“To win this race, it says a lot about him, he’s having a great year,” said Thane Garnett, College Heights Christian’s cross country coach. “He was pretty determined to finish well in this race, and I think he showed it.”

In the girls invitational, Greenhill High’s (near Dallas, Texas) Chelsey Sveinsson won for the third straight year with a time of 17:32.71. Sveinsson, a senior, is one of the top long-distance runners in Texas and is hopeful she can continue doing so next year on a collegiate scholarship.

“This is one of the races that I look forward to the most during the season,” said Sveinsson, who was disappointed with her finishing time. “I really just wasn’t feeling it, but like my mom told me, I’m just happy again to win it.”

Fayetteville’s boys team finished fifth overall with 261 points while Bentonville’s girls team finished sixth with 206 points.

Fayetteville’s Austin Simkins had the highest finish among area competitors, finishing sixth with a time of 16:06.19. Elkins’ Grace Heymsfield also finished fifth with a time of 18:24.48.

2009 Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival

Frazier was 12-of-14 for 231 yards and also added a rushing touchdown for the Saints (6-1, 4-0 4A-1). Frazier hit Jon Hawes on scoring tosses of 25 and 37 yards, while Chris Bryant caught a 29-yard TD pass and Colin Self caught a 15 yarder.

Caleb Ramsey scored two rushing touchdowns for the Pioneers (2-5, 1-3), while completing 7-of-16 for 184 yards.

Elkins 13, Mountainburg 8

Elkins made a two-touchdown halftime lead stand up in a 3A-1 Conference home win over Mountainburg.

Weston Curry scored on a 4-yard run in the second quarter to help the Elks (3-3, 2-2 3A-1) to a 7-0 lead. Later in the quarter Robert Teague connected with Blake Bailey on a 10-yard scoring strike to increase the margin to 13-0 at the half.

After a scoreless third quarter, Mountainburg (2-5, 2-2) scored to cut the deficit to 13-8, but the Elks held on from there.

CAC 26, Siloam Springs 24

Bryan Adair threw for three touchdowns, but overthrew a receiver in the end zone for the game-tying two-point conversion as Siloam Springs remained winless in 5A-West Conference play Friday.

Adair connected with Chris Villasenor on a 19-yard touchdown pass as time ran out to pull Siloam (3-4, 0-4 in 5A-West). But he and the Panthers, who trailed 26-10 with 8 minutes, 4 seconds left in the game, couldn’t force overtime.

Adair completed 29 of 48 passes for 356 yards, but also threw an interception which was returned for a touchdown. He threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Stuart Cifuentes and a 5-yarder to Cody Noble in the fourth quarter. Adair also had a two-point conversion pass to Cifuentes.

Huntsville 21, Pea Ridge 7

Huntsville rallied past Pea Ridge to even its 4A-1 Conference mark at home.

The Eagles (3-4, 2-2 4A-1) got on the board first on a Phillip Hoskins 5-yard run. After Pea Ridge (1-6, 0-4) tied the game at 7-7 in the third quarter, the Eagles took the lead for good on a short touchdown run by Wilson Phillips. The score was set up by a 44-yard run on fourth and one by Hoskins.

Huntsville ended the scoring on a 50-yard pass from Hoskins to Shannon Wilcutt.

Prairie Grove 41, Berryville 12

PRAIRIE GROVE — Quarterback Chad Austin ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to lead Prairie Grove past Berryville in 4A-1 Conference play Friday.

Prairie Grove (2-5, 2-2 4A-1) led 28-6 at halftime and cruised to the win. Thomas Soehner rushed for 154 yards on only 11 carries and two touchdowns in just a half for the Tigers. Soehner did not play in the second half because of a hand injury.

Quarterback Eric Holman threw a pair of touchdown passes to Ryan Nance for Berryville (1-5-1, 0-4).

Republic, Mo. 27, McDonald County, Mo. 22

Republic’s Tyan Sifferman scored his fourth touchdown of the night with 2 minutes, 12 seconds left in the game to lift the Tigers past McDonald County on Friday night.

