Tag: Conway

HSHS All-Decade Team: 1950s

The 1950s era of Heber Springs football saw some success in the early part of the decade, some struggles in the middle part of the decade and a rebirth with a familiar face in the latter part of the decade as players still played both ways.

New coach Leland Myers guided the Panthers to one of the best marks in school history in 1950 with a 6-2-1 record. Heber Springs opened the season with a loss to Augusta but won six straight with wins over Clinton, Bald Knob, Ola, Cotton Plant, Arkansas School for the Deaf and Sloan-Hendrix. The tie came on Nov. 24 over a heavily-favored Morrilton squad. A loss to McCrory on Thanksgiving closed out the season.

The Panthers would win five games in 1951, the best two-year stretch in school history up that point, with wins over Mountain Home, Harding Academy, Hickory Ridge, Arkansas School for the Deaf and Clinton.

Former Heber Springs Panther standout Robert Fisher would take over as coach in 1952 guiding the Panthers to their first conference title in school history with a 5-3-1 mark — it would be 23 years before Heber Springs would win another conference title. The Panthers defeated Augusta, Harding Academy and Cotton Plant to earn the conference crown and also picked up victories over Mountain Home and Hickory Ridge. On Nov. 21, the Panthers traveled to Earle for a Class B playoff game (with only eight teams in the playoffs at the time). Heber Springs had two weeks off before the game while the Bulldogs had beaten county-rival West Memphis a week earlier and handed the Panthers a 25-6 setback. A Thanksgiving Day loss five-days later to McCrory set the final mark.

A new coach took over the reigns of the Panther program in 1953. Bernis Duke would go on to hall of fame career winning a state basketball title at Newport and later coaching the Oral Roberts University (in Tulsa, Okla.) tennis team for 33 years. Duke was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 2002 and the ORU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010 — the tennis center on the ORU campus is named in his honor, but at Heber Springs his only attempt at coaching football resulted in a one-win campaign in 1953 (a win over the “B” team from Conway).

The 1954 squad had the same fate as the 1953 squad, a single win over the “B” team from Conway. The assistant coach for that squad, Elmer Gathright, would also have building named after him, the basketball gymnasium at West Side High School in Greers Ferry.

In 1955 and 1956, another future Hall-of-Famer took over the reigns of the football program as Bald Knob High School graduate Carl Steward would guide the program to a 4-14 mark (a pair of wins over Bradford, a win over Conway “B” and Clinton). Steward would later make his mark as a track coach and a track official.

The decade closed with another HSHS graduate, Cecil Alexander, guiding the program for three season. Alexander, who had starred on the gridiron at Hendrix College after graduating from HSHS, would guide the program for the rest of the decade going 9-12-4. His first squad in 1957 defeated Harding Academy, Bradford and “B” teams from Batesville and Jacksonville to finish 4-4. In 1958, the Panthers would go 3-3-3 with wins over Newport “B”, Augusta and Sylvan Hills and ties with Carlisle, Mabelvale and Conway “B”. His 1959 squad would beat Clinton and Harding Academy and tie Danville.

The 1950s HSHS All-Decade Football Team

(Position, Player and Last Season Played)

End – Pete Benbrook (1950)

End – Sherlon Martin (1959)

Line – Elwood Cooper (1952)

Line – Roy Ferguson (1953)

Line – Dale Ramsey (1951)

Line – Richard Stark (1951)

Line – Tommy Whitaker (1952)

Back – Cecil Alexander (1952)

Back – Mickey Barnett (1951)

Back – Jimmy Davis (1952)

Back – Victor Davis (1959)

Back – Jerry Pilkington (1950)

Back – Keith Pilkington (1957)

All-Purpose – Lovell Davis (1953)

All-Purpose – Jim Alexander (1958)

PREVIOUS DECADES

The 1940s HSHS All-Decade Team

The 1930s HSHS All-Decade Team

The 1910s/20s HSHS All-Decade Team

HSHS All-Decade Team: 1930s

The 1930s era of Heber Springs football was one that saw a great turmoil with the onset of the Great Depression. Through the struggles of the day, the Panthers continued to march on as the town was slowly growing, thanks in part to the Missouri and North Arkansas railroad.

