PRAIRIE GROVE -- Injuries to key players, including starting runningback Cade Grant who missed two games, didn't help as the Prairie Grove junior high football team finished 5-5 in 2016.
An inexperienced offensive line will be better next year.
Passing
Quarterback Jaden Higgins completed 19 of 66 passing attempts for 283 yards. While his completion percentage was only 28 percent, Higgins threw for 5 touchdowns and didn't hurt the junior Tigers by throwing picks. He finished the season with only one interception. Higgins, whose sack lost yardage was subtracted from his total rushing yardages, had 30 carries for 82 yards, averaging 2.7 yards-per-rush including sack losses, with 4 rushing touchdowns.
Rushing
Foster Layman, 78 carries for 546 yards, 7.0 yards-per-rush, 7 touchdowns; Kieandre Hobbs, 75 carries, 514 yards, 6.9 yards-per-rush, 6 touchdowns; Cade Grant, 31 carries for 286 yards, 9.2-yards-per-rush, 4 touchdowns; Jared Harger, 39 carries for 251 yards, 6.4-yards-per-rush; Harrison Lowe, 29 carries for 188 yards, 6.5-yards-per-rush, 3 touchdowns.
Rotating lineup
At times during the season, the junior Tigers had to juggle their starting lineup. Against Gentry, coach John Elder noted eighth-grader Kennan Davis was moved into the starting unit at the last minute. "If you count our tight end, four of our six linemen up there are eighth-graders," Elder said, predicting that with experience "they're going to be able to handle it next year."
Sports on 02/15/2017