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.”

GROVE, Okla. — McDonald County managed just 86 yards of total offense in losing to Grove.

The Mustangs (0-2) committed four turnovers. Grove rolled up 380 yards of total offense.

McDonald County travels to Gravette next week.

Yellville-Summit 32, Berryville 14

Two touchdown runs from tailback Travis McBride were not enough to overcome Yellville-Summit’s fourth-quarter rally.

McBride scored from 3 yards out in the second quarter and added a 5-yard score and two-point run in the third quarter to tie the game at 14-all.

But Yellville-Summit quarterback Timothy Hoyt threw touchdown passes of 20 and 65 yards in the final quarter to rally for the win.

McBride left the game early in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury and did not return. He had 102 yards on 14 carries.

Berryville visits Marshall next week.

Elkins 42, Pea Ridge 34

Chad Curry’s 15-yard touchdown run lifted Elkins past Pea Ridge.

Pea Ridge failed to convert a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter that would have given Blackhawks the lead. Elkins then drove 70 yards for the final score, capped by Curry’s run.

The Elks got two 10-yard first-quarter scoring runs from Weston and Curry to take a 14-0 lead. Pea Ridge responded to tie the score at the end of the first quarter at 14.

After the teams traded touchdowns, Elks quarterback Robert Teague hit Blake Bailey for an 8-yard score that gave Elkins a 28-21 halftime lead.

Teague’s 1-yard run after Andrew Brink returned a fumble to the 1 gave the Elks a 35-21 edge.

Pea Ridge’s Tyler Ramsey punched it in from a yard out in the fourth quarter to narrow the margin to 35-34.

Pea Ridge hosts West Fork next week.

Harrison 28, Huntsville 7

Harrison rolled to a 21-0 lead and cruised to the victory.

Huntsville drove inside the Harrison 10 three times, but was unable to score.

The Eagles managed their only points when quarterback Cody Stephens connected with Taylor Sone for a 32-yard touchdown pass. Stephens finished with168 yards on 15 of 31 passing.

Jake Kirk led the Eagles with six catches for 66 yards.

Huntsville visits Clarksville next week.

West Fork 24, Greenland 0

Damon Byrum recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, setting the tone for West Fork’s easy win Friday.

Isaac Muggy scored from 2 yards out to give the Tigers a 14-0 halftime lead.

Logan Genz scored on a 4-yard run for the final touchdown, and kicker Griff Smith added three PATs and a 27-yard fourth-quarter field goal.

West Fork visits Pea Ridge next week.

— The Morning News

Why Greenland Will Win

The Pirates play four of their first five games at home, which could give junior Jordan Larkan a chance to settle in at quarterback. Also, brothers Adrian and Salvador Rojas give the Pirates a couple of playmakers on defense. Adrian, a senior, lines up at linebacker and Salvador, a junior, plays safety.

Why The Pirates Will Struggle

Greenland coach Tracy Sutton said he couldn’t ever remember having to replace all five starters on the offensive line. Sutton must do that this season — and replace 13 other starters, as well.

Crucial Games

West Fork, Sept. 4
No matter the year, no matter the time of year, this contest’s always important. The Pirates drilled their rivals 46-27 to start last season and better anticipate a battle.

Mansfield, Oct. 2
This game presents Greenland the chance to inject itself into the 3A-1 Conference playoff race. The Tigers return 14 starters, and the conference’s coaches picked Mansfield to finish third in the league.

at Elkins, Nov. 6
Greenland and Elkins play on the final day of the regular season for the second straight season. Last season, a playoff spot was on the line when the Pirates won 47-13. This season, expect the same stakes.

Rough Rojas
The Pirates’ hardest hitting defender doesn’t look intimidating without pads. He may not even appear that tough in pads. But senior linebacker Adrian Rojas crashes into quarterbacks, ball-carriers and receivers with enough intensity to cancel out the eye-test.

Rojas, who will also play running back and take care of Greenland’s kicking duties, is “the toughest 135-pound kid ever,” fellow linebacker Jeremy Huber said. Sutton said he hoped Rojas’ aggressive nature spreads to his teammates.

“He’s almost dangerous out there,” Sutton said. “He’s such a good hitter. He loves it. … On offense, we might even move him to guard.”

All New Line
Sutton said he felt comfortable with the left side of his offensive line. Early in camp, left tackle Dylan Stewart and left guard Taylor Talley emerged as solid senior starters and leaders.

The rest of the line has given Sutton headaches.

Junior Andrew Bray seems set to start at center, but six players are fighting for the starting positions at right tackle and right guard. The Pirates lack experience at quarterback and running back, as well, and can’t afford to become a run-only-to-the-left team, Sutton said.