The railroad helped develop one of the Panthers first rivals of the day, the Harrison Goblins. The two teams tied in their first meeting in 1930 at Harrison and then would each win at home over the early part of the decade. Though Heber Springs would continue to tangle with larger schools such as Conway, Searcy, Batesville and Morrilton, more and more schools were starting to add football and some modern rivals would first appear during the decade including Bald Knob and Clinton.

The best team of the decade was the 1935 squad under coach Hollis Ward. The Panthers would go 5-3-1 that season with wins over Cabot, Cotter, Judsonia, the Arkansas School for the Deaf and an independent team made up of former HSHS players and community members that played games across the state. The Panthers tie was a homecoming contest against Harrison.

The 1930s HSHS All-Decade Football Team

1933 – Elgin Barnett

1937 – Elmer Beasley

1933 – Phillip Bowen

1936 – Carl Holmes

1936 – Wendall Holmes

1935 – Paul Ivy

1934 – Clois Ray Morton

1933 – Otto Murphree

1932 – Jack Patterson

1937 – Joe Robbins

1934 – Tom Robbins

1933 – Ed Speed

1938 – Charles Smith

1935 – Weston Taylor

1935 – Guy Ward

PREVIOUS DECADES

The 1910s/20s HSHS All-Decade Team

Arkansas Tech announces 2020 signing class

February 5, 2020

By ARKANSAS TECH SPORTS INFORMATION

RUSSELLVILLE – Thirty-nine high school student-athletes and three four-year transfers have joined the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys 2020 football program, announced by head coach Kyle Shipp on Wednesday.

Of the new additions, 24 are from the state of Arkansas, with student-athletes from Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Missouri also joining the program.

“I’m excited about all of the kids that we’re signing – I feel like it’s a very good class from top to bottom,” Shipp said. “This class is a building block to where we want to get to in the future. Along with our returning class we feel like this group will have the chance to be pretty special.”

A complete list of signees follows:

2019 High School Signees

NamePositionHeightWeightHometown/Previous School
Adam MartinQB6-0190Heber Springs HS, Ark.
Ayomide JohnsonOL6-4265Cedar Hill HS, Texas
Brandon BuntonDB6-0180Dardanelle HS, Ark.
Brenton BacheminOL6-4280Archbishop Rummel HS, La.
Bryce FoxOL6-7275Dierks HS, Ark.
Carmerius RucksLB6-0205El Dorado HS, Ark.
Christian CorkranOL6-4307Fontainebleau HS, La.
Christian StaffordDB6-0170Lufkin HS, Texas
Cole CannonOL6-4270Grandview HS, Texas
Connor WatsonATH6-0175Valley View, HS, Ark.
Damarius NewtonWR6-2195Van Buren HS, Ark.
Davy HarrodDT6-0255Henry County HS, Tn.
Dewayne SmithLB6-0190Conway HS, Ark.
Drew RustTE6-1270Pottsville HS, Ark.
Germany PowellLB6-0255Bastrop HS, La.
Hunter TaylorOL6-1285Pillow Academy, Miss.
Jayden WimberlyDE6-3220Vilonia HS, Ark.
Jayson CampbellDL6-3215Arkadelphia HS, Ark.
Jayvien FranklinOL6-0270Russellville HS, Ark.
John WashburnOL6-0285Hoxie HS, Ark.
Jordan EdingtonQB6-2237Little Rock Catholic HS, Ark.
Jude BartholomewWR6-1200Van Buren HS, Ark.
Korlin McKinneyDL6-0275Conway HS, Ark.
Kyle GreenDE6-1230Bryant HS, Ark.
Kyren HarrisonATH5-11180Arkadelphia HS, Ark.
Lorenzo LawsonDL6-1250Arkadelphia HS, Ark.
Mason RossWR6-0185Rogers HS, Ark.
Matt ArnoldDB6-0180Texas HS, Texas
Micah SeawoodWR6-2175Springdale Har-ber HS, Ark.
Nakiyah DavisWR6-2195Joe T. Robinson HS, Ark.
Nate BurkhartzmeyerOL6-4280Broken Arrow, Okla.
Sam BartisOL6-2280Sunnyvale HS, Texas
Sammy LeBlancQB6-1175Teurlings Catholic HS, La.
Travarus Shead Jr.ATH6-2210Drew Central HS, Ark.
Trey WhiteDT6-1270Evangel Christian Academy HS, La.
Tyler IvyDB5-11175Benton HS, La.
Tyler WilliamsWR6-2180Metairie Park Country Day HS, La.
Vincent SteppesRB6-0175Warren HS, Ark.
Xavier ClemonsATH5-11180Morrilton HS, Ark.

