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