Tag: Parker Brown

Junior Panthers fall to Clinton, finish 6-2

Heber Springs’ Xander Lindley leaps for more yards against Clinton on Thursday. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

By PHILIP SEATON

Clinton scored 26 unanswered second-half points as Heber Springs fell to the Yellowjackets, 40-28, in the season finale for both teams at Panther Stadium on Thursday.

Heber Springs (6-2) led 21-14 at the half, and had appeared to stop Clinton (7-1) on a fourth-and-12 play from the Panther 38 on the Yellowjackets first possession of the second half, but a pass interference call went against the Panthers giving Clinton a fresh set of downs at the 23. Three plays later, Billy Standlee plunged in for a 2-yard score to make it 21-20 (the 2-point conversion was no good) with 4:10 left in the third quarter.

The Panthers were posed to respond with a score of their own after Liam Buffalo connected with Parker Brown on a 30-yard strike to move the ball to the Clinton 16. After a 13-yard run by Buffalo, the Panthers reached the Clinton 3 before two lost-yardage running plays and an incomplete pass forced a fourth-down play from the 8. Clinton’s Zane Widener stepped in front of the Buffalo pass in the end zone and raced 101 yards to put Clinton up 26-21 with 1:51 to play in the third.

On the Panthers next possession, Widener again picked off Buffalo this time racing 65 yards for the score to make it 34-21 with 7:43 to play.

Buffalo, who passed for 1,787 yards and 22 touchdowns on the season, had another pass intercepted on Heber Springs’ next possession by Standlee. Six plays later, Payton Sellers scored on a 23-yard run to push the Yellowjacket to 40-21.

On the ensuing kickoff, Brown — who has scored touchdowns by receiving, rush and interception return this season — added a kickoff return for a score when he raced 82 yards for the games final score.

Brown finished with 212 all-purpose yards while Widener had 277 all-purpose yards.

Buffalo was 21 of 34 passing for 239 yards and three touchdowns, all coming in the first half.

Buffalo’s first strike to Weston Warden covered 14 yards and put Heber Springs up 7-0 with 4:48 remaining in the first quarter after Gideon Tate converted the PAT kick.

Heber Springs went up 13-6 when Buffalo connected with Dalton Yancey for 25-yard scoring strike with 6:05 left in the half.

Lindley’s 18-yard scoring reception and Yancey’s 2-point run put the Junior Panthers up 21-14 at the break.

CLINTON AT HEBER SPRINGS
Junior High Football
October 29, 2020
at Panther Stadium

Clinton          6   8  12  14 - 40
Heber Springs    7  14   0   7 - 28

FIRST QUARTER
Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo to Weston Warden 14-yard pass (Gideon Tate kick), 4:48
Clinton, Zane Widener 1-yard run (run failed), 40.9
SECOND QUARTER
Heber Springs, Buffalo to Dalton Yancey 25-yard pass (pass failed), 6:05
Clinton, Payton Sellers 3-yard run (Widener run), 2:29
Heber Springs, Buffalo to Xander Lindley 18-yard pass (Yancey run), 2:29
THIRD QUARTER
Clinton, Billy Standlee 2-yard run (run failed), 4:10
Clinton, Widener 101-yard interception return (run failed), 1:51
FOURTH QUARTER
Clinton, Widener 65-yard interception return (Widener run), 7:43
Clinton, Payton Sellers 23-yard run (pass failed), 3:25
Heber Springs, Parker Brown 82-yard kickoff return (Tate kick), 3:10