2019 Transfers

NamePositionHeightWeightHometown/Previous School
Detavion TurnerRB5-10220University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Ark.
Jacob CatoOL6-2310Iowa Central CC, Iowa
Devin BurnsDL6-1240Austin Peay University, Tenn.

Bears fall to in-state foe

September 1, 2019

By UCA SPORTS INFORMATION

CONWAY –  It was a rough afternoon in Jonesboro for the Central Arkansas women’s soccer team as a rocky start to the match left themselves with a small chance of recovery. The Bears traveled to Jonesboro to take on Arkansas State, a team that came into the match coming off a huge victory against Big 12 Conference affiliate Kansas State. 

Central Arkansas (0-3), found themselves down two goals less than five minutes into the match, conceding a goal in the second minute and another in the third. However, the Bears responded to adversity and got a goal back in the 23rd minute before ultimately conceding a third goal late as more numbers were thrown forward in an attempt to equalize.

First Half

  • Arkansas State’s Abigail Glockzin gave the Red Wolves an early 1-0 advantage inside of two minutes into the match.
  • Arkansas State doubled their lead in the third minute on a goal from Sarah Sodoma.
  • The Red Wolves nearly grabbed a third in the 20th minute, however UCA keeper Reagan McCombs was up to the task and recorded her first save of the afternoon.
  • Central Arkansas cut the deficit in half in the 23rd minute courtesy of a Gracie Hair goal, her first of the season.
  • The Bears would nearly equalize five minutes later on a Emma Hawkins strike that flew just wide right of the net. 

Second Half

  • The Bears continued to threaten in the second half in search for the equalizing goal and nearly grabbed it in the 53rd minute on a Jordan Slim strike that forced a corner kick. 
  • Hawkins again nearly tied it up for Central Arkansas in the 67th minute as she saw her strike fly just high of the net. 
  • A corner kick opportunity in the 80th minute nearly saw the Red Wolves grab their two goal advantage again as ASU’s Haley Husted was denied by goalkeeper Elizabeth Lewis just in front of goal. 
  • ASU would score the final goal of the match in the 84th minute as the Bears many numbers forward in a final attempt to grab an equalizer.

Central Arkansas finished the match with eight total shots, and only one on frame. Goalkeepers McCombs and Lewis each saw a half of action recording two saves apiece. 

Coach Bishop Quotes

“Today was similar to Friday in that we gave away a couple of scoring chances early in the match and our opponent took full advantage, but we settled in after that and controlled most of the play. Today, we didn’t create enough scoring chances to get ourselves fully back into the game. We have to be sharper in the final third so we can get more looks at goal. It’s a process. We have to keep working and I know this group will.”

Up Next

The Bears are back in action this Friday, September, 6 as they travel to Stillwater to take on Oklahoma State. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

UCA, Campbell draw Even after 110 minutes

September 1, 2019

By UCA SPORTS INFORMATION

CONWAY – Few chances created saw Central Arkansas hang on for a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes of play tonight in an ultimate dogfight from the Bill Stephens Complex in Conway. 

Central Arkansas took an early 1-0 advantage in the first ten minutes of the match, but were unable to create many more chances following the goal. Campbell found an equalizer in the second half and would create a few more quality scoring chances, but neither team was unable to find a late winner. 