Sifferman ran for 283 yards on 20 carries and four touchdowns for Republic (3-5).

John Graham’s two-point conversion run gave McDonald County (1-7) a 22-21 lead with 10 minutes left in the game. Graham also had 50-yard touchdown run on an end around.

Kilby Shockley led the Mustands with 120 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown, while teammate Nelson Boyd added 115 yards on 22 carries and a score. Boyd’s 1-yard touchdown run pulled McDonald County within a point in the fourth quarter.

McDonald County plays at Branson next week beginning at 7 p.m.

Cedarville 21, Lincoln 6

LINCOLN — The Cedarville Pirates put a damper on Lincoln’s homecoming festivities.

Cedarville’s Blake Morton scrambled 26 yards to put Cedarville up 7-0.

The Wolves (1-6, 0-4 3A-1) retaliated just over two minutes later when Bao Nguyen ran 47 yards for the score. The PAT was no good and Lincoln trailed 7-6.

The second half belonged to the Pirates (2-5, 1-3), scoring on their initial drive of the third quarter to go up 13-6, and later added another touchdown.

— WASHINGTON COUNTY PRESS-ENTERPRISE

JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL

Springdale Southwest 24, Rogers Heritage 21

Eighth-grade Brian Lemus hit a field goal with less than a minute left to lift Southwest past Heritage on Thursday night.

Dalton Clinkscales’ second touchdown, this one coming on a long run, tied the game at 21.

Quarterback Casey Paraday threw for two scores, including one to Clinkscales, for a 13-0 Southwest lead. He threw another to David Karr.

LINCOLN — With fellow tailbacks Ezquiel Hernandez and Dustin Simmons injured for last Friday’s game at Lavaca, Lincoln’s Bao Nguyen knew he’d rarely leave the field.

But even Nguyen, a 5-foot-9, 180-pound senior, couldn’t anticipate the workload given to him by Lincoln coach Brad Harris. By the fourth quarter of Lincoln’s respectable 28-21 defeat, an exhausted Nguyen could barely stand up.

Still, Harris kept calling his number. Nguyen (pronounced Winn) asked for a breather during his career-best 279-yard performance. But Harris wouldn’t allow it, not with Nguyen making defenders miss all night long.

“I was very, very tired,” Nguyen said. “I never had more than 20 carries in a game before. That was really different for me. I gave it everything I had.”

Harris never expects anything less from Nguyen, a member of a selfless senior class that’s helping to change the football culture at Lincoln. Nguyen helped Lincoln (1-5, 0-3) snap the school’s 29-game losing streak with a 9-7 win in its season-opener over Westville, Okla.

And he’s aided the Wolves lately in becoming increasingly competitive in the 3A-1 Conference. Harris said Nguyen isn’t necessarily the most physically talented back he’s coached, but he lauded Nguyen for his heart and for his quickness.

Hernandez and Simmons are slated to return from their injuries for Lincoln’s homecoming game Friday night against Cedarville. Nguyen has earned a bulk of the carries going forward, however.

“B is such a hard-worker,” said Harris, who’s in his second year at Lincoln. “He’s more of a lead-by-example kind of guy. He’s not a real vocal kid, but the kids really look up to him because of how hard he works.”

Harris said the job of leading vocally has been embraced most by three other seniors — center Ryan Napier, defensive end Richard Pahmiyer and linebacker Mark Thordsen.

Nguyen has still found a way to set an example, though, Harris insists. Nguyen always uses a respectful tone with his coaches, “a yes-sir, no-sir, type of kid,” Harris said. Nguyen also has encouraged his teammates to take school as seriously as possible.

With a 4.0 grade-point average, Nguyen has aspirations of becoming a doctor.

“I make sure to keep my GPA up and get straight As in my classes,” said Nguyen, also a linebacker for the Wolves. “Education is very important to me because that’s the main thing I want to do after high school. I want a higher education.”

By this time next year, then, Nguyen expects to be taking pre-med classes. For now, though, he’s content with logging plenty of carries and helping Lincoln turn around its recent football history.