TEAM STATS
First Downs by Rush: Heber Springs 7, Clinton 11
First Downs by Pass: Heber Springs 11, Clinton 0
First Downs by Penalty: Heber Springs 1, Clinton 1
Total First Downs: Heber Springs 19, Clinton 12
Penalties: Heber Springs 8/70, Clinton 4/35
3rd-Down Conversions: Heber Springs 1/7, Clinton 6/9
4th-Down Conversions: Heber Springs 3/5, Clinton 2/2
Fumbles/Lost: Heber Springs 1/0, Clinton 1/0
Sacks/Yards Lost: Heber Springs 0/0, Clinton 0/0
Rush/Yards/Avg: Heber Springs 13/81/6.2, Clinton 38/222/5.8
Passing (A/C-Yards-TD/Int): Heber Springs 21/34-239-3/3, Clinton 2/2-20-0/0
Total Offense: Heber Springs 320, Clinton 242
Punts: Heber Springs 0/0, Clinton 1/26
INDIVIDUAL STATS
OFFENSE
Rushing: Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo 10/82, Xander Lindley 1/15, Weston Warden 1/(-5), Team 1/(-11). Clinton, Zane Widener 19/111/1, Payton Sellers 15/94/2, Billy Standlee 3/19/1, Dawson Maynard 1/(-2).
Passing: Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo 21/34-239-3/3. Clinton, Zane Widener 2/2-20-0/0.
Receiving: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 8/97, Xander Lindley 6/65/1, Weston Warden 3/36/1, Dalton Yancey 2/31/1, Hud Haggard 2/10. Clinton, Billy Standlee 2/20.
Kickoff Returns: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 3/115/1, Xander Lindley 1/14, Dalton Yancey 1/0, Chris Roberts 1/0. Clinton, Payton Sellers 1/0, Bryson Littell 1/0, Zayden Brainard 1/0.
Interceptions: Clinton, Zane Widener 2/166/2, Billy Standlee 1/0.
Total Offense: Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo 321, Xander Lindley 15, Weston Warden (-5), Team (-11). Clinton, Zane Widener 131, Payton Sellers 94, Billy Standlee 19, Dawson Maynard (-2).
All-Purpose Yards: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 212, Xander Lindley 94, Liam Buffalo 82, Weston Warden 31, Dalton Yancey 31, Hud Haggard 10. Clinton, Zane Widener 277, Payton Sellers 94, Billy Standlee 39, Dawson Maynard (-2).
DEFENSE
SACKS/YARDS LOST: None
PUNTS: Clinton, Zane Widener 1/26
INTERCEPTIONS: Clinton, Zane Widener 2, Billy Standlee 1
KICKING: Heber Springs, Gideon Tate (2/2 XP)

Panthers survive late Southerner charge

Heber Springs’ Parker Brown runs past the outreached arm of Southside Batesville’s Isaac Wallis during action at Panther Stadium Thursday night. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

By PHILIP SEATON

Parker Brown scored three times as Heber Springs held off Southside Batesville, 34-32, in junior high action Thursday night at Panther Stadium.

Heber Springs improved to 6-1 on the season with the win and will look claim the second spot in the conference standings when they host Clinton next Thursday night in the season finale.

Against Southside, Heber Springs was in control of the contest after Brown scored on a 44-yard run with 5:09 to play. Gideon Tate’s PAT kick made it 34-16.

But on the ensuing kick off, Southside’s Seth Case returned it 96 yards for a score to make it 34-24 after Kaleb West ran in the 2-point conversion with 4:47 to play.

Heber Springs managed a first down on its next possession as Weston Warden ran for 6 and Brown followed with a 7-yard carry. But the drive would stall and the Southerners would take over on their own 31 with 1:48 left.

Southside Batesville moved down the field on a 10-play, 69-yard drive as West scored on 2-yard run at the buzzer. West would run in the 2-point conversion to set the final score at 34-32.

The Southerners ground-oriented offense kept the ball away from the Panthers most of the night (52 offensive plays to 26 for Heber Springs), but when the Panthers got the ball they took advantage of it.

After the two teams traded possessions, Heber Springs would go up 7-0 with 2:20 left in the opening quarter after Liam Buffalo scored on a 2-yard quarterback keeper. The touchdown was set up after Buffalo, who was 13 of 15 passing on the night for 183 yards and two touchdowns, connected with Xander Lindley for a 68-yard pass completion to put the ball on the Southside 2.

The Southerners responded with a 63-yard drive that Case capped off with a 2-yard touchdown run. Case, who finished the night with 30 carries for 162 yards and two touchdowns, carried the ball into the end zone for the 2-point conversion to give Southside Batesville the 8-7 advantage with 6:17 left in the half.