First Half

  • Central Arkansas took an early 1-0 lead in the tenth minute after capitalizing on a set piece. Soren Jensen converted a header flicked on by Mathias Bendiksen and just got it over the goal line in what was a goal by a matter of inches. 
  • UCA’s Katsuyoshi Kimishima had a chance to double the Bears’ lead in the 30th minute, but saw his shot fly wide right. 
  • Marc Olsen came up big for the Bears in the final moments of the first half, denying the Camels an equalizer in the 44th minute, recording his first of four saves on the evening. 

Second Half

  • The second half saw little action until the 64th minute, where Campbell finally found an equalizing goal on a Thibaut Jacquel free kick strike from 25 yards out. 
  • The Camels would continue to apply pressure and nearly grabbed the lead in the 74th minute, but again Olsen was up to the task denying Aigbekan Nosegbe the go-ahead on a near post strike.  
  • Olsen denied the Ramblers a late winner in the 87th minute, diving down to his left side and pushing the ball out for a corner on a hard hit strike by Humberto Chavez. Chavez’s attempt would be the final opportunity created in regulation. 

Extra Time

  • UCA’s Nate Lancaster came to the rescue for the Bears in the 95th minute on a fantastic goal line clearance, denying the Camels a golden goal winner. 
  • The Camel’s were again denied a winner by Olsen in the 97th minute, recording his third save of the night. 
  • Campbell created the final opportunity of the match in the 107th minute as Alex Egeonu’s strike down the middle forced yet another save from Olsen. 

Central Arkansas finished the match with just six total shots and only one on frame compared to Campbell’s 18 total shots and five on target

Ross Duncan Quotes

“We escaped without losing and I think that’s the positive we got out of tonight. We had some brave performances defensively, but we’re not going to be able to play like that and have the season we want to have. It was disappointing to have the performance that we did because we were ready, but we just couldn’t put it together. Credit to Campbell. They put us under a ton of pressure and they played really well.” 

Up Next

The Bears get a six day break before being in action again as they host Incarnate Word Saturday, September 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Hendrix looks to Rebound in 2019

August 17, 2019

By HENDRIX SPORTS INFORMATION

CONWAY – After guiding Hendrix to a 2015 Southern Athletic Association Championship and leading the Warriors to an impressive 8-2 record in 2017, head coach Buck Buchanan looks to continue to revitalize the Hendrix football program following a 2-8 effort in 2018.

Buchanan, who was hired immediately after Hendrix football ended its 52-year hiatus, enters his seventh season as the head man for the Warriors. Buchanan currently holds a 34-27 (.557) mark while at Hendrix with a 23-21 (.522) record in SAA play and also has guided Hendrix to finishing in the top three in the SAA three different seasons in his six years here.

Returners
After an injury sidelines him for over 75 percent of the 2018 season, one of the top quarterbacks that Hendrix has seen is back and will be wearing the black and orange this fall. After being one of the top quarterbacks, statistically, in the entire country in 2017, Miles Thompson played just more than one full game before getting injured and missed the rest of the 2018 season. Thompson, who has throw for more than 4,400 yards and 46 touchdowns, will be one of several Warrior players who bring back several years of collegiate experience.

Offensively, Thompson is joined again by Kip VanHoose. VanHoose, who led the entire SAA in rushing yards a season ago, is looking to build off a season in which the Kansas City, Mo., product rushed for 860 yards and three scores.

On the offensive line and returning for this season year is Xavion Gardner. Gardner is a two-time All-SAA First Team selection and was part of the offensive line that led the NCAA with 600 yards of total offense per game.

Defensively, Ronnie McShan, Tanner Hartsfield and Jared Bazley return for the Warriors. All three obtained All-SAA Honorable Mention honors a year ago while Hartsfield led the team in tackles with 31 solo and 70 total tackles and Bazley earned D3football.com National Team of the Week honors once. On the special teams side of things, kicker Sandy Burks returns for his senior year. A native of North Little Rock, Burks has successfully made 14 field goals, 70 PATs and has logged 56 kickoffs for 2,973 yards as a Warrior and earned D3football.com National Team of the Week honors once, as well, last season.

Newcomers
Coach Buchanan was able to welcome in more than 25 new Warriors to the Hendrix football program. Of those 25-plus newcomers, one of those names should be familiar to Conway residents.