Harris said Nguyen’s attitude has created an atmosphere where winning seems possible.

“This whole senior class, B included, has really stepped up,” Harris said. “They’ve set a great example, and the kids are buying in to what we’re doing because of them. They’re taking things more seriously, they’re tired of losing, and it’s rubbing off on everyone.”

GRAVETTE — A couple of defensive adjustments proved critical for Gravette (5-0, 2-0) on Friday.

Gentry jumped on Gravette for an early 14-0 lead but the Lions’ defense regrouped and only gave up a second-half field goal in a 30-17 victory.

Gravette has given up just 39 points in five games and for Bill Harrelson that has been one of the biggest surprises of the season.

“Our defense has played so well,” Harrelson said. “They really have been a surprise, a really pleasant surprise. I didn’t expect to have two shutouts and we are giving up less than eight points a game.

“They have done a good job running to the football. They did a great job Friday night after we made some adjustments to shutdown Gentry. Gentry has a powerful offensive team.”

Gravette hosts Huntsville Friday night.

Shiloh Christian 44, Pea Ridge 13

Senior halfback Chris Bryant scored four touchdowns, including one on a 56-yard run, to lead Shiloh Christian past Pea Ridge in 4A-1 Conference play Friday.

The Saints roared to a 37-6 halftime lead and went on to the easy win.

Huntsville 35, Berryville 14

Cody Stephens threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns to lead Huntsville past Berryville on Friday.

Stephens completed 18 of 25 passes in the game, including touchdown passes to Jake Kirk and Sean Furr.

Wilson Phillips also scored twice on short runs for Huntsville. Kirk had four catches for 125 yards, while Furr added five catches for 119 yards.

Mansfield 31, Greenland 0

Mansfield jumped to a 24-0 halftime lead and cruised to the win Friday.

Greenland dropped to 2-3 on the year.

Vilonia 32, Siloam Springs 31 (OT)

Vilonia scored a two-point conversion in overtime to lift the Eagles past Siloam Springs in 5A-West Conference play Friday.

Siloam (3-2, 0-2) led most of the game until Vilonia hit a 21-yard field goal with 3:05 left in the game to tie the game at 24-24.

In overtime, quarterback Bryan Adair threw his third touchdown pass of the game, a 10-yard scoring strike to Stuart Cifuentes. The PAT was good to give Siloam the 31-24 lead. Vilonia countered with a 4-yard touchdown run on fourth down. The Panthers jumepd offsides on the two-point conversion try and Vilonia scored the game-winner on a quarterback sneak.

Adair completed 17 of 33 passes for 222 yards. He got Siloam going with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Cody Noble and a 56-yard to Cifuentes in the first quarter for a 14-0 Panthers lead.

R.J. Castillo added a 3-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter to push Siloam’s lead to 21-6.

Elkins 28, Lincoln 14

Elkins scored two touchdowns in two minutes during the third quarter to stop Lincoln 28-14 on Friday at John Bunch Jr. Field in Elkins.

The Elks trailed 14-7 at halftime after Lincoln’s Zach Summers connected with Alfonso Cruz for a 4-yard touchdown pass with 14 seconds left in the half.

Elkins took advantage of Lincoln turnovers as Pedro Puente scored on a 7-yard run after a Wolves’ fumble. Blake Bailey added the PAT to tie the game 14-14.

Zack Parker later scooped up another fumble and returned it for a touchdown to give Elkins the lead for good. Less than a minute later, Elkins’ Jacob Evans added a 25-yard interception return for a score.

Seneca 26, McDonald County 12

Seneca scored twice in the first 6 minutes of the third quarter to rally past McDonald County on Friday.

Seneca (4-2) sandwiched scores around a McDonald County fumble to turn a 12-7 deficit into a 20-12 lead.

McDonald County took a 6-0 lead on their first play from scrimmage with a trick play. Quarterback Cameron Farmer lined up as a receiver before getting the ball on a double reverse and hitting Lance Gooder with a 70-yard touchdown pass.

McDonald County (0-6) added another score on an 11-yard scoring strike from Farmer to Sy Morris.