Three plays later, Buffalo found Brown for a 39-yard touchdown pass and after Buffalo connected with Dalton Yancey for the 2-point conversion, Heber Springs led 15-8 with 5:19 left in the second quarter.

Southside Batesville was methodically marching the ball down the field again before Brown stepped in front of the first Southerner pass attempt of the night and returned it 62 yards for a score. The 2-point conversion failed and Heber Springs led 21-8 with 2:10 left in the half.

The halftime buzzer ended a Southside Batesville drive at the Panther 11 as Heber Springs led at the break, 21-8.

The Southerners took the opening kickoff of the second half and used a 12-play, 60-yard drive that took 5:26 off the clock to close the gap to 21-16. Case scored on a 1-yard run and West ran in the 2-point conversion.

Lindley caught four passes for 93 yards on the night for Heber Springs including a 10-yard scoring strike from Buffalo with 7:50 left in the game to make it 27-16. The 2-point conversion attempt failed. The scoring play finished off an eight-play, 55-yard drive for Heber Springs as Buffalo was 6 for 7 on the drive for 55 yards hitting four different receivers (Warden, Lindley, Yancey and Brown).

Brown finished with 173 all-purpose yards for Heber Springs while Case had 278 for the Southerners.

In total offense, Southside had 272 yards to the Panthers 264, but the Heber Springs averaged 10.2 yards per play to the Southerners 5.2.

Southside Batesville at Heber Springs Junior High Stats

SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE AT HEBER SPRINGS
Junior High Football
October 22, 2020
at Panther Stadium

Southside Batesville  0   8   8  16 - 32
Heber Springs         7  14   0  13 - 34

FIRST QUARTER
Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo 2-yard run (Gideon Tate kick), 2:20
SECOND QUARTER
Southside Batesville, Seth Case 2-yard run (Case run), 6:17
Heber Springs, Buffalo to Parker Brown 39-yard pass (Buffalo to Dalton Yancey pass), 5:19
Heber Springs, Brown 62-yard interception return (run failed), 2:10
THIRD QUARTER
Southside Batesville, Case 1-yard run (Kaleb West run), 2:34
FOURTH QUARTER
Heber Springs, Buffalo to Xander Lindley 10-yard pass (pass failed), 7:58
Heber Springs, Brown 44-yard run (Tate kick), 5:09
Southside Batesville, Case 96-yard kickoff return (West run), 4:47
Southside Batesville, West 2-yard run (West run), :00

TEAM STATS
First Downs by Rush: Heber Springs 3, Southside 15
First Downs by Pass: Heber Springs 7, Southside 0
First Downs by Penalty: Heber Springs 0, Southside 2
Total First Downs: Heber Springs 10, Southside 17
Penalties: Heber Springs 4/30, Southside 5/25
3rd-Down Conversions: Heber Springs 2/4, Southside 4/8
4th-Down Conversions: Heber Springs 0/2, Southside 2/2
Fumbles/Lost: Heber Springs 0/0, Southside 0/0
Sacks/Yards Lost: Heber Springs 0/0, Southside 0/0
Rush/Yards/Avg: Heber Springs 11/81/7.4, Southside 48/272/5.7
Passing (A/C-Yards-TD/Int): Heber Springs 13/15-183-2/0, Southside 0/4-0-0/1
Total Offense: Heber Springs 264, Southside 272
Punts: Heber Springs 0/0, Southside 2/60/30
INDIVIDUAL STATS
OFFENSE
Rushing: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 2/51/1, Weston Warden 7/20, Liam Buffalo 2/9/1. Southside Batesville, Seth Case 30/182/2, Kaleb West 13/72/1, Tyson Trucks 3/18, Savion Hall 1/2, Cameron Foree 1/(-2).
Passing: Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo 13/15-183-2/0. Southside Batesville, Savion Hall 0/2-0-0/0, Cameron Foree 0/1-0-0/1, Kaleb West 0/1-0-0/0
Receiving: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 5/60/1, Xander Lindley 4/93/1, Dalton Yancey 3/13, Weston Warden 1/17. Southside Batesville, none.
Kickoff Returns: Heber Springs, Corbin Jones 2/4, Jude Bray 1/0, Chris Roberts 1/0. Southside Batesville, Seth Case 1/96/1, Savion Hall 1/5, Louis Calhoun 2/4, Kaleb West 1/(-10).
Interceptions: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 1/62/1
Total Offense: Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo 192, Parker Brown 51, Weston Warden 20. Southside Batesville, Seth Case 182, Kaleb West 72, Tyson Tucks 18, Savion Hall 2, Cameron Foree (-2).
All-Purpose Yards: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 173, Xander Lindley 93, Weston Warden 37, Dalton Yancey 13, Liam Buffalo 9, Corbin Jones 4. Southside Batesville, Seth Case 278, Kaleb West 62, Tyson Trucks 18, Savion Hall 7, Louis Calhoun 4, Cameron Foree (-2). 
DEFENSE
SACKS/YARDS LOST: None
PUNTS: Southside Batesville, Jaylon Jennings 2/60/30
INTERCEPTIONS: Heber Springs, Parker Brown
KICKING: Heber Springs, Gideon Tate (2/2 XP)