“We’ve got a long ways to go up front,” Sutton said. “We’re getting better, but we need to get a lot more consistent. We’re trying to rotate them all in there and see who can get it done.”

By The Numbers
0—Returning starters on the Pirates’ offensive line
3—Consecutive seasons in which Greenland has lost in the first round of the state playoffs
7—Interceptions snagged in 2008 by junior safety Salvardor Rojas, also Greenland’s lone returning offensive starter (wide receiver)
1995—The last year in which Greenland had a losing season

Outside The Lines
Greenland possesses a lot of potential, but the Pirates must toughen up, Sutton said. Other leaders such as Huber — a senior and also one of the successors to graduated running back Jose Ventura — must produce to help Greenland overcome its inexperience.

Season Prediction: 6-4.

GREENLAND — Rodney Selph felt a frustrating emptiness inside of him after the 1989 football season.

West Fork’s coach, then the school’s starting quarterback, couldn’t wait for the Tigers’ final week matchup with Greenland — much the way current players crave the rivalry. But a strange playoff structure robbed the West Fork and Greenland players of a game in 1989.

Greenland qualified for the Class A playoffs, which started a week earlier than West Fork’s playoffs, and the game was scrapped, Selph said. Then a senior, Selph had to deal with the cancellation of the rivalry game — something he’d never wish on his Tigers or on Greenland coach Tracy Sutton’s Pirates.

“That’s the only reason I can remember how many years us and Greenland have played straight,” Selph said. “That was the last time we haven’t played. It’s always been such a great rivalry. The schools are so close and the kids all know each other. It’s one of those games where there’s always a big crowd and lots of excitement.

“Having it as the first game of the season these last few years has been great, too.”

The most intriguing part of the Greenland-West Fork rivalry over the last few years, though, hasn’t dealt with the early date of the game. It’s the competitiveness of recent matchups that has increased the intensity and focus on the two schools’ long-standing series.

For most of this rivalry between schools located six miles apart, one school has dominated the other.

Greenland dominated the late 1990s and early 2000s, winning eight straight from 1996-2003. West Fork, meanwhile, won 14 straight meetings from 1974-1990. But the last five years has seen an leveling in the series. The Pirates and Tigers have each won two games, while the teams played to a strange 14-14 tie in 2007.

“I’m telling you, this is one of the better rivalries out there,” Sutton said. “It’s been so tight lately, except for last season (when Greenland won 46-27). … The biggest thing is, we respect one another. It’s a good rivalry that way. We don’t do stupid stuff to them, and they don’t do stupid stuff to us.”

Selph agreed with Sutton, saying that emotions run more deep some years than others.

“We always want to beat them, and they always want to beat us, but I don’t think there’s any hatred or disrespect there,” Selph said. “It depends on the year, though. When I was playing, we didn’t hang around with (the Greenland players). Some years, you’ll have some friends on both sides. It’s interesting.”

Next season, West Fork will drop down to Class 3A and join Greenland in the same conference once again. The teams won’t get to start the season against one another anymore.

But that reality opens up the possibility for finishing the season with a heated rivalry contest.

“It’s not something we’ve talked about yet, but it’d be neat to get that final game with Greenland,” Selph said. “I’d like to see it be week 10 again. That’d be great to have playoff implications on the line for this game. Now that’d be fun.”

GREENLAND — Local followers of the 3A-1 Conference should circle Nov. 5 on their calendars.

People in Elkins and Greenland have probably marked up that date on their football schedules already. For the second straight season, the Elks and Pirates could decide a 3A-1 Conference playoff spot on the final day of the regular season.

Greenland downed Elkins 47-13 on the final Friday of the 2008 regular season to earn a playoff berth and keep the Elks out at the same time.

“It came down to us and them last year, and you could see it happen again,” Greenland coach Tracy Sutton said. “But overall, this conference is going to be very strong again this season. It’s always tough. Charleston, Mansfield and Lavaca are so talented, and then some of us other teams will be fighting for spots.”

Elkins and Greenland both are searching for a little more consistency in 2009.

The Elks and Pirates started strong last season. Greenland won six straight to start the 2008 season, and Elkins won its first five. The teams combined to go 1-9 the rest of the way, with the one victory being Greenland’s over Elkins.

Both teams must replace valuable players. Elkins must hope junior Robert Teague can fill the void left by graduated quarterback Drew Clark.

Greenland, meanwhile, must deal with the loss of 18 starters.

So while Elkins coach Aaron Clark can’t deny the potential significance of his team’s Nov. 5 trip to Greenland, he hoped to minimize its importance.