Farmer completed 17 of 31 for 196 yards and two touchdown.

McDonald County hosts Nevada next week.

Gravette 30, Gentry 17

GENTRY — The Gravette Lions overcame an early 14-0 deficit against Gentry (1-4, 0-2 4A-1 Conference) to stay undefeated this season.

Gravette’s Michael Croasdell had 17 carries for 186 yards and two touchdowns, Colton Moorman had 16 carries for 89 yards and one touchdown and Darrick Strzelecki had 55 total yards of offense.

After Gentry’s Nick Weeks scored a rushing touchdown and quarterback Caleb Ramsey completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Scherer, the Lions (5-0, 2-0) began their comeback just before halftime, beginning with a 7-yard touchdown run from Moorman.

Gravette then tied the game in the third quarter when Croasdell had an 83-yard touchdown run on the third play of the second half.

The Lions later secured the victory when Strzelecki had a 10-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and Croasdell added another 25-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

“We do have, don’t know how many, several kids involved in FFA (Future Farmers of America),” Ross said. “One of our starting guards is involved in that, but we do have a few kids that work outside of school and football. I think it can be a tough thing. A lot of those kids that do that, they understand the importance of not wasting time. Some of them, it helps them a lot, don’t have a lot given to them, they have to earn it. You’d hate for every kid to have to do that, but the ones that do, they’re more responsible.

“I guess it could be a double-edged sword.”

Like all teenagers, Couch has expenses and that is the motivation he needs to get out of bed after a long night on the football field.

“If I didn’t work, I would be in a pickle because I have to have work,” Couch said. “I’m blessed to have great managers (at Harp’s) that know that football comes first.”

And if Couch had to choose between football and work?

“I’d go grab my football jersey before my work shirt, that is for sure,” Couch said.

Heritage assistant coach Paul Wilson agrees with Ross, especially when it comes to Couch. Wilson said he was fortunate growing up that his parents didn’t make him work during football or hockey season

“(Couch’s) parents instilled a good work ethic in him before we even got him,” Wilson said. “(Couch) seems to get things done, he doesn’t miss things.”

Small Town Work

Gentry coach Brian Little was an assistant first at Greenwood and then at Rogers High before taking on the job of resurrecting the Pioneers’ program. He has several players that work around school and football, but said work opportunities are harder to find in a small town.

“Kids are kids, but the kids (in Greenwood and Rogers) had a greater opportunity to work because they were near a more urban area with more jobs,” Little said. “The work is a little bit different here and there is probably a little more farm-type work involved here. But the great thing around here is we have people that allow them (players) to work and work around this (football). They allow the players to make football first.”

Gentry senior Kyle Miller is one such player. Since he was 12, Miller said he started doing odd jobs at Ace Hardware, which is the family business in downtown Gentry. When he turned 14, Miller started working on the clock for his stepfather, Randy Bevers, and is now at the store every weekend and some weekdays, even during football season.

And it certainly wasn’t a glamorous position.

“My first job was cleaning the toilets,” Miller said. “But now school comes first and then football, and then I work.”

Like Couch, Miller sometimes wishes he didn’t have to work, but he knows a solid work ethic learned by his years of work at the store will be helpful later in life. Miller says he plans to major in biology in college and hopes to become an Oncologist.

“I do get to kind of make my own hours, so I do get to do things with my friends,” Miller said. ” But I have learned a lot of things working that will help me later on.”

Miller isn’t the only Gentry player that juggles school and football. Brothers Caleb and Ethan Ramsey spend their weekends during the season mowing and weedeating school district property in Gentry.

Little sees a pattern among his players that work.

“Most of those guys are in the upper ranks of their class (academically) and that makes it even more impressive,” Little said. “Maintaining quality grades, working and playing football is tough for anyone. It shows a lot of maturity to balance all of those schedules.”

Like most coaches, Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton has players that work and doesn’t have a problem with it. Patton takes into consideration work, school and family obligations and puts out a summer and fall schedule well in advance to let players plan around outside events.

