwell   1 1 0 2
Emmett Dwyer     1 1 0 2
Carter Julian    0 3 1 3
Parker Brown     2 1 0 3
Corbin Jones     3 1 0 4
Xander Lindley   1 0 0 1
Jacob McMullin   1 0 0 1
Team             2 0 2 2
Greg Williams    0 1 0 1
Caleb Carr       0 2 0 2
Gavin Mize       2 3 2 5
Zachary Parker   1 0 1 1
Seth Dudeck      0 1 0 1
Dyce Young       1 1 1 2
Logan Lozeau     0 1 1 1

 

 

Panthers drop ‘Birds in dramatic fashion; earn home playoff game

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Heber Springs junior Weston Warden with a first-quarter run. Warden scored two touchdowns, including a 60-yard fumble return, blocked an extra point and finished with eight tackles on the night at Stuttgart. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

By PHILIP SEATON
MarkedTime.com Publisher

STUTTGART – The stakes were high for both teams Friday night at Ned Moseley Stadium in a 2-4A clash between Stuttgart and Heber Springs.

The winner would all but be guaranteed the No. 2 seed and more importantly a first-round home playoff game, and for the Panthers, a chance to meet Harding Academy this upcoming Friday for the conference championship.

The Ricebirds had taken a 28-21 lead with 3:21 left in the contest after marching 35 yards in six plays, all runs by Matthew Luster, taking 2:57 off the clock. The drive was capped by an 8-yard run by Luster. Freshman Cain Price connected with Jacob Hayes for the 2-point conversion.

Now it was Heber Springs’ turn. After a 10-yard return on the kickoff by Logan Rutledge, the Panthers took over on their own 43. With only one timeout left, Heber Springs hurried, but remained methodical, as Bryce Seigrist took five straight fullback dives up the middle as the clock continued to run. The sophomore picked up two first downs and moved the ball 28 yards down the field.

It appeared that the Panthers were going to attempt to the same thing on a second-and-7, but instead senior slotback Parker Brown took the pitch and raced 29 yards to make it 28-27 in favor of Stuttgart with 1:14 to play.

“Coach had a great plan this drive,” Brown said. “We put in the heavy personnel, and we were just hammering it.

“He (Heber Springs coach Van Paschal) was like they are going to adjust to that and then we are going to hit them on the outside. That’s exactly what we did.”

Kick the extra point and go into overtime, or go for the win?

“I didn’t want to go into overtime,” Paschal said. “It’s their home, they are going to get the calls (from the officials) obviously, so we might as well do it now.”

As Heber Springs lined up for the 2-point try, Stuttgart coach Josh Price used his final timeout to set up his defense.

Before the timeout, the Ricebirds had lined up in a normal formation, but after the stoppage, Paschal saw something and immediately used his final timeout.

“I think I had called ‘belly’ (a fullback dive off tackle),” he said. “I saw that had nobody back there and they that were going to bring it (defensive pressure). I thought let’s roll the dice.”

The ball was now in the hands of Heber Springs quarterback Xander Lindley. The senior, who had started the past two seasons behind center but gave way to junior Liam Buffalo in the offseason, was thrust back into the starting position after a season-ending injury to Buffalo last week at Lonoke.

“We got that timeout, and he (Paschal) pulled me over to the sideline,” Lindley said. “He told me and Parker, ‘We were going to run the belly play again’. Well, this time, he is like I want you to fake the handoff, turn around and throw it to Parker in the back of the end zone.

“They were all up front on the line of scrimmage. They were all blitzing. As soon as he said it knew it was going to work.”

And he was right. Lindley faked to Seigrist and lofted the ball into the back into the endzone into the waiting arms of a wide-open Brown for the 2-point conversion and the 29-28 lead sending the Panther sidelines into a frenzy and the contingent of fans that had made the nearly two-hour drive from Cleburne County.

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Heber Springs’ Parker Brown stiff arms a Stuttgart defender. Brown finished the night rushing for 110 yards and two touchdowns. PHILP SEATON PHOTO

“It was awesome,” Lindley said. “It felt like three seconds (the ball being in the air), I watched the whole thing and I was like, ‘Please catch it, please’ because I knew the game was on the line right there. I was shaking when I threw it, and it was awesome whenever he caught it.”

Though the Panthers had just taken the lead, Stuttgart still had 74 seconds left to attempt to win the game.

Gideon Tate placed the ensuing kickoff at the Ricebird 15-yard-line along the Panther sideline. Stuttgart’s Quarterion Johnson took the ball found a couple of blockers and nothing but open field and Tate in front of him.

“Coach Paschal called for a sky kick, and that’s what I delivered,” Tate said. “There was no way I was going to let my ball get run back and disappoint coach (Paschal). This is the first year that I am just the kicker/punter, but those old linebacker skills kicked in.”

Paschal was not disappointed.

“He got up and got it done, didn’t he?” he asked. “He thumped him. It was a great form tackle.”

Tate doesn’t take part in many tackle drills in practice, so he harkened back to his youth football days to make the play.

“As a second grader, I actually played up and played for coach Joe Cusick with the third grade (team),” the senior said. “He always said, ‘Be the hammer not the nail’ … but in that exact moment, everything went slow motion around me. When he got closer, I made sure I got the angle on him. Then he slowed.

“So, when he got close enough, I just leapt, wrapped him up and rolled him up like ole coach Joe taught us.”

One of his teammates thought he was going to score.

“I thought that guy was gone,” Lindley said. “Gideon came out of nowhere and made the perfect tackle. It was awesome.”

Though it was perfect tackle, it was going to take a few more stops to wrap-up the win as the Ricebirds took over at the 50 after the 35-yard return.