Heber Springs Junior High Season Stats: Through 6 Games

SCORING BY QUARTERS
Heber Springs    42   64  38  41 - 185 (30.8 ppg)
Opponent          6   40  14  22 -  82 (13.7 ppg)

TEAM STATS  
First Downs by Rush: Heber Springs 25, Opponent 34
First Downs by Pass: Heber Springs 53, Opponent 12 
First Downs by Penalty: Heber Springs 2, Opponent 6 
Total First Downs: Heber Springs 80, Opponent 52 
Penalties: Heber Springs 26/215, Opponent 30/197 
3rd-Down Conversions: Heber Springs 17/41, Opponent 10/42
4th-Down Conversions: Heber Springs 12/20, Opponent 7/18 
Fumbles/Lost: Heber Springs 7/2, Opponent 9/6 
Sacks/Yards Lost: Heber Springs 6/62, Opponent 0/0 
Rush/Yards/Avg: Heber Springs 80/479/6, Opponent 144/532/3.7
Rushing Yards Per Game: Heber Springs 79.8, Opponent 88.7 
Passing (A/C-Yards-TD/Int): Heber Springs 91/154-1448-18/3, Opponent 31/72-467-6/6
Passing Yards Per Game: Heber Springs 241.3, Opponent 77.8 
Total Offense: Heber Springs 1927, Opponent 999
Total Offense Per Game: Heber Springs 321.2, Opponent 166.5  
Punts: Heber Springs 2/43/21.5, Opponent 11/374/34 

INDIVIDUAL STATS  
OFFENSE  
Rushing: Gideon Tate 26/137/1, Weston Warden 15/100/1, Dalton Yancey 6/61/1, Parker Brown 9/61/1, Liam Buffalo 9/56/1, Xander Lindley 3/36/1,  Hayden Johnson 5/25, Hud Haggard 1/9, Jacob Golden 1/5, Ladd Choate 2/5, Bryce Seigrist 1/(-6), Team 2/(-11). 
Passing: Liam Buffalo 88/150-1365-17/3, Zachary Parker 3/3-83-1/0, Parker Brown 0/1-0-0/0 
Receiving:  Dalton Yancey 21/385/5, Parker Brown 19/445/6, Xander Lindley 17/399/4, Hud Haggard 13/105/2, Weston Warden 11/103/1, Ty West 5/21, Chris Roberts 1/28, Gideon Tate 1/0
Kickoff Returns: Heber Springs, Hud Haggard 3/0, Corbin Jones 2/0, Xander Lindley 2/81/1, Parker Brown 2/40, Zachary Parker 1/0.  
Punt Returns: Xander Lindley 1/13
Interception Returns: Parker Brown 2/46/1, Liam Buffalo 2/0, Logan Rutledge 1/0, Dalton Yancey 1/0.
Total Offense: Liam Buffalo 1421, Gideon Tate 137, Weston Warden 100, Zachary Parker 83, Dalton Yancey 61, Parker Brown 61, Xander Lindley 36, Hayden Johnson 25, Hud Haggard 9, Jacob Golden 5, Ladd Choate 5, Bryce Seigrist (-6).
All-Purpose Yards: Parker Brown 592, Xander Lindley 529,  Dalton Yancey 446, Weston Warden 203, Gideon Tate 137, Hud Haggard 114, Liam Buffalo 56, Chris Roberts 28, Hayden Johnson 25, Ty West 21, Jacob Golden 5, Ladd Choate 5,  Bryce Seigrist (-6).
DEFENSE  
Sacks/Yards lost:  Parker Brown 4/41, Hud Haggard 1/11, Chris Roberts 1/10
Interceptions: Liam Buffalo 2, Parker Brown 2, Dalton Yancey 1, Logan Rutledge 1,  
Fumble Recoveries: Ladd Choate, Xander Lindley, Dalton Yancey, Axley Davis, Hayden Johnson, Team  
Punts: Liam Buffalo 2/43/21.5 
SCORING
Parker Brown 60, Xander Lindley 42, Dalton Yancey 38, Gideon Tate 25 (16/17 XP, 1/1 FG. MADE: 25), Weston Warden 12, Hud Haggard 12, Liam Buffalo 6