Multi-sport sport athlete Jacob Wood shined as the star quarterback for Conway Christian, a guard for the men’s basketball team and also played baseball for the Eagles.

Wood, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound quarterback who holds several school records, led the Eagles to a 10-3 record on the 2018 season that ended in a two-point loss in the state quarterfinals to Mount Ida.

Other notable newcomers who could have a sensational freshman campaign include: wide receiver Tyler Rodriguez who earned Texas 3A Player of the Year honors and recorded 42 touchdowns at quarterback from Bonham, Texas; Thayne Garnett who is an all-around half back, tight end and running back and is a Weatherford, Texas, native running with the first-team offense; and also freshman wide receiver Harrison Campbell a native of Bentonville. Wood and Campbell both played in the Arkansas All-Star Game in June at University of Central Arkansas. Defensively, notable players to look for include defensive back’s Canon Roeder of Frisco Wakeland, Texas; Gus Asle from Frisco Reedy, Texas; and Riley Strey of Flower Mound, Texas.

Schedule
Hendrix opens the 2019 season Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. with another nonconference contest against Lyon College in Conway in a classic “Battle for ScotZilla” rivalry; looking for its third victory over the Scots in Conway in three attempts. The Warriors will hit the road for the next two games; taking on Texas Lutheran in Seguin, Texas and battling Birmingham-Southern in Birmingham, Ala., to open up SAA play. Hendrix returns back to Conway Oct. 5 to look for another victory against SAA rival Rhodes. Other notable games include the annual Hendrix College Sports Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony Nov. 2 versus Trinity and Senior Day Nov. 16 against the Sewanee Tigers from Young-Wise Memorial Stadium.

Warriors fall in Season Opener

August 30, 2019

By HENDRIX SPORTS INFORMATION

CONWAY – Hendrix men’s soccer opened up the 2019 season Friday evening with an evening showdown against the Huntingdon Hawks in the 2019 Hendrix Invitational from Warrior Field. After trailing 1-0 at the intermission, the Warriors conceded three second half goals as Hendrix fell to the Hawks, 4-1.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Huntingdon 4 , Hendrix 1
Records: Hawks 1-0, Warriors 0-1
Location: Warrior Soccer Field | Conway
Get Social: Twitter | @HendrixWarriors | @HCscoreboard

HOW IT HAPPENED
– After giving up one goal in the first 45 minutes, the Warriors gave up two more goals in the first 25 minutes of the second half before sophomore Ricky Barrientos got the home team on the scoreboard.
– The Hawks scored one more goal in the 89th minute to hold the 4-1 advantage.
– Sophomore Arron Sahlman recorded a pair of saves against Huntingdon.
– Freshman Luis Lara recorded a team-best four shots in the loss.
– Five other Warrior players tallied one shot each while Barrientos and sophomore Jackson Goodwin landed the lone shots on goal for Hendrix.

WHAT WAS SAID
“I thought we played well for large portions of the game but we gave the ball away cheaply in the middle third which led to three goals,” stated head coach Matt Kern. “Our team shape in defensive transition moments, was simply not good enough tonight. Huntingdon were very organized an punished us on the counter attack. We will learn from this and look to be more organized.”

UP NEXT
The Warriors remain in Conway for its next contest; facing Hardin-Simmons Sunday from Warrior Field at 2 p.m. in the final game of the 2019 Hendrix Invitational.

Bears fall in Home Opener

August 30, 2019

By UCA SPORTS INFORMATION

CONWAY –  Conceding a goal in the fourth minute and another in the 18th saw the Central Arkansas women’s soccer team trailing Missouri State in their own backyard early in the match. The Bears came into the match allowing less than a goal per match at the Bill Stephens Complex and was riding a 10 game home unbeaten streak. 

Central Arkansas (0-2) showed resilience despite being down 2-0 in the first 20 minutes and would go on to score two unanswered goals of their own, with the equalizer coming in the 67th minute. Missouri State went on to find a late winner in the 80th minute, leaving Central Arkansas very limited time to potentially equalize again. 

