October 1, 2020 - Marked Time

Stuttgart stops Heber Springs in junior high action

Heber Springs’ **Weston Warden** runs past Stuttgart’s **Devontae Clark** (4) and **Cade Coats** (22) for a first-half score Thursday night in Stuttgart. **PHILIP SEATON PHOTO**

By PHILIP SEATON

STUTTGART -Stuttgart took advantage of three Heber Springs turnovers and used a persistent ground game to hand the junior Panthers a 28-14 setback Thursday night.

It was the first lost on the season for Heber Springs (3-1, 1-1).

Stuttgart rushed 40 times for 241 yards with the bulk of that coming from DeVontae Clark (22 carries for 85 yards) and quarterback Landon Melynchuck (11 carries for 108 yards).

The game was scoreless early on as Stuttgart threatened early after the Ricebirds’ Trez Hammond picked off Heber Springs’ Liam Buffalo at the Panther 41 and returned it 27 yards. But the Heber Springs defense stiffened stopping the scoring threat as Parker Brown sacked Melynchuck for an 11-yard loss on fourth down.

Four straight incompletions by Heber Springs gave the Ricebirds the ball back at the Panther 27, and three plays later Melynchuck rushed 11 yards for the score to make it 6-0 Stuttgart with 23 seconds left in the opening quarter. The 2-point conversion failed.

Heber Springs responded to go up 7-6 on its next drive. A five-play, 42-yard drive was capped off when Buffalo connected with Weston Warden for a 19-yard touchdown pass. Gideon Tate added the PAT kick with 7:05 left in the half.

An 11-yard touchdown run by Melynchuck with 3:22 left in the second quarter put Stuttgart up 12-7. After another interception by the Stuttgart defense, Clark would score on a 10-yard run to put the Ricebirds up 20-7 at the half.

Heber Springs threatened in the third quarter but Buffalo was picked off by Matthew Luster at the Ricebird 3 with 2:43 left in the quarter. Five plays later, Clark would push his way into the end zone to make it 28-7 (after the Ricebirds completed the 2-point conversion on a run by Hammond) with 1:12 left in the third.

The Panthers would add a late score as Buffalo connected with Dalton Yancey on an 18-yard pass with 2:24 left in the contest. Tate added the PAT kick.

Buffalo finished the night 12 of 29 passing for 122 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

The Panthers will look to bounce back on Thursday when they host Central Arkansas Christian at Panther Stadium.

Heber Springs’ **Dalton Yancey** looks to get past Stuttgart’s **Trez Hammond** in junior high action Thursday night. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

Heber Springs 7th-grade team downs Stuttgart

Heber Springs’ **Eli Buffalo** runs for a big gain against Stuttgart Thursday night in Stuttgart. Pursuing Buffalo is Suttgart’s **Quaterion Johnson**. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

By PHILIP SEATON

STUTTGART – The Heber Springs 7th-Grade Panthers improved to 3-1 on the season with an 8-0 win over Stuttgart on Thursday.

The Panther Cubs got all of the points they would need on their first possession of the game. After forcing Stuttgart to a three-and-out on defense, Heber Springs took over possession in their own territory before Eli Buffalo broke off a 30-yard run to put the ball at the Stuttgart 25. Two plays later, Emmett Dwyer connected with Lucas Garcia for a 25-yard touchdown pass to make it 6-0 with 16:37 left in the first half. Dwyer connected with Buffalo for the 2-point conversion.

Heber Springs’ threatened to score again in the second half after Seth Dudeck picked off a Stuttgart pass attempt near midfield, but the Panther Cubs were unable to score.

Heber Springs’ returns to action on Thursday when they host Central Arkansas Christian at Panther Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

Heber Springs’ **Lucas Garcia** springs past Stuttgart’s **Quaterion Johnson** for a 25-yard touchdown reception in the first half of the Panther Cubs, 8-0, win on Thursday. **PHILIP SEATON PHOTO**

Junior High Stats: Heber Springs at Stuttgart

HEBER SPRINGS AT STUTTGART
Junior High Football
October 1, 2020
at Panther Stadium

Heber Springs   0   7   0   7 - 14
Stuttgart       6  14   8   0 - 28

FIRST QUARTER
Stuttgart, Landon Melynchuck 11-yard run (pass failed), :23
SECOND QUARTER
Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo to Weston Warden 19-yard pass (Gideon Tate kick), 7:05
Stuttgart, Melynchuck 11-yard run (run failed), 3:22
Stuttgart, Devontae Clark 10-yard run (Trez Hammond run), 1:09
THIRD QUARTER
Stuttgart, Clark 1-yard run (Hammond run), 1:12
FOURTH QUARTER
Heber Springs, Buffalo to Dalton Yancey 18-yard pass (Tate kick), 2:24

TEAM STATS
First Downs by Rush: Heber Springs 1, Stuttgart 13
First Downs by Pass: Heber Springs 5, Stuttgart 0
First Downs by Penalty: Heber Springs 2, Stuttgart 0
Total First Downs: Heber Springs 8, Stuttgart 13
Penalties: Heber Springs 2/16, Stuttgart 8/68
3rd-Down Conversions: Heber Springs 1/5, Stuttgart 1/6
4th-Down Conversions: Heber Springs 1/4, Stuttgart 0/5
Fumbles/Lost: Heber Springs 0/0, Stuttgart 0/0
Sacks/Yards Lost: Heber Springs 1/11, Stuttgart 0/0
Rush/Yards/Avg: Heber Springs 4/18/4.5, Stuttgart 40/241/6
Passing (A/C-Yards-TD/Int): Heber Springs 12/29-122-2/3, Stuttgart 2/5-3-0/0
Total Offense: Heber Springs 140, Stuttgart 244
Punts: Heber Springs 0/0, Stuttgart 1/15/15
INDIVIDUAL STATS
OFFENSE
Rushing: Heber Springs, Weston Warden 2/10, Liam Buffalo 1/6, Xander Lindley 1/2. Stuttgart, Landon Melynchuck 11/108, Devontae Clark 22/85, Trez Hammond 3/49, Matthew Luster 3/12, Team 1/(-13). 
Passing: Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo 12/29-122-2/3. Stuttgart, Landon Melynchuck 2/5-3-0/0
Receiving: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 3/36, Xander Lindley 3/22, Weston Warden 2/33/1, Dalton Yancey 2/23/1, Hud Haggard 2/8. Stuttgart, Trez Hammond 1/2, Devontae Clark 1/1.
Kickoff Returns: Heber Springs, Hud Haggard 1/0. Stuttgart, Landon Melynchuck 1/31, Cade Coats 1/16, Nykeal Bradley 1/0
Interceptions: Stuttgart, Trez Hammond 1/27, Cade Coats 1/23
Total Offense: Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo 128, Weston Warden 10, Xander Lindley 2. Stuttgart, Landon Melynchuck 111, Devontae Clark 85, Trez Hammond 49, Matthew Luster 12.
All-Purpose Yards: Heber Springs, Weston Warden 43, Parker Brown 36, Xander Lindley 24, Dalton Yancey 23, Hud Haggard 8, Liam Buffalo. Stuttgart, Landon Melynchuck 141, Devontae Clark 86, Trez Hammond 78, Cade Coats 39, Matthew Luster 12.
DEFENSE
SACKS/YARDS LOST: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 1/11.
PUNTS: Stuttgart, Landon Melynchuck 1/15/15
KICKING: Heber Springs, Gideon Tate (2/2 XP)