Heber Springs dominates second half, downs Bald Knob

Heber Springs’ Xander Lindley, Parker Brown and Dalton Yancey as the team gets ready to run on to the field Thursday at Bald Knob. The “paw boys” scored all four touchdowns in the Panthers 29-7 win. The trio also combined for 14 receptions for 222 yards. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

By PHILIP SEATON

BALD KNOB – Heber Springs overcame a sluggish start to improve to 5-1 on the season with a 29-8 victory over Bald Knob in junior high football action Thursday night.

The Panthers, 3-1 in 2-4A play, trailed 8-7 late in the first half before scoring 22 unanswered to pull away from the Bulldogs. Liam Buffalo, who was 19 of 27 passing for 288 yards and four touchdowns, hit Parker Brown over the middle for a 57-yard scoring strike with 35.4 seconds left in the half. Buffalo connected with Xander Lindley for the 2-point pass to give Heber Springs a 15-7 advantage at the break.

From that point on, the Panther defense took control.

Heber Springs’ Hud Haggard reacts after a first-down stop by the Panther defense in the second half.

Bald Knob finished the night with 192 yards of total offense on the night, with the majority of that came in the first half, but Heber Springs limited the Bulldogs to 22 yards in the second half and forced three Bald Knob turnovers over that span (fumble recoveries by Axley Davis and Hayden Johnson, and an interception by Dalton Yancey).

Yancey’s interception set up the first score of the second half for the Panthers. Taking over on their own 32, Heber Springs used an 11-play, 68-yard drive to go up 22-8 when Buffalo connected with Yancey for a 3-yard touchdown pass with 42.6 seconds left in the quarter. Gideon Tate, who was three-for-three on PAT kicks on the night, kicked the extra point to make it 22-8. Buffalo was nine of 10 passing on the drive using five different receivers (Tate, Hud Haggard, Brown, Lindley and Yancey – who also had a first-half fumble recovery).

Heber Springs Parker Brown forces a fumble. Maddox Reed (66) helps on the play.

Another turnover set up the next score for Heber Springs in the fourth quarter, Brown sacked Bald Knob quarterback James Holder forcing the fumble. Johnson picked up the ball but was tripped up after a seven-yard return to put the ball on the Bulldog 34.

Heber Springs showed a different look on the next drive with Brown lined up in the “Wildcat” formation. A 12- and 8-yard run by Brown moved the ball to the Bulldog 14. A backwards pass attempt to Buffalo was mishandled on third down forcing a fourth-and-14 from the Bald Knob. But on fourth down, Buffalo took the snap connected with Lindley for the 26-yard touchdown pass.

Heber Springs’ Weston Warden.

Lindley finished the night six receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns, including a 13-yard reception with 2:02 left in the first quarter that put Heber Springs up 7-0.

Bald Knob’s score came with 1:26 left in the first half as Holder connected with Garrett Swindle for an 8-yard touchdown pass. Javen Smith ran in the 2-point conversion.