“I’d say every game in the conference is as big as that one’s going to be,” Clark said. “It can’t be for the playoffs if we haven’t played well up to that point. That said, it’s always a big game between us (and Greenland). And if we’re both in contention, it’ll be even bigger.”

SPRINGDALE — Less than a week after a statewide proposal to send private schools to separate playoffs from public schools failed, the 4A-1 Conference passed its own proposal — aimed at Springdale private school Shiloh Christian.

The conference’s athletic directors voted Monday to not play Shiloh in any junior high sports, beginning in the 2010-11 school year. Shiloh is in the 4A-1 in senior high, where member schools are required by Arkansas Activities Association rules to play the Saints.

However, while Shiloh has played in the conference’s junior high league recently, no rules exist at that level to keep schools from voting a member out of the league.

“It’s not like it’s the first time Shiloh has had to overcome adversity,” Shiloh football coach and Athletic Director Josh Floyd said. “Ever since (former Shiloh football) coach (Gus) Malzahn was here and they started winning games, there’s been adversity and people trying to take the program down and our school down and attack our school.”

Last week, the AAA’s member schools voted down a proposal that would have banned financial aid-providing private schools from the public school playoffs. That proposal was sponsored by in part by 4A-1 member Berryville, which has already said it won’t play Shiloh in scheduled junior high games this season.

Brad Blew, Farmington’s athletic director and former girls basketball coach, didn’t hesitate when asked on Monday what was the reason for the vote — recruiting. Shiloh has won five state football championships since 1998, including the Class 4A title last season.

“It’s the hottest topic in high school athletics that I’ve seen in my career,” Blew said. “I think that it goes beyond just Arkansas. There are a lot of states across the country that are in similar waters as we are.

“(Recruiting) is what the whole thing is about. It’s about having an advantage over another. Until the playing field is leveled, I think we’re going to continue to have this problem. I just don’t see anything changing in that area anytime soon.”

Current 4A-1 member Huntsville wasn’t a part of Monday’s vote because the Eagles are moving up to Class 5A in 2010. However, Huntsville football coach and Athletic Director Ken Harriman was at the meeting, and the school will take Shiloh’s place in the junior high conference.

“Obviously, for Huntsville this is a tremendous benefit for us because we had no place to play in junior high without traveling 3 1/2 hours to somewhere like Greenbrier or Vilonia on a Thursday night,” Harriman said.

Harriman agreed with Blew that recruiting allegations and questionable financial aid practices were the primary reason for Monday’s vote. He also pointed to private school’s higher student athletic participation percentages as a problem.

“This is one of the few things schools feel like they can do about recruiting to even the playing field,” Harriman said. “I think the only place that this can ever end up and completely settled is just like I’ve been reading in editorials, and that has to be separate private school and public school divisions, just like it is in other states. Until it gets to that point, I don’t think we’re ever going to be able to level the playing field.”

Monday’s vote isn’t the first time members of a conference have voted not to play Shiloh. When Floyd played quarterback at Shiloh more than a decade ago, conference members — including Greenland and Elkins — voted to not play Shiloh in senior high football.

After that, the AAA passed a rule forcing teams to play senior high conference members if they wanted to participate in the playoffs.

“If the junior high rules would apply to senior high, then I think there would be a lot of people who wouldn’t play private schools,” Blew said. “They just don’t have that choice.”

Conference member Berryville has already voted not to play Shiloh in junior high this season, but Blew said the other schools elected to wait a year to give Shiloh a chance to find teams to fill out their schedule.

“As much as we don’t like it, we’ll just keep moving on,” Floyd said. “We will have a schedule for our kids. It does involve kids. People seem to forget about our kids in all of this stuff.”

Blew also said Monday’s vote likely wasn’t the end of the private vs. public debate.

“I think, if I were a betting man, then the rules that were adopted last week (forcing students who transfer from public schools to private to sit out of athletics for a years) is a step,” Blew said. “I don’t think it’s a finished product and would anticipate more proposals on next years’ ballot. This thing could go on for a long, long time.

“Either the two sides have to get together and come up with a set of guidelines or wind up in a courtroom at some point. We’re quite a ways from seeing the end of this.”

GRAVETTE – Gravette coach Bill Harrelson couldn’t be happier with how the Lions have played recently.

GREENLAND — Greenland coach Tracy Sutton honestly doesn’t know what’s going to happen tonight.

GRAVETTE — The only thing certain about the postseason in the 4A-1 Conference is that four of the five berths have been decided. But two huge scenarios still exist heading into the final week of the regular season.