Patton has even changed the Bulldogs’ August practice times to give players a little more flexibility.

“What I try to do is give them the calendar as far in advance as possible,” Patton said. “Like, for example, our summer workouts. I’ll give them a calendar in the middle of April so they’ll know which days we work out and which days we don’t.

“The kids are free to work whenever. I’ll give them a 7-on-7 schedule. Then, usually before we go home in May, I’ll give them the fall practice schedule. And with two-a-days, we used to do the 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.-type thing, but that way it’s hard to work and you don’t get as much recovery time. So, we started going from 8 a.m. till noon or 1 p.m.

“I tell the kids, ‘this is our practice schedule, and if you want to work from 3-10 p.m., you’ve got the ability to do that.’”

MORNING NEWS SPORTS WRITERS KURT VOIGT AND NATHAN ALLEN CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT.

Greenland 21, Lincoln 0

LINCOLN — Adrian Rojas returned an interception for a touchdown and scored again on a short run to lead Greenland past Lincoln in 3A-1 Conference play Friday.

After a scoreless first half, the Pirates scored with 5:36 left in the third quarter when Justin Bramall caught 13-yard touchdown pass. Rojas’ PAT was good to put the Pirates up 7-0.

The Pirates (2-2, 1-0) scored again when Rojas intercepted a Lincoln pass and returned it 75 yards to score with 6:28 remaining in the fourth quarter. He added the PAT to make it 14-0.

Rojas added a short touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Lincoln (1-3, 0-1) travels to Elkins next week.

Pottsville 35, West Fork 7

POTTSVILLE — Tyler Robertson ran for three touchdowns as Pottsville rolled past previously undefeated West Fork in the 4A-4 Conference opener for both teams.

Robertson’s 15-yard touchdown run with 1:33 left in the first quarter gave the Apaches (3-1, 1-0) a lead they never relinquished. The fullback then put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, scoring on runs of 2 and 55 yards in a 72-second span.

Pottsville’s other scoring came in the second quarter on a 32-yard run by Jay Wright and a 41-yard burst by Ty Earls off a fake punt. West Fork (3-1, 0-1) scored in the third quarter on Landon Hutchens’ 72-yard touchdown run, with Griff Smith adding the extra point.

West Fork returns to conference action next week at home against Dover, while Pottsville travels to Dardanelle.

Greenbrier 42, Siloam Springs 24

Greenbrier scored three touchdowns off Siloam Springs turnovers to claim the 5A-West Conference opener for both teams Friday.

Greenbrier led 28-7 at halftime, but Siloam (3-1, 0-1) cut the lead to 28-24 late in the third quarter.

Siloam quarterback Bryan Adair scored on an 8-yard run and also threw at 40-yard touchdown pass to Greg Frabotta to pull his team within three. Those touchdowns were sandwiched around a Pablo Castillo 22-yard field goal.

Greenbrier answered for a 35-24 lead, then intercepted an Adair pass and returned it for a touchdown to set the final score.

Siloam took the opening kickoff and drove to the Greenbrier 5, but fumbled a pitch and Greenbrier scooped it up and returned it for a score. Siloam then fumbled the ensuing kickoff, which led to another Greenbrier touchdown.

Farmington 27, Gentry 6

Jared Martin ran for two touchdowns to help Farmington open 4A-1 Conference play with a victory on Friday.

Martin scored on a 2-yard run and also added a 39-yard touchdown run with under two minutes left in the game. Farmington (2-1-1, 1-0) rushed for 315 yards.

The Cardinals led 15-0 at halftime.

Gentry (1-3, 0-1) scored on a 30-yard pass from Caleb Ramsey to Justin Stewart in the third quarter.

Prairie Grove 49, Huntsville 30

PRAIRIE GROVE — Thomas Soehner rushed for 251 yards on 23 carries with five touchdowns to lead the Tigers to their first win of the season over 4A-1 Conference foe Huntsville ib Friday night.

Soehner’s 251 yards accounted for the bulk of Prairie Grove’s offense as the Tigers passed only one time for 7 yards. Phillip Hoskins led the way for Huntsville, rushing for 147 yards and a touchdown.