The Panthers finished with 300 yards of total offense on the night. Brown led Heber Springs with 127 all-purpose yards (79 receiving, 21 rushing and 27 returns).

Bald Knob’s Jameson Hillis led all rushers with 75 yards on 20 carries. But as a team, the Bulldogs finished the night with 67 yards on the ground on 28 attempts.

Heber Springs will host Southside Batesville on Thursday at Panther Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

A bloody-knee doesn’t stop Heber Springs’ Liam Buffalo as he gets ready to hand the ball off to teammate Gideon Tate. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

Junior High Stats: Heber Springs at Bald Knob

HEBER SPRINGS AT BALD KNOB
Junior High Football
October 15, 2020
at Bald Knob

Heber Springs   7   8   7   7 - 29
Bald Knob       0   8   0   0 -  8

FIRST QUARTER
Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo to Xander Lindley 13-yard pass (Gideon Tate kick), 2:02
SECOND QUARTER
Bald Knob, James Holder to Garrett Swindle 8-yard pass (Javen Smith run), 1:26
Heber Springs, Buffalo to Parker Brown 57-yard pass (Buffalo to Lindley pass), 35.4
THIRD QUARTER
Heber Springs, Buffalo to Dalton Yancey 3-yard pass (Tate kick), 42.6
FOURTH QUARTER
Heber Springs, Buffalo to Lindley 26-yard pass (Tate kick), 4:16

TEAM STATS
First Downs by Rush: Heber Springs 2, Bald Knob 5
First Downs by Pass: Heber Springs 11, Bald Knob 4
First Downs by Penalty: Heber Springs 0, Bald Knob 1
Total First Downs: Heber Springs 13, Bald Knob 10
Penalties: Heber Springs 5/40, Bald Knob 3/16
3rd-Down Conversions: Heber Springs 6/10, Bald Knob 2/8
4th-Down Conversions: Heber Springs 2/3, Bald Knob 2/5
Fumbles/Lost: Heber Springs 1/1, Bald Knob 5/3
Sacks/Yards Lost: Heber Springs 1/15, Bald Knob 0/0
Rush/Yards/Avg: Heber Springs 13/40/3, Bald Knob 28/67/2.4
Passing (A/C-Yards-TD/Int): Heber Springs 20/29-260-4/0, Bald Knob 5/13-125-1/1
Total Offense: Heber Springs 300, Bald Knob 192 
Punts: Heber Springs 0/0, Bald Knob 0/0
INDIVIDUAL STATS
OFFENSE
Rushing: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 4/21, Weston Warden 2/11, Gideon Tate 5/9, Dalton Yancey 2/(-1). Bald Knob, Bohn Hickman 20/75, Landon Dunigan 1/4, Garrett Swindle 2/(-1), James Holder 5/(-7).
Passing: Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo 19/27-248-4/0, Zachary Parker 1/1-12-0/0, Parker Brown 0/1-0-0/0. Bald Knob, James Holder 5/13-125-1/1
Receiving: Heber Springs, Xander Lindley 6/104/2, Dalton Yancey 5/39, Hud Haggard 4/24, Parker Brown 3/79/1, Ty West 3/18, Weston Warden 1/12, Gideon Tate 1/0. Bald Knob, Garrett Swindle 3/83/1, Seth Hunsicker 2/42
Kickoff Returns: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 1/27, Zachary Parker 1/0. Bald Knob, 3/30, Garrett Swindle 1/4
Interceptions: Heber Springs, Dalton Yancey 1/0
Total Offense: Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo 248, Parker Brown 21, Zachary Parker 12, Weston Warden 11, Gideon Tate 9, Dalton Yancey (-1). Bald Knob, James Holder 118, Bohn Hickman 75, Landon Dunigan 4, Garrett Swindle (-1)
All-Purpose Yards: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 127, Xander Lindley 104, Dalton Yancey 38, Hud Haggard 24, Weston Warden 23, Ty West 18, Gideon Tate 9
DEFENSE
SACKS/YARDS LOST: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 1/15
PUNTS: None
INTERCEPTIONS: Heber Springs, Dalton Yancey
KICKING: Heber Springs, Gideon Tate (3/3 XP)