A false-start penalty pushed Stuttgart back five yards with 67 seconds to play, before Heber Springs started getting those stops.

Junior Jordan Tidwell blew past the offensive lineman that attempted to block him and wrapped up Cain Price for a sack and a 14-yard loss.

A jubilant assistant coach, Easton Seidl, high-stepped his way 20 yards down the sideline before Tidwell could complete the tackle.

“Jordan ‘freaking’ Tidwell,” Seidl said on social media after the game.

“I’m so proud of this young man,” the first-year Heber Springs’ defensive line coach added. “I was very hard on him tonight, and in the biggest moment of the game this is what he does. He squashed every bit of hope they had. With no timeouts and less than 50 seconds on the lock. Doesn’t get better than seeing your players grow and get better every week.”

Stuttgart still had time but Carter Julian, who paced the Panthers with a game-high 12 total tackles, brought down Deontae Clark after a six-yard pass play. Sophomore Eli Buffalo followed on third down by holding Ross Atkinson to an 11-yard gain. On fourth-and-12, Stuttgart unsuccessfully attempted the ‘hook-and-ladder’ play as Atkinson caught the ball near the line of scrimmage lateraled to Clark who was immediately brought down by Brown and Julian for a one-yard loss sealing the 29-28 win for Heber Springs.

“It is a special win,” Brown said. “We hadn’t beat Stuttgart in a while, and to beat them at their place, it’s a great day.”

It was the fifth-straight win for the Panthers, who improve to 5-2 on the season and remained undefeated in conference play with a 4-0 mark. Heber Springs wrapped the conference’s second seed for the upcoming playoffs and guaranteed themselves a home playoff game for the first time since 2018.

Stuttgart fell to 4-3 on the season and 2-2 in the 2-4A.

The Panthers travel to Searcy on Friday to tangle with Harding Academy. With the winner claiming the conference’s top seed and most likely conference title.

“They are really good,” Paschal said of the Wildcats. “We are going to have to play well. They have so many weapons. At this stage of the game for us, we want to win the ballgame, but it’s a measuring stick for the playoffs.

“If we win, bonus, but we aren’t supposed too. We are going to prepare to win, but here’s the deal, to get the two seed, to get that home game, that’s big. Let’s just see how that booger rolls out and then we build on that.”

Heber Springs rolled out to a 14-0 lead Friday night at Stuttgart.

The Panthers struck first with 3:10 remaining in the first quarter as Weston Warden scored on a six-yard run. The junior had put Heber Springs in that position by making a 27-yard reception on a third-and-10 play from the Panther 44.

After Stuttgart picked up a couple of first downs, Luke Elliott sacked Price for a seven-yard loss on third down forcing a punt.

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Heber Springs junior linebacker Brodie Basford gets up after making the tackle on Stuttgart’s Deontae Clark. Basford finished the night with 11 total tackles, including nine unassisted. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

Taking over own their own 19, runs by Seigrist, Warden and Brown moved the ball into Ricebird territory. On second-and-10, Brown took the pitch and didn’t stop until he crossed the goal line. Tate added the kick to make it 14-0 with 6:57 to play in the half.

But penalties and the Stuttgart defense would slow down the Panther offense almost the rest of night. Heber Springs was flagged 12 times for 120 yards and held to two yards of total offense on their next five possessions.

“I thought we would score 50 points to be honest with you,” Paschal said. “They were teeing off on us. We were running our base stuff, and they just whipped our butt … nothing much was working.”

In the meantime, Stuttgart was closing the gap. The Ricebirds put six points on the scoreboard on a two-yard run by senior Kemarion Pickett with 2:16 left in the first half. Warden blocked the extra point for Heber Springs leaving the score at 14-6 heading into the break.

Stuttgart would tie things up with 5:12 remaining in third quarter as Price connected with Johnson for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Price then found Pickett for the 2-point conversion.

While the offense continued to struggle, the Panther defense stepped up.

Sophomore Emmett Dwyer picked off a Price pass at the Heber Springs 5 and returned it 32 yards to keep the Ricebirds off the board with 11:50 to play.

On Stuttgart’s next possession, the Ricebirds picked up a first down and appeared to have a second one in Panther territory, but Stuttgart’s Jeremiah Thomas was stood up by a pair of Heber Springs defenders and Warden stripped the ball loose. The junior then raced 60 yards for the score.

“I felt the ball go into my arms and I just took off with it,” Warden said. “I just saw grass and I ran as fast as I could.”

It was the second week in a row that Warden has had a 60-yard defensive score, returning an interception for a touchdown last week against Lonoke.

A high snap almost derailed the extra-point attempt as Lindley got the ball down just low enough for Tate to barely push it over the cross-bar for the 21-14 lead with 8:45 to play.

“Those are the moments when having years of training as a striker in soccer pays off,” Tate said. “That ball is always going to go in the direction your hips are pointed. Since we are not using a block, I had to put more hip into it than leg. It wasn’t pretty, but I managed to get it over.”

But Stuttgart wasn’t going to disappoint the gathered homecoming crowd, as Price found Clark on the Ricebird’s first play from scrimmage for a 77-yard scoring with 8:25 to play. The 2-point conversion attempt was stopped leaving the Panthers up 21-20.

“Craziest game I ever been part of,” Warden said. “Just a team effort couldn’t do without my teammates. We fought to the end and came out with the ‘W’.”

Warden’s defensive coordinator Kevin Youngblood took to social media after the game to talk about the team effort.

“Our kids are amazing,” he said. “All we hear at the state level is our kids are too slow, too little up front, too young and everything else.

“But what they are quickly find out is that our kids have grit, heart, desire and determination. This a true football team.”