Prairie Grove (1-3, 1-0 4A-1 Conference) plays at Farmington, while Huntsville (1-3, 0-1 4A-1 Conference) hosts Berryville next week.

Mount Vernon 28, McDonald County 12

Mount Vernon turned a 7-6 second quarter lead into a 21-6 halftime advantage by scoring two touchdowns in 21 seconds late in the second quarter to key the Mountaineers’ 28-12 win over McDonald County on Friday night.

Mount Vernon quarterback Corey Phillips was instrumental in all three of Mount Vernon’s first-half scores, including a 35-yard touchdown pass with 37 seconds left in the half and 32-yard run with 16 second remaining.

McDonald County (0-5) scored first to take an early 6-0 lead, taking the opening kickoff and marching 68 yards in 13 plays. Cameron Farmer hit Nelson Boyd from 6 yards out to cap the drive.

The teams traded touchdowns in the second half. Mount Vernon stretched the lead to 28-6 on Hunter Brown’s 15yard run before Farmer scored on a 1-yard run.

Farmer finished 13 of 27 passing for 103 yards and a touchdown. Boyd totaled 53 yards on 15 carries.

McDonald County is at Seneca next week.

GREENLAND — Greenland coach Tracy Sutton has plenty to be concerned about these days.

In only three games this year, the Pirates (1-2) have given up 64 points, including a 40-21 loss against Pea Ridge last week. Sutton also said the Pirates lost junior center Lucas Grogan, who’s planning to have knee surgery soon to repair some torn cartilage.

This will be the fourth straight week the Pirates will have different offensive lineman playing in a game, Sutton said.

“It’s a concern with my entire team,” Sutton said. “We’re still trying to find the right combinations, the right people for certain positions and frankly, our players just aren’t doing what we want them to do.”

Sutton said having so much inconsistency going into the fourth week of the season is something that has “been driving him crazy.”

Regardless, Sutton said he’s hoping his team can bounce back when it hosts Lincoln (1-2) Friday night.

“Lincoln is a better ballclub than they were last year, there’s no doubt,” Sutton said. “They spread it around, they have a much better defense. I just hope we can find a way to play well and get 11 guys on both sides of the field playing consistent.”

ELKINS — The unexpected time off surely didn’t help.

That’s the sentiment felt by Elkins coach Aaron Clark after his team lost 36-8 last Friday night at Huntsville. The Elks didn’t play the week before because their scheduled opponent, Decatur, cancelled its season. Elkins beat Pea Ridge 42-34 to start the season.

“Maybe that played a part of how we did offensively,” Clark said. “We lost our rhythm, I think. We had a lot of penalties and couldn’t get anything going.”

Clark said he was frustrated with how the Elks’ mistakes changed the game’s momentum late in the first half. Elkins (1-1), which opens 3A-1 Conference play Friday night at Lavaca (1-2), competed hard in Huntsville during the opening 24 minutes.

And despite struggling with its run game, Elkins started the second half believing it could win.

“People who saw that game would tell you it was a lot closer than the final score,” Clark said. “It was 14-8 with about 10 seconds to go in the half. We had five personal foul penalties in the last few minutes of the half. You just can’t do that.”

GRAVETTE — The Gravette running game didn’t miss a beat in last week’s 21-14 victory at Wellington, Kan.

Despite having two offensive linemen sidelined with injuries, the Lions rushed for over 200 yards while remaining unbeaten. Michael Croasdell rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries.

Linemen Dakota Lacy (ankle sprain) and Casey Russell (back) both missed the game. Gravette coach Bill Harrelson is hopeful that Lacy will play this week but said Russell is doubtful.

Shannon Buckner, Cody Johnson and Brandon Webb filled in for the two injured players.

“The offensive line played well,” Harrelson said. “Michael ran the ball well and it was a good victory.”

Gravette led 14-0 early and 21-7 early in the second half and both Wellington touchdowns came on long pass plays.

“We have got to get that corrected,” Harrelson said.