Panthers top CAC in junior high scoring fest

Heber Springs’ Dalton Yancey looks for running room against CAC Thursday night at Panther Stadium. Yancey finished the night with four receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown in the Junior Panthers, 49-26, victory over the Mustangs. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

By PHILIP SEATON

Liam Buffalo passed for more than 300 yards and Parker Brown had three touchdown receptions as Heber Springs improved to 4-1 on the season with a 49-26 victory over Central Arkansas Christian Thursday at Panther Stadium in 2-4A junior high play.

The two teams combined for 755 yards of total offense (417 for Heber Springs and 238 for CAC), but early on it was defensive stand that help put the Panthers on the scoreboard first.

After the Mustangs took the opening kickoff and drove from their own 36 to the Panther 17, Heber Springs stopped the drive on fourth down as Grayson Wilson’s pass attempt fell short for the Mustangs.

Four plays later, Buffalo connected with Dalton Yancey for a 70-yard touchdown strike. Gideon Tate kicked the PAT and Heber Springs led 7-0 with 1:30 left in the opening quarter.

After the two team traded three-and-outs, CAC took the ground on the Panther 47 and used an 11-play (all rushes), 5:39 drive, to pull within a point at 7-6 with 1:22 left in the half. The 2-point conversion failed.

Heber Springs wasn’t finished in the half as Buffalo took the snap at the buzzer rolled to his left and found Hud Haggard in the back of the end zone for the score. A Buffalo 24-yard run had set-up the score, but the key play on the drive came on the play before as Buffalo connected with Xander Lindley on a fourth-and-1 from the CAC 45 for a 13-yard completion.

The Panthers would go up 21-6 to start the second half when Buffalo connected with Brown for a 27-yard touchdown with 6:09 left in the third. But the key play on the drive came on a fourth-and-1 from the Panther 25 when Buffalo hit Yancey for a 37-yard, first-down pass completion.

That six-play drive would be the longest of the second half until the waning seconds of the game as the two teams traded scoring jabs with one exception.

Wilson would connect with Caden Rhoads for a 41-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-12 with 4:18 left in the third.

On the ensuing kick off, Lindley returned it 81 yards for the quick answer at the 4:06 mark.

Heber Springs’ Weston Warden.

A minute later, Wilson hit Renalson Sullivan for a 55-yard touchdown reception for make it 28-18 with 3:06 left in the third.

With 55.5 seconds left in the quarter, Buffalo found Brown for a 30-yard scoring play putting the Panthers up 35-18 to start the fourth.

On a fourth-and-12 from the Panther 40 on the ensuing drive, Wilson connected with Vance Strange for a 10-yard completion, but the Panthers held and four plays later Heber Springs would go up 42-18 as Buffalo again found Brown this time for a 60-yard score to make it 42-18 with 6:08 to play.

Wilson connected with Sullivan again, this time for a 35-yard touchdown pass, to make it 42-26 with 4:40 left in the contest.

Heber Springs would go the ground and pick up the final points of the game as Tate would score on a 15-yard run with 2:22 left. Tate added the PAT kick to finish the night a perfect seven-for-seven.

Buffalo , who had 344 yards of total offense, finished the night completing 15 of 25 passes for 304 yards and five touchdowns. Brown caught seven of those passes for 142 yards and three scores while Yancey had four receptions for 128 yards and a score.

For CAC, Wilson was 10 of 19 passing for 231 yards and five touchdowns. Sullivan finished with five receptions for 129 yards and three touchdowns to pace the Mustangs.