First Half

  • Missouri State’s Brooke Zenner found the back of the net just inside four minutes of playing, giving Missouri State an early 1-0 advantage. 
  • Missouri State would double their lead in the 18th minute on a strike Unnur Bergsdottir.
  • Central Arkansas responded quickly, finding the back of the net in the 22nd minute on a beautifully worked goal that ended in a Hadley Dickinson finish from just inside the penalty area. 
  • UCA’s Savannah Tidd created a couple of chances towards the end of the first half, forcing saves from Missouri State’s Kaitlin Maxwell in the 41st and 42nd minutes. 

Second Half

  • Anika Sultan would equalize for Central Arkansas in the 67th minute after a strike directly from a corner kick found its way into the side netting, giving UCA a chance to potentially snatch a late winner. 
  • Sultan’s equalizer would be short lived after Missouri State’s Britney Robinson pounced on a late opportunity and scored what would ultimately be the winning goal for her team in the 80th minute.

Central Arkansas finished the match with 12 total shots, striking six of them on target, while Reagan McCombs finished the match four total saves. 

Coach Bishop Quotes

“Being down 2-0 and fighting back to get even with them was big for us, but to fall behind 2-0 the way that we did was disappointing. Once we got ourselves going, we were the better team, we were just unfortunate to not do more in our attacking opportunities.” 

Up Next

The Bears will travel to Jonesboro Sunday afternoon to face in-state foe Arkansas State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Bears dominate in Home Opener

August 30, 2019

By UCA SPORTS INFORMATION

CONWAY –  It was all smiles tonight as Central Arkansas men’s soccer was able to grab a season opening victory against Wright State. The Bears came into tonight having played two exhibition games and was looking to carry over the momentum from exhibition win number two against Tulsa, where they netted six goals in a 6-1 thrashing of the Golden Hurricanes. 

The attacking power was on full display again tonight for the Bears as UCA (1-0) scored four goals, netting three in the second half. The Bears gave up just one goal on what was an unlucky deflection from a set piece. 

First Half

The match got off to a rip roaring start as both teams created scoring chances early on, and would continue to create chances the entire duration of the first half.

  • UCA’s Moaid Ankir nearly gave the Bears a 1-0 advantage less than two minutes into the match after his strike from just inside the penalty area forced a save from the Wright State keeper.
  • Wright State would nearly grab the lead in the ninth minute after a strike from Jackson Dietrich rattled Olsen’s right crossbar on its way out of play. 
  • The deadlock would be broken in the 20th minute courtesy of Niklas Brodacki. Matthias Bendiksen slid Brodacki through, who was just onside and took care of the rest, finishing into the bottom right corner from six yards out. 
  • Brodacki found himself in another good scoring position in the 25th minute, but his strike flew just wide right and the score remained 1-0. 
  • Central Arkansas was awarded a penalty in the 41st minute, but the Wright State keeper was up to the task denying Brodacki his second goal of the night on a diving stop to his left side.

Second Half

  • Ankir found himself in the six yard box with a one on one opportunity, but was intervened by a Wright State defender, leaving the referee no choice but to award UCA its second penalty kick of the match.
  • Soren Jensen would step up this time, and converted from 12 yards out on a perfectly placed penalty into the bottom left corner, doubling the Bears’ advantage. 
  • Wright State would grab one back in the 62nd minute after a 25 yard free kick strike took an unlucky deflection, leaving Marc Olsen with no chance to react.
  • Kasper Andersen again doubled the Bears’ lead on what was arguably the goal of the match. Great buildup play from Alexsi Morel and Katsu Kimishima put Andersen in a great position and the Denmark international took care of the rest, finding the top corner on a sensational strike from 18 yards out. 
  • UCA’s fourth goal would come from Matthias Bendiksenin the 73rd minute. The skipper took a pass from Brodacki across the 18 yard box and calmly side-footed it into the bottom right corner to give the Bears a 4-1 advantage. 

Ross Duncan Quotes

“I was really happy with the way we came out. We came out flying. Going up two (goals) and then giving up a goal is a dangerous position to be in. The way responded to that is what I’m most proud of.”

Up Next

The Bears are back in action again this Sunday night as they host Campbell State at the Bill Stephens Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 PM.