Heber Springs will look to improve to 3-1 in conference play on Thursday when the Panthers travel to Bald Knob for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

The Heber Springs offensive line looks to the sideline for the play. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

Junior High Stats: Central Arkansas Christian at Heber Springs

CENTRAL ARKANSAS CHRISTIAN AT HEBER SPRINGS
Junior High Football
October 8, 2020
at Panther Stadium

CAC               0   6   6  14 - 26
Heber Springs     7   7  21  14 - 49

FIRST QUARTER
Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo to Dalton Yancey 70-yard pass (Gideon Tate kick), 1:30
SECOND QUARTER
CAC, Grayson Wilson to Renalson Sullivan 9-yard pass (pass failed), 1:22
Heber Springs, Buffalo to Hud Haggard 8-yard pass (Tate kick), :00
THIRD QUARTER
Heber Springs, Buffalo to Parker Brown 29-yard pass (Tate kick), 6:09
CAC, Wilson to Caden Rhoads 41-yard pass (pass failed), 4:18
Heber Springs, Xander Lindley 81-yard kickoff return (Tate kick), 4:06
Heber Springs, Buffalo to Brown 30-yard pass (Tate kick), 55.5
FOURTH QUARTER
CAC, Wilson to Vance Strange 40-yard pass (run failed), 7:48
Heber Springs, Buffalo to Brown 60-yard pass (Tate kick), 6:08
CAC, Wilson to Sullivan 35-yard pass (Wilson run), 4:40
Heber Springs, Tate 15-yard run (Tate kick), 2:22

TEAM STATS
First Downs by Rush: Heber Springs 7, CAC 6
First Downs by Pass: Heber Springs 8, CAC 7
First Downs by Penalty: Heber Springs 0, CAC 1
Total First Downs: Heber Springs 15, CAC 14
Penalties: Heber Springs 1/5, CAC 7/40
3rd-Down Conversions: Heber Springs 3/6, CAC 4/9
4th-Down Conversions: Heber Springs 2/3, CAC 3/4
Fumbles/Lost: Heber Springs 0/0, CAC 0/0
Sacks/Yards Lost: Heber Springs 0/0, CAC 0/0
Rush/Yards/Avg: Heber Springs 12/113/9.4, CAC 25/107/4.3
Passing (A/C-Yards-TD/Int): Heber Springs 15/25-304-5/0, CAC 10/19-231-4/0
Total Offense: Heber Springs 417, CAC 338
Punts: Heber Springs 0/0, CAC 1/19
INDIVIDUAL STATS
OFFENSE
Rushing: Heber Springs, Gideon Tate 4/49/1, Liam Buffalo 4/40,  Dalton Yancey 1/18, Weston Warden 3/9. CAC, Renalson Sullivan 7/38, Grayson Wilson 10/27, Caleb Cook 4/24, Vance Strange 2/10, Hayes Miller 1/5, Gus McConnell 1/3.
Passing: Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo 15/25-304-5/0. CAC, Grayson Wilson 10/19-231-4/0
Receiving: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 7/142/3, Dalton Yancey 4/128/1, Weston Warden 2/13, Xander Lindley 1/13, Hud Haggard 1/8/1. CAC, Renalson Sullivan 5/129/2, Vance Strange 2/32/1, Caden Rhoads 1/41/1, Jake Overstreet 1/15, Hayes Miller 1/14
Kickoff Returns: Heber Springs, Xander Lindley 1/81/1, Parker Brown 1/13, Corbin Jones 1/0. CAC, Vance Strange 3/55, Renalson Sullivan 1/17, Hayes Miller 1/6, Jake Overstreet 1/6.
Interceptions: None
Total Offense: Heber Springs, Liam Buffalo 344, Gideon Tate 49, Dalton Yancey 18, Weston Warden 9. CAC, Grayson Wilson 258, Renalson Sullivan 38, Caleb Cook 24, Vance Strange 10, Hayes Miller 5, Gus McConnell 3.
All-Purpose Yards: Heber Springs, Parker Brown 155, Dalton Yancey 146, Xander Lindley 94, Gideon Tate 49, Liam Buffalo 40, Weston Warden 22, Hud Haggard 8. CAC, Renalson Sullivan 184, Vance Strange 97, Caden Rhoads 41, Grayson Wilson 27, Hayes Miller 25, Caleb Cook 24, Jake Overstreet 21, Gus McConnell 3.
DEFENSE
SACKS/YARDS LOST: None
PUNTS: CAC, Renalson Sullivan 1/19
KICKING: Heber Springs, Gideon Tate (7/7 XP)